Impact of the electromagnetic field on Z0 leptonic invariant mass in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions

Abstract

The extraordinary strong magnetic field generated in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions makes it possible to investigate many novel effects in the hot QCD matter, and a direct probe of it thus becomes an urgent task in the field. Here we report a new way to probe it, where the leptonic invariant mass distribution of Z0 boson will be modified in the presence of the magnetic field due to the Lorentz force on the lepton pairs from the decay of Z0 boson. It is found that the magnetic field can decrease the mean value of Z0 leptonic invariant mass and increase its width, and both shifts approximately depend on the integral of the magnetic field over its time duration quadratically.