$H \to ZZ$ as a double-slit experiment

TL;DR

This paper proposes using Higgs boson decays to four leptons as a quantum interference test analogous to the double-slit experiment, revealing particle behavior at high energies.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to observe quantum interference and identical-particle effects in Higgs decay channels, including the first evidence for muon behavior.

Findings

Potential to achieve 4σ sensitivity at HL-LHC

First evidence of identical-particle effects for muons

Demonstrates quantum interference in Higgs decays

Abstract

The decay $H \to ZZ \to 4\ell$, with $\ell = e,\mu$, can be used to test quantum interference in analogy to the famous double-slit experiment. The observations corresponding to `covering a slit' can be extracted from data in the $ee\mu\mu$ channel, while the observations when both `slits' are open, which include the interference, are measured in the $4e/4\mu$ channels. In this way, this process offers a unique opportunity to investigate identical-particle effects at high energies, and provide the first evidence of identical-particle behaviour for muons. Sensitivity at the $4\sigma$ level could be achieved at the high-luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider.