Searching for signals of minimal length in extra dimensional models using dilepton production at hadron colliders

Abstract

Theories of quantum gravity suggest the existence of a minimal length scale. It is interesting to speculate what the consequences of the existence of such a length scale would be for models of large extra dimensions, in particular, the ADD model. When ADD model is conflated with the minimal length scale scenario, processes involving virtual exhange of gravitons cease to be ulraviolent divergent. We study the production of dileptons at hadron colliders as an example of a process mediated by virtual gravitons. We find that the bounds we derive on the effective string scale are significantly different (in fact, less stringent) from those derived in the conventional ADD model, both at the upgraded Tevatron and the Large Hadron Collider.

Latex, 6 pages, 2 figures; v2: typo in eq.(6) corrected, references added; v3: one footnote and one reference added, to appear in PLB