Aspects of W Physics at the Linear Collider

Abstract

It is argued that the next linear colliders can serve as W factories that may be exploited for precision tests on the properties of the massive gauge bosons. The connection between the probing of the symmetry breaking sector and precise measurement of the self-couplings of the weak vector bosons is stressed. The discussion relies much on the impact of the present low-energy data, especially LEP1. These have restricted some paths that lead to the exploration of the scalar sector through the investigation of the so-called anomalous couplings of the W's and suggest a hierarchy in the classification of these parameters. The limits we expect to set on these couplings at the different modes of the linear colliders are reviewed and compared with those one obtains at the LHC. The conclusion is that the first phase of a linear collider running at 500 GeV and the LHC are complementary. Some important issues concerning radiative corrections and backgrounds that need further studies in order that one conducts high precision analyses at high energies are discussed.