So I'm aware that there are several currently accepted production methods for Higgs boson, such as gluon fusion. When a Higgs boson is detected is it possible to determine the production method from either the detection of the Higgs or from measured information about the decay products/incoming particles. If so do we have a ratio of production methods?
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$\begingroup$ Here. $\endgroup$– Cosmas ZachosMar 16, 2021 at 22:10
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$\begingroup$ These are theoretical estimates, of course. $\endgroup$– Cosmas ZachosMar 16, 2021 at 22:14
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The experiments in the high energy collisions are in the realm of quantum mechanics, and the models to fit the data are quantum mechanical. In quantum mechanics only probability distributions can be mathematically predicted and checked against the data. On a single event basis, conservation laws apply, energy, momentum angular momentum and all the quantum number conservations, but there is no prediction on the values of the four momenta of single events.
When a Higgs boson is detected is it possible to determine the production method from either the detection of the Higgs or from measured information about the decay products/incoming particles.
Not for a single event. An event in the Higgs mass peak may be the result of a number of possible interactions but it is only the summed cross section that is calculable. The distributions are fitted to the sum of the possible theoretical interactions, including background. Models are checked by fitting the plots, an elaborate work as seen for example here.
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$\begingroup$ So on a one to one basis even if you look at the byproducts of production you can't determine production method? For instance tth Higgs production: lh6.googleusercontent.com/… , would the promeasurment of a top, anti-top pair not imply production via this mode? $\endgroup$– AdrienMar 17, 2021 at 13:24