Objective In the standard model of particle physics (SM), the Higgs boson explains the existence of mass of the elementary particles. However, the model suffers from severe weaknesses: radiative corrections drive the theoretical mass of the Higgs boson to extremely high, unnatural values, while the observed mass is rather low (the famous hierarchy problem). Unknown mechanisms of physics beyond the standard model (BSM) must exist to avoid this unnatural situation. Such BSM mechanisms modify the predicted properties and decay patterns of the Higgs boson. The experimental collaborations at the LHC are measuring these decay patterns as precisely as possible.The decay of the Higgs boson into bottom quarks is dominant with a predicted decay fraction of 57%. Neither this nor the subdominant decay into charm quarks of 2.9% have ever been observed. The small decay fraction into charm quarks makes it susceptible to BSM modifications, if they exist. A measurement of this charm decay fraction would either unravel new physics that has been sought for more than 60 years, or constrain BSM scenarios to enhance the understanding of the fundamental theory of matter.However, the decay of the Higgs boson into charm quarks has been considered to be experimentally inaccessible at the LHC, because of the difficulties to distinguish charm quarks from other quarks. In this proposal I will show how to overcome these experimental obstacles with new methods for the detection of charm quarks in the CMS detector. The new methods will be based on decay vertex reconstruction algorithms that make use of modern pattern recognition concepts. In combination with new techniques for data analysis and interpretation, this will facilitate the first observation of the Higgs to charm decay, and the measurement of its branching fraction, if it is anomalously enhanced through BSM contributions. With this strategy the first indication for physics beyond the standard model may be found. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdata sciencenatural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsquarksnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencepattern recognitionnatural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicshiggs bosons Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2016-COG - ERC Consolidator Grant Call for proposal ERC-2016-COG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant Coordinator RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN Net EU contribution € 1 973 875,00 Address Templergraben 55 52062 Aachen Germany See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Städteregion Aachen Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN Germany Net EU contribution € 1 973 875,00 Address Templergraben 55 52062 Aachen See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Städteregion Aachen Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
