Model-independent search for the presence of new physics in events including $H\rightarrow\gamma\gamma$ with $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV pp data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC

TL;DR

This paper conducts a comprehensive, model-independent search for new physics involving Higgs to gamma gamma decays using 13 TeV proton-proton collision data from ATLAS, categorizing events by associated objects and setting limits without observing significant deviations.

Contribution

It introduces a broad, model-independent approach to search for new physics in Higgs decay channels, analyzing 22 final states with detailed detector efficiency reporting.

Findings

No significant excesses observed over Standard Model predictions.

Limits on production cross sections set at 95% confidence level.

Detector efficiencies provided for all analyzed signal regions.

Abstract

A model-independent search for new physics leading to final states containing $H\rightarrow\gamma\gamma$ decays is performed with 139 fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV pp collision data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. This search examines 22 final states categorized by the objects that are produced in association with the Higgs boson. These objects include isolated electrons or muons, hadronically decaying $\tau$-leptons, additional photons, missing transverse momentum, and hadronic jets, as well as jets that are tagged as containing a b-hadron. No significant excesses above Standard Model expectations are observed and limits on the production cross section at 95% confidence level are set. Detector efficiencies are reported for all 22 signal regions, which can be used to convert detector-level cross-section limits reported in this paper to particle-level cross-section constraints.