Constraints on Physics Beyond the Standard Model from Lower Energy Electron Scattering

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Hubert Spiesberger
• Subject Area: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields
• Term: from 2017 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 350361296

We propose to study theoretical predictions for polarized electron-C12 scattering. A corresponding measurement was suggested to be performed at the Mainz Energy-Recovering Superconducting Accelerator, MESA. This could provide a high-precision determination of the weak mixing angle, as well as constraints on physics beyond the Standard Model. Our aim is to lay out the theoretical foundation and calculate predictions within the Standard Model of particle physics for the parity-violating polarization asymmetry as well as to study the sensitivity to physics beyond the Standard Model. The results obtained from the theoretical work suggested in this research proposal will define the physics case of such a measurement.We envisage three connected work packages: A: To obtain theory predictions within the Standard Model for the parity violating spin asymmetry in electron-C12 scattering including all possible sources of uncertainties due to higher-order perturbative corrections and nuclear form factor effects; B: To study the sensitivity to effective four-fermion operators, taking into account the interplay with and impact on complementary searches of other electron (positron) and neutrino scattering as well as neutrino oscillation experiments; C To determine quark masses and their uncertainties through the application of QCD sum rules and thus obtain one of the ingredients feeding into the calculation of the low-energy weak mixing angle needed within work package A.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Mexico
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Jens Erler
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Mikhail Gorshteyn