New Higgs signals from a multi-scalar model with flavor symmetry

TL;DR

This paper proposes a multi-Higgs doublet model with flavor symmetry that enhances certain Higgs production and decay channels, potentially allowing detection of a lighter Higgs boson at the LHC.

Contribution

It introduces a three-Higgs-doublet model with flavor symmetry that modifies Higgs couplings and production mechanisms, providing new signals for Higgs detection.

Findings

Enhanced $c$ quark fusion Higgs production at LHC

Suppressed Higgs coupling to vector bosons allows lighter Higgs mass

Large Higgs decay to muon pairs due to flavor-specific couplings

Abstract

A scenario is presented where the $s$, $c$, and $b$ quark fusion Higgs production cross sections are enhanced with respect to those of the Standard Model. In particular the $c$ quark fusion production is very important and can account for a significant contribution at the Large Hadron Collider. The light Higgs couplings to vector bosons are sufficiently suppressed to allow its mass to lie below the LEP bound of 115 GeV and due to enhanced couplings to second family fermions, the Higgs decay to $\mu$ pairs is large enough to be detectable. This is accomplished with a model incorporating three Higgs doublets charged under a flavor symmetry.