Disentangling the Spin-Parity of a Resonance via the Gold-Plated Decay Mode

Abstract

Searching for new resonances and finding out their properties is an essential part of any existing or future particle physics experiment. The nature of a new resonance is characterized by its spin, charge conjugation, parity, and its couplings with the existing particles of the Standard Model. If a new resonance is found in the four lepton final state produced via two intermediate $Z$ bosons, the resonance could be a new heavy scalar or a $Z'$ boson or even a higher spin particle. In such cases the step by step methodology as enunciated in this paper can be followed to determine the spin, parity and the coupling to two $Z$ bosons of the parent particles, in a fully model-independent way. In our approach we show how three uni-angular distributions and few experimentally measurable observables can conclusively tell us about the spin, parity as well as the couplings of the new resonance to two $Z$ bosons. We have performed a numerical analysis to validate our approach and showed how the uniangular observables can be used to disentangle the spin parity as well as coupling of the resonance.