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Stefano Moretti

Publications and source records attributed to Stefano Moretti.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Phenomenology of the minimal $B-L$ extension of the Standard Model: the Higgs sector

We investigate the phenomenology of the Higgs sector of the minimal $B-L$ extension of the Standard Model. We present results for both the foreseen energy stages of the Large Hadron Collider ($\sqrt s=7$ and 14 TeV). We show that in such a scenario several novel production and decay channels involving the two physical Higgs states could be accessed at such a machine. Amongst these, several Higgs signatures have very distinctive features with respect to those of other models with enlarged Higgs sector, as they involve interactions of Higgs bosons between themselves, with $Z'$ bosons as well as with heavy neutrinos.

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Low mass Higgs signals at the LHC in the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model

In the NMSSM, because of introducing a complex singlet superfield, the lightest CP-odd Higgs boson, $a_1$, can be a singlet-like state with a tiny doublet component in large regions of parameter space. In this paper, we examine the discovery potential of $a_1$ produced in association with a bottom-antibottom pair at the LHC through $τ^+τ^-$ and $γγ$ decay modes. It is shown that an $a_1$ with mass $\leq M_Z$ can be extracted from the SM backgrounds by using the $τ^+τ^-$ decay channel, a possibility precluded to the MSSM. In contrast, the $γγ$ decay mode is overwhelmed by backgrounds despite the fact that the branching ratio of this mode can reach unity when $a_1$ is a pure singlet.

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Z' physics with early LHC data

We discuss the prospects for setting limits on or discovering spin-1 $Z'$ bosons using early LHC data at 7 TeV. Our results are based on the narrow width approximation in which the leptonic Drell-Yan $Z'$ boson production cross-section only depends on the $Z'$ boson mass together with two parameters $c_u$ and $c_d$. We carefully discuss the experimental cuts that should be applied and tabulate the theoretical next-to-next-to-leading order corrections which must be included. Using these results the approach then provides a safe, convenient and unbiased way of comparing experiment to theoretical models which avoids any built-in model dependent assumptions. We apply the method to three classes of perturbative $Z'$ boson benchmark models: $E_6$ models, left-right symmetric models and sequential standard models. We generalise each class of model in terms of {mixing angles which continuously parametrize} linear combinations of pairs of generators and lead to distinctive orbits in the $c_u-c_d$ plane. We also apply this method to the strongly coupled four-site benchmark model in which two $Z'$ bosons are predicted. By comparing the experimental limits or discovery bands to the theoretical predictions on the $c_u$-$c_d$ plane, we show that the LHC at 7 TeV with integrated luminosity of 500 pb$^{-1}$ will greatly improve on current Tevatron mass limits for the benchmark models. If a $Z'$ is discovered our results show that measurement of the mass and cross-section will provide a powerful discriminator between the benchmark models using this approach.

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Summary of the "Electroweak and Searches in DIS and Hadron Colliders" Working Group

We present here the summary of the "Electroweak and Searches in DIS and Hadron Colliders" working group activities at the DIS 2010 conference. The theory contributions will be presented first, followed by the experimental ones. The experimental results include measurements from the Tevatron (CDF and \DO) and HERA (H1 and ZEUS) experiments, and studies from the LHC (ATLAS and CMS). Results from the B-factories (BaBar and Belle) and from NA62 are also summarised.

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Higgs boson phenomenology in tau^+ tau^- final states at the LHC

We perform a detailed parton level study on the feasibility of the detection of a Higgs boson in the gluon fusion process $pp (gg+gq) \to h + jet \to τ^+ τ^- + jet$ at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The obtained results are applied to a few chosen Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) scenarios where the branching ratio of a Higgs boson decaying into a $τ^+ τ^-$ pair is enhanced as compared to the Standard Model (SM) case. We present the parameter space of the BSM scenarios that can be observed at the LHC and conclude that some regions of the parameter space can be probed with just a few $fb^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. Noticeably, our results are presented in a form which potentially allows their application to any generic model giving rise to a $pp (gg+gq) \to h + jet \to τ^+ τ^- + jet$ signature.

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BSM Higgs searches in the gluon fusion process pp -> h +jet -> tau^+ tau^- + jet at the LHC

The mass of the Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson was constrained by the Large Electron-Positron (LEP) collider to be above 114.4 GeV. Simple extensions of the scalar sector like adding singlets and/or doublets allow the lightest Higgs to be much lighter via a reduction in its coupling to gauge bosons. Such a light Higgs could have evaded the LEP searches but could be detected at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in the process pp -> h j -> tau^+ tau^- j, where j is a resolved jet. We conclude that in some Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) extensions of the scalar sector, a very light Higgs state could be detected at the 14 TeV LHC with early data.

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Very Light Higgs Bosons in Extended Models at the LHC

The Large Electron-Positron (LEP) collider experiments have constrained the mass of the Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson to be above 114.4 GeV. This bound applies to all extensions of the SM where the coupling of a Higgs boson to the Z boson and also the Higgs decay profile do not differ much from the SM one. However, in scenarios with extended Higgs sectors, this coupling can be made very small by a suitable choice of the parameters of the model. In such cases, the lightest CP-even Higgs boson mass can in turn be made very small. Such a very light Higgs state, with a mass of the order of the Z boson one or even smaller, could have escaped detection at LEP. In this work we perform a detailed parton level study on the feasibility of the detection of such a very light Higgs particle at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in the production process pp \to h j \to τ^+ τ^- j, where j is a resolved jet. We conclude that there are several models where such a Higgs state could be detected at the LHC with early data.

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A Renormalisation Group Equation Study of the Scalar Sector of the Minimal B-L Extension of the Standard Model

We present the complete set of Renormalisation Group Equations (RGEs) at one loop for the non-exotic minimal U(1) extension of the Standard Model (SM). It includes all models that are anomaly-free with the SM fermion content augmented by one Right-Handed (RH) neutrino per generation. We then pursue the numerical study of the pure B-L model, deriving the triviality and vacuum stability bounds on an enlarged scalar sector comprising one additional Higgs singlet field with respect to the SM.

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Probing the $Z'$ sector of the minimal $B-L$ model at future Linear Colliders in the $e^+e^-\to μ^+μ^-$ process

We study the capabilities of future electron-positron Linear Colliders, with centre-of-mass energy at the TeV scale, in accessing the parameter space of a $Z'$ boson within the minimal $B-L$ model. In such a model, wherein the Standard Model gauge group is augmented by a broken $U(1)_{B-L}$ symmetry -- with $B(L)$ being the baryon(lepton) number -- the emerging $Z'$ mass is expected to be in the above energy range. We carry out a detailed comparison between the discovery regions mapped over a two-dimensional configuration space ($Z'$ mass and coupling) at the Large Hadron Collider and possible future Linear Colliders for the case of di-muon production. As known in the literature for other $Z'$ models, we confirm that leptonic machines, as compared to the CERN hadronic accelerator, display an additional potential in discovering a $B-L$ $Z'$ boson as well as in allowing one to study its properties at a level of precision well beyond that of any of the existing colliders.

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Four-lepton LHC events from MSSM Higgs boson decays into neutralino and chargino pairs

Heavy neutral Higgs boson production and decay into neutralino and chargino pairs is studied at the Large Hadron Collider in the context of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. Higgs boson decays into the heavier neutralino and chargino states, i.e., H^0 or A^0 to tilde{chi}_i^0 tilde{chi}_j^0 (i,j = 2,3,4) as well as H^0 or A^0 to tilde{chi}_1^{pm} tilde{chi}_2^{mp}, tilde{chi}_2^+ tilde{chi}_2^- (all leading to four-lepton plus missing transverse energy final states), is found to improve the possibilities of discovering such Higgs states beyond those previously identified by considering H^0 or A^0 to tilde{chi}_2^0 tilde{chi}_2^0 decays only. In particular, H^0,A^0 bosons with quite heavy masses, approaching ~800 GeV in the so-called `decoupling region' where no clear SM signatures for the heavier MSSM Higgs bosons are known to exist, can now be discerned, for suitable but not particularly restrictive configurations of the low energy supersymmetric parameters. The high M_A discovery reach for the H^0 and A^0 may thus be greatly extended. Full event-generator level simulations, including realistic detector effects and analyses of all significant backgrounds, are performed to delineate the potential H^0,A^0 discovery regions. The wedgebox plot technique is also utilized to further analyze the 4l plus missing transverse energy signal and background events. This study marks the first thorough and reasonably complete analysis of this important class of MSSM Higgs boson signature modes. In fact, this is the first time discovery regions including all possible neutralino and chargino decay modes of the Higgs bosons have ever been mapped out.

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Distinctive Higgs Signals of a Type II 2HDM at the LHC

We perform a numerical analysis of Higgs-to-Higgs decays within a Type II 2-Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM), highlighting several channels that cannot occur in its Supersymmetric version, thereby allowing one to possibly distinguish between these two scenarios. Our results are compliant with all available experimental bounds from both direct and indirect Higgs searches and with theoretical constraints from vacuum stability and perturbative unitarity.

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Phenomenology of the minimal B-L extension of the Standard model: Z' and neutrinos

We present the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) discovery potential in the $Z'$ and heavy neutrino sectors of a $U(1)_{B-L}$ enlarged Standard Model also encompassing three heavy Majorana neutrinos. This model exhibits novel signatures at the LHC, the most interesting arising from a $Z'$ decay chain involving heavy neutrinos, eventually decaying into leptons and jets. In particular, this signature allows one to measure the $Z'$ and heavy neutrino masses involved. In addition, over a large region of parameter space, the heavy neutrinos are rather long-lived particles producing distinctive displaced vertices that can be seen in the detectors. Lastly, the simultaneous measurement of both the heavy neutrino mass and decay length enables an estimate of the absolute mass of the parent light neutrino.

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The Scope of the 4 tau Channel in Higgs-strahlung and Vector Boson Fusion for the NMSSM No-Lose Theorem at the LHC

We study the potential of the h_1 -> a_1 a_1 -> 4 tau signal from the lightest scalar (h_1) and pseudoscalar (a_1) Higgs bosons to cover the parameter space of the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM) at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). We exploit a 2 mu + 2 jets signature from four taus decays (accompanied by missing transverse energy), resorting to both Higgs-strahlung (HS), by triggering on leptonic W^\pm decays, and Vector Boson Fusion (VBF), by triggering on two same sign non-isolated muons.

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Probing the light neutral Higgs boson scenario of the CP-violating MSSM Higgs sector at the LHC

In the CP-violating Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), for certain values of the CP-violating phases associated to the universal trilinear couplings $(A_t, A_b)$ and the gluino mass $(M_{\tilde g})$, e.g., $Φ_{\rm{CP}} = 60^\circ$ or $90^\circ$, for $M_{H^+} \lsim 140 $ GeV and $\tan β\sim 2-5 $, the lightest Higgs boson mass ($M_{H_1}$) is $\lsim 50 $ GeV. This mass interval is still allowed from standard LEP Higgs searches because of a strongly suppressed $H_1ZZ$ coupling. However, in the same region of parameter space in which these two conditions occur, the $H_1 H^\mp W^\pm $ coupling is enhanced because the two mentioned sets of couplings satisfy a sum rule. In this paper we probe such a light Higgs scenario at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) by studying $H^\pm H_1$ associate production, leading to a $4b + \ell^\pm + \mET $ signal. We show that the latter is readily accessible at the CERN hadron collider, upon the application of suitable selection cuts against the Standard Model (SM) backgrounds. Our parton level Monte Carlo (MC) analysis yields $\sim 15-45 $ signal events, completely free of SM background, for ${\cal L} = 10-30 {\rm fb}^{-1}$ of accumulated luminosity, after taking into account the overall efficiency for tagging four $b$-jets.

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Matrix-Element Corrections to Parton Shower Simulations for Higgs Hadroproduction

We implement matrix-element corrections to HERWIG parton shower simulations for Standard Model Higgs boson production at hadron colliders. We study the Higgs transverse momentum distribution and compare different versions of HERWIG and resummed calculations. The HERWIG results exhibit a remarkable improvement as many more events are generated at large transverse momentum after the inclusion of matrix-element corrections.

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Matrix-element corrections to gg/qqbar -> Higgs in HERWIG

We describe the HERWIG implementation of real matrix-element corrections to direct Higgs hadroproduction at Tevatron and Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and compare it to other approaches existing in literature and describing the transverse momentum distribution of the Higgs boson.

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The ppbar -> tbH^+/- Process at the Tevatron in HERWIG and PYTHIA Simulations

Charged Higgs boson production in association with a top quark could be the first indication of the existence of Higgs particles. The Tevatron Run-II started data-taking in April 2001 at a centre-of-mass energy of 1960 GeV and could probe the existence of a charged Higgs boson beyond the current mass limit. We study the ppbar -> tbH^+/- production process with Monte Carlo simulations in HERWIG and PYTHIA, comparing expected cross sections and basic selection variables.

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