Yukawa coupling deviations from four-quark interactions

Abstract

New physics generating four-quark interactions can be difficult to detect at the LHC, especially if it does not couple to first generation quarks. We investigate the possible role of such interactions in generating measurable deviations in Higgs-quark couplings. We find important constraints from flavour physics and top-pair production, but show that Higgs-charm and Higgs-bottom couplings remain the most sensitive LHC observables to some four-quark operators involving scalar currents. At FCC-ee, more operators and flavour structures can be tested. We further investigate simple single-particle models that can generate these interactions, including a second Higgs doublet, and scalar and vector diquarks. We find that in some cases, including new scalars most strongly coupled to the third generation of quarks, deviations in Yukawa couplings could offer the first signs of new physics generating four-quark interactions.