Global Fit of Modified Quark Couplings to EW Gauge Bosons and Vector-Like Quarks in Light of the Cabibbo Angle Anomaly

Abstract

There are two tensions related to the Cabibbo angle of the CKM matrix. First, the determinations of $V_{us}$ from $K_{\hat{I}¼2}$, $K_{\ell 3}$, and $\ddot{I}„$ decays disagree at the $3\ddot{I}ƒ$ level. Second, using the average of these results in combination with ${\hat{I}}^2$ decays (including super-allowed ${\hat{I}}^2$ decays and neutron decay), a deficit in first-row CKM unitarity with a significance of again about $3\ddot{I}ƒ$ is found. These discrepancies, known as the Cabibbo Angle anomaly, can in principle be solved by modifications of $W$ boson couplings to quarks. However, due to $SU(2{)}_L$ invariance, $Z$ couplings to quarks are also modified and flavour changing neutral currents can occur. In order to consistently assess the agreement of a new physics hypothesis with data, we perform a combined analysis for all dimension-six Standard Model Effective Field Theory operators that generate modified $W$ couplings to first and second generation quarks. We then study models with vector-like quarks, which are prime candidates for a corresponding UV completion as they can affect $W$-quark couplings at tree level, and we perform a global fit including flavour observables (in particular loop effects in $\hat{I}”F=2$ processes). We find that the best fit can be obtained for the $SU(2{)}_L$ doublet vector-like quark $Q$ as it can generate right-handed $W$-$u$-$d$ and $W$-$u$-$s$ couplings as preferred by data.

46 pages, 16 figures. v2: Added references, minor numerical changes due to bug in code, conclusions unchanged. v3: journal version, minor clarifications added