A Higgs Test of Horizontal Symmetry

TL;DR

This paper proposes testing horizontal symmetry in particle physics by measuring Higgs decay rates and production cross sections, which could reveal deviations from standard model predictions and constrain such symmetries.

Contribution

It introduces a novel experimental approach to test horizontal symmetry through Higgs decay and production measurements, providing a way to validate or constrain these models.

Findings

Decay widths to bottom and tau pairs may be reduced by over a factor of 3.

Higgs production cross section via fusion could be significantly altered.

The proposed measurements can constrain horizontal symmetry models.

Abstract

Identical interactions found in the three families of quarks and leptons suggest the presence of a horizontal symmetry. We discuss how such a symmetry can be tested by measuring the decay rates of Higgs into fermion pairs, and the Higgs production cross section. Depending on the details, there is a chance that the decay widths to the bottom-pair and the tau-pair may be down by more than a factor of 3 or more compared to the usual values, and the fusion production cross section of the Higgs also altered. Whatever the outcome, such a test also serves to constraint horizontal symmetry models.