Searching for Standard Model Adjoint Scalars with Diboson Resonance Signatures

TL;DR

This paper investigates the potential signatures of scalar fields in the adjoint representation of the Standard Model, focusing on their decay channels into diboson final states and assessing LHC detection prospects.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive set of dimension 5 operators for adjoint scalars and analyzes their decay channels and LHC search sensitivities.

Findings

Constraints on scalar octet decays from Run I LHC data

Potential for discovery in gluon+photon channel at 14 TeV LHC

New decay modes involving Z boson and photon

Abstract

We explore the phenomenology of scalar fields in the adjoint representation of SM gauge groups. We write a general set of dimension 5 effective operators in which SM adjoint scalars couple to pairs of standard model bosons. Using these effective operators, we explore new possible decay channels of a scalar color octet into a gluon and a Z boson/ gluon and a photon. We recast several analyses from Run I of the LHC to find constraints on an a scalar octet decaying into these channels, and we project the discovery potential of color octets in our gluon+photon channel for the 14 TeV run of LHC.