LHC: Standard Higgs and Hidden Higgs

TL;DR

This paper explores how mixing with hidden sectors and invisible decays affect Higgs boson signals, providing a framework to interpret experimental bounds and the nature of potential discoveries in Higgs physics.

Contribution

It introduces a method to quantify the effects of mixing and invisible decays on Higgs signals, aiding interpretation of experimental bounds and future discoveries.

Findings

Re-interpretation of exclusion bounds in Higgs mixing context

Quantification of how hidden sector mixing alters Higgs signals

Framework to assess Standard Model-like Higgs properties

Abstract

Interpretations of Higgs searches critically involve production cross sections and decay probabilities for different analysis channels. Mixing effects can reduce production rates, while invisible decays can reduce decay probabilities. Both effects can transparently be quantified in Higgs systems where a visible Higgs boson is mixed with a hidden sector Higgs boson. Recent experimental exclusion bounds can be re-interpreted in this context as a sign for non-standard Higgs properties. Should a light Higgs boson be discovered, then our analysis will quantify how closely it may coincide with the Standard Model.