Indirect $\mathcal{CP}$ probes of the Higgs-top-quark interaction: current LHC constraints and future opportunities

TL;DR

This paper uses current and future LHC data to constrain the CP structure of the Higgs-top interaction, exploring model dependence and potential for future discovery through specific production channels.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive analysis of the CP nature of the Higgs-top coupling using all relevant LHC measurements and assesses future prospects at the HL-LHC.

Findings

Current data allows a significant CP-odd component in the top-Yukawa coupling.

Future HL-LHC data can potentially observe $tH$ production at the Standard Model rate.

Discriminating observables can isolate $tH$ production from other processes.

Abstract

The $\mathcal{CP}$ structure of the Higgs boson in its coupling to the particles of the Standard Model is amongst the most important Higgs boson properties which have not yet been constrained with high precision. In this study, all relevant inclusive and differential Higgs boson measurements from the ATLAS and CMS experiments are used to constrain the $\mathcal{CP}$-nature of the top-Yukawa interaction. The model dependence of the constraints is studied by successively allowing for new physics contributions to the couplings of the Higgs boson to massive vector bosons, to photons, and to gluons. In the most general case, we find that the current data still permits a significant $\mathcal{CP}$-odd component in the top-Yukawa coupling. Furthermore, we explore the prospects to further constrain the $\mathcal{CP}$ properties of this coupling with future LHC data by determining $tH$ production rates independently from possible accompanying variations of the $t\bar t H$ rate. This is achieved via a careful selection of discriminating observables. At the HL-LHC, we find that evidence for $tH$ production at the Standard Model rate can be achieved in the Higgs to diphoton decay channel alone.