Observing nonstandard $W'$ and $Z'$ through the third generation and Higgs lens

Abstract

We reinterpret $W'$, $Z'$ and Higgs searches at the LHC in terms of a model with nonuniversal $V'$ couplings to fermions in order to gauge how well these searches can be applied outside the (simplified) scenarios for which they were optimized. In particular, we consider bounds from $V'$ searches in final states $\tau \tau$, $e\nu$, $ll$ and $t b$, and discuss the impact of width effects. We then show that decays of the type $V' \rightarrow V h$ yield additional bounds on the heavy vector masses and, in the case of a discovery, provide an important probe of the heavy sector. Finally, we match the low energy limit of the model to an effective theory and compare the bounds on the resulting dimension-6 operators with the direct searches discussed in this paper.