A search for evidence of invisible-particle decay modes of a Higgs boson produced in association with a Z boson at the Large Hadron Collider is presented. No deviation from the standard model expectation is observed in4.5fb−1(20.3fb−1) of 7 (8) TeV pp collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment. Assuming the standard model rate for ZH production, an upper limit of 75%, at the 95% confidence level is set on the branching ratio to invisible-particle decay modes of the Higgs boson at a mass of 125.5 GeV. The limit on the branching ratio is also interpreted in terms of an upper limit on the allowed dark matter-nucleon scattering cross section within a Higgs-portal dark matter scenario. Within the constraints of such a scenario, the results presented in this Letter provide the strongest available limits for low-mass dark matter candidates. Limits are also set on an additional neutral Higgs boson, in the mass range 110 < mH < 400 GeV, produced in association with a Z boson and decaying to invisible particles.

Search for Invisible Decays of a Higgs Boson Produced in Association with a Z Boson in ATLAS

CONTA, CLAUDIO;FRANCHINO, SILVIA;FRATERNALI, MARCO;LIVAN, MICHELE;NEGRI, ANDREA;REBUZZI, DANIELA MARCELLA;RIMOLDI, ADELE;
2014-01-01

Abstract

A search for evidence of invisible-particle decay modes of a Higgs boson produced in association with a Z boson at the Large Hadron Collider is presented. No deviation from the standard model expectation is observed in4.5fb−1(20.3fb−1) of 7 (8) TeV pp collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment. Assuming the standard model rate for ZH production, an upper limit of 75%, at the 95% confidence level is set on the branching ratio to invisible-particle decay modes of the Higgs boson at a mass of 125.5 GeV. The limit on the branching ratio is also interpreted in terms of an upper limit on the allowed dark matter-nucleon scattering cross section within a Higgs-portal dark matter scenario. Within the constraints of such a scenario, the results presented in this Letter provide the strongest available limits for low-mass dark matter candidates. Limits are also set on an additional neutral Higgs boson, in the mass range 110 < mH < 400 GeV, produced in association with a Z boson and decaying to invisible particles.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11571/872238
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