arXiv subjects

Stefan Liebler

Publications and source records attributed to Stefan Liebler.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

Off-shell effects in Higgs processes at a linear collider and implications for the LHC

The importance of off-shell contributions is discussed for $H\to VV^{(*)}$ with $V\in\{Z,W\}$ for large invariant masses $m_{VV}$ involving a standard model (SM)-like Higgs boson with $m_H=125$GeV at a linear collider (LC). Both dominant production processes $e^+e^-\to ZH\to ZVV^{(*)}$ and $e^+e^-\toν\barνH\toν\barνVV^{(*)}$ are taken into account, and the signal processes are compared with background yielding the same final state. The relative size of the off-shell contributions is strongly dependent on the centre-of-mass energy. These contributions can have an important impact on the determination of cross sections and branching ratios. However, the combination of on- and off-shell contributions can also be utilised to lift degeneracies allowing to test higher-dimensional operators, unitarity and light and heavy Higgs interferences in extended Higgs sectors. The latter is demonstrated in the context of a 2-Higgs-Doublet model. We also discuss the impact of these aspects for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) where they are relevant. The importance of a precise measurement of the Higgs mass for on-shell contributions in $H\to VV^{(*)}$ is emphasized. A particular focus is put on methods for extracting the Higgs width at a LC. Off-shell contributions are shown to have a negligible impact on the width determination at low $\sqrt{s}$ when applying the $Z$ recoil method to extract branching ratios in combination with an appropriate determination of a partial width. On the other hand, off-shell contributions can be exploited to constrain the Higgs width in a similar fashion as in recent analyses at the LHC. It is demonstrated that this approach, besides relying heavily on theoretical assumptions, is affected by the negative interference of Higgs and background contributions that may limit the sensitivity that is achievable with the highest foreseeable statistics at the LHC and a LC.

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arXiv2015

Neutral Higgs production at proton colliders in the CP-conserving NMSSM

We discuss neutral Higgs boson production through gluon fusion and bottom-quark annihilation in the CP-conserving $\mathbb{Z}_3$-invariant Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM) at proton colliders. For gluon fusion we adapt known asymptotic expansions in supersymmetric particles for the inclusion of next-to-leading order contributions of squarks and gluinos from the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) and include electro-weak corrections involving light quarks. Together with the resummation of higher order sbottom contributions in the bottom-quark Yukawa coupling for both production processes we thus present accurate cross section predictions implemented in a new release of the code SusHi. We elaborate on the new features of an additional SU$(2)_L$ singlet in the production of CP-even and -odd Higgs bosons with respect to the MSSM and include a short discussion of theory uncertainties.

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arXiv2015

Off-shell effects in Higgs decays to heavy gauge bosons and signal-background interference in Higgs decays to photons at a linear collider

We discuss off-shell contributions in Higgs decays to heavy gauge bosons $H\rightarrow VV^{(*)}$ with $V\in\lbrace Z,W\rbrace$ for a standard model (SM) Higgs boson for both dominant production processes $e^+e^-\rightarrow ZH\rightarrow ZVV^{(*)}$ and $e^+e^-\rightarrow ν\barνH\rightarrow ν\barνVV^{(*)}$ at a (linear) $e^+e^-$ collider. Dependent on the centre-of-mass energy off-shell effects are sizable and important for the understanding of the electroweak symmetry breaking mechanism. Moreover we shortly investigate the effects of the signal-background interference in $H\rightarrow γγ$ decays for the Higgsstrahlung initiated process $e^+e^-\rightarrow Zγγ$, where we report a similar shift in the invariant mass peak of the two photons as found for the LHC. For both effects we discuss the sensitivity to the total Higgs width.

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arXiv2014

CP violation in bilinear R-parity violation and its consequences for the early universe

Supersymmetric models with bilinear R-parity violation (BRpV) provide a framework for neutrino masses and mixing angles to explain neutrino oscillation data. We consider CP violation within the new physical phases in BRpV and discuss their effect on the generation of neutrino masses and the decays of the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP), being a light neutralino with mass $\sim 100$ GeV, at next-to-leading order. The decays affect the lepton and via sphaleron transitions the baryon asymmetry in the early universe. For a rather light LSP, asymmetries generated before the electroweak phase transition via e.g. the Affleck-Dine mechanism are reduced up to two orders of magnitude, but are still present. On the other hand, the decays of a light LSP themselves can account for the generation of a lepton and baryon asymmetry, the latter in accordance to the observation in our universe, since the smallness of the BRpV parameters allows for an out-of-equilibrium decay and sufficiently large CP violation is possible consistent with experimental bounds from the non-observation of electric dipole-moments.

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arXiv2014

Higgs Strahlung at the Large Hadron Collider in the 2-Higgs-Doublet Model

We present a calculation of all relevant contributions to associated production of a Higgs boson with a weak gauge boson in the 2-Higgs-Doublet Model (2HDM) at the LHC, $pp \rightarrow Vϕ$, with $ϕ\in\{h,H^0,A\}$ and $V\in\{W,Z\}$. While for the $Wϕ$ mode, this mostly amounts to a simple rescaling of the Standard Model (SM) cross section, the $Zϕ$ cross section depends on several 2HDM parameters. The ratio $σ^{Wϕ}/σ^{Zϕ}$, for which we present the currently most complete SM prediction, therefore appears to be a sensitive probe of possible New Physics effects. We study its numerical dependence on the top and bottom Yukawa couplings, including their sign. Furthermore, we consider the $Wϕ/Zϕ$ ratio in exemplary 2HDM scenarios and briefly address the effects in the boosted regime. Analogous studies for other 2HDM scenarios will become possible with an upcoming version of the program vh@nnlo which incorporates the 2HDM effects.

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arXiv2013

SusHi: A program for the calculation of Higgs production in gluon fusion and bottom-quark annihilation in the Standard Model and the MSSM

This article describes the code SusHi (for "Supersymmetric Higgs") which calculates the cross sections $pp/p\bar{p}\rightarrowϕ+X$ in gluon fusion and bottom-quark annihilation in the SM and the MSSM, where $ϕ$ is any of the neutral Higgs bosons within these models. Apart from inclusive cross sections up to NNLO QCD, differential cross sections with respect to the Higgs' transverse momentum $p_T$ and (pseudo-)rapidity $y(η)$ can be calculated through NLO QCD. In case of gluon fusion, SusHi contains NLO QCD contributions from the third family of quarks and squarks, NNLO corrections due to top-quarks, approximate NNLO corrections due to top-squarks, and electro-weak effects. It supports various renormalization schemes for the sbottom sector and the bottom Yukawa coupling, as well as resummation effects of higher order $\tanβ$-enhanced sbottom contributions. SusHi provides a link to FeynHiggs for the calculation of the Higgs masses.

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arXiv2011

Electroweak corrections to Neutralino and Chargino decays into a W-boson in the (N)MSSM

We present the complete electroweak one-loop corrections to the partial widths for two-body decays of a chargino (neutralino) into a W-boson and a neutralino (chargino). We perform the calculation for the minimal and the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model using an on-shell renormalization scheme. Particular attention is paid to the question of gauge invariance which is achieved using the so-called pinch technique. Furthermore we show that these corrections show a strong parameter dependence and usually are in the range of 1-10 percent if the neutralino involved is a higgsino or wino like state. However, in case of a bino-like or a singlino-like neutralino the corrections can go up to 50% and more. Moreover we present the public program CNNDecays performing these calculations.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2011

On-shell renormalization of neutralino and chargino mass matrices in R-parity violating models - Correlation between LSP decays and neutrino mixing angles revisited

We present an on-shell renormalization scheme for the neutralino and chargino mass matrices for two R-parity violating models, namely bilinear R-parity violation and the munuSSM with one right-handed neutrino superfield. We discuss in both models how to obtain neutrino masses and mixing angles correctly as well as differences to the existing DRbar calculations. Both models predict correlations between neutrino mixing angles and ratios of R-parity violating decays such as neutralino_1 -> l W which can be tested for example at the LHC. We point out that there are cases where one has to include the complete NLO corrections for the decays neutralino_1 -> l W to predict reliably the correlations between neutrino- and collider-physics. Moreover, we discuss briefly the implementation of these decays in the public program CNNDecays.

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