Constraints on Higgs boson properties using $WW^{*}(\rightarrow e\nu\mu\nu) jj$ production in 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s}$=13 TeV $pp$ collisions with the ATLAS detector

TL;DR

This paper investigates Higgs boson properties using 13 TeV proton-proton collision data, constraining CP characteristics and vector boson couplings through the $WW^*$ final state, with results consistent with the Standard Model.

Contribution

It provides the first direct constraints on Higgs couplings to polarized vector bosons and measures the CP properties of the Higgs-gluon interaction using ATLAS data.

Findings

CP-mixing angle $ an( heta)$ measured as 0.0 ± 0.4 (stat) ± 0.3 (syst)

Vector boson coupling scale factors $a_L$ and $a_T$ determined with uncertainties

Results are consistent with Standard Model predictions

Abstract

This article presents the results of two studies of Higgs boson properties using the $WW^*(\rightarrow e\nu\mu\nu)jj$ final state, based on a dataset corresponding to 36.1/fb of $\sqrt{s}$=13 TeV proton$-$proton collisions recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The first study targets Higgs boson production via gluon$-$gluon fusion and constrains the CP properties of the effective Higgs$-$gluon interaction. Using angular distributions and the overall rate, a value of $\tan(\alpha) = 0.0 \pm 0.4$ stat. $ \pm 0.3$ syst is obtained for the tangent of the mixing angle for CP-even and CP-odd contributions. The second study exploits the vector-boson fusion production mechanism to probe the Higgs boson couplings to longitudinally and transversely polarised $W$ and $Z$ bosons in both the production and the decay of the Higgs boson; these couplings have not been directly constrained previously. The polarisation-dependent coupling-strength scale factors are defined as the ratios of the measured polarisation-dependent coupling strengths to those predicted by the Standard Model, and are determined using rate and kinematic information to be $a_L=0.91^{+0.10}_{-0.18}$(stat.)$^{+0.09}_{-0.17}$(syst.) and $a_{T}=1.2 \pm 0.4 $(stat.)$ ^{+0.2}_{-0.3} $(syst.). These coupling strengths are translated into pseudo-observables, resulting in $\kappa_{VV}= 0.91^{+0.10}_{-0.18}$(stat.)$^{+0.09}_{-0.17}$(syst.) and $\epsilon_{VV} =0.13^{+0.28}_{-0.20}$ (stat.)$^{+0.08}_{-0.10}$(syst.). All results are consistent with the Standard Model predictions.