Heavy Neutral Leptons without Prejudice

Abstract

Heavy Neutral Leptons (HNLs) provide a compelling extension to the Standard Model, addressing the neutrino masses, baryogenesis, and dark matter problems. We perform a model-independent collider study, decoupling the active-sterile mixing angle ($V$) from the Yukawa coupling ($y$), and explore sensitivities at the HL-LHC for prompt and displaced decays. We also consider the possibility of HNLs being long-lived particles decaying in far detectors as FASER. In addition, we study the expected reach at FCC-ee for the prompt and displaced cases. For zero mixing, FCC-ee and HL-LHC sensitivities to $y$ are comparable, with Higgs width measurements imposing the strongest constraints. With non-zero mixing, sensitivities are dominated by $V$, significantly constraining parameter space. This work highlights the importance of precision Higgs studies and displaced searches in probing HNLs at current and future colliders.

Comments: 23 pages, 10 Figures, very minor change in V2. Version accepted for publication in PRD