Study of VV Scattering Processes as a Probe of Electroweak Symmetry Breaking

TL;DR

This study explores the potential of using VV scattering processes in the CMS detector to investigate electroweak symmetry breaking, analyzing scenarios with and without a heavy Higgs resonance.

Contribution

It provides a model-independent analysis of VV fusion processes to probe electroweak symmetry breaking without assuming specific unitarity restoration mechanisms.

Findings

Sensitivity to a 500 GeV Higgs resonance

Analysis of no-Higgs scenario cross sections

Model-independent approach to VV scattering

Abstract

An exploratory study has been performed in order to assess the possibility of probing the symmetry breaking mechanism through the $VV$ fusion process using the CMS detector. A model independent analysis was carried out with no assumption on the mechanism restoring the unitarity in the scattering amplitude and without any degrees of freedom beyond the SM. In order to explore the sensitivity of the analysis method to an heavy Higgs resonance, we analyzed a data set produced using an Higgs boson mass of $500GeV$. Moreover, in order to consider the $VV$ fusion cross section in a region where no resonances are present, a sample corresponding to the no-Higgs scenario, that in the SM is equivalent to a very high Higgs mass, has been also studied.