We propose a novel kinematic method to expedite the discovery of the double Higgs ($hh$) production in the ${\ell }^{+}{\ell }^{-}b\overline{b}+{\cancel{E}}_T$ final state. We make full use of recently developed kinematic variables, as well as the variables “Topness” for the dominant background (top quark pair production) and “Higgsness” for the signal. We obtain a significant increase in sensitivity compared to the previous analyses that used sophisticated algorithms like boosted decision trees or neutral networks. The method can be easily generalized to resonant $hh$ production as well as other nonresonant channels.

• Received 21 August 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.091801

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Published by the American Physical Society