Interpreting the Higgs

TL;DR

This paper analyzes LHC and Tevatron data to constrain an effective theory of a 125 GeV Higgs boson, focusing on key decay channels and providing a framework for future experimental interpretation.

Contribution

It introduces a method to interpret collider data as constraints on an effective Higgs theory and maps these constraints to observable event rates.

Findings

Preferred parameter regions for the effective theory identified

Mapping between theory parameters and Higgs event rates provided

Data constrains Higgs couplings and decay channels

Abstract

The LHC and Tevatron Higgs data are interpreted as constraints on an effective theory of a Higgs boson with mass close to 125 GeV. We focus on the diphoton, ZZ*, WW* channels at the LHC, and the b-bbar channel at the Tevatron, which are currently the most sensitive probes of a Higgs with such a mass. Combining the available data in these channels, we derive the preferred regions of the parameter space of the effective theory. We further provide the mapping between the effective theory and the relevant Higgs event rates, facilitating future extraction of the preferred region by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations.