Enhancements of weak gauge boson scattering processes at the CERN LHC

TL;DR

This paper explores how the Georgi-Machacek model can lead to larger Higgs couplings with weak gauge bosons, resulting in observable enhancements in weak boson scattering processes at the LHC.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the $g_{hVV}$ couplings can be increased beyond the standard model in a consistent parameter space, predicting measurable effects in weak boson scattering.

Findings

$g_{hVV}$ couplings can be up to 1.3 times larger than SM

Enhanced weak boson scattering signals at around 126 GeV

Observable excesses in transverse mass distributions

Abstract

Current CERN Large Hadron Collider data on the 126 GeV standard model-like Higgs boson suggest the possibility of larger Higgs boson couplings with the weak gauge bosons, $g_{hVV}$, than those in the standard model. We use the Georgi-Machacek model as an explicit model to realize such a scenario. We find that the $g_{hVV}$ couplings can be larger than the standard model value by a factor of about 1.3 maximally in the parameter region consistent with the current Higgs boson search data and allowed by various other constraints. We then show how the modified $g_{hVV}$ couplings lead to enhancements in various weak boson scattering processes. This can be clearly observed as excesses in the transverse mass distributions at around 126 GeV and also the mass of heavy Higgs bosons.