Search for exotic Higgs boson decays H → AA with A → YY in events with a semi-merged topology in proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV

The CMS Collaboration

doi:10.1007/JHEP07(2026)119

Search for exotic Higgs boson decays H → AA with A → YY in events with a semi-merged topology in proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV

The CMS Collaboration

Division of Computing & Electrical Engineering

CERN
A. Alikhanian Yerevan Institute of Physics
Yerevan State University
Austrian Academy of Sciences
TU Wien
University of Antwerp
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Ghent University
Université libre de Bruxelles
Texas A&M University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

A search for exotic Higgs boson decays H → AA, with A → YY is presented, using events with a semi-merged topology. One of the hypothetical particles, A, is assumed to decay promptly into a semi-merged diphoton system reconstructed as a single photon-like object, while the other A decays into two resolved photons. The search is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment at s=13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb⁻¹. The data agree with the standard model background expectation. Upper limits are set on the product of the Higgs boson production cross section and the branching fraction, σ(pp → H) B(H → AA → 4γ), which range from 0.264 to 0.005 pb at 95% confidence level, for A masses in the range 1 < m_A< 15 GeV. These limits are the most stringent to date in the 1–5 GeV m_A range.

Original language	English
Article number	119
Journal	Journal of High Energy Physics
Volume	2026
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP07(2026)119
Publication status	Published - Jul 2026

Keywords

Beyond Standard Model
Hadron-Hadron Scattering
Higgs Physics
Photon Production

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10.1007/JHEP07(2026)119

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@article{26f52887c47b4e58bd491bfef4e35842,

title = "Search for exotic Higgs boson decays H → AA with A → YY in events with a semi-merged topology in proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV",

abstract = "A search for exotic Higgs boson decays H → AA, with A → YY is presented, using events with a semi-merged topology. One of the hypothetical particles, A, is assumed to decay promptly into a semi-merged diphoton system reconstructed as a single photon-like object, while the other A decays into two resolved photons. The search is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment at s=13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. The data agree with the standard model background expectation. Upper limits are set on the product of the Higgs boson production cross section and the branching fraction, σ(pp → H) B(H → AA → 4γ), which range from 0.264 to 0.005 pb at 95\% confidence level, for A masses in the range 1 < mA< 15 GeV. These limits are the most stringent to date in the 1{\textendash}5 GeV mA range.",

keywords = "Beyond Standard Model, Hadron-Hadron Scattering, Higgs Physics, Photon Production",

author = "\{The CMS Collaboration\} and A. Hayrapetyan and V. Makarenko and A. Tumasyan and W. Adam and Andrejkovic, \{J. W.\} and L. Benato and T. Bergauer and M. Dragicevic and C. Giordano and Hussain, \{P. S.\} and M. Jeitler and N. Krammer and A. Li and D. Liko and M. Matthewman and I. Mikulec and J. Schieck and R. Sch{\"o}fbeck and D. Schwarz and M. Shooshtari and M. Sonawane and W. Waltenberger and Wulz, \{C. E.\} and T. Janssen and H. Kwon and \{Ocampo Henao\}, D. and \{Van Laer\}, T. and \{Van Mechelen\}, P. and J. Bierkens and N. Breugelmans and J. D{\textquoteright}Hondt and S. Dansana and \{De Moor\}, A. and M. Delcourt and F. Heyen and Y. Hong and P. Kashko and S. Lowette and I. Makarenko and D. M{\"u}ller and J. Song and S. Tavernier and M. Tytgat and \{Van Onsem\}, \{G. P.\} and \{Van Putte\}, S. and D. Vannerom and B. Bilin and B. Clerbaux and Das, \{A. K.\} and O. Bouhali",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2026.",

year = "2026",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1007/JHEP07(2026)119",

language = "English",

volume = "2026",

journal = "Journal of High Energy Physics",

issn = "1029-8479",

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T1 - Search for exotic Higgs boson decays H → AA with A → YY in events with a semi-merged topology in proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV

AU - The CMS Collaboration

AU - Hayrapetyan, A.

AU - Makarenko, V.

AU - Tumasyan, A.

AU - Adam, W.

AU - Andrejkovic, J. W.

AU - Benato, L.

AU - Bergauer, T.

AU - Dragicevic, M.

AU - Giordano, C.

AU - Hussain, P. S.

AU - Jeitler, M.

AU - Krammer, N.

AU - Li, A.

AU - Liko, D.

AU - Matthewman, M.

AU - Mikulec, I.

AU - Schieck, J.

AU - Schöfbeck, R.

AU - Schwarz, D.

AU - Shooshtari, M.

AU - Sonawane, M.

AU - Waltenberger, W.

AU - Wulz, C. E.

AU - Janssen, T.

AU - Kwon, H.

AU - Ocampo Henao, D.

AU - Van Laer, T.

AU - Van Mechelen, P.

AU - Bierkens, J.

AU - Breugelmans, N.

AU - D’Hondt, J.

AU - Dansana, S.

AU - De Moor, A.

AU - Delcourt, M.

AU - Heyen, F.

AU - Hong, Y.

AU - Kashko, P.

AU - Lowette, S.

AU - Makarenko, I.

AU - Müller, D.

AU - Song, J.

AU - Tavernier, S.

AU - Tytgat, M.

AU - Van Onsem, G. P.

AU - Van Putte, S.

AU - Vannerom, D.

AU - Bilin, B.

AU - Clerbaux, B.

AU - Das, A. K.

AU - Bouhali, O.

PY - 2026/7

Y1 - 2026/7

N2 - A search for exotic Higgs boson decays H → AA, with A → YY is presented, using events with a semi-merged topology. One of the hypothetical particles, A, is assumed to decay promptly into a semi-merged diphoton system reconstructed as a single photon-like object, while the other A decays into two resolved photons. The search is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment at s=13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. The data agree with the standard model background expectation. Upper limits are set on the product of the Higgs boson production cross section and the branching fraction, σ(pp → H) B(H → AA → 4γ), which range from 0.264 to 0.005 pb at 95% confidence level, for A masses in the range 1 < mA< 15 GeV. These limits are the most stringent to date in the 1–5 GeV mA range.

AB - A search for exotic Higgs boson decays H → AA, with A → YY is presented, using events with a semi-merged topology. One of the hypothetical particles, A, is assumed to decay promptly into a semi-merged diphoton system reconstructed as a single photon-like object, while the other A decays into two resolved photons. The search is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment at s=13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. The data agree with the standard model background expectation. Upper limits are set on the product of the Higgs boson production cross section and the branching fraction, σ(pp → H) B(H → AA → 4γ), which range from 0.264 to 0.005 pb at 95% confidence level, for A masses in the range 1 < mA< 15 GeV. These limits are the most stringent to date in the 1–5 GeV mA range.

KW - Beyond Standard Model

KW - Hadron-Hadron Scattering

KW - Higgs Physics

KW - Photon Production

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105047485254

U2 - 10.1007/JHEP07(2026)119

DO - 10.1007/JHEP07(2026)119

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105047485254

SN - 1029-8479

VL - 2026

JO - Journal of High Energy Physics

JF - Journal of High Energy Physics

IS - 7

M1 - 119

ER -

Search for exotic Higgs boson decays H → AA with A → YY in events with a semi-merged topology in proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV

Abstract

Keywords

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