Search for exotic Higgs boson decays H $\to$ $\mathcal{AA}$ with $\mathcal{AA}$ $\to$ $\gamma \gamma$ in events with a semi-merged topology in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

Abstract

A search for exotic Higgs boson decays H $\to$ $\mathcal{AA}$, with $\mathcal{A}$ $\to$ $\gamma \gamma$ is presented, using events with a semi-merged topology. One of the hypothetical particles, $\mathcal{A}$, is assumed to decay promptly into a semi-merged diphoton system reconstructed as a single photon-like object, while the other $\mathcal{A}$ decays into two resolved photons. The search is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment at $\sqrt{s}$ = 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, $\sigma$(pp $\to$ H) $\mathcal{B}$(H $\to$ $\mathcal{AA}$ $\to$ 4$\gamma$), which range from 0.264 to 0.005 pb at 95% confidence level, for $\mathcal{A}$ masses in the range 1 $<$ $m_{\mathcal{A}}$ $<$ 15 GeV. These limits are the most stringent to date in the 1$-$5 GeV $m_{\mathcal{A}}$ range.

Replaced with the published version. Added the journal reference and the DOI. All the figures and tables can be found at http://cms-results.web.cern.ch/cms-results/public-results/publications/EXO-24-025 (CMS Public Pages)

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