Precise probing of the inert Higgs-doublet model at the LHC

Abstract

The inert Higgs-doublet model provides a simple framework to accommodate a viable Higgs portalscalar dark matter candidate, together with other heavier scalars of mass 100 GeV or more. We study the effect of next-to-leading order (NLO) QCD corrections in this scenario in the context of the Large Hadron Collider. OðαsÞ corrections to the gluon-gluon-Higgs effective coupling have been taken into account inthis study wherever appropriate. We find such corrections have a significant impact on various kinematic distributions and reduce scale uncertainties substantially. Fixed order NLO results are matched to the PYTHIA8 parton shower (PS) and the di-fatjet signal associated with the missing transverse momentum isanalyzed, as this channel has the ability to explore its entire parameter space during the next phase of the LHC run. A closer look at the NLOþPS computation indicates a sizable NLO effect together with asubdued contribution from associated production of the heavy scalar compared to the pair production,thereby leading to a refined analysis strategy during the multivariate analysis of this signal.