Search for Resonance Decays to a v̄ Plus Jet in e⁺p Scattering at DESY HERA

A study of the v̄-jet mass spectrum in e+p→v̄X events at a center-of-mass energy 300 GeV has been performed with the ZEUS detector at the HERA collider at DESY using an integrated luminosity of 47.7 pb-1. The mass spectrum is in good agreement with that expected from standard model processes over the v̄-jet mass range studied. No significant excess attributable to the decay of a narrow resonance is observed. By using both e+p→>e+X and e+p-vX data, mass-dependent limits are set on the s-channel production of scalar and vector resonant states. Couplings to first-generation quarks are considered and limits are presented as a function of the e+q and v̄q branching ratios. These limits are used to constrain the production of leptoquarks and A-parity violating squarks. © 2001 The American Physical Society.