Collider signatures of the N = 3 Lee-Wick standard model

Abstract

Inspired by the Lee-Wick higher-derivative approach to quantum field theory, Grinstein, O’Connell, and Wise have illustrated the utility of introducing into the Standard Model negative-norm states that cancel quadratic divergences in loop diagrams, thus posing a potential resolution of the hierarchy problem. Subsequent work has shown that consistency with electroweak precision parameters requires many of the partner states to be too massive to be detected at the LHC. We consider the phenomenology of a yet-higher derivative theory that exhibits three poles in its bare propagators (hence N = 3), whose states alternate in norm. We examine the interference effects of W boson partners on LHC scattering cross sections, and find that the N = 3 LWSM already makes verifiable predictions at 10 fb⁻¹ of integrated luminosity.