Probing the scale of New Physics at the LHC: the example of Higgs data

TL;DR

This paper introduces a statistical method to determine the energy scale of potential new physics compatible with Higgs data from the LHC, providing credible intervals for different theoretical scenarios.

Contribution

It develops a formal approach to identify testable new physics scales using Bayesian credibility intervals within effective field theory frameworks.

Findings

Testable NP scale in one scenario: 10-260 TeV at 95% credibility.

Testable NP scale in another scenario: 28-1200 TeV at 95% credibility.

Method applies to Higgs data, guiding future searches for new physics.

Abstract

We present a technique to determine the scale of New Physics (NP) compatible with any set of data, relying on well-defined credibility intervals. Our approach relies on the statistical view of the effective field theory capturing New Physics at low energy. We introduce formally the notion of testable NP and show that it ensures integrability of the posterior distribution. We apply our method to the Standard Model Higgs sector in light of recent LHC data, considering two generic scenarios. In the scenario of democratic higher dimensional operators generated at one-loop, we find the testable NP scale to lie within $[10,260]$ TeV at $95\%$ Bayesian credibility level. In the scenario of loop-suppressed field strength-Higgs operators, the testable NP scale is within $[28,1200]$ TeV at $95\%$ Bayesian credibility level. More specific UV models are necessary to allow lower values of the NP scale.