An almost elementary Higgs: theory and practice

We study models that interpolate between an elementary and a composite Higgs boson. Such models, arising in theories with new vector-like fermions with electroweak quantum numbers and charged under a confining gauge interaction, are entirely compatible with current data, with only weak bounds from flavor, CP-violation and precision tests. After classifying the models from the point of view of symmetries, we study their collider phenomenology at LHC. In the most relevant scenarios, bounds from present searches exclude heavy scalar isospin triplets and quintuplets up to ∼ 200 GeV and we show how dedicated searches of simple signals such as pp → 3γW could improve the reach by at least a factor of 2 with present data, reaching O(1 TeV) with higher integrated luminosities. States that mix with the SM Higgs can be tested in a variety of final states, such as 2b2γ searches relevant for double Higgs production.