Search for excited quarks in ep collisions at HERA

A search for excited quarks is performed using the full e(+/-)p data sample collected by the HI experiment at HERA, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 475 pb(-1). The electroweak decays of excited quarks q* -> q gamma. q* -> qZ and q* - qW with Subsequent hadronic or leptonic decays of the W and Z bosons are considered. No evidence for first generation excited quark production is found. Mass dependent exclusion limits on q* production cross sections and on the ratio f/Lambda of the coupling to the compositeness scale are derived Within gauge mediated models. These limits extend the excluded region compared to previous excited quark searches. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.