Higgs boson production via vector-like top-partner decays: diphoton or multilepton plus multijets channels at the LHC

Original · EN

We first build a minimal model of vector-like quarks where the dominant Higgs boson production process at LHC -- the gluon fusion -- can be significantly suppressed, being motivated by the recent stringent constraints from the search for direct Higgs production over a wide Higgs mass range. Within this model, compatible with the present experimental constraints on direct Higgs searches, we demonstrate that the Higgs (h) production via a heavy vector-like top-partner (t₂) decay, pp → t₂ t₂, t₂→ t h, allows to discover a Higgs boson at the LHC and measure its mass, through the decay channels h→ γγ or h→ ZZ. We also comment on the recent hint in LHC data from a possible 125 GeV Higgs scalar, in the presence of heavy vector-like top quarks.