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G. Degrassi

Publications and source records attributed to G. Degrassi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2020

Higgs-mass predictions in the MSSM and beyond

Predictions for the Higgs masses are a distinctive feature of supersymmetric extensions of the Standard Model, where they play a crucial role in constraining the parameter space. The discovery of a Higgs boson and the remarkably precise measurement of its mass at the LHC have spurred new efforts aimed at improving the accuracy of the theoretical predictions for the Higgs masses in supersymmetric models. The "Precision SUSY Higgs Mass Calculation Initiative" (KUTS) was launched in 2014 to provide a forum for discussions between the different groups involved in these efforts. This report aims to present a comprehensive overview of the current status of Higgs-mass calculations in supersymmetric models, to document the many advances that were achieved in recent years and were discussed during the KUTS meetings, and to outline the prospects for future improvements in these calculations.

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arXiv2019

The effect of an anomalous Higgs trilinear self-coupling on the h to gamma Z decay

We compute the two-loop effects induced by an anomalous Higgs trilinear self-coupling in the partial decay width h to gamma Z. The computation is performed using the anomalous coupling approach working in the unitary gauge and in a theory in which the anomalous coupling is generated via the addition to the scalar potential part of the Standard Model Lagrangian of an (in)finite tower of (Phi^dagger Phi)^n terms. The former computation is automatically finite while the latter requires the renormalization of the lowest order contribution. We discuss the renormalization conditions that should be employed in order to obtain the same result in the two approaches. We find that the h to gamma Z process is one of the most sensitive mode to an anomalous trilinear Higgs self-coupling. As a by-product of this work we confirm one of two different results present in the literature concerning the contribution of an anomalous Higgs trilinear coupling in the h to gamma gamma decay.

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arXiv2016

NLO-QCD corrections to Higgs pair production in the MSSM

We take a step towards a complete NLO-QCD determination of the production of a pair of Higgs scalars in the MSSM. Exploiting a low-energy theorem that connects the Higgs-gluon interactions to the derivatives of the gluon self-energy, we obtain analytic results for the one- and two-loop squark contributions to Higgs pair production in the limit of vanishing external momenta. We find that the two-loop squark contributions can have non-negligible effects in MSSM scenarios with stop masses below the TeV scale. We also show how our results can be adapted to the case of Higgs pair production in the NMSSM.

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arXiv2015

Two-loop QCD corrections to the MSSM Higgs masses beyond the effective-potential approximation

We compute the two-loop QCD corrections to the neutral Higgs-boson masses in the MSSM, including the effect of non-vanishing external momenta in the self-energies. We obtain corrections of O(alpha_t*alpha_s) and O(alpha*alpha_s), i.e., all two-loop corrections that involve the strong gauge coupling when the only non-vanishing Yukawa coupling is the top one. We adopt either the DRbar renormalization scheme or a mixed OS-DRbar scheme where the top/stop parameters are renormalized on-shell. We compare our results with those of earlier calculations, pointing out an inconsistency in a recent result obtained in the mixed OS-DRbar scheme. The numerical impact of the new corrections on the prediction for the lightest-scalar mass is moderate, but already comparable to the accuracy of the Higgs-mass measurement at the LHC.

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arXiv2013

Handbook of LHC Higgs Cross Sections: 3. Higgs Properties

This Report summarizes the results of the activities in 2012 and the first half of 2013 of the LHC Higgs Cross Section Working Group. The main goal of the working group was to present the state of the art of Higgs Physics at the LHC, integrating all new results that have appeared in the last few years. This report follows the first working group report Handbook of LHC Higgs Cross Sections: 1. Inclusive Observables (CERN-2011-002) and the second working group report Handbook of LHC Higgs Cross Sections: 2. Differential Distributions (CERN-2012-002). After the discovery of a Higgs boson at the LHC in mid-2012 this report focuses on refined prediction of Standard Model (SM) Higgs phenomenology around the experimentally observed value of 125-126 GeV, refined predictions for heavy SM-like Higgs bosons as well as predictions in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model and first steps to go beyond these models. The other main focus is on the extraction of the characteristics and properties of the newly discovered particle such as couplings to SM particles, spin and CP-quantum numbers etc.

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arXiv2012

On the NLO QCD corrections to the production of the heaviest neutral Higgs scalar in the MSSM

We present a calculation of the two-loop top-stop-gluino contributions to Higgs production via gluon fusion in the MSSM. By means of an asymptotic expansion in the heavy particle masses, we obtain explicit and compact analytic formulae that are valid when the Higgs and the top quark are lighter than stops and gluino, without assuming a specific hierarchy between the Higgs mass and the top mass. Being applicable to the heaviest Higgs scalar in a significant region of the MSSM parameter space, our results complement earlier ones obtained with a Taylor expansion in the Higgs mass, and can be easily implemented in computer codes to provide an efficient and accurate determination of the Higgs production cross section.

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arXiv2012

Higgs production via gluon fusion in the POWHEG approach in the SM and in the MSSM

We consider the gluon fusion production cross section of a scalar Higgs boson at NLO QCD in the SM and in the MSSM. We implement the calculation in the POWHEG approach, and match the NLO-QCD results with the PYTHIA and HERWIG QCD parton showers. We discuss a few representative scenarios in the SM and MSSM parameter spaces, with emphasis on the fermion and squark mass effects on the Higgs boson distributions.

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arXiv2012

Handbook of LHC Higgs Cross Sections: 2. Differential Distributions

This Report summarises the results of the second year's activities of the LHC Higgs Cross Section Working Group. The main goal of the working group was to present the state of the art of Higgs Physics at the LHC, integrating all new results that have appeared in the last few years. The first working group report Handbook of LHC Higgs Cross Sections: 1. Inclusive Observables (CERN-2011-002) focuses on predictions (central values and errors) for total Higgs production cross sections and Higgs branching ratios in the Standard Model and its minimal supersymmetric extension, covering also related issues such as Monte Carlo generators, parton distribution functions, and pseudo-observables. This second Report represents the next natural step towards realistic predictions upon providing results on cross sections with benchmark cuts, differential distributions, details of specific decay channels, and further recent developments.

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arXiv2011

NLO QCD corrections to pseudoscalar Higgs production in the MSSM

We present a calculation of the two-loop quark-squark-gluino contributions to pseudoscalar Higgs boson production via gluon fusion in the MSSM. We regularize the loop integrals using the Pauli-Villars method, and obtain explicit and compact analytic results based on an expansion in the heavy particle masses. Our results - valid when the pseudoscalar Higgs boson is lighter than squarks and gluinos - can be easily implemented in computer codes for an efficient and accurate determination of the pseudoscalar production cross section.

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arXiv2011

SusyBSG: a fortran code for BR[B -> Xs gamma] in the MSSM with Minimal Flavor Violation

We present the fortran code SusyBSG version 1.1, which computes the branching ratio for the decay B -> Xs gamma in the MSSM with Minimal Flavor Violation. The computation takes into account all the available NLO contributions, including the complete supersymmetric QCD corrections to the Wilson coefficients of the magnetic and chromomagnetic operators.

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arXiv2010

NLO QCD bottom corrections to Higgs boson production in the MSSM

We present a calculation of the two-loop bottom-sbottom-gluino contributions to Higgs boson production via gluon fusion in the MSSM. The calculation is based on an asymptotic expansion in the masses of the supersymmetric particles, which are assumed to be much heavier than the bottom quark and the Higgs bosons. We obtain explicit analytic results that allow for a straightforward identification of the dominant contributions in the NLO bottom corrections. We emphasize the interplay between the calculations of the masses and the production cross sections of the Higgs bosons, discussing sensible choices of renormalization scheme for the parameters in the bottom/sbottom sector.

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arXiv2010

On the NLO QCD corrections to Higgs production and decay in the MSSM

We present explicit analytic results for the two-loop top/stop/gluino contributions to the cross section for the production of CP-even Higgs bosons via gluon fusion in the MSSM, under the approximation of neglecting the Higgs boson mass with respect to the masses of the particles circulating in the loops. The results are obtained employing the low-energy theorem for Higgs interactions adapted to the case of particle mixing. We discuss the validity of the approximation used by computing the first-order correction in an expansion in powers of the Higgs boson mass. We find that, for the lightest CP-even Higgs boson, the gluino contribution is very well approximated by the result obtained in the limit of vanishing Higgs mass. As a byproduct of our calculation, we provide results for the two-loop QCD contributions to the photonic Higgs decay.

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arXiv2010

On the Generalized Harmonic Polylogarithms of One Complex Variable

We describe how to compute numerically in the complex plain a set of Generalized Harmonic Polylogarithms (GHPLs) with square roots in the weights, using the C++/GiNaC numerical routines of Vollinga and Weinzierl. As an example, we provide the numerical values of the NLO electroweak light-fermion corrections to the Higgs boson production in gluon fusion in the case of complex W and Z masses.

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arXiv2010

QCD Corrections in two-Higgs-doublet extensions of the Standard Model with Minimal Flavor Violation

We present the QCD corrections to R_b and to the Delta B=1 effective Hamiltonian in models with a second Higgs field that couples to the quarks respecting the criterion of Minimal Flavor Violation, thus belonging either to the (1,2)_1/2 or to the (8,2)_1/2 representation of SU(3)xSU(2)xU(1). After the inclusion of the QCD corrections, the prediction for R_b becomes practically insensitive to the choice of renormalization scheme for the top mass, which for the type-I and type-II models translates in a more robust lower bound on tan(beta). The QCD-corrected determinations of Rb and BR(B->Xs gamma) are used to discuss the constraints on the couplings of a (colored) charged Higgs boson to top and bottom quarks.

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arXiv2009

On the radiative corrections to the neutral Higgs boson masses in the NMSSM

We provide a full one-loop calculation of the self energies and tadpoles of the neutral Higgs bosons of the NMSSM. In addition, we compute the two-loop O(alpha_t*alpha_s+alpha_b*alpha_s) corrections to the neutral Higgs boson masses in the effective potential approximation. With respect to earlier calculations, the newly-computed corrections can account for shifts of a few GeV in the light scalar and pseudoscalar masses, and they can also sizeably affect the mixing between singlet and MSSM-like Higgs scalars. Taking these corrections into account will be crucial for a meaningful comparison between the MSSM and NMSSM predictions for the Higgs sector.

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arXiv2009

Flavor Changing Fermion-Graviton Vertices

We study the flavor-changing quark-graviton vertex that is induced at the one-loop level when gravitational interactions are coupled to the standard model. Because of the conservation of the energy-momentum tensor the corresponding form factors turn out to be finite and gauge-invariant. Analytical expressions of the form factors are provided at leading order in the external masses. We show that flavor-changing interactions in gravity are local if the graviton is strictly massless while if the graviton has a small mass long-range interactions inducing a flavor-changing contribution in the Newton potential appear. Flavor-changing processes with massive spin-2 particles are also briefly discussed. These results can be generalized to the case of the lepton-graviton coupling.

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arXiv2007

Tevatron-for-LHC Report: Higgs

The search for Higgs bosons in both the standard model and its extensions is well under way at the Tevatron. As the integrated luminosity collected increases into the multiple inverse femptobarn range, these searches are becoming very interesting indeed. Meanwhile, the construction of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and its associated experiments at CERN are nearing completion. In this TeV4LHC workshop, it was realized that any experience at the Tevatron with respect to backgrounds, experimental techniques and theoretical calculations that can be verified at the Tevatron which have relevance for future measurements at the LHC were important. Studies and contributions to these efforts were made in three broad categories: theoretical calculations of Higgs production and decay mechanisms; theoretical calculations and discussions pertaining to non-standard model Higgs bosons; and experimental reviews, analyses and developments at both the Tevatron and the upcoming LHC experiments. All of these contributions represent real progress towards the elucidation of the mechanism of electroweak symmetry breaking.

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