Linearly polarized Gluons and the Higgs Transverse Momentum Distribution

TL;DR

This paper explores how linearly polarized gluons affect the Higgs boson's transverse momentum distribution in unpolarized proton-proton collisions, proposing a new method to determine the Higgs parity at the LHC.

Contribution

It introduces the role of linearly polarized gluons in Higgs production and suggests using transverse momentum distribution modulations to determine Higgs parity.

Findings

Transverse momentum distribution shows a parity-dependent modulation.

Shape differences between scalar and pseudoscalar Higgs distributions.

Potential method for Higgs parity determination at the LHC.

Abstract

We investigate the possible role of linearly polarized gluons in Higgs production from unpolarized pp collisions. The transverse momentum distribution of the produced Higgs boson is found to exhibit a modulation with respect to the naive, unpolarized expectation, with the sign depending on the parity of the Higgs boson. The transverse momentum distribution of a scalar Higgs will, therefore, have a shape clearly different from a pseudoscalar Higgs. We suggest that this effect can be used to determine the parity of the Higgs at the LHC, without the need to use challenging angular distributions.