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Effective connections of aμ, Higgs physics, and the collider frontier

Topic
natural sciences
Categories
physics
Reading Time 4 min
Abstract

Ever wondered how new physics could explain the muon's mysterious magnetic moment? In this video, we dive into the Zee-Babu model, a revolutionary extension of the Standard Model that could help us understand this anomaly. Find out how Higgs physics and the search for new particles at the LHC are all connected!

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natural-sciencesphysicscolliderconnectionseffectivefrontierhiggs

Ever wondered how new physics could explain the muon’s mysterious magnetic moment? In this video, we dive into the Zee-Babu model, a revolutionary extension of the Standard Model that could help us understand this anomaly. Find out how Higgs physics and the search for new particles at the LHC are all connected!



  1. What is the Zee-Babu model and why is it relevant to the muon anomalous magnetic moment? The Zee-Babu model is an extension of the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics. It introduces two new scalar fields: a singly charged scalar (h−) and a doubly charged scalar (r−−). Notably, it provides a framework for understanding neutrino masses and mixing. The Zee-Babu model is relevant to the muon anomalous magnetic moment (aμ) because the new charged scalars can contribute to the muon’s magnetic moment through loop diagrams. However, these contributions are negative, contradicting the observed positive deviation in aμ.

  2. How can the Zee-Babu model be modified to accommodate the observed aμ? To address this discrepancy, the Zee-Babu model is extended using Effective Field Theory (EFT). EFT introduces additional interactions in the form of higher-dimensional operators that couple the new scalars to SM particles. These effective interactions can provide positive contributions to aμ, potentially large enough to explain the experimental measurement.

  3. How does the EFT extension affect Higgs physics? The same effective interactions that modify aμ can also impact Higgs boson phenomenology. They can modify the Higgs boson’s production rate and decay branching ratios. In particular, loop-induced processes like H → γγ and H → Zγ are sensitive to the new charged scalars and their effective interactions.

  4. What are the constraints on the model parameters from Higgs measurements? The LHC experiments have measured Higgs boson properties with increasing precision. These measurements constrain the allowed parameter space of the EFT-extended Zee-Babu model. For instance, modifications to the H → γγ signal strength can be used to set limits on the couplings of the new scalars and the Wilson coefficients of the EFT operators.

  5. How can we directly search for the doubly charged scalar at the LHC? The doubly charged scalar (r−−) can be produced in pairs at the LHC via the Drell-Yan process. It can subsequently decay into pairs of same-sign leptons (e.g., r−− → μ−μ−), providing a clear experimental signature. The rate of these events depends on the r−− mass, its couplings, and the Wilson coefficients of the relevant EFT operators.

  6. What is the interplay between aμ, Higgs physics, and direct searches for r−−? Interestingly, the operator OϕRD, which modifies the Higgs-r−− coupling, affects all three experimental probes: aμ, Higgs signal strengths, and r−− production. Therefore, combining information from these three sources can lead to more stringent constraints on the model parameters.

  7. Can the EFT-extended Zee-Babu model simultaneously explain aμ and satisfy constraints from Higgs physics? Reconciling the observed aμ with constraints from Higgs measurements is challenging within the Zee-Babu model. This requires careful tuning of parameters and potentially large values for the Wilson coefficients, indicating strong coupling in the EFT framework.

  8. What are the future prospects for testing this model? Continued exploration of the high mass range for doubly charged scalar production at the LHC is crucial. Improved sensitivity in Higgs measurements and more precise calculations of the SM prediction for aμ will further constrain the EFT-extended Zee-Babu model and potentially reveal the nature of new physics beyond the SM.


Understanding these findings helps advance our knowledge and inform better decisions. This research represents an important contribution to the field. For the full details, watch the video above and explore the linked resources.


  • Read the research paper written by Anisha, Upalaparna Banerjee, Joydeep Chakrabortty, Christoph Englert, Michael Spannowsky, Panagiotis Stylianou

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effective connections of higgs physics and the collider frontier