Spin correlations and new physics in τ -lepton decays at the LHC

Abstract

We use spin correlations to constrain anomalous τ -lepton couplings at the LHC including its anomalous magnetic moment, electric dipole moment and weak dipole moments. Single spin correlations are ideal to probe interference terms between the SM and new dipole-type couplings as they are not suppressed by the τ -lepton mass. Double spin asymmetries give rise to T -odd correlations useful to probe CP violation purely within the new physics amplitudes, as their appearance from interference with the SM is suppressed by m τ . We compare our constraints to those obtained earlier on the basis of deviations from the Drell-Yan cross-section.