Spin and parity in the \boldmath{$WH \rightarrow \ell \nu b\bar{b}$} channel at the D0 experiment

Abstract

We probe the spin ($J$) and parity ($P$) of the Standard Model Scalar (SMS) using existing searches sensitive to its production rate and kinematic properties. In particular, we search for the SMS decaying to a pair of $b$-quarks produced in association with a $W$ boson decaying leptonically. By exploiting the differences in kinematic observables, namely the transverse mass of the final state products ($M_{T}$), we attempt to distinguish between three possible $J^{P}$ hypotheses: the standard model prediction (\jpzp), a pseudoscalar (\jpzm), and a graviton-like particle (\jptp). With 9.7 fb$^{-1}$ of data collected at the D0 experiment we show the expected sensitivity to different spin and parity hypotheses.