$ZZγ$ and $Zγγ$ anomalous couplings in $γp$ collision at the LHC

Abstract

We study the sensitivity of anomalous $ZZγ$ and $Zγγ$ vertex couplings $h_3^{γ,Z}$ and $h_4^{γ,Z}$, which would be powerful sign of new physics, via the subprocess $γq\to Z q$ of the main reaction $pp\to pγp\to Z q X$ at the LHC. We calculated limits on these couplings at 95% confidence level for various values of integrated luminosity. It is shown that the $pp\to pγp\to Z q X$ reaction provides one order of magnitude improvement in the couplings $h_4^{γ,Z}$ compared to the current experimental limits obtained in events dominated by $Zγ$ production from the LHC and Tevatron.

11 pages, 6 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. D