Discovery Scenarios

Unknown Forces

Unification, extra dimensions and string theory all imply the existence of new forces of nature. The detection at the LHC of a new heavy particle called a Z-prime would mean the discovery of just such a new force. This would raise compelling questions: What kind of force is this? Why is it there? Does the new force unify with the other known forces at ultrahigh energies? Is the Z-prime particle a traveler in one or more extra spatial dimensions?

Linear collider experiments would have the ability to detect a very heavy Z-prime by using the accelerator as a telescope. The experiments would detect the quantum effects of heavy Z-prime particles on the production of pairs of light matter particles. Linear collider data could clearly discriminate among different origins of the Z-prime particle. For example:

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• The Z-prime arises from a unification framework that naturally explains the origin of neutrino masses.
   
• The Z-prime arises from a framework that unifies Higgs particles with matter particles.
   
• The Z-prime is moving in one or more extra dimensions. Further analysis could confirm this by finding other particles that move in these dimensions.