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Higgs to WW Analysis
with CMS Open Data

An open, reproducible search for the Standard Model Higgs boson in the opposite-flavour dilepton final state and a guide to CMS data analysis from the LHC.

Part of the HSF-India Project  ·  Authored by Anuj Raghav

Introduction

What This Analysis Does

This analysis searches for the Standard Model Higgs boson (\(m_H = 125\,\text{GeV}\)) decaying to a pair of \(W\) bosons in the opposite-flavour dilepton final state:

\[gg \rightarrow H \rightarrow W^+W^{-*} \rightarrow e^\pm\,\nu_e\;+\;\mu^\mp\,\nu_\mu\]

The analysis strategy follows the approach described in the CMS H→WW measurement (Tumasyan et al., Eur. Phys. J. C 83, 667, 2023), adapted for CMS Open Data using the Scikit-HEP Python ecosystem.

Key Analysis Properties

Quantity Value
Centre-of-mass energy \(\sqrt{s}=13~\mathrm{TeV}\)
Data-taking period 2016 Ultra-Legacy (Run periods G–H)
Integrated luminosity \(\mathcal{L}_{\mathrm{int}}=16.39~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}\)
Signal process \(ggH \rightarrow W^+W^- \rightarrow e\nu\mu\nu\)

Pre-Requisite

  • This analysis assumes a basic working knowledge of Python, including familiarity with functions, dictionaries, lists, and arrays.
  • Readers are also expected to have prior exposure to undergraduate or graduate-level particle physics, along with an understanding of standard terminology related to fundamental particles.

Quick Start

Get up and running
# 1. Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/anrghv/H-to-WW-NanoAOD-analysis.git
cd H-to-WW-NanoAOD-analysis

# 2. Create the environment (Conda recommended)
conda env create -f environment.yml
conda activate HEP_analysis

# 3. Open the main analysis notebook
cd notebooks/
jupyter lab HWW_analysis.ipynb

→ Full setup instructions: Installation & Setup


Documentation Guide

Section Description Link
Physics Background CMS Open Data, Higgs signal, and background processes. Theory
Datasets Sample list, cross-sections, and MC normalisation. Datasets
Software Framework The Scikit-HEP ecosystem explained. Framework
Installation & Setup Environment setup and verification. Installation
Analysis Methodology Analysis methodology and Jupyter notebook. Methodology
Statistical Inference CMS Combine: datacards, signal strength. Combine

Acknowledgements