Comment on Z′'s and the H1 and ZEUS High Q2 Anomalies

Abstract

We investigate the effects of extra neutral gauge bosons on the high Q2 region of the e+p→ e+X cross-section at [Formula: see text] GeV. We found that the only models with electroweak strength coupling, typical of extended gauge theories, that give a better fit to the H1 and ZEUS high Q2 data than the standard model, are ruled out by the existing data from the Tevatron. From general scaling arguments, using the allowed contact interactions, the only allowed models with Z′'s would be those with strong couplings although even in this case the statistical evidence is not compelling.