Probing non-standard $b\bar{b}h$ interaction at the LHC at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential to detect deviations in the bottom quark Yukawa coupling from the Standard Model at the high-luminosity LHC, using advanced analysis techniques to improve sensitivity.

Contribution

It introduces a gradient boosting algorithm for analyzing $bar{b}h$ production, enhancing the statistical significance over traditional cut-based methods.

Findings

Can probe $eta_b$ down to 3 with >5σ significance at 3000 fb$^{-1}$

Achieves a 95% C.L. limit of ±1.95 on $eta_b$

Demonstrates improved sensitivity in Higgs-bottom coupling measurements

Abstract

In the detailed probe of Higgs boson properties at the Large Hadron Collider, and in looking for new physics signatures in the electroweak symmetry breaking sector, the bottom quark Yukawa coupling has a crucial role. We investigate possible departure from the standard model value of $b\bar{b}h$ coupling, phenomenologically expressed in terms of a modification factor $\alpha_b$, in $b\bar{b}$-associated production of the $125$-GeV scalar at the high-luminosity LHC. In a next-to-leading order estimate, we make use of a gradient boosting algorithm to improve in statistical significance upon a cut-based analysis. It is found possible to probe down to $\alpha_b = 3$ with more than $5~\sigma$ significance, with ${\cal L} = 3000$ fb$^{-1}$ and $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, while the achievable limit at $95\%$ C.L. is $\pm 1.95$.