Reconciling the LEP and Slac Measurements of Sin^2(Θ_W)

Abstract

We consider whether a discrepancy between the SLAC and LEP measurements of $\Sw$ can be explained by new physics. We find that only the contribution of a new neutral gauge boson, $Z^\prime$, nearly degenerate with the Z can affect the SLAC measurement while leaving the LEP observables almost unaffected. We briefly discuss possible signals for this new gauge boson, including changes in the $Z$ lineshape when measured with polarised electrons, small changes in $R_b$, $A^e_{FB}$, and larger changes in two jet and $t\bar{t}$ production at hadron colliders.