arXiv subjects

Giuseppe Degrassi

Publications and source records attributed to Giuseppe Degrassi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Higgs Boson Pair Production via Gluon Fusion: Higher-Order Corrections and Theoretical Uncertainties

In this contribution, the higher-order QCD and electroweak corrections to Standard Model Higgs boson pair production via the gluon-fusion mechanism, $gg\to hh$, are summarized and the different sources of theoretical uncertainty are assessed. The discussion includes finite top quark mass effects, matching to parton showers, approximate NNLO and N$^3$LO QCD corrections, NLO electroweak effects, and uncertainties associated with the top quark mass scheme and perturbative scale choices. In addition, we provide an updated state-of-the-art recommendation for the inclusive gluon-fusion Higgs boson pair production cross section and the corresponding Higgs boson pair invariant-mass distribution.

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arXiv2025

Two-loop BSM contributions to Higgs pair production in the aligned THDM

We study the impact of the two-loop corrections controlled by the BSM Higgs couplings on the cross section for the production of a pair of SM-like Higgs bosons via gluon fusion in the aligned THDM. To this aim, we reassess the two-loop calculation of $λ_{hhh}$, we compute for the first time the two-loop corrections to $λ_{hhH}$, and we include the relevant corrections to the Higgs-gluon couplings and to the s-channel propagators entering the $gg \rightarrow hh$ amplitude. We discuss the numerical impact of the two-loop BSM contributions, first on the individual couplings and then on the prediction for the pair-production cross section, in two benchmark scenarios for the aligned THDM.

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arXiv2025

$gg \to ZH$ : updated predictions at NLO QCD

We present state-of-the-art predictions for the inclusive cross section of gluon-initiated $ZH$ production, following the recommendations of the LHC Higgs Working Group. In particular, we include NLO QCD corrections, where the virtual corrections are obtained from the combination of a forward expansion and a high-energy expansion, and the real corrections are exact. The expanded results for the virtual corrections are compared in detail to full numerical results. The updated predictions show a reduction of the scale uncertainties to the level of 15%, and they include an estimate of the top-mass-scheme uncertainty.

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arXiv2025

On the two-loop BSM corrections to $h\longrightarrow γγ$ in a triplet extension of the SM

We compute the two-loop BSM contributions to the $h\longrightarrow γγ$ decay width in the SM extended with a real triplet of $SU(2)$. We consider scenarios in which the neutral components of doublet and triplet do not mix, so that the lighter neutral scalar $h$ has (at least approximately) SM-like couplings to fermions and gauge bosons. We focus on the two-loop corrections controlled by the quartic scalar couplings, and obtain explicit and compact formulas for the $h γγ$ amplitude by means of a low-energy theorem that connects it to the derivative of the photon self-energy w.r.t. the Higgs field. We briefly discuss the numerical impact of the newly-computed contributions, showing that they may be required for a precise determination of $Γ[h\rightarrow γγ]$ in scenarios where the quartic scalar couplings are large.

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arXiv2024

Virtual QCD corrections to $gg \to ZZ$: top-quark loops from a transverse-momentum expansion

We present the virtual corrections due to the top-quark loops for the process $gg \to ZZ$ at next-to-leading order in QCD. The associated two-loop box diagrams are computed using a small-transverse-momentum expansion. Our results are then merged with those available in the complementary energy region, obtained via a high-energy expansion, in order to provide an analytic result that is valid in the whole phase space. The results presented allow for an efficient modelling of the signal--background interference as well as the irreducible background in off-shell Higgs production.

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arXiv2023

On the two-loop BSM corrections to $h\longrightarrowγγ$ in the aligned THDM

We compute the two-loop BSM contributions to the $h\longrightarrow γγ$ decay width in the aligned THDM. We adopt the simplifying assumptions of vanishing EW gauge couplings and vanishing mass of the SM-like Higgs boson, which allow us to exploit a low-energy theorem connecting the $hγγ$ amplitude to the derivative of the photon self-energy w.r.t. the Higgs field. We briefly discuss the numerical impact of the newly-computed contributions, showing that they may be required for a precise determination of $Γ[h\rightarrow γγ]$ in scenarios where the quartic Higgs couplings are large.

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arXiv2023

Higgs boson pair production at NLO in the POWHEG approach and the top quark mass uncertainties

We present a new Monte Carlo code for Higgs boson pair production at next-to-leading order in the POWHEG-BOX Monte Carlo approach. The code is based on analytic results for the two loop virtual corrections which include the full top quark mass dependence. This feature allows to freely assign the value of all input parameters, including the trilinear Higgs boson self coupling, as well as to vary the renormalization scheme employed for the top quark mass. We study the uncertainties due to the top-mass renormalization scheme allowing the trilinear Higgs boson self coupling to vary around its Standard Model value including parton shower effects. Results are presented for both inclusive and differential observables.

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arXiv2022

On the NLO QCD Corrections to Gluon-Initiated ZH Production

We compute the QCD corrections at next-to-leading order for the process $gg \rightarrow ZH$, including both the virtual two-loop terms and real-emission contributions. The two-loop box diagrams in the virtual corrections are approximated analytically over the complete phase space, combining the results of an expansion in the limit of small transverse momentum and an expansion in the regime of high energy. We obtain both inclusive and differential results for the cross section. We find that the NLO QCD corrections are of the same size as the LO contribution up to $ZH$ invariant masses close to 1 TeV, but they increase significantly when higher energies are considered, due to a class of real-emission diagrams in which the $Z$ boson is radiated from an open quark line. Finally, we estimate the uncertainty due to the renormalization scheme used for the top-quark mass both on the total and differential cross section.

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arXiv2022

Gluon Fusion Production at NLO: Merging the Transverse Momentum and the High-Energy Expansions

The virtual corrections to $gg\to HH$ and $gg\to ZH$ are analytically evaluated combining an expansion in the small transverse momentum of the final particles with an expansion valid at high energies. The two expansion methods describe complementary regions of the phase space and we merge their results, extending the range of validity of both expansions using Padé approximants. We show that this approach can reproduce the available numerical results retaining the exact top quark mass dependence with an accuracy well below the 1% level. Our results allow a fast and flexible evaluation of the virtual corrections of the considered processes. Furthermore, they are available in different renormalisation schemes of the top quark mass.

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arXiv2021

Virtual corrections to $gg\to ZH$ via a transverse momentum expansion

We compute the next-to-leading virtual QCD corrections to the partonic cross section of the production of a Higgs boson in association with a $Z$ boson in gluon fusion. The calculation is based on the recently introduced method of evaluating the amplitude via an expansion in terms of a small transverse momentum. We generalize the method to the case of different masses in the final state and of a process not symmetric in the forward-backward direction exchange. Our analytic approach gives a very good approximation (better than percent) of the partonic cross section in the center of mass energy region up to $\sim 750 \,\textrm{GeV}$, where at the LHC $\sim 98\%$ of the total hadronic cross section is concentrated.

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arXiv2021

Higgs boson self-coupling constraints from single Higgs, double Higgs and Electroweak measurements

We set constraints on the trilinear Higgs boson self-coupling, $λ_3$, by combining the information coming from the $W$ mass and leptonic effective Weinberg angle, electroweak precision observables, with the single Higgs boson analyses targeting the $γγ,\, ZZ^*,\, WW^*, \,τ^+ τ^-$ and $\bar{b} b$ decay channels and the double Higgs boson analyses in the $b\bar{b}b\bar{b}, \, b\bar{b}b τ^+ τ^-$ and $b\bar{b}b γγ$ decay channels, performed by the ATLAS collaboration. With the assumption that the new physics affects only the Higgs potential, values outside the interval $ -1.8\, λ_3^{\rm SM} < λ_3 < 9.2 \, λ_3^{\rm SM}$ are excluded at $95\%$ confidence level. With respect to similar analyses that do not include the information coming from the electroweak precision observables our analysis shows a stronger constraint on both positive and negative values of $λ_3$.

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arXiv2019

Full two-loop QCD corrections to the Higgs mass in the MSSM with heavy superpartners

We improve the determination of the Higgs-boson mass in the MSSM with heavy superpartners, by computing the two-loop threshold corrections to the quartic Higgs coupling that involve both the strong and the electroweak gauge couplings. Combined with earlier results, this completes the calculation of the two-loop QCD corrections to the quartic coupling at the SUSY scale. We also compare different computations of the relation between the quartic coupling and the pole mass of the Higgs boson at the EW scale. We find that the numerical impact of the new corrections on the prediction for the Higgs mass is modest, but comparable to the accuracy of the Higgs-mass measurement at the LHC.

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arXiv2018

A Numerical Routine for the Crossed Vertex Diagram with a Massive-Particle Loop

We present an evaluation of the two master integrals for the crossed vertex diagram with a closed loop of top quarks that allows for an easy numerical implementation. The differential equations obeyed by the master integrals are used to generate power series expansions centered around all the singular points. The different series are then matched numerically with high accuracy in intermediate points. The expansions allow a fast and precise numerical calculation of the two master integrals in all the regions of the phase space. A numerical routine that implements these expansions is presented.

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arXiv2018

An Analytical Method for the NLO QCD Corrections to Double-Higgs Production

We propose a new method to calculate analytically higher-order perturbative corrections and we apply it to the calculation of the two-loop virtual corrections to Higgs pair production through gluon fusion. The method is based on the expansion of the amplitudes in terms of a small Higgs transverse momentum. This approach gives a very good approximation (better than per-mille) of the partonic cross section in the center of mass energy region $\sqrt{\hat{s}} \lesssim 750$ GeV, where $\sim95\%$ of the total hadronic cross section is concentrated. The presented method is general and can be applied in a straightforward way to the computation of virtual higher-order corrections to other $2\to2$ processes, representing an improvement with respect to calculations based on heavy mass expansions.

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arXiv2017

Constraints on the trilinear Higgs self coupling from precision observables

We present the constraints on the trilinear Higgs self coupling that arise from loop effects in the $W$ boson mass and the effective sine predictions. We compute the contributions to these precision observables of two-loop diagrams featuring an anomalous trilinear Higgs self coupling. We explicitly show that the same anomalous contributions are found if the analysis of $m_{ \scriptscriptstyle W}$ and $\mbox{$\sin^2 θ^{\rm lep}_{\rm eff}$}$ is performed in a theory in which the scalar potential in the Standard Model Lagrangian is modified by an (in)finite tower of $(Φ^\dagger Φ)^n$ terms with $Φ$ the Higgs doublet. We find that the bounds on the trilinear Higgs self coupling from precision observables are competitive with those coming from Higgs pair production.

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arXiv2016

Probing the Higgs self coupling via single Higgs production at the LHC

We propose a method to determine the trilinear Higgs self coupling that is alternative to the direct measurement of Higgs pair production total cross sections and differential distributions. The method relies on the effects that electroweak loops featuring an anomalous trilinear coupling would imprint on single Higgs production at the LHC. We first calculate these contributions to all the phenomenologically relevant Higgs production ($gg{\rm F}$, VBF, $WH$, $ZH$, $t\bar tH$) and decay ($γγ$, $WW^{*}/ZZ^{*}\to 4f$, $b\bar b$, $ττ$) modes at the LHC and then estimate the sensitivity to the trilinear coupling via a one-parameter fit to the single Higgs measurements at the LHC 8 TeV. We find that the bounds on the self coupling are already competitive with those from Higgs pair production and will be further improved in the current and next LHC runs.

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arXiv2016

On the two-loop virtual QCD corrections to Higgs boson pair production in the Standard Model

We compute the next-to-leading order virtual QCD corrections to Higgs pair production via gluon fusion. We present analytic results for the two-loop contributions to the spin-0 and spin-2 form factors in the amplitude. The reducible contributions, given by the double-triangle diagrams, are evaluated exactly while the two-loop irreducible diagrams are evaluated by an asymptotic expansion in heavy top quark mass up to and including terms of $\mathcal{O}(1/m_t^8)$. Assuming that the finite top-quark mass effects are of similar size in the entire range of partonic energies we estimate that mass effects can reduce the hadronic cross section by at most $10\%$.

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arXiv2014

The $m_{\scriptscriptstyle W}-m_{\scriptscriptstyle Z}$ interdependence in the Standard Model: a new scrutiny

The $m_{\scriptscriptstyle W}-m_{\scriptscriptstyle Z}$ interdependence in the Standard Model is studied at $O(α^2) $ in the $\overline{MS}$ scheme. The relevant radiative parameters, $Δ\hatα (μ),\, Δ\hat{r}_{W},\, \hatρ$ are computed at the full two-loop level augmented by higher-order QCD contributions and by resummation of reducible contributions. We obtain $m_{\scriptscriptstyle W} = 80.357 \pm 0.009 \pm 0.003$ GeV where the errors refer to the parametric and theoretical uncertainties, respectively. A comparison with the known result in the On-Shell scheme gives a difference of $ \approx 6$ MeV. As a byproduct of our calculation we also obtain the $\overline{MS}$ electromagnetic coupling and the Weinberg angle at the top mass scale, $\hatα (M_t) = (127.73)^{-1} \pm 0.0000003$ and $\sin^{2}\!\hatθ_{W} (M_t) = 0.23462 \pm 0.00012$.

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