Speaker
Description
I point out that Yukawa interactions of light quarks with the Higgs boson are imprinted as unique azimuthal modulations in the density of fragmentation hadrons relative to the Higgs $p_T$. I introduce Yukawa Fragmentation Asymmetries (YFAs), cut-and-count interference observables that are linearly proportional to real (Standard Model) or CP-odd Yukawa couplings $y_q$, respectively. The usual chiral suppression, which makes existing Yukawa-sensitive observables proportional to $y_q^2$, is nonperturbatively lifted to $y_q \, m_\pi/m_p$ by chiral-odd fragmentation functions. Powerful symmetry arguments protect YFAs from the Yukawa couplings of heavier quarks and other SM contributions, making them exceptionally robust against theory systematics. As a case study of the experimental sensitivity of YFAs, I consider several simple Higgs boson production processes with a tagged target fragmentation hadron at the HL-LHC, and give an overview of other attractive experimental targets for YFA searches at present and future colliders. These results point to deep synergies between precision studies of confinement and the in-depth exploration of the Higgs sector. (12' presentation + 3' discussion)