PHENOMENOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF A FERMIOPHOBIC SU(2)XSU(2)XU(1) EXTENSIONOF THE STANDARD MODEL

We consider an extension of the standard electroweak theory with gauge group SU(2)(L) x SU(2)(R) x U(1)((Y) over bar), where the gauge boson s of the extra SU(2)R factor do not couple to ordinary fermions. We sh ow that precision electroweak data and flavour physics provide quite s tringent indirect constraints on its parameter space, but still allow for relatively light non-standard gauge and Higgs bosons. We then cons ider the model phenomenology at high-energy colliders, and observe tha t in the gauge boson sector present bounds and possible future signals are dominated by Z' production. In summary, indirect constraints on t he charged gauge boson sector are so tight that observable new effects must be connected either with the neutral gauge boson sector or with the extended Higgs sector of the model. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.