Proposal for simplified template cross-sections extension using $\cal{CP}$ observables in $t\overline{t}H$

TL;DR

This paper proposes an extension to the simplified template cross-section framework at the LHC by incorporating CP-sensitive observables, notably the Collins-Soper angle, to improve the measurement of CP violation in Higgs-top interactions.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel extension of the STXS framework using CP-sensitive observables, enhancing sensitivity to CP violation in Higgs production with top quarks.

Findings

Adding CP-sensitive observables improves measurement performance.

Two-dimensional STXS setup outperforms current methods.

Performance gains are maintained at higher luminosity.

Abstract

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) offers a unique opportunity to investigate $\cal{CP}$ violation in the Yukawa coupling between the Higgs boson and the top quark by studying Higgs production in association with top quarks; this is of fundamental importance, seeing that the $\cal{CP}$ properties of the Higgs boson are yet to measure with high precision. To address this, the focus of this work has been an extension of the simplified template cross-section (STXS) framework, devised to be sensitive to $\cal{CP}$ effects. Our study focused on $\cal{CP}$-sensitive observables across multiple Higgs decay channels, comparing their performances. The result indicates that the most efficient extension of the current binning used in the STXS framework, which currently uses the Higgs boson's transverse momentum $p_{T,H}$, requires adding one further split using $\cal{CP}$-sensitive observables. Between these observables, one of the best is the Collins-Soper angle $|\cos\theta^*|$, a variable derived from momenta information of the top quarks. We have investigated the improvement brought by our two-dimensional STXS setup and compared it to the currently employed methodologies, finding an increase in performances at an integrated luminosity of $300$ fb$^{-1}$. Moreover, our results highlight that this advantage seems to be present also at $3000$ fb$^{-1}$.