Higgs production within $k_t$-factorization with unintegrated gluon distributions

TL;DR

This paper calculates differential cross sections for Higgs and two-photon production using $k_t$-factorization, comparing results with ATLAS data and including higher-order contributions and electroweak exchanges.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive calculation of Higgs production within $k_t$-factorization, including higher-order and electroweak effects, and compares with experimental data.

Findings

Leading order $g g o H$ is smaller than ATLAS data.

Higher-order processes significantly contribute to the cross section.

Sum of contributions aligns with experimental measurements.

Abstract

We present differential cross sections for Higgs boson and/or two-photon production from intermediate (virtual) Higgs boson within the formalism of $k_t$-factorization. Resulting distributions for two photons from the Higgs boson are compared with recent ATLAS collaboration data. In contrast to a recent calculation the leading order $g g \to H$ contribution is rather small compared to the ATLAS experimental data ($\gamma \gamma$ transverse momentum and rapidity distributions). We include also higher-order contribution $g g \to H (\to \gamma \gamma) g$, $g g \to g H g$ and the contribution of the $W^+ W^-$ and $Z^0 Z^0$ exchanges. The $gg\to Hg$ mechanism gives a similar contribution as the $gg\to H$ mechanism. We argue that there is almost no double counting when adding $gg\to H$ and $gg\to Hg$ contributions due to different topology of corresponding Feynman diagrams. The final sum is comparable with the ATLAS two-photon data.