Off-shell Higgs couplings in H* → ZZ → llνν

We explore the new physics reach for the off-shell Higgs boson measurement in the pp -> H* -> Z(l(+)l(-))Z(nu(nu) over bar) channel at the high-luminosity LHC. The new physics sensitivity is parametrized in terms of the Higgs boson width, effective field theory framework, and a non-local Higgs-top coupling form factor. Adopting Machine-learning techniques, we demonstrate that the combination of a large signal rate and a precise phenomenological probe for the process energy scale, due to the transverse ZZ mass, leads to significant sensitivities beyond the existing results in the literature for the new physics scenarios considered. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

In this study, the new physics reach for the off-shell Higgs boson measurement in the pp -> H* -> Z(l(+)l(-))Z(nu(nu) over bar) channel at the high-luminosity LHC is explored. Utilizing machine-learning techniques, a significant sensitivity beyond existing results is demonstrated by combining a large signal rate and a precise phenomenological probe for the process energy scale. The research achieves an important breakthrough in the high-luminosity LHC setting.