An optimal strategy for experimental searches in high-mass dilepton production at the LHC

Abstract

We present an optimal method for studying new physics effects in high-mass dilepton production at the LHC. This method relies on a reweighting procedure that is precise to the next-to-leading order in quantum chromodynamics. The only computationally expensive input required is a standard model $\mathrm{pp\rightarrow V^{(*)}\rightarrow\ell^+\ell^-}$ sample, with $\mathrm{V=Z,γ^*}$, generated at the same level of precision and with sufficient statistical coverage of the phase space at high invariant masses. The proposed method is suitable for any $\mathrm{q\overline{q}\ell^+\ell^-}$ contact-interaction scenario, regardless of the assumed underlying structure and couplings. It is also ideal for searching for medium-to-large-width new neutral resonances produced in the s-channel, as changes to the input values for mass, coupling, or width can be easily implemented using the same initial generated samples.