Low energy consequences of some non-standard Higgs models

Little Higgs models offer an innovative solution of the naturalness problem of the Standard Model. These models contain new particles which cancel the quadratic divergences in the Higgs mass caused by the top, gauge and Higgs loops. These new particles contribute to loop induced interactions of the Higgs boson. The loop induced decays of the Higgs to gluon and photon pairs are examined in two Little Higgs models - the Littlest Higgs Model and the Schmaltz Model. The production of Higgs pairs from gluon fusion, which proceeds via heavy quark loops, is also examined in these models. Another idea considered is the multiple point principle (MPP) applied to the two Higgs doublet extension of the Standard Model. The MPP stipulates that the coupling constants will be tuned to allow the existence of a maximal number of degenerate vacua. This principle is shown to lead to a Peccei-Quinn type symmetry which naturally suppresses phenomenologically dangerous flavour changing neutral currents. Quasi-fixed points of the renormalization group are then used to derive predictions for the Higgs masses and couplings.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

PhD

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Glasgow

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Thompson, David I.

• QC Physics

Language dc:language

en