Measuring the tth coupling from SSDL+2b measurements

David Curtin, Jamison Galloway, Jay G. Wacker

Published 2013-06-24, updated 2014-03-09Version 3

We evaluate the potential of a dedicated search for tth production in the SSDL+2b channel. Such a measurement provides direct access to the top Yukawa coupling, since the sensitivity is not convolved with the loop-level h-gamma-gamma or poorly known hbb coupling, as is the case for present tth searches. Furthermore, susceptibility to uncertainties in the Higgs width can be reduced by considering a ratio of SSDL+2b rates with those of the performed Wh -> WWW* measurement. The SSDL channel can therefore rely primarily on the already well-measured h->WW* decay. This feasibility study required the development of a new calculation method for "fake" leptons, which constitute the dominant background to our search. Combining measurements from LHC7, LHC8 and in the future LHC14 for the Higgs coupling fit would help resolve any remaining ambiguity between the top Yukawa coupling and a BSM contribution to the hgg coupling.