Hadrophilic Z':a bridge from LEP1, SLC and CDF to LEP2 anomalies

Abstract

In order to explain possible departures from the Standard Model predictions for $b\bar{b}$ and $c\bar{c}$ production at $Z$ peak, we propose the existence of a $Z^{\prime }$ vector boson with enhanced couplings to quarks. We first show that this proposal is perfectly consistent with the full set of LEP1/SLC results. In particular, $Z-Z^{\prime }$ mixing effects naturally explain the fact that ${\Gamma }_b$ and ${\Gamma }_c$ deviate from the SM in opposite directions. We then show that there is a predicted range for enhanced $Z^{\prime }q\bar{q}$ couplings which explains, for a precise and interesting range of $Z^{\prime }$ masses, the excess of dijet events seen at CDF. A $Z^{\prime }$ with such couplings and mass would produce clean observable effects in $b\bar{b}$ and in total hadronic production at LEP2.

Comments: 24 pages , 5 Postscript figures, Acknowledgements