arXiv subjects

Xifeng Ruan

Publications and source records attributed to Xifeng Ruan.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Accumulating Evidence for the Associated Production of a New Higgs Boson at the Large Hadron Collider

In the last decades, the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics has been extensively tested and confirmed, with the announced discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012 being the last missing puzzle piece. Even though since then the search for new particles and interactions has been further intensified, the experiments ATLAS and CMS at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN did not find evidence for the direct production of a new state. However, in recent years deviations between LHC data and SM predictions in multiple observables involving two or more leptons (electrons or muons) have emerged, the so-called ``multi-lepton anomalies'', pointing towards the existence of a beyond the SM Higgs boson $S$. While from these measurements its mass cannot be exactly determined, it is estimated to lay in the range between $130\,$GeV and $160\,$GeV. Motivated by this observation, we perform a search for signatures of $S$, by using existing CMS and ATLAS analyses. Combining channels involving the associate productions of SM gauge bosons ($γγ$ and $Zγ$), we find that a simplified model with a new scalar with $m_S= 151.5\,$GeV is preferred over the SM hypothesis by 4.3$σ$ (3.9$σ$) locally (globally). On the face of it, this provides a good indication for the existence of a new scalar resonance $S$ decaying into photons, in association with missing energy and allows for a connection to the long-standing problem of Dark Matter. Furthermore, because $S$ is always produced together with other particles, we postulate the existence of a second new (heavier) Higgs boson $H$ that decays into $S$ and propose novel searches to discover this particle, which can be performed by ATLAS and CMS.

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arXiv2023

Feasibility of the observation of a heavy scalar through the fully hadronic final state at the LHeC

The proposed future Large Hadron Electron Collider provides sufficient center of mass energies, $\sqrt{s}$, to probe heavy particles decaying into $W^\pm(Z)-$boson of mass $>2m_W$ $(2m_Z)$. In this work we present a study to produce one such heavy $C P$ even scalar $H$ of mass $2m_h < m_H < 2 m_t$ through charged-current production mode where $H \to W^+W^-$, where hadronic decay of $W^\pm-$boson is considered to reconstruct $m_H$. Due to the presence of missing energy and forward jet in this channel, it is challenging to reconstruct $m_H$ with above final state and thus we employed three different reconstruction methods and discuss the significance of each one. For this analysis we consider a benchmark value of $m_H = 270$\,GeV and $\sqrt{s} \approx 1.3$\,TeV with an assumed luminosity of 1\,ab$^{-1}$.

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arXiv2022

The use of Generative Adversarial Networks to characterise new physics in multi-lepton final states at the LHC

Semi-supervision in Machine Learning can be used in searches for new physics where the signal plus background regions are not labelled. This strongly reduces model dependency in the search for signals Beyond the Standard Model. This approach displays the drawback in that over-fitting can give rise to fake signals. Tossing toy Monte Carlo (MC) events can be used to estimate the corresponding trials factor through a frequentist inference. However, MC events that are based on full detector simulations are resource intensive. Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) can be used to mimic MC generators. GANs are powerful generative models, but often suffer from training instability. We henceforth show a review of GANs. We advocate the use of Wasserstein GAN (WGAN) with weight clipping and WGAN with gradient penalty (WGAN-GP) where the norm of gradient of the critic is penalized with respect to its input. Following the emergence of multi-lepton anomalies, we apply GANs for the generation of di-leptons final states in association with $b$-quarks at the LHC. A good agreement between the MC and the WGAN-GP generated events is found for the observables selected in the study.

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arXiv2021

Machine learning approach for the search of resonances with topological features at the Large Hadron Collider

The observation of resonances is unequivocal evidence of new physics beyond the Standard Model at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). So far, inclusive and model dependent searches have not provided evidence of new resonances, indicating that these could be driven by subtle topologies. Here, we use machine learning techniques based on weak supervision to perform searches. Weak supervision based on mixed samples can be used to search for resonances with little or no prior knowledge on the production mechanism. Also, it offers the advantage that sidebands or control regions can be used to effectively model backgrounds with minimal reliance on simulations. However, weak supervision alone is found to be highly inefficient in identifying corners of the multi-dimensional space of interest. Instead, we propose an approach to search for new resonances that involves a classification procedure that is signature and topology based. A combination of weak supervision with Deep Neural Network algorithms are applied following this classification. The performance of this strategy is evaluated on the production of SM Higgs boson decaying to a pair of photons inclusively and in exclusive regions of phase space tailored for specific production modes at the LHC. After verifying the ability of the methodology to extract different SM Higgs boson signal mechanisms, a search for new phenomena in high-mass final states is setup for the LHC.

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arXiv2021

An investigation of over-training within semi-supervised machine learning models in the search for heavy resonances at the LHC

In particle physics, semi-supervised machine learning is an attractive option to reduce model dependencies searches beyond the Standard Model. When utilizing semi-supervised techniques in training machine learning models in the search for bosons at the Large Hadron Collider, the over-training of the model must be investigated. Internal fluctuations of the phase space and bias in training can cause semi-supervised models to label false signals within the phase space due to over-fitting. The issue of false signal generation in semi-supervised models has not been fully analyzed and therefore utilizing a toy Monte Carlo model, the probability of such situations occurring must be quantified. This investigation of $Zγ$ resonances is performed using a pure background Monte Carlo sample. Through unique pure background samples extracted to mimic ATLAS data in a background-plus-signal region, multiple runs enable the probability of these fake signals occurring due to over-training to be thoroughly investigated.

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arXiv2021

Understanding two same-sign and three leptons with $b$-jets in four top quark events at the LHC

The top quark is the heaviest known elementary particle of the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics and, therefore, it is expected to have large couplings to hypothetical new physics in many models beyond the SM (BSM). Various studies have predicted the presence of multi-lepton anomalies at the LHC. One of those anomalies is the excess production of two same-sign leptons and three isolated leptons in association with $b$-jets. These are reasonably well described by a 2HDM+$S$ model, where $S$ is a singlet scalar. Both the ATLAS and CMS experiments have reported sustained excesses in these final states. This includes corners of the phase-space where production of top quark pairs in association with a $W$ boson contributes to. Here, we investigate the production of two same-sign and three leptons from the production of four top quark final states. Our focus is on understanding the differences between the SM and BSM production mechanisms of four top quarks from $t\overline{t} A$ ($A \rightarrow t\overline{t}$) using Machine Leaning techniques with twelve discriminating kinematic variables.

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arXiv2021

The anomalous production of multi-lepton and its impact on the measurement of $Wh$ production at the LHC

Anomalies in multi-lepton final states at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have been reported in Refs.~\cite{vonBuddenbrock:2017gvy,vonBuddenbrock:2019ajh}. These can be interpreted in terms of the production of a heavy boson, $H$, decaying into a Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson, $h$, and a singlet scalar, $S$, which is treated as a SM Higgs-like boson. This process would naturally affect the measurement of the $Wh$ signal strength at the LHC, where $h$ is produced in association with leptons and di-jets. Here, $h$ would be produced with lower transverse momentum, $p_{Th}$, compared to SM processes. Corners of the phase-space are fixed according to the model parameters derived in Refs.~\cite{vonBuddenbrock:2016rmr,vonBuddenbrock:2017gvy} without additional tuning, thus nullifying potential look-else-where effects or selection biases. Provided that no stringent requirements are made on $p_{Th}$ or related observables, the signal strength of $Wh$ is $μ(Wh)=2.41 \pm 0.37$. This corresponds to a deviation from the SM of $3.8σ$. This result further strengthens the need to measure with precision the SM Higgs boson couplings in $e^+e^-$, and $e^-p$ collisions, in addition to $pp$ collisions.

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arXiv2020

Connecting the Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment and the Multi-lepton Anomalies at the LHC

A number of predictions were made in von Buddenbrock et al (2016 Eur. Phys. J. C 76, 10, 580) pertaining to the anomalous production of multiple leptons at the Large Hadron Collider. Discrepancies in multi-lepton final states have now become statistically compelling with the available Run~2 data. These could be connected with a heavy boson, $H$, decaying predominantly into a SM Higgs boson, $h$, and a singlet scalar, $S$, where $m_H\approx 270$\,GeV and $m_S\approx 150$\,GeV. These can be embedded into a scenario where a Two Higgs Doublet is considered with an additional singlet scalar, 2HDM+S. The long-standing discrepancy in the muon anomalous magnetic moment, $Δa_μ$, is interpreted in the context of the 2HDM+S type-II and type-X, along with additional fermionic degrees of freedom. The 2HDM+S model alone with the constraints from the LHC data does not seem to explain the $Δa_μ$ anomaly. However, adding fermions with mass of order $\mathcal{O}(100)$\,GeV can explain the discrepancy for low enough values of fermion-scalar couplings.

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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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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

Extraction of Top Backgrounds in the Higgs Boson Search with the $H\to WW^\ast \to \ell\ell + E_{\rm T}^{\rm miss}$ Decay with a Full-Jet Veto at the LHC

The search for a Standard Model Higgs boson with the $H\to WW^\ast\to \ell\ell + E_{\rm T}^{\rm miss}$ decay and the application of a full-jet veto yields a strong sensitivity in the mass range $130<m_H<200$ GeV. One of the residual backgrounds is related to processes involving top quarks. A method for the extraction of top backgrounds is evaluated at the parton and hadronic levels based on the data-driven extraction of the jet veto survival probability. The uncertainty of the proposed method is about 15%.

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arXiv2016

Probing anomalous couplings using di-Higgs production in electron-proton collisions

A proposed high energy Future Circular Hadron-Electron Collider would provide sufficient energy in a clean environment to probe di-Higgs production. Using this channel we show that the azimuthal angle correlation between the missing transverse energy and the forward jet is a very good probe for the non-standard $hhh$ and $hhWW$ couplings. We give the exclusion limits on these couplings as a function of integrated luminosity at a $95$\% C.L. using the fiducial cross sections. With appropriate error fitting methodology we find that the Higgs boson self coupling could be measured to be $g^{(1)}_{hhh} = 1.00^{+0.24(0.14)}_{-0.17(0.12)}$ of its expected Standard Model value at $\sqrt s = 3.5(5.0)$ TeV for an ultimate 10 ab$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity.

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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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arXiv2014

Probing the Higgs Boson via VBF with Single Jet Tagging at the LHC

The signature produced by the Standard Model Higgs boson in the Vector Boson Fusion (VBF) mechanism is usually pinpointed by requiring two well separated hadronic jets, one of which (at least) of them tends to be in the forward direction. With the increase of instantaneous luminosity at the LHC, the isolation of the Higgs boson produced with the VBF mechanism is rendered more challenging. In this paper the feasibility of single jet tagging is explored in a high-luminosity scenario. It is demonstrated that the separation in rapidity between the tagging jet and the Higgs boson can be effectively used to isolate the VBF signal. This variable is robust from the experimental and QCD stand points. Single jet tagging allows us to probe the spin-CP quantum numbers of the Higgs boson.

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arXiv2013

Improving Higgs plus Jets analyses through Fox--Wolfram Moments

It is well known that understanding the structure of jet radiation can significantly improve Higgs analyses. Using Fox--Wolfram moments we systematically study the geometric patterns of additional jets in weak boson fusion Higgs production with a decay to photons. First, we find a significant improvement with respect to the standard analysis based on an analysis of the tagging jet correlations. In addition, we show that replacing a jet veto by a Fox-Wolfram moment analysis of the extra jet radiation almost doubles the signal-to-background ratio. Finally, we show that this improvement can also be achieved based on a modified definition of the Fox--Wolfram moments which avoids introducing a new physical scale below the factorization scale. This modification can reduce the impact of theory uncertainties on the Higgs rate and couplings measurements.

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