Vector boson polarizations in the decay of the Standard Model Higgs

Abstract

The kinematic distributions of the lepton pairs produced in the decay of the Standard Model Higgs to ZZ and WW are related to the polarization fractions of the virtual vector bosons. The full amplitude can be decomposed analytically into a sum of simple polarized terms. The vector polarization fractions in Higgs decay are completely determined as in the case of single boson inclusive production. Their measurement would provide a test of the SM. Several observables, in particular the invariant mass of two charged leptons, either from the same boson or from different ones, and the lepton angular distribution in the vector boson center of mass are shown to be sensitive to the boson polarizations.

Keywords

• Higgs
• LHC
• Polarization
• Electroweak