Search for a Dark Leptophilic Scalar in e+e- Collisions

(B a B ar Collaboration)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Many scenarios of physics beyond the standard model predict the existence of new gauge singlets, which might be substantially lighter than the weak scale. The experimental constraints on additional scalars with masses in the MeV to GeV range could be significantly weakened if they interact predominantly with leptons rather than quarks. At an e+e- collider, such a leptophilic scalar (φL) would be produced predominantly through radiation from a τ lepton. We report herein a search for e+e-→τ+τ-φL, φL→ℓ+ℓ- (ℓ=e, μ) using data collected by the BABAR experiment at SLAC. No significant signal is observed, and we set limits on the φL coupling to leptons in the range 0.04<mφL<7.0 GeV. These bounds significantly improve upon the current constraints, excluding almost entirely the parameter space favored by the observed discrepancy in the muon anomalous magnetic moment below 4 GeV at 90% confidence level.

Original languageEnglish
Article number181801
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume125
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - 28 Oct 2020

Funding

FundersFunder number
Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie
National Science Foundation
Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules
Science and Technology Facilities Council
A. P. Sloan Foundation
Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare
Norges Forskningsråd
Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
European Commission
U.S. Department of Energy
Marie Curie
Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
United States-Israel Binational Science FoundationU.S.-Israel
UK Research and Innovation53706

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