Studying a Strongly Interacting Electroweak Sector via Longitudinal Gauge Boson Scattering at a Muon Collider

Abstract

We discuss the excellent prospects for a detailed study of a strongly interacting electroweak sector at a muon collider with c.m. energy $\rts\sim 4\tev$. For expected luminosity of $L=200-1000\fbi$ per year, $\mup\mum$ and $\mup\mup$ (or $\mum\mum$) collisions can be used to study longitudinal $\wp\wm$ and $\wp\wp$ (or $\wm\wm$) scattering with considerable precision. In particular, detailed measurements of the distribution in the $VV$ pair masses ($V=\wpm,Z$) will be possible. The shape and magnitude of these distributions will provide a powerful tool for determining the nature of strong gauge boson interactions. Event rates will be large enough that projection techniques can be used to directly isolate final states with different polarizations of the $V$'s and verify that the strong interaction cross section excess is mainly in the longitudinal-longitudinal mode.

34 pages, uuencoded tex file and postscript figure files submitted, full postscript file, including embedded figures, is available via anonymous ftp at ftp://ucdhep.ucdavis.edu/gunion/strongw_mupmum.ps