Search strategies for exotic decays of the Higgs boson in the gg+MET final state at the LHC

Table of contents:

Abstract

In this study, we devise a search strategy for the exotic decay of the 125 GeV Higgs boson in the $\gamma\gamma+MET$ final state. The studied final state comes in two different topologies: resonant and non-resonant. In the resonant case, the Higgs decays into two scalars, one being undetected and the other decaying resonantly into two photons. The non-resonant case, based on low scale SUSY breaking models, the Higgs decays into two neutralinos, each subsequently decaying into a photon and a gravitino. We estimate the sensitivity of these searches using a DELPHES detector simulation, and targeting $100$ fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s}=14$ TeV $pp$ data from the LHC.

Figures from ggMET

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Figure 1a: Feynman diagrams for the non-resonant signal scenarios (Based on low scale SUSY breaking models, the Higgs decays into two neutralinos, each subsequently decaying into a photon and a gravitino)

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Figure 1b: Feynman diagrams for the resonant signal scenarios (Higgs decays into two scalars, one being undetected and the other decaying resonantly into two photons)

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Figure 2: signal selection efficiency after triggers selection v.s. mass for different signal scenarios and types

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Figure 3: Missing transverse distribution of signal and background for the gluon-gluon production mode

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Figure 4: Distribution of deltaPhi between di photon for signal and background for the gluon-gluon production mode

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Figure 5: MT distribution (MT of $\gamma\gamma+MET$, $\mu\mu$) of signal and backgrounds for the ZH production mode

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Figure 6: Photons invariant mass distribution of signal and backgrounds for the ZH production mode

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Figure 7: delta phi between di photon and di muons distribution of signal and backgrounds for the ZH production mode

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Figure 8: Di muon invariant mass distribution of signal and backgrounds for the ZH production mode

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Figure 9: Pt of dimuon for signal and backgrounds for the ZH production mode

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Figure 10: ∆φ between Diphoton and MET distribution of signal and backgrounds for the ZH production mode

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Figure 11: leading Photon Pt distribution of signal and backgrounds for the ZH production mode

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Figure 12: subleading Photon Pt distribution of signal and backgrounds for the ZH production mode

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Figure 13: Transverse Mass distribution of signal and backgrounds for the ZH production mode

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Figure 14: Significance plots for different trigger scenarios in the gluon fusion analysis, for a reference signal branching ratio of BR(h → γγ + E/T ) = 10%

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Figure 15: Significance plots for different trigger and signal scenarios in the gluon fusion analysis , for a reference signal branching ratio of BR(h → γγ + E/T ) = 10%

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Figure 16: 5σ branching ratios for the ggF channel, for resonant (in red) and non-resonant (in black) final states, using the γ + E/T trigger, for a reference signal branching ratio of BR(h → γγ + E/T ) = 10%

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Figure 17: Branching ratios for 95% confidence level exclusion in the ZH case, resonant and non-resonant topologies, requiring at least one photon (Nγ ≥ 1, in green and blue, respectively) and at least two photons (Nγ ≥ 2 in black and red, respectively), for a reference signal branching ratio of BR(h → γγ + E/T ) = 10% . The shaded areas correspond to a variation in systematics up to 10%