Constraints on standard model effective field theory for a Higgs boson produced in association with W or Z bosons in the H →bb¯ decay channel in proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV


Chekhovsky V., Hayrapetyan A., Makarenko V., Tumasyan A., Adam W., Andrejkovic J., ...More

Journal of High Energy Physics, vol.2025, no.3, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 2025 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/jhep03(2025)114
  • Journal Name: Journal of High Energy Physics
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, INSPEC, MathSciNet, zbMATH, Directory of Open Access Journals, Nature Index
  • Keywords: Hadron-Hadron Scattering, Higgs Physics
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

A standard model effective field theory (SMEFT) analysis with dimension-six operators probing nonresonant new physics effects is performed in the Higgs-strahlung process, where the Higgs boson is produced in association with a W or Z boson, in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The final states in which the W or Z boson decays leptonically and the Higgs boson decays to a pair of bottom quarks are considered. The analyzed data were collected by the CMS experiment between 2016 and 2018 and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. An approach designed to simultaneously optimize the sensitivity to Wilson coefficients of multiple SMEFT operators is employed. Likelihood scans as functions of the Wilson coefficients that carry SMEFT sensitivity in this final state are performed for different expansions in SMEFT. The results are consistent with the predictions of the standard model.