Limits on the effective quark radius from inclusive ep scattering and contact interactions at HERA

Abstract

The high-precision HERA data allow searches for "beyond the Standard Model" contributions to electron-quark scattering up to TeV scales. Combined H1 and ZEUS measurements of inclusive deep inelastic cross sections in neutral and charged current ep scattering are considered, corresponding to a luminosity of around 1 f b −1 . A new approach to the beyond the Standard Model analysis of the inclusive ep data is presented; simultaneous fits of parton distribution functions and contributions of "new physics" processes are performed. Considered are possible deviations from the Standard Model due to a finite radius of quarks, described within the quark form-factor model, and due to new electron-quark interactions in the framework of eeqq contact interactions (CI). The resulting 95% C.L. upper limit on the effective quark radius is 0.43 · 10 −16 cm. The limits on the CI mass scale extend up to 10 TeV depending on the CI scenario.