LHC signals of triplet scalars as dark matter portal: cut-based approach and improvement with gradient boosting and neural networks

Abstract

We consider a scenario where an SU(2) triplet scalar acts as the portal for a scalar dark matter particle. We identify regions of the parameter space, where such a triplet coexists with the usual Higgs doublet consistently with all theoretical as well as neutrino, accelerator and dark matter constraints, and the triplet-dominated neutral state has substantial invisible branching fraction. LHC signals are investigated for such regions, in the final state same-sign dilepton + ≥ 2 jets + . While straightforward detectability at the high-luminosity run is predicted for some benchmark points in a cut-based analysis, there are other benchmarks where one has to resort to gradient boosting/neural network techniques in order to achieve appreciable signal significance.