arXiv subjects

Stefan von Buddenbrock

Publications and source records attributed to Stefan von Buddenbrock.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

Anatomy of inclusive $t\overline{t}W$ production at hadron colliders

In LHC searches for new and rare phenomena the top-associated channel $pp \to t\overline{t}W^\pm +X$ is a challenging background that multilepton analyses must overcome. Motivated by sustained measurements of enhanced rates of same-sign and multi-lepton final states, we reexamine the importance of higher jet multiplicities in $pp \to t\overline{t}W^\pm +X$ that enter at $\mathcal{O}(α_s^3α)$ and $\mathcal{O}(α_s^4α)$, i.e., that contribute at NLO and NNLO in QCD in inclusive $t\overline{t}W^\pm$ production. Using fixed-order computations, we estimate that a mixture of real and virtual corrections at $\mathcal{O}(α_s^4α)$ in well-defined regions of phase space can arguably increase the total $t\overline{t}W^\pm$ rate at NLO by at least $10\%-14\%$. However, by using non-unitary NLO multi-jet matching, we estimate that these same corrections are at most $10\%-12\%$, and at the same time exhibit the enhanced jet multiplicities that are slightly favored by data. This seeming incongruity suggests a need for the full NNLO result. We comment on implications for the $t\overline{t}Z$ process.

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arXiv2019

The emergence of multi-lepton anomalies at the LHC and their compatibility with new physics at the EW scale

A recent study [1] has shown that a simplified model predicting a heavy scalar of mass 270 GeV ($H$) that decays to a Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson in association with a scalar singlet of mass 150 GeV ($S$) can accommodate several anomalous multi-lepton results in proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). With this in mind, the goal of this article is to provide a more formal study of a wider set of LHC results pertaining to the production of multiple leptons. We find that a combination of such results lead to strong discrepancies between the data and SM Monte Carlo predictions. These discrepancies appear in corners of the phase-space where different SM processes dominate, indicating that the potential mismodeling of a single SM process is unlikely to explain them. Systematic uncertainties from the prediction of SM processes evaluated with currently available tools seem unable to explain away these discrepancies. A combination is able to constrain the simplified model's single degree of freedom $β_g^2$, related to the size of the Yukawa coupling of $H$ to the top quark, to a value of $2.92\pm 0.35$. This is in contrast to the absence of signal, where $β_g=0$. This result is discussed in the independent contexts of both potential for new physics in the existing LHC data as well as the limitations of our current understanding of the SM. That being said, QCD NNLO and EW NLO corrections in di-lepton final states are not expected to change the conclusions of this study. New results pertaining to the production of two opposite sign different flavour charged leptons with a full jet veto further confirm the presence of anomalies in similar corners of the leptonic phase-space.

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arXiv2019

Anomalies in the production of multiple leptons at the LHC

Based on a number of features from proton-proton collisions taken during Run 1 data taking period at the LHC, a boson with a mass around the Electro-Weak scale was postulated such that a significant fraction of its decays would comprise the Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson and an additional scalar, $S$. One of the phenomenological implications of a simplified model, where $S$ is treated a SM Higgs boson, is the anomalous production of high transverse momentum leptons. A combined study of Run 1 and Run 2 data is indicative of very significant discrepancies between the data and SM Monte Carlos in a variety of final states involving multiple leptons with and without $b$-quarks. These discrepancies appear in corners of the phase-space where different SM processes dominate, indicating that the potential mismodeling of a particular SM process is unlikely to explain them. Systematic uncertainties from the prediction of SM processes evaluated with currently available tools seem unable to explain away these discrepancies. The internal consistency of these anomalies and their interpretation in the framework of the original hypothesis is quantified.

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arXiv2019

Constraints on a 2HDM with a singlet scalar and implications in the search for heavy bosons at the LHC

We study a two-Higgs doublet model extended with an additional singlet scalar (2HDM+S), and provide a brief introduction to the model and its parameters. Constraints are applied to the parameter space of this model in order to accommodate a number of features in the data that have been interpreted in von Buddenbrock et al (2018 J. Phys. G 45 115003) as the result of the $H\rightarrow Sh$ decay produced via gluon-gluon fusion and in association with top quarks. Implications on the phenomenology of the heavy pseudo-scalar ($A$) and charged scalar ($H^+$) are discussed. In particular, the decays $A\rightarrow ZH$ and $H^+\rightarrow W^+H$ become prominent. This leads to final states with multiple leptons and $b$-quarks. The decay $A\rightarrow ZH\rightarrow ZSh$ results in the production of a high transverse momentum $Z$ produced in association with a lepton and two $b$-quarks with little additional jet activity. These predictions are compared to the data with model's benchmark points. With the parameters obtained here the model is able to accommodate the features at the LHC reported in von Buddenbrock et al (2018 J. Phys. G 45 115003). Without varying these parameters additional excesses in the $Zb\overline{b}$ and $t\overline{t}$ invariant mass spectra, and the production of $3$ leptons plus two $b$-tagged jets can be explained assuming $m_A\approx 600$\,GeV.

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arXiv2019

Towards a generic implementation of matrix-element maximisation as a classifier in particle physics

The so-called matrix-element method (MEM) has long been used successfully as a classification tool in particle physics searches. In the presence of invisible final state particles, the traditional MEM typically assigns probabilities to an event -- based on whether it is more signal or background-like -- through a phase space integration over all degrees of freedom of the invisible particles in the process(es). One inherent shortcoming of the traditional MEM is that the phase space integration can be slow, and therefore impractical for high multiplicity final states and/or large data sets. The recent alternative of matrix-element maximisation has recently been introduced to circumvent this problem, since maximising a highly-dimensional function can be a far more CPU-efficient task than that of integration. In this work, matrix-element maximisation is applied to the process of fully-leptonic top associated Higgs production, where the Higgs boson decays to two $b$-quarks. A variety of optimisation algorithms are tested in terms of their performance and speed, and it is explicitly found that the maximisation technique is far more CPU-efficient than the traditional MEM at the cost of a slight reduction in performance. An interesting consequence of using matrix-element maximisation is that the result of the procedure gives an estimate of the four-momenta for the invisible particles in the event. As a result, the idea of using these estimates as input information for more complicated tools is discussed with potential prospects for future developments of the method.

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arXiv2019

Production of the Madala boson in association with top quarks

The Madala hypothesis is the prediction of a new heavy scalar, the Madala boson, that has had previous success in explaining several anomalies in LHC Run 1 and 2 data. In the literature, the Madala boson has so far primarily been discussed in the context of its dominant production mode, gluon fusion. However, it can be shown that a study of its production in association with top quarks can provide us with crucial information about the model, as well as explain the enhancement of top associates Higgs production that has been observed in the data -- most notably in leptonic channels. For this study, Monte Carlo events have been produced and passed through a detector simulation. These events are then run through an event selection designed by a CMS search for a single top quark in association with a Higgs boson. A fit is made to the CMS data, yielding a parameter constraint on the Madala hypothesis. With the Madala hypothesis prediction, an effective signal strength is calculated and compared with the observed values.

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arXiv2019

Performance of various event generators in describing multijet final states at the LHC

At the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the most abundant processes which take place in proton-proton collisions are the generation of multijet events. These final states rely heavily on phenomenological models and perturbative corrections which are not fully understood, and yet for many physics searches at the LHC, multijet processes are an important background to deal with. It is therefore imperative that the modelling of multijet processes is better understood and improved. For this reason, a study has been done with several state-of-the-art Monte Carlo event generators, and their predictions are tested against ATLAS data using the Rivet framework. The results display a mix of agreement and disagreement between the predictions and data, depending on which variables are studied. Several points for improvement on the modelling of multijet processes are stated and discussed.

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arXiv2018

Multi-lepton signatures of additional scalar bosons beyond the Standard Model at the LHC

Following a prediction made in Refs.~\cite{vonBuddenbrock:2015ema,Kumar:2016vut,vonBuddenbrock:2016rmr}, this paper focuses on multi-lepton signatures arising from two new hypothetical scalar bosons, $H$ and $S$, at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). These two new bosons are an extension to the Standard Model (SM) and interact with the SM Higgs boson, $h$. We consider two production modes for $H$, one being gluon fusion and the other being in association with top quarks. The $H \to S h$ decay mode is considered, where leptonic final states are studied. The CP properties of $S$ are characterised by considering effective couplings derived from dimension six operators through $SWW$ vertices. The nature of the $S$ boson is considered in two separate contexts. Firstly in a simplified model, it is considered to have Higgs-like couplings. Secondly, we consider a heavy neutrino model and its interactions with the $Z, W$ and $S$ bosons. The predictions of the models are compared both to ATLAS and CMS results at $\sqrt{s} = 8$ and $13$~TeV, where appropriate. The data is interpreted using a simplified model where all the signal comes from $H \to S h$, assuming $S$ to be Higgs-like, $m_H=270$~GeV and $m_S=150$~GeV. The combined result yields gives a best fit value for the parameter $β_g$ (the strength of the Yukawa coupling of $H$ to top quarks), $β_g^2=1.38\pm 0.22$. A number of regions of the phase space are suggested to the experiments for further exploration.

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arXiv2017

The Madala hypothesis with Run 1 and 2 data at the LHC

The Madala hypothesis postulates a new heavy scalar, H, which explains several independent anomalous features seen in ATLAS and CMS data simultaneously. It has already been discussed and constrained in the literature by Run 1 results, and its underlying theory has been explored under the interpretation of a two Higgs doublet model coupled with a scalar singlet, $S$. When applying the hypothesis to Run 2 results, it can be shown that the constraints from the data are compatible with those obtained using Run 1 results.

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arXiv2017

Exploring LHC Run 1 and 2 data using the Madala hypothesis

The Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson, with its experimental discovery in 2012, has long been an interesting particle to study with the intention of exploring new physics ideas beyond the SM (BSM). Its properties are still not well understood, and there are several features in LHC Run 1 and Run 2 data which point at the possibility of extensions to the SM Higgs sector. This work explores the Madala hypothesis, which is the introduction of a heavy scalar (the Madala boson) to the SM, in addition to a real scalar $S$ and dark matter (DM) candidate $χ$. This hypothesis has previously been used to explain several anomalous features observe in the LHC Run 1 data. This work extends the study to Run 2 data, and shows that the particle spectrum predicted in the Madala hypothesis is indeed compatible with LHC data. Further study prospects and striking signatures for searches are presented.

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arXiv2016

Phenomenological signatures of additional scalar bosons at the LHC

We investigate the search prospects for new scalars beyond the Standard Model (SM) at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). In these studies two real scalars $S$ and $χ$ have been introduced in a two Higgs doublet model (2HDM), where $S$ is a portal to dark matter (DM) through its interaction with $χ$, a DM candidate and a possible source of missing transverse energy (\MET). Previous studies focused on a heavy scalar $H$ decay mode $H \to hχχ$, which was studied using an effective theory in order to explain a distortion in the Higgs ($h$) transverse momentum spectrum [16]. In this work, the effective decay is understood more deeply by including a mediator $S$, and the focus is changed to $H \to h S,~SS$ with $S \to χχ$. Phenomenological signatures of all the new scalars in the proposed 2HDM are discussed in the energy regime of the LHC, and their mass bounds have been set accordingly. Additionally, we have performed several analyses with final states including leptons and \MET, with $H \to 4 W$, $t\bar t H \to 6 W$ and $A \to ZH$ channels, in order to understand the impact these scalars have on current searches.

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arXiv2016

Phenomenology of additional scalar bosons at the LHC

The confirmation of the Higgs boson in Run I data at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the excesses in recent Run II data suggest scenarios beyond the Standard Model (SM). We pursue a study in a minimal model which is an extension of a scalar doublet in the SM known as two-Higgs doublet model (THDM). Following earlier suggestions two real scalars $χ$ and $S$ have been introduced in the THDM where $χ$ is treated as a candidate for dark matter. $χ$ does not receive any vacuum expectation value ($vev$) in the model whereas the Higgs-like scalar $S$ acquires $vev$. This allows small mixing between the $CP$-even scalars of the THDM, $h$, $H$ and $S$. In this study the mass spectrum of new scalars is taken to be $2 m_h < m_H < 2 m_t$, $m_χ< m_h/2$, $m_h \lesssim m_S \lesssim m_H - m_h$, $m_A > 2 m_t$ and $m_H^\pm < m_A$, where $m_h$ and $m_t$ is masses of the SM Higgs and top-quark respectively, $m_H, m_A$ and $m_{H^\pm}$ are the masses of the heavy $CP$-even scalar $H$, $CP$-odd scalar $A$, and charged Higgs $H^\pm$, respectively. A partial list of potential search channels at the LHC has been provided with possible phenomenological consequences. The expected phenomenology and constraints on parameters are also discussed in a model-independent approach .

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arXiv2016

The impact of additional scalar bosons at the LHC

In this study we consider an effective model by introducing two hypothetical real scalars, $H$ and $χ$ - a dark matter candidate, where the masses of these scalars are $2 m_h < m_H < 2 m_t$ and $m_χ\approx m_h/2$ with $m_h$ and $m_t$ being the Standard Model Higgs boson and top quark masses respectively. A distortion in the transverse momentum distributions of $h$ in the intermediate region of the spectrum through the processes $p p \to H \to hχχ$ could be observed in this model. An additional scalar, $S$, has been postulated to explain large $H \to hχχ$ branching ratios, assuming $m_h \lesssim m_S \lesssim m_H-m_h$ and $m_S > 2 m_χ$. Furthermore, a scenario of a two Higgs doublet model (2HDM) is introduced and a detailed proposal at the present energies of the Large Hadron Collider to study the extra CP-even ($h, H$), CP-odd ($A$) and charged ($H^\pm$) scalars has been pursued. With possible phenomenological implications, all possible spectra and decay modes for these scalars are discussed. Based on the mass spectrum of $H, A$ and $H^\pm$, the production of multi-leptons and $Z$+jets+missing-energy events are predicted. A specific, Type-II 2HDM model is discussed in detail.

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arXiv2015

The compatibility of LHC Run 1 data with a heavy scalar of mass around 270\,GeV

The first run of the LHC was successful in that it saw the discovery of the elusive Higgs boson, a particle that is consistent with the SM hypothesis. There are a number of excesses in Run 1 ATLAS and CMS results which can be interpreted as being due to the existence of another heavier scalar particle. This particle has decay modes which we have studied using LHC Run 1 data. Using a minimalistic model, we can predict the kinematics of these final states and compare the prediction against data directly. A statistical combination of these results shows that a best fit point is found for a heavy scalar having a mass of 272$^{+12}_{-9}$\,GeV. This result has been quantified as a three sigma effect, based on analyses which are not necessarily optimized for the search of a heavy scalar. The smoking guns for the discovery of this new heavy scalar and the prospects for Run 2 are discussed.

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arXiv2015

Exploration of the Tensor Structure of the Higgs Boson Coupling to Weak Bosons in $e^+e^-$ Collisions

Probing signatures of anomalous interactions of the Higgs boson with pairs of weak vector bosons is an important goal of an $e^+e^-$ collider commissioned as a Higgs factory. We perform a detailed analysis of such potential of a collider operating at $250 - 300$ GeV. Mostly using higher dimensional operators in a gauge-invariant framework, we show that substantial information on anomalous couplings can be extracted from the total rates of $s$-and $t$-channel Higgs production. The most obvious kinematic distributions, based on angular dependence of matrix elements, are relatively less sensitive with moderate coefficients of anomalous couplings, unless one goes to higher centre-of-mass energies. Some important quantities to use here, apart from the total event rates, are the ratios of event rates at different energies, ratios of $s$ and $t$-channel rates at fixed energies, and under some fortunate circumstances, the correlated changes in the rates for $W$-boson pair-production. A general scheme of calculating rates with as many as four gauge-invariant operators is also outlined. At the end, we perform a likelihood analysis using phenomenological parametrization of anomalous $HWW$ interaction, and indicate their distinguishability for illustrative values of the strength of such interactions.

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