Discovering heavy new physics in boosted Z channels: Z -> l(+)l(-) vs Z ->nu(nu)over-tilde

Abstract

We propose a strategy for new physics searches in channels which contain a boosted Z boson and a boosted massive jet in the final state. Our proposal exploits the previously overlooked advantages of boosted Z -> nu(nu) over bar topologies, where collimated neutrinos result in signals with large missing energy. We illustrate the advantage of this channel in a case study of singly produced TeV scale charge 2/3 fermionic top partners (T') which decay to tZ final states. A comparison with the di-leptonic channel reveals that, despite the large t(t)over bar> background, signals with missing energy combined with jet substructure techniques offer superior probes of new physics at TeV scales. The effect can be attributed to a factor of similar to 3 enhancement in the signal cross section, coming from the branching ratio of Z -> nu(nu) over bar We exploit the unique event topology of singly produced top partners to suppress the t(t)over bar> background, as well as further improve on the existing proposals to detect T' in the boosted di-lepton channel. Our conclusions on advantages of Z -> nu(nu) over bar can be extended to most resonance searches which utilize a boosted Z boson in the final state