Speaker
Description
We define an approximate conserved quantum number ("b-Parity") of the
SM: $b_P = (−1)^n$, where $n$ is the number of produced b-jets in scattering processes with no $b$-quarks in the initil state. We then apply the concept of b-Parity in the reaction $e + p/A \to n \cdot j_b + X$, to explore new TeV-scale flavor-changing interactions involving the 3rd generation quarks at the EIC; simply by counting the number of b-jets in the final state. In particular, the SM single and di-jet production at the EIC which occur through the charge current interactions, $e + p/A \to j + {\rm MET}$ and $e + p/A \to 2 · j + {\rm MET}$ , are $b_P$-even since the $b_P$-violating (i.e, $b_P = −1$) SM signals for these processes are necessarily CKM suppressed and, therefore, have a vanishingly small production rate. In contrast, we show that new flavor physics can generate $b_P = −1$ signals at the EIC whose only significant SM background is due to b-jet misidentification. Thus, b-Parity can be used as a simple and sensitive probe of new flavor violating physics at the EIC, reaching a sensitivity to scales of new physics which is remarkably more than 30 times larger than the EIC CM energy. This critically depends on the b-tagging efficiency and purity as well as the feasibility of electron-beam polarization.