Search for exotic Higgs boson decays H → �� with � → γγ in events with a semi-merged topology in proton-proton collisions at $$ sqrt{s}=13 $$ TeV Journal Article

Overview

; A; bstract; ; ; A search for exotic Higgs boson decays H; →; ��, with � → γγ is presented, using events with a semi-merged topology. One of the hypothetical particles, �, is assumed to decay promptly into a semi-merged diphoton system reconstructed as a single photon-like object, while the other � decays into two resolved photons. The search is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment at; ; ; $$ sqrt{s}=13 $$; ; ; s; ; =; 13; ; ; ; TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb; ; −; 1; ; . The data agree with the standard model background expectation. Upper limits are set on the product of the Higgs boson production cross section and the branching fraction,; σ; (pp; →; H) ℬ(H; →; ��; →; 4γ), which range from 0.264 to 0.005 pb at 95% confidence level, for � masses in the range 1; < m; �; <; 15 GeV. These limits are the most stringent to date in the 1–5 GeV; m; �; range.;

Hayrapetyan A; Makarenko V; Tumasyan A; Adam W; Andrejkovic JW; Benato L; Bergauer T; Dragicevic M; Giordano C; Hussain PS