Scheming in the SMEFT... and a reparameterization invariance!

Abstract

We explain a reparameterization invariance in the Standard Model Effective Field Theory present when considering $\bar{\psi }\psi \to \bar{\psi }\psi$ scatterings (with $\psi$ a fermion) and how this leads to unconstrained combinations of Wilson coefficients in global data analyses restricted to these measurements. We develop a $\{{\hat{m}}_W,{\hat{m}}_Z,{\hat{G}}_F\}$ input parameter scheme and compare results to the case when an input parameter set $\{\hat{\alpha },{\hat{m}}_Z,{\hat{G}}_F\}$ is used to constrain this effective theory from the global data set, confirming the input parameter independence of the unconstrained combinations of Wilson coefficients, and supporting the reparameterization invariance explanation. We discuss some conceptual issues related to these degeneracies that are relevant for LHC data reporting and analysis.

Comments: 41 pages, 8 tables, 8 figures. addendum in appendix - results obtained allowing two independent flavor contractions for the operator Q_ll in the U(3)^5 flavor symmetric limit