QCD Predictions for Event-Shape Distributions in Hadronic Higgs Decays

TL;DR

This paper calculates QCD predictions for event-shape distributions in hadronic Higgs decays at next-to-leading order, analyzing their ability to distinguish between different decay mechanisms involving b-quarks and gluons.

Contribution

It provides the first NLO QCD predictions for classical event-shape observables in hadronic Higgs decays, including both Yukawa and loop-induced processes.

Findings

Event shapes can discriminate between Higgs decay channels.

Next-to-leading order calculations improve prediction accuracy.

Results enhance understanding of Higgs decay dynamics.

Abstract

We study the six classical event-shape observables in hadronic Higgs decays at next-to-leading order in QCD. To this end, we consider the decay of on-shell Higgs bosons to three partons, taking into account both the Yukawa-induced decay to $\mathrm{b}$-quark pairs and the loop-induced decay to two gluons via an effective Higgs-gluon coupling. The results are discussed with a particular focus on the discriminative power of event shapes regarding these two classes of processes.