Abstract
Recent results from the NuTeV experiment at Fermilab and the deviation of the Z invisible width, measured at CERN LEP and the SLAC Linear Collider, from its standard model (SM) prediction suggest the suppression of neutrino-Z couplings. Such suppressions occur naturally in models which mix the neutrinos with heavy gauge singlet states. We postulate a universal suppression of the couplings by a factor of and perform a fit to the Z-pole and NuTeV observables with and the oblique correction parameters S and T. Compared to a fit with S and T only, the inclusion of leads to a dramatic improvement in the quality of the fit. The values of S and T preferred by the fit can be obtained within the SM by a simple increase in the Higgs boson mass. However, if the W mass is also included in the fit, a non-zero U parameter becomes necessary which cannot be supplied within the SM. The preferred value of suggests that the seesaw mechanism may not be the reason why neutrinos are so light.
- Received 15 October 2002
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.67.073012
©2003 American Physical Society