A search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson H into new scalar or pseudoscalar particles that subsequently decay into b-quarks is presented. The search considers ZH production with several decay scenarios for the Higgs boson; first to a pair of identical scalars, H → 2a → 4b, second to a pair of scalars with different masses (ma1 < ma2), either directly, H → a1a2 → 4b, or via a longer decay chain, H → a1a2 → 3a1 → 6b. The analysis uses proton-proton collision data at (Formula presented) ¼ 13 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb−1. No significant excess above the Standard Model prediction is observed. The search sets upper limits at 95% confidence level on the ratio of the Higgs boson production cross section to the SM prediction times the branching ratio of Higgs bosons decaying into 4b or 6b, between 4% and 25% for σðZHÞ=σSMðZHÞ × BðH → 2a → 4bÞ, between 24% and 38% for σðZHÞ=σSMðZHÞ × BðH → a1a2 → 4bÞ, and between 10% and 20% for σðZHÞ=σSMðZHÞ × BðH → a1a2 → 3a1 → 6bÞ, depending on the masses of the scalar particles.

Aad, G., Aakvaag, E., Abbott, B., Abdelhameed, S., Abeling, K., Abicht, N. j., et al. (2025). Search for decays of the Higgs boson into scalar particles decaying into four or six b-quarks using pp collisions at sqrt(s)=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector. PHYSICAL REVIEW D, 112(7) [10.1103/mzld-ldlt].

Search for decays of the Higgs boson into scalar particles decaying into four or six b-quarks using pp collisions at sqrt(s)=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Di Micco, B.;Di Nardo, R.;Montereali, F.;Orestano, D.;Orlandini, R.;
2025-01-01

Abstract

A search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson H into new scalar or pseudoscalar particles that subsequently decay into b-quarks is presented. The search considers ZH production with several decay scenarios for the Higgs boson; first to a pair of identical scalars, H → 2a → 4b, second to a pair of scalars with different masses (ma1 < ma2), either directly, H → a1a2 → 4b, or via a longer decay chain, H → a1a2 → 3a1 → 6b. The analysis uses proton-proton collision data at (Formula presented) ¼ 13 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb−1. No significant excess above the Standard Model prediction is observed. The search sets upper limits at 95% confidence level on the ratio of the Higgs boson production cross section to the SM prediction times the branching ratio of Higgs bosons decaying into 4b or 6b, between 4% and 25% for σðZHÞ=σSMðZHÞ × BðH → 2a → 4bÞ, between 24% and 38% for σðZHÞ=σSMðZHÞ × BðH → a1a2 → 4bÞ, and between 10% and 20% for σðZHÞ=σSMðZHÞ × BðH → a1a2 → 3a1 → 6bÞ, depending on the masses of the scalar particles.
2025
Aad, G., Aakvaag, E., Abbott, B., Abdelhameed, S., Abeling, K., Abicht, N. j., et al. (2025). Search for decays of the Higgs boson into scalar particles decaying into four or six b-quarks using pp collisions at sqrt(s)=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector. PHYSICAL REVIEW D, 112(7) [10.1103/mzld-ldlt].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11590/533239
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