Constraining the Unhiggs with LHC data

TL;DR

This paper uses LHC data to set bounds on the Unhiggs model by reinterpreting Higgs exclusion limits, constraining its scaling dimension based on the non-observation of signals in the $h o ZZ o 4\,\ell$ channel.

Contribution

It provides the first reinterpretation of LHC Higgs exclusion limits to constrain the Unhiggs model's scaling dimension in the high mass region.

Findings

Bounds on the Unhiggs scaling dimension are established from LHC data.

The limits are mild but constrain the high mass Unhiggs scenario.

Reinterpretation of Higgs exclusion limits extends to new physics models.

Abstract

Recent measurements by the ATLAS and CMS experiments have excluded the Standard Model Higgs boson in the high mass region, even if it is produced with a significantly smaller cross section than expected. The bounds are dominated by the non-observation of a signal in the clean gold-plated mode $h\to ZZ\to 4\ell$ and, hence, are directly related to the special role of the Higgs in electroweak symmetry breaking. A smaller cross section in comparison to the Standard Model is expected if the Higgs is realized as an unparticle in the Unhiggs scenario. With the LHC probing $\sigma/\sigma^{SM}<1$, we can therefore reinterpret the $h\to ZZ\to 4\ell$ exclusion limits as bounds on the Unhiggs' scaling dimension. Throughout the high Higgs mass range, where we expect a large signal in the presence of the Standard Model Higgs for the 2011 ATLAS and CMS data sets, the observed limits translate into mild bounds on the Unhiggs scaling dimension in the high mass region.