Data Driven Search in the Displaced $b\bar{b}$ Pair Channel for a Higgs Boson Decaying to Long-Lived Neutral Particles

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel data-driven search method for detecting Higgs boson decays into long-lived neutral particles that decay into $b\bar{b}$ pairs within the LHC beampipe, utilizing jet substructure and displaced track properties.

Contribution

It introduces a new search channel and analysis technique for Higgs decays to long-lived particles, focusing on displaced vertices within the LHC environment.

Findings

Potential to observe such signals with 19.5 fb$^{-1}$ at 8 TeV

Utilizes jet substructure and track properties for detection

Models a Higgs decay mode with significant branching ratio

Abstract

This article presents a proposal for a new search channel for the Higgs boson decaying to two long-lived neutral particles, each of which decays to $b\bar b$ at a displaced vertex. The decay length considered is such that the decay takes place within the LHC beampipe. We present a new data-driven analysis using jet substructure and properties of the tracks from the highly-displaced vertices. We consider a model with a 125 GeV Higgs boson with a significant branching fraction to decay via this mode, with the long-lived neutral particle having a mass in the range of 15--40 GeV and a decay length commensurate with the beam pipe radius. Such a signal can be readily observed with an integrated luminosity of 19.5 fb$^{-1}$ at 8TeV at the LHC.