Unravelling $t\bar{t}h$ via the matrix element method

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how the matrix element method can effectively distinguish the $t\bar{t}h$ signal from backgrounds at the LHC, enhancing detection sensitivity despite complex final states.

Contribution

It introduces an efficient application of the matrix element method to complex $t\bar{t}h$ events, improving signal discrimination in challenging multi-jet final states.

Findings

Matrix element method improves signal-background separation.

Moderate LHC luminosity suffices for detection.

Sensitivity comparable between different W decay channels.

Abstract

Associated production of the Higgs boson with a top-antitop pair is a key channel to gather further information on the nature of the newly discovered boson at the LHC. Experimentally, however, its observation is very challenging due to the combination of small rates, difficult multi-jet final states and overwhelming backgrounds. In the Standard Model the largest number of events is expected when h->bb, giving rise to a WWbbbb signature, deluged in tt+jets. A promising strategy to improve the sensitivity is to maximally exploit the theoretical information on the signal and background processes by means of the matrix element method. We show how, despite the complexity of the final state, the method can be efficiently applied to discriminate the signal against combinatorial and tt+jets backgrounds. Remarkably, we find that a moderate integrated luminosity in the next LHC run will be enough to make the signature involving both W's decaying leptonically as sensitive as the single-lepton one.