Exploring scalar and vector bileptons at the LHC in a 331 model

We present an analysis on the production of two same-sign lepton pairs at the LHC, mediated by bileptons in the SU(3)(c) x SU(3)(L) x U(1)(X) theory, the so-called 331 model. Compared to other 331 scenarios, in this model the embedding of the hypercharge is obtained with the addition of 3 exotic quarks and doubly-charged vector gauge bosons with lepton numbers +/- 2 in the spectrum (Y-+/-+/-), which can mediate the production of four-lepton final states. Furthermore, a complete description of the model requires the introduction of a Higgs scalar sector, which is a sextet of SU(3) L, necessary in order to correctly account for the lepton masses. As a result of this, new doubly-charged scalar states H-+/-+/- are part of the spectrum as well and can in principle compete with the vector bileptons in giving rise to four-lepton final states. We investigate both channels and study several observables at the LHC, for both signal and Standard Model ZZ background. With respect to previous work on vector-and scalar-bilepton production, we use the most updated exclusion limits at the LHC and implement the 331 model in a full Monte Carlo simulation code, capable of being interfaced with any analysis framework. Our result is that the 331 signal can be discriminated from the background with a significance of 6-9 standard deviations, depending on the LHC luminosity, with the vector bileptons dominating over the scalar ones. (C) 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.