The observation of the standard model (SM) Higgs boson decay to a pair of bottom quarks is presented. The main contribution to this result is from processes in which Higgs bosons are produced in association with a W or Z boson (VH), and are searched for in final states including 0, 1, or 2 charged leptons and two identified bottom quark jets. The results from the measurement of these processes in a data sample recorded by the CMS experiment in 2017, comprising 41.3 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV, are described. When combined with previous VH measurements using data collected at $\sqrt{s}=$ 7, 8, and 13 TeV, an excess of events is observed at $m_\mathrm{H} =$ 125.09 GeV with a significance of 4.8 standard deviations, where the expectation for the SM Higgs boson is 4.9. The corresponding measured signal strength is 1.01 $\pm$ 0.22. The combination of this result with searches by the CMS experiment for H $\to\mathrm{b\overline{b}}$ in other production processes yields an observed (expected) significance of 5.6 (5.5) standard deviations and a signal strength of 1.04 $\pm$ 0.20.
Expected and observed significances, in number of standard deviations, and observed signal strengths for the VH production process with H-->b bbar. Results are shown separately for 2017 data, combined Run 2 (2016 and 2017 data), and for the combination of the Run 1 and Run 2 data. For the 2017 analysis, results are shown separately for the individual mu value for each channel from a combined simultaneous fit to all channels. All results are obtained for mH=125.09 GeV. Data are from Table 2 and 2016 added from Figure 1b.
Best-fit value of the H-->b bbar signal strength with its 1 sigma systematic (red) and total (blue) uncertainties for the five individual production modes considered, as well as the overall combined result. The vertical dashed line indicates the standard model expectation. All results are extracted from a single fit combining all input analyses, with mH = 125.09 GeV. Data from Figure 3.
Searches for invisible decays of the Higgs boson are presented. The data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC correspond to integrated luminosities of 5.1, 19.7, and 2.3 inverse femtobarns at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, respectively. The search channels target Higgs boson production via gluon fusion, vector boson fusion, and in association with a vector boson. Upper limits are placed on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson decay to invisible particles, as a function of the assumed production cross sections. The combination of all channels, assuming standard model production, yields an observed (expected) upper limit on the invisible branching fraction of 0.24 (0.23) at the 95% confidence level. The results are also interpreted in the context of Higgs-portal dark matter models.
Observed and expected 95% CL limits on $\sigma\mathcal{B}(H\rightarrow inv)/\sigma(SM)$ for individual combinations of categories targeting qqH, VH, and ggH production, and the full combination assuming a Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV.
Profile likelihood ratio as a function of $\mathcal{B}(H\rightarrow inv)$ assuming SM production cross sections of a Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV. The solid curves represent the observations in data and the dashed curves represent the expected result assuming no invisible decays of the Higgs boson. The observed and expected likelihood scans for the partial combinations of the qqH tagged, VH tagged, and ggH tagged analyses, and the full combination.
Profile likelihood ratio as a function of $\mathcal{B}(H\rightarrow inv)$ assuming SM production cross sections of a Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV. The solid curves represent the observations in data and the dashed curves represent the expected result assuming no invisible decays of the Higgs boson. The observed and expected likelihood scans for the partial combinations of the 7+8 and 13 TeV analyses, and the full combination.
A search for a heavy Higgs boson in the H to WW and H to ZZ decay channels is reported. The search is based upon proton-proton collision data samples corresponding to an integrated luminosity of up to 5.1 inverse femtobarns at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV and up to 19.7 inverse femtobarns at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV, recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. Several final states of the H to WW and H to ZZ decays are analyzed. The combined upper limit at the 95% confidence level on the product of the cross section and branching fraction exclude a Higgs boson with standard model-like couplings and decays in the range 145 < m[H] < 1000 GeV. We also interpret the results in the context of an electroweak singlet extension of the standard model.
Upper limits at 95\% CL on the cross section for a heavy Higgs boson decaying to a pair of W bosons as a function of its mass and its width relative to a SM-like Higgs boson.
Upper limits at 95\% CL on the cross section for a heavy Higgs boson decaying to a pair of Z bosons as a function of its mass and its width relative to a SM-like Higgs boson.
Upper limits at 95% CL on the cross section for a heavy Higgs boson as a function of its mass and its width relative to a SM-like Higgs boson. Both, gluon-gluon fusion and VBF production processes are combined, assuming a SM-like ratio between the two.
A search for invisible decays of Higgs bosons is performed using the vector boson fusion and associated ZH production modes. In the ZH mode, the Z boson is required to decay to a pair of charged leptons or a $b\bar{b}$ quark pair. The searches use the 8 TeV pp collision dataset collected by the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of up to 19.7 inverse femtobarns. Certain channels include data from 7 TeV collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.9 inverse femtobarns. The searches are sensitive to non-standard-model invisible decays of the recently observed Higgs boson, as well as additional Higgs bosons with similar production modes and large invisible branching fractions. In all channels, the observed data are consistent with the expected standard model backgrounds. Limits are set on the production cross section times invisible branching fraction, as a function of the Higgs boson mass, for the vector boson fusion and ZH production modes. By combining all channels, and assuming standard model Higgs boson cross sections and acceptances, the observed (expected) upper limit on the invisible branching fraction at $m_H$=125 GeV is found to be 0.58 (0.44) at 95% confidence level. We interpret this limit in terms of a Higgs-portal model of dark matter interactions.
Summary of 95% CL upper limits on SIG*BR(HIGGS --> INVISIBLE)/SIG(SM) obtained from the VBF search, the combined ZH searches, and the combination of all three searches.
A measurement of WW production in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV and a search for the Higgs boson are reported. The WW candidates are selected in events with two leptons, either electrons or muons. The measurement is performed using LHC data recorded with the CMS detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 inverse picobarns. The pp to WW cross section is measured to be 41.1 +/- 15.3 (stat) +/- 5.8 (syst) +/- 4.5 (lumi) pb, consistent with the standard model prediction. Limits on WW gamma and WWZ anomalous triple gauge couplings are set. The search for the standard model Higgs boson in the WW decay mode does not reveal any evidence of excess above backgrounds. Limits are set on the production of the Higgs boson in the context of the standard model and in the presence of a sequential fourth family of fermions with high masses. In the latter context, a Higgs boson with mass between 144 and 207 GeV is ruled out at 95% confidence level.
The measured W+ W- cross section.
Forum