arXiv subjects

Jinheung Kim

Publications and source records attributed to Jinheung Kim.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Cutoff Scales in the Type-I 2HDM with Strongly First-Order Electroweak Phase Transitions: One-Step versus Multistep

We investigate the UV viability of strongly first-order electroweak phase transitions (SFOEWPTs) in the Type-I two-Higgs-doublet model (2HDM), considering both the Normal and Inverted Scenarios (NS and IS). For each scenario, we scan $5\times10^6$ physical parameter points and determine the cutoff scale $Λ_{\rm c}$ through a two-loop renormalization-group analysis, where $Λ_{\rm c}$ is set by the first violation of perturbativity, tree-level unitarity, or vacuum stability. For one-step transitions, the SFOEWPT strength and high-scale UV validity exhibit a pronounced tension: the maximal transition strength $ξ_p$ decreases with increasing $Λ_{\rm c}$. Requiring $Λ_{\rm c}>10~\text{TeV}$ limits the transition strength to $ξ_p\lesssim2.7$ in the NS and $ξ_p\lesssim1.8$ in the IS, while requiring $ξ_p>1$ restricts the cutoff scale to $Λ_{\rm c}\lesssim O(10^6)~\text{GeV}$ in both scenarios. Multistep transitions exhibit qualitatively different behavior. Two-step SFOEWPTs, found in appreciable numbers only in the IS, can remain theoretically consistent up to $Λ_{\rm c}\sim O(10^{15})~\text{GeV}$ while reaching $ξ_p\simeq7$, without exhibiting the pronounced $ξ_p$-$Λ_{\rm c}$ anticorrelation characteristic of one-step transitions. Imposing UV validity also sharpens the phenomenologically viable parameter space. In particular, increasing the minimum allowed cutoff scale for two-step SFOEWPTs in the IS favors a light scalar spectrum and moderate $\tanβ$, providing a promising target for current and future collider searches.

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arXiv2026

Strong First-Order Electroweak Phase Transitions and Gravitational Waves in the Normal Two-Higgs-Doublet Model: A Comparative Study of the Four Yukawa Types and Thermal Resummation Schemes

We present a comprehensive global analysis of strong first-order electroweak phase transitions (SFOEWPTs) and their associated stochastic gravitational-wave (GW) backgrounds within the Normal Scenario of the $CP$-conserving Two-Higgs-Doublet Model (2HDM) with softly broken $Z_2$ symmetry, where the lighter $CP$-even scalar is identified as the observed $125~\text{GeV}$ Higgs boson. Across all four Yukawa structures (Type-I, II, X, and Y), we track the finite-temperature vacuum evolution, transition dynamics, and GW signatures. To quantify the theoretical uncertainty associated with thermal resummation, we perform a detailed comparison between the Parwani and Arnold--Espinosa prescriptions. While both schemes find that single-step paths overwhelmingly dominate successful transitions and consistently favor the Higgs alignment limit, the resulting SFOEWPT parameter space exhibits a pronounced scheme dependence. The Arnold-Espinosa prescription severely restricts the viable parameter space (with upper bounds on the heavy-scalar masses below approximately 800 GeV) and introduces an extreme parametric sensitivity that produces fragmented distributions and irregular voids in the heavy-scalar mass planes. In contrast, the more stable Parwani prescription allows heavy-scalar masses below $\sim 1.6~\text{TeV}$. We further identify highly restricted GW parameter regions capable of yielding a four-year LISA signal-to-noise ratio above 10, while demonstrating that the acoustic GW source is generically short-lived, leading to a substantial suppression of the predicted signal amplitude. Our results highlight the strong complementarity between future space-based GW observations and high-energy collider searches in probing the cosmological viability of the 2HDM.

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arXiv2026

New physics in toponium's shadow?

ATLAS and CMS have recently reported enhancements in the top-antitop production rate near threshold, a region where non-perturbative QCD dynamics associated with toponium formation become relevant. We investigate how this behaviour is modified in the presence of a neutral pseudoscalar that couples to gluons and top quarks, using an effective description that consistently incorporates perturbative Standard Model and new physics contributions, their interference and non-perturbative threshold effects. We show that the combined effect of those ingredients markedly shapes the viable region of the pseudoscalar parameter space, particularly for narrow resonances with masses close to twice the top mass. While Standard Model threshold effects could explain a sizeable part of the measured enhancements, the current data remain compatible with additional contributions from pseudoscalar interactions.

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arXiv2025

Multi-step Strong First-Order Electroweak Phase Transitions in the Inverted Type-I 2HDM: Parameter Space, Gravitational Waves, and Collider Phenomenology

We investigate the electroweak phase transition (EWPT) within the inverted Type-I two-Higgs-doublet model, where the observed $125\,\text{GeV}$ Higgs boson is identified as the heavier \textit{CP}-even scalar $H$. Through a comprehensive parameter-space scan consistent with current theoretical and experimental constraints, we identify regions supporting strong first-order EWPTs (SFOEWPTs), including multi-step transitions. We find that two-step SFOEWPTs occur as frequently as one-step transitions, while three-step transitions can occur, albeit rarely. Crucially, the parameter spaces inducing one-step and two-step transitions are partially yet significantly separated: one-step transitions restrict the charged Higgs mass and $\tanβ$ to $m_{H^\pm}\in[295,441]\,\text{GeV}$ and $\tanβ\in[4.2,8.8]$, whereas two-step transitions allow $m_{H^\pm}\in[100,350]\,\text{GeV}$ and $\tanβ\in[2.5,45.4]$. Notably, negative values of $\sin(β-α)$ arise almost exclusively in one-step scenarios. We present the calculation of gravitational wave (GW) signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) at LISA for multi-step EWPTs, finding that detectable GW signals ($\text{SNR}>10$) predominantly emerge from two-step transitions. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the correlation between the vacuum uplifting measure $ΔF_0$ and $ξ_c$ persists in one-step transitions and breaks down in multi-step cases. Finally, we perform a dedicated collider analysis for representative SFOEWPT parameter points at the $1.5\,\text{TeV}$ CLIC, identifying $e^+ e^- \to H^+ H^- \to W^+ W^- hh$ as a promising discovery channel. Enhanced $h\toγγ$ branching ratios for negative $\sin(β-α)$ motivate two complementary golden final states, $W^+ W^- b\bar{b} τ^+ τ^-$ and $W^+ W^- b\bar{b}γγ$, which demonstrate high discovery potential due to negligible Standard Model backgrounds.

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arXiv2025

Discovery Prospects for the Light Charged Higgs Boson Decay to an Off-Shell Top Quark and a Bottom Quark at Future High-Energy Colliders

The charged Higgs boson ($H^\pm$) with a mass below the top quark mass remains a viable possibility within the Type-I two-Higgs-doublet model under current constraints. While previous LHC searches have primarily focused on the $H^\pm\toτ^\pmν$ decay mode, the decay channel into an off-shell top quark and a bottom quark, $H^\pm \rightarrow t^*b$, is leading or subleading for $H^\pm$ masses between 130 and 170 GeV. This study investigates the discovery potential of future colliders for this off-shell decay mode through pair-produced charged Higgs bosons decaying via $H^+H^-\rightarrow t^*bτν\rightarrow bbjjτν$. We perform signal-to-background analyses at the HL-LHC and a prospective 100 TeV proton-proton collider, employing cut-flow strategies and the Boosted Decision Tree method. However, due to the softness of the $b$ jets, signal significances fall below detection thresholds at these facilities. Extending our study to a multi-TeV muon collider (MuC), we demonstrate that a 3 TeV MuC achieves high signal significance, surpassing the $5σ$ threshold with an integrated luminosity of 1 ab$^{-1}$ and a 10\% background uncertainty. Specifically, for $M_{H^\pm} = 130$, 150, and 170 GeV, the significances are 13.7, 13.5, and 6.06, respectively. In contrast, a 10 TeV MuC requires 10 ab$^{-1}$ to achieve similar results. Our findings highlight the critical role of the MuC in probing the new signal channel $H^\pm\rightarrow t^*b$, offering a promising avenue for future charged Higgs boson searches involving off-shell top quarks.

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arXiv2025

Emerging Photon Jets in the Hadronic Calorimeter: A Novel Signature of Neutral Long-Lived Particles at the LHC

We propose a novel collider signature for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs): the emerging photon jet in the hadronic calorimeter (HCAL). This signature arises when a neutral LLP decays into photons within the HCAL, producing an electromagnetic shower without associated charged tracks or energy deposits in the electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL). To demonstrate the viability of this approach, we consider the fermiophobic Higgs boson $h_{\rm f}$ in the Type-I two-Higgs-doublet model as a representative scenario. In the ultralight regime ($m_{h_{\rm f}} < 1$ GeV), $h_{\rm f}$ decays exclusively into a photon pair via loop-induced processes, resulting in a suppressed width and consequently a long lifetime. Focusing on the golden channel $pp \to H^\pm h_{\rm f} \to W^\pm h_{\rm f} h_{\rm f}$, we analyze the exotic final state in which one $h_{\rm f}$ decays in the ECAL and appears as a highly collimated photon jet (reconstructed as a single photon), while the other decays within the HCAL, producing an emerging photon jet. Through a detailed signal-to-background analysis incorporating realistic detector effects via fast simulation, we demonstrate that this signature achieves discovery-level sensitivity at the HL-LHC across a broad region of parameter space consistent with theoretical and experimental constraints. While our study focuses on the fermiophobic Higgs, the emerging photon jet in the HCAL constitutes a broadly applicable and previously unexplored strategy for detecting neutral LLPs decaying into photons, opening a new avenue in LLP searches at colliders.

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arXiv2025

Probing a Heavy Dark $Z$ Boson at Multi-TeV Muon Colliders: Leveraging the Optimized Recoil Mass Technique

We investigate the discovery potential of multi-TeV muon colliders for a heavy dark $Z$ boson ($Z_{\rm D}$) with a mass above 1 TeV through the associated production channel $μ^+μ^- \to Z_{\rm D}γ$. This process enables precise $M_{Z_{\rm D}}$ reconstruction using the photon recoil mass ($m_{\rm recoil}$). Focusing on the $Z_{\rm D} \to jjX$ and $Z_{\rm D} \to e^+e^-$ decay modes, we present strategies for achieving high sensitivity to the kinetic mixing parameter $\varepsilon$ at 3, 6, and 10 TeV muon colliders with integrated luminosities of 1, 4, and 10 ab$^{-1}$ respectively, assuming $Z_{\rm D}$ decays exclusively into Standard Model particles. A key innovation is our optimized implementation of $M_{Z_{\rm D}}$-dependent cuts on $m_{\rm recoil}$, which accounts for the energy-dependent detector response. For heavier $Z_{\rm D}$, the associated photon becomes less energetic, leading to better photon energy resolution and thus enabling more stringent $m_{\rm recoil}$ cuts. This approach enhances $\varepsilon$ sensitivity for heavier $Z_{\rm D}$. Conversely, for lighter $Z_{\rm D}$, the lower-energy electron pair from $Z_{\rm D} \to e^+e^-$ enables tighter cuts on the invariant mass of the electron pair ($m_{ee}$), providing better sensitivity in the lighter mass regime. Combining these complementary $m_{\rm recoil}$- and $m_{ee}$-based selections with both $jjX$ and $e^+e^-$ channels, we achieve $\varepsilon$ sensitivity down to $O\left(10^{-3}\right)$ as $M_{Z_{\rm D}}$ approaches $\sqrt{s}$, substantially surpassing the reach of a 100 TeV proton-proton collider. Even if $Z_{\rm D}$ decays into dark-sector particles, the recoil mass method remains effective, establishing muon colliders as powerful facilities for exploring heavy dark sectors.

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arXiv2024

A Panoramic Study of $K$-Factors for 111 Processes at the 14 TeV LHC

In this comprehensive study, we investigate $K$-factors ($K=σ_{\text{NLO}}/σ_{\text{LO}}\equiv 1+δK$) for a broad array of Standard Model processes at the 14 TeV LHC, which are pivotal for background assessments in Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) searches. Using MadGraph5_aMC@NLO, we calculate the leading-order and next-to-leading order (NLO) cross-sections and compute the corresponding $K$-factors for 111 processes. Our analysis reveals $K$-factors ranging from 1.005 for $pp \to jjj$ to 4.221 for $pp\to W^\pm γγγ$. Key findings include: (i) processes involving photons display significantly high $K$-factors, attributed to gluon-initiated processes at NLO; (ii) processes with multiple particle productions, particularly those involving vector bosons, exhibit elevated $K$-factors due to multiple real emission processes; (iii) there exists an inverse correlation between the number of jets and $δK$, indicating that the addition of jets generally leads to a decrease in $δK$. Additionally, our investigation into differential $K$-factors relative to transverse momentum and invariant mass shows notable increases with higher $p_T$, but minimal changes with invariant mass. This study highlights the indispensable role of precise $K$-factor evaluations for accurate interpretations of BSM search outcomes.

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arXiv2023

Probing Light Fermiophobic Higgs Boson via diphoton jets at the HL-LHC

In this study, we explore the phenomenological signatures associated with a light fermiophobic Higgs boson, $h_{\rm f}$, within the type-I two-Higgs-doublet model at the HL-LHC. Our meticulous parameter scan illuminates an intriguing mass range for $m_{h_{\rm f}}$, spanning $[1,10]{\;{\rm GeV}}$. This mass range owes its viability to substantial parameter points, largely due to the inherent challenges of detecting the soft decay products of $h_{\rm f}$ at contemporary high-energy colliders. Given that this light $h_{\rm f}$ ensures $Br(h_{\rm f}\toγγ)\simeq 1$, $Br(H^\pm \to h_{\rm f} W^\pm)\simeq 1$, and $M_{H^\pm}\lesssim 330{\;{\rm GeV}}$, we propose a golden discovery channel: $pp\to h_{\rm f}H^\pm\to γγγγ\,l^\pmν$, where $l^\pm$ includes $e^\pm$ and $μ^\pm$. However, a significant obstacle arises as the two photons from the $h_{\rm f}$ decay mostly merge into a single jet due to their proximity within $ΔR<0.4$. This results in a final state characterized by two jets, rather than four isolated photons, thus intensifying the QCD backgrounds. To tackle this, we devise a strategy within \textsc{Delphes} to identify jets with two leading subparticles as photons, termed diphoton jets. Our thorough detector-level simulations across 18 benchmark points predominantly show signal significances exceeding the $5σ$ threshold at an integrated luminosity of $3{\;{\rm ab}^{-1}}$. Furthermore, our approach facilitates accurate mass reconstructions for both $m_{h_{\rm f}}$ and $M_{H^\pm}$. Notably, in the intricate scenarios with heavy charged Higgs bosons, our application of machine learning techniques provides a significant boost in significance.

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arXiv2023

Exploring lepton flavor violation phenomena of the $Z$ and Higgs bosons at electron-proton colliders

We comprehensively study the potential for discovering lepton flavor violation (LFV) phenomena associated with the $Z$ and Higgs bosons at the LHeC and FCC-he. Our meticulous investigation reveals the remarkable suitability of electron-proton colliders for probing these rare new physics signals. This is due to the distinct advantages they offer, including negligible pileups, minimal QCD backgrounds, electron-beam polarization $P_e$, and the capability of distinguishing the charged-current from neutral-current processes. In our pursuit of LFV of the $Z$ boson, we employ an innovative indirect probe, utilizing the $t$-channel mediation of the $Z$ boson in the process $p e^- \to j τ^-$. For LFV in the Higgs sector, we scrutinize direct observations of the on-shell decays of $H\to e^+τ^-$ and $H\to μ^\pmτ^\mp$ through the charged-current production of $H$. Focusing on $H\to e^+τ^-$ proves highly efficient due to the absence of positron-related backgrounds in the charged-current modes at electron-proton colliders. Through a dedicated signal-to-background analysis with the boosted decision tree algorithm, we demonstrate that the LHeC with the total integrated luminosity of $1{\,{\rm ab}^{-1}}$ can put significantly lower $2σ$ bounds than the HL-LHC with $3{\,{\rm ab}^{-1}}$. Specifically, we find ${\rm{Br}}(Z\to eτ)< 2.2 \times 10^{-7}$, ${\rm{Br}}(H\to eτ) <1.7 \times 10^{-4} $, and ${\rm{Br}}(H\to μτ) < 1.0 \times 10^{-4}$. Furthermore, our study uncovers the exceptional precision of the FCC-he in measuring the LFV signatures of the $Z$ and Higgs bosons, which indicates the potential for future discoveries in this captivating field.

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arXiv2023

$τ^\pm νγγ$ and $\ell^\pm \ell^\pm γγ{\rlap{\,/}{E}_T} X$ to probe the fermiophobic Higgs boson with high cutoff scales

The light fermiophobic Higgs boson $h_{\rm f}$ in the type-I two-Higgs-doublet model can evade the current search programs at the LHC since its production through the quark-antiquark annihilation and gluon fusion is not feasible. The particle can be more elusive if the model retains stability up to the Planck scale because the efficient discovery channels are missing from the existing search chart. Through the comprehensive scanning, we show that all the viable parameter points with the Planck cutoff scale require $ m_{h_{\rm f}} \in[80,\, 120]{\;{\rm GeV}}$ and $M_{A/H^\pm} \in [90,\,150]{\;{\rm GeV}}$. Since $h_{\rm f}h_{\rm f}\to γγW^+ W^-$ and $H^\pm \to τ^\pm ν/h_{\rm f}W^\pm$ are dominant in this case, two final states are more efficient to probe $h_{\rm f}$ than the conventional search mode of $4γ+W^\pm/Z$. One is $τ^\pmνγγ$ from $pp \to H^\pm(\toτ^\pmν) h_{\rm f}(\to γγ)$ and the other is $\ell^\pm \ell^\pm γγ{\rlap{\,/}{E}_T} X$ ($\ell^\pm=e^\pm,μ^\pm$) from $pp \to H^\pm(\to h_{\rm f}W^\pm) h_{\rm f} \to γγW^+ W^-W^\pm $, $pp \to H^\pm(\to h_{\rm f} W^\pm) A(\to h_{\rm f} Z) \to γγW^+ W^- W^\pm Z $, and $pp \to H^+(\to h_{\rm f} W^+)H^-(\to h_{\rm f} W^-)\to γγW^+ W^- W^+ W^-$. The inclusive $\ell^\pm \ell^\pm γγ{\rlap{\,/}{E}_T} X$ consists of a same-sign dilepton, two prompt photons, and missing transverse energy. We perform the signal-background analysis at the detector level. With the total integrated luminosity of $300\;{\rm fb}^{-1}$ and the 5\% background uncertainty, two proposed channels at the 14 TeV LHC yield signal significances above five in the entire viable parameter space of the fermiophobic type-I with a high cutoff scale.

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arXiv2023

Disentangling the high and low cutoff scales via the trilinear Higgs couplings in the type-I two-Higgs-doublet model

The type-I two-Higgs-doublet model in the inverted Higgs scenario can retain the theoretical stability all the way up to the Planck scale. The Planck-cutoff scale, $Λ_{\rm cut}^{\rm Planck}$, directly impacts the mass spectra such that all the extra Higgs boson masses should be light below about 160 GeV. However, the observation of the light masses of new Higgs bosons does not indicate the high cutoff scale because a low cutoff scale can also accommodate the light masses. Over the viable parameter points that satisfy the theoretical requirements and the experimental constraints, we show that the trilinear Higgs couplings for low $Λ_{\rm cut}$ are entirely different from those for the Planck-cutoff scale. The most sensitive coupling to the cutoff scale is from the $h$-$h$-$h$ vertex, where $h$ is the lighter CP-even Higgs boson at a mass below 125 GeV. Among the multi-Higgs productions mediated by Higgs bosons, the gluon fusion processes of $gg \to h h $ and $gg \to AA$ are insensitive to the cutoff scale, yielding a small variation of $\mathcal{O}(1)\,{\rm fb}$ according to $Λ_{\rm cut}$. The smoking-gun signature is from the triple Higgs production of $q\bar{q}' \to W^* \to H^\pm hh$, which solely depends on the $h$-$h$-$h$ vertex. The cross section for $Λ_{\rm cut}=1\,{\rm TeV}$ is about $10^3$ times larger than that for the Planck-cutoff scale. Since the decay modes of $H^\pm \to W^* h/W^* A$ and $h/A \to bb$ are dominant, the process yields the $6b+\ellν$ final state, which enjoys an almost background-free environment. Consequently, the precision measurement of $pp \to H^\pm hh$ can probe the cutoff scale of the model.

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arXiv2022

Status of the two-Higgs-doublet model in light of the CDF $m_W$ measurement

The most recent $W$-boson mass measurement by the CDF collaboration with a substantially reduced uncertainty indicates a significant deviation from the standard model prediction, as large as $7σ$ if taken literally. Then the Peskin-Takeuchi parameters of $S$ and $T$ shift to larger values, which has profound consequences in searching for physics beyond the SM. In the framework of two-Higgs-doublet models, we study the effect of the new $W$-boson mass measurement on the parameter space. Combined with other constraints including theoretical requirements, flavor-changing neutral currents in $B$ physics, the cutoff scale above 1 TeV, Higgs precision data, and direct collider search limits from the LEP, Tevatron, and LHC experiments, we find upper bounds on the masses of the heavy Higgs bosons: $M_{H, A, H^\pm} \lesssim 1.1$ TeV in type I, II, X, and Y for the normal Higgs scenario; $M_{H^\pm} \lesssim 450 $ GeV and $M_{A} \lesssim 420 $ GeV in type I and X for the inverted scenario where the heavier $CP$-even Higgs boson is the observed one. Another important finding is that type II and type Y in the inverted scenario are completely excluded. Such unprecedented findings imply that the upcoming LHC run can readily close out a large portion of the still-available parameter space.

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arXiv2022

CDF $W$ boson mass and muon $g-2$ in type-X two-Higgs-doublet model with a Higgs-phobic light pseudoscalar

The recent measurement of the $W$ boson mass by the CDF collaboration adds an anomaly to the long-standing discrepancy in the muon anomalous magnetic moment, $Δa_μ$. Although type-X in the two-Higgs-doublet model provides an attractive solution to $Δa_μ$ through a light pseudoscalar $A$, the model confronts the exotic Higgs decays of $h\to AA$ and the lepton flavor universality data in the $τ$ and $Z$ decays. To save the model, we propose that the light pseudoscalar be Higgs-phobic. Through the random scanning over the entire parameter space, we perform a comparative study of the Higgs-phobic type-X with and without the CDF $m_W$ measurement, called the CDF and PDG cases respectively. Both cases can explain the two anomalies as well as all the other constraints but have significant differences in the finally allowed parameter space. For example, a small region with almost degenerate masses of new Higgs bosons around 100 GeV is allowed only in the PDG case. The cutoff scale of the model is also studied via the analysis of renormalization group equations, which reaches up to $10^5~{\rm GeV}$ ($10^7~{\rm GeV}$) in the CDF (PDG) case. Since the dominant decay modes are $A\to ττ$, $H \to Z A$, and $H^\pm\to W^\pm A$ in most of the viable parameter space, we propose the $4τ+VV'$ states as the golden discovery channel at the LHC.

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arXiv2022

Fermiophobic light Higgs boson in the type-I two-Higgs-doublet model

The null results in the new physics searches at the LHC do not exclude an intermediate-mass new particle if it is fermiophobic. Type-I in the two-Higgs-doublet model accommodates a fermiophobic light Higgs boson $h_{\rm f}$ if $α=π/2$. The heavier $CP$-even Higgs boson explains the observed Higgs boson at a mass of 125 GeV. We first obtain the still-valid parameter space satisfying the theoretical requirements, flavor-changing neutral currents in $B$ physics, the cutoff scale above 1 TeV, Higgs precision data, and the direct collider search bounds at high energy colliders. We also study the high energy scale behavior via the analysis of the renormalization group equations. An important result is that the fermiophobic type-I can maintain the stability of the scalar potential all the way up to the Planck scale if $m_{h_{\rm f}}$ is larger than half the observed Higgs boson mass. Since the parameter space is severely curtailed, especially for the high cutoff scale, the signal rates in the multi-photon states of new Higgs bosons at the LHC are well predicted. We suggest the processes of $4γ+VV'$ ($V^{(\prime)}=Z, W^\pm$) as the golden discovery channels for the model since they enjoy an almost background-free environment and substantial selection efficiencies for four photons.

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arXiv2022

Comprehensive study of the light charged Higgs boson in the type-I two-Higgs-doublet model

In the type-I two-Higgs-doublet model, existing theoretical and experimental constraints still permit the light charged Higgs boson with a mass below the top quark mass. We present a complete roadmap for the light charged Higgs boson at the LHC through the comprehensive phenomenology study, focusing on the normal scenario where the lighter \textit{CP}-even Higgs boson is the observed Higgs boson. In type-I, it is challenging to simultaneously accommodate the light mass of the charged Higgs boson and the constraints from theory, electroweak precision data, Higgs data, $b\to s γ$, and direct search bounds. Consequently, the parameter space is extremely curtailed, which predicts somewhat definite phenomenological signatures. We find that the mass of the pseudoscalar Higgs boson, $M_A$, is the most crucial factor in the phenomenology of the charged Higgs boson. If $M_A$ is light, the charged Higgs boson decays mainly into $A W^\pm$. When $M_A$ is above the $A W^\pm$ threshold, the dominant decay mode is into $ τ^\pm ν$. Over the whole viable parameter space, we study all the possible production and decay modes of charged Higgs bosons at the LHC, and suggest three efficient channels: (i) $pp \to H^+ H^-\to [τν] [τν]$; (ii) $pp \to HA/HH/AA \to H^\pm W^\mp H^\pm W^\mp \to [τν] [τν] W W$; (iii) $pp \to H^+ H^-\to [b \bar b W ] [b \bar b W ] $. Based on the sophisticated signal-background analyses including detector simulation, we showed that the significance of the first final state is large, that of the second one is marginal around three, but the third one suffers from huge $t\bar t$ related backgrounds.

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arXiv2021

Type-X two Higgs doublet model in light of the muon $\mathbf{g-2}$: confronting Higgs and collider data

The recent Fermilab measurement of the muon anomalous magnetic moment yields $4.2 σ$ deviations from the SM prediction when combined with the BNL E821 experiment results. In the Type-X two Higgs doublet model, we study the consequence of imposing the observed muon $g-2$, along with the constraints from theoretical stabilities, electroweak oblique parameters, Higgs precision data, and direct searches. For a comprehensive study, we scan the whole parameter space in two scenarios, the normal scenario where $h_{\rm SM} = h$ and the inverted scenario where $h_{\rm SM}=H$, where $h$ ($H$) is the light (heavy) CP-even Higgs boson. We found that large $\tanβ$ (above 100) and light pseudoscalar mass $M_A$ are required to explain the muon $g-2$ anomaly. This breaks the theoretical stability unless the scalar masses satisfy $M_A^2 \simeq M_{H^\pm}^2 \simeq m_{12}^2 \tanβ\approx M_{H/h}^2$. The direct search bounds at the LEP and LHC exclude the light $A$ window with $M_A \lesssim 62.5~$GeV. We also show that the observed electron anomalous magnetic moment is consistent with the model prediction, but the lepton flavor universality data in the $τ$ and $Z$ decays are not. For a separate exploration of the model, we propose the golden mode $pp \to A h/AH \to 4 τ$ at the HL-LHC.

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arXiv2021

Studies of nonresonant Higgs pair production at electron-proton colliders

The measurement of the Higgs quartic coupling modifier between a Higgs boson pair and a vector boson pair, $κ_{2V}$, is expected to be achieved from vector-boson fusion (VBF) production of a Higgs boson pair. However, this process involves another unmeasured parameter, the trilinear Higgs self-coupling modifier $κ_{λ}$. A sensitivity analysis should target both parameters. Since the LHC cannot avoid the gluon fusion pollution, which becomes severe for non-SM $κ_{λ}$, an electron-proton collider is more appropriate for the comprehensive measurement. In this regard, we study the VBF production of a Higgs boson pair in the $b\bar{b}b\bar{b}$ final state at the LHeC and FCC-he. Performing detailed analysis using the simulated dataset, we devise the search strategy specialized at the LHeC and FCC-he and give a prediction for the sensitivity to both $κ_{2V}$ and $κ_{λ}$. We find that the two electron-proton colliders have high potential: the LHeC has similar exclusion prospects as the HL-LHC; the FCC-he is extremely efficient, excluding the parameter space outside $κ_{2V} \in [0.8, 1.2]$ and $κ_{λ}\in [1, 2.5]$ at 95% C.L. for the total luminosity of $10$ ab$^{-1}$ and 10% uncertainty on the background yields.

hep-ph↗