Searching for Anomalous Weak Couplings of Heavy Flavors at the SLC and LEP

Abstract

The existence of anomalous electric($\tilde \kappa$) and/or magnetic($\kappa$) dipole moment couplings between the heavy flavor fermions ($c,b,\tau$) and the $Z$ boson can cause significant shifts in the values of several electroweak observables currently being probed at both the SLC and LEP. Using the good agreement between existing data and the predictions of the Standard Model we obtain strict bounds on the possible strength of these new interactions for all of the heavy flavors. The decay $Z\rightarrow b\bar b$, however, provides some possible hint of new physics. The corresponding anomalous couplings of $\tau$'s to photons is briefly examined.