Refining two-loop corrections to trilinear Higgs couplings in the Two-Higgs-Doublet Model
Pith reviewed 2026-05-10 13:31 UTC · model grok-4.3
The pith
Leading two-loop corrections to trilinear Higgs couplings are calculated in the Two-Higgs-Doublet Model.
A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.
Core claim
The authors present new results for the leading two-loop corrections to the trilinear couplings λ_hhh and λ_hhH in the 2HDM. They renormalize the alignment limit in the Higgs basis and examine technical aspects of the calculation. The results show the phenomenological impact on differential distributions in di-Higgs production at colliders.
What carries the argument
Two-loop Feynman diagram evaluation of the trilinear Higgs vertices, together with a consistent renormalization scheme in the alignment limit of the Higgs basis.
If this is right
- Predictions for the rate of Higgs pair production at the HL-LHC become more precise once the two-loop terms are included.
- The size of these corrections provides a direct test of whether the perturbative expansion remains reliable in the 2HDM.
- Differential distributions in di-Higgs events receive measurable shifts that must be accounted for in experimental analyses.
- The same corrections apply to measurements planned at future linear colliders.
Where Pith is reading between the lines
- Similar two-loop calculations will likely be required for other trilinear couplings or for quartic couplings in the same model.
- The refined predictions can be used to place tighter constraints on 2HDM parameters when compared with future collider data.
- The technical methods developed here may be carried over to other extended Higgs sectors that also possess an alignment limit.
Load-bearing premise
The perturbative series remains well-behaved and the two-loop terms constitute the dominant correction in the alignment limit and parameter regions considered.
What would settle it
High-luminosity LHC measurements of the differential distributions in Higgs pair production that agree with one-loop predictions but deviate from the two-loop corrected predictions would indicate that the two-loop terms are not the dominant correction.
Figures
read the original abstract
The precise determination of the Higgs self-couplings is an essential task for understanding electroweak symmetry breaking and probing physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). The calculation of two-loop corrections to scalar couplings is important as it provides a critical test of the perturbative stability of the theoretical predictions, especially in scenarios with extended scalar sectors where large one-loop corrections can occur. Moreover, two-loop corrections need to be taken into account for the future perspective of precisely measuring the trilinear Higgs self-coupling. We present new results for the leading two-loop corrections to trilinear Higgs couplings in the Two-Higgs-Doublet Model (2HDM). We focus in particular on the couplings $\lambda_{hhh}$ and $\lambda_{hhH}$, which are relevant for Higgs pair production at the (HL-)LHC or at future linear colliders. We address the renormalisation of the alignment limit in the Higgs basis and give some insights into technical details of the calculation. Finally, we discuss the phenomenological impact of our results on di-Higgs production differential distributions.
Editorial analysis
A structured set of objections, weighed in public.
Referee Report
Summary. The manuscript presents new results for the leading two-loop corrections to the trilinear Higgs couplings λ_hhh and λ_hhH in the Two-Higgs-Doublet Model (2HDM). It focuses on the couplings relevant for Higgs pair production, addresses the renormalization of the alignment limit in the Higgs basis, provides insights into technical details of the calculation, and discusses the phenomenological impact on di-Higgs production differential distributions.
Significance. If the results hold, this work is significant for precision Higgs phenomenology in extended scalar sectors. It supplies two-loop corrections that test perturbative stability where one-loop effects can be large, and the discussion of renormalization in the alignment limit plus the impact on di-Higgs distributions directly supports future LHC and linear-collider analyses of Higgs self-couplings.
minor comments (3)
- The abstract states that 'leading two-loop corrections' are computed, but the manuscript should explicitly state in §2 or §3 which classes of diagrams (e.g., top-Yukawa or gauge-boson) are retained at two loops and which are neglected, to make the approximation transparent.
- In the phenomenological section, the differential distributions for di-Higgs production are shown; adding a direct comparison plot (or table) of the two-loop result versus the one-loop result and versus the SM would make the size of the correction immediately visible to readers.
- The notation for the Higgs basis and the alignment limit is introduced, but a short paragraph recalling the relation between the CP-even mixing angle and the alignment condition (e.g., cos(β−α)→0) would help readers who are not 2HDM experts.
Simulated Author's Rebuttal
We thank the referee for the positive assessment of our manuscript on two-loop corrections to trilinear Higgs couplings in the 2HDM, including the focus on renormalization and di-Higgs phenomenology. The recommendation for minor revision is noted. No specific major comments were provided in the report, so we have no individual points to rebut or revise at this stage. We will incorporate minor improvements for clarity and presentation in the revised version.
Circularity Check
No significant circularity in derivation chain
full rationale
The paper reports a direct perturbative computation of leading two-loop corrections to trilinear Higgs couplings (λ_hhh, λ_hhH) in the 2HDM, using standard QFT techniques for renormalization in the Higgs basis and alignment limit. No equations or steps reduce by construction to fitted parameters, self-definitions, or prior self-citations that would make the central results equivalent to their inputs. The calculation is self-contained against external benchmarks of loop integrals and renormalization conditions, with the perturbative assumption stated explicitly as the natural one for this class of work.
Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger
Forward citations
Cited by 1 Pith paper
-
Precision predictions for trilinear scalar couplings and Higgs pair production in models with extended scalar sectors
The work reviews precision predictions for trilinear scalar couplings and Higgs pair production at the LHC in models with extended scalar sectors.
Reference graph
Works this paper leans on
-
[1]
Aadet al.[CMS and ATLAS], [arXiv:2602.23991]
G. Aad et al. (CMS, ATLAS), Combination of ATLAS and CMS searches for Higgs boson pair production at √s=13 TeV (2026),2602.23991
-
[2]
G. Aad et al. (ATLAS, CMS), Highlights of the HL-LHC physics projections by ATLAS and CMS (2025),2504.00672
-
[3]
H. Abramowicz et al. (Linear Collider Vision), A Linear Collider Vision for the Future of Particle Physics (2025),2503.19983
-
[4]
S. Kanemura, S. Kiyoura, Y . Okada, E. Senaha, C.P. Yuan, New physics effect on the Higgs selfcoupling, Phys. Lett. B558, 157 (2003),hep-ph/0211308. 10.1016/S0370- 2693(03)00268-5
-
[6]
M. Aoki, S. Kanemura, M. Kikuchi, K. Yagyu, Radiative corrections to the Higgs boson couplings in the triplet model, Phys. Rev. D87, 015012 (2013),1211.6029. 10.1103/PhysRevD.87.015012
-
[7]
S. Kanemura, M. Kikuchi, K. Yagyu, Radiative corrections to the Higgs boson cou- plings in the model with an additional real singlet scalar field, Nucl. Phys. B907, 286 (2016),1511.06211. 10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2016.04.005
-
[8]
S. Kanemura, M. Kikuchi, K. Yagyu, Fingerprinting the extended Higgs sector using one-loop corrected Higgs boson couplings and future precision measurements, Nucl. Phys. B896, 80 (2015),1502.07716. 10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2015.04.015
-
[9]
A. Arhrib, R. Benbrik, J. El Falaki, A. Jueid, Radiative corrections to the Triple Higgs Coupling in the Inert Higgs Doublet Model, JHEP12, 007 (2015),1507.03630. 10.1007/JHEP12(2015)007
-
[10]
S. Kanemura, M. Kikuchi, K. Sakurai, Testing the dark matter scenario in the inert doublet model by future precision measurements of the Higgs boson couplings, Phys. Rev. D94, 115011 (2016),1605.08520. 10.1103/PhysRevD.94.115011
-
[11]
S. Kanemura, M. Kikuchi, K. Yagyu, One-loop corrections to the Higgs self- couplings in the singlet extension, Nucl. Phys. B917, 154 (2017),1608.01582. 10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2017.02.004 11
-
[12]
S.P. He, S.h. Zhu, One-loop radiative correction to the triple Higgs coupling in the Higgs singlet model, Phys. Lett. B764, 31 (2017), [Erratum: Phys.Lett.B 797, 134782 (2019)],1607.04497. 10.1016/j.physletb.2016.11.007
-
[13]
S. Kanemura, M. Kikuchi, K. Sakurai, K. Yagyu, Gauge invariant one-loop correc- tions to Higgs boson couplings in non-minimal Higgs models, Phys. Rev. D96, 035014 (2017),1705.05399. 10.1103/PhysRevD.96.035014
-
[14]
S. Kanemura, M. Kikuchi, K. Sakurai, K. Yagyu, H-COUP: a program for one-loop cor- rected Higgs boson couplings in non-minimal Higgs sectors, Comput. Phys. Commun. 233, 134 (2018),1710.04603. 10.1016/j.cpc.2018.06.012
-
[15]
C.W. Chiang, A.L. Kuo, K. Yagyu, One-loop renormalized Higgs boson vertices in the Georgi-Machacek model, Phys. Rev. D98, 013008 (2018),1804.02633. 10.1103/PhysRevD.98.013008
-
[16]
P. Basler, M. Mühlleitner, BSMPT (Beyond the Standard Model Phase Transitions): A tool for the electroweak phase transition in extended Higgs sectors, Comput. Phys. Commun.237, 62 (2019),1803.02846. 10.1016/j.cpc.2018.11.006
-
[17]
E. Senaha, Radiative Corrections to Triple Higgs Coupling and Electroweak Phase Tran- sition: Beyond One-loop Analysis, Phys. Rev. D100, 055034 (2019),1811.00336. 10.1103/PhysRevD.100.055034
-
[18]
J. Braathen, S. Kanemura, On two-loop corrections to the Higgs trilinear coupling in models with extended scalar sectors, Phys. Lett. B796, 38 (2019),1903.05417. 10.1016/j.physletb.2019.07.021
-
[19]
J. Braathen, S. Kanemura, Leading two-loop corrections to the Higgs boson self- couplings in models with extended scalar sectors, Eur. Phys. J. C80, 227 (2020), 1911.11507. 10.1140/epjc/s10052-020-7723-2
-
[20]
S. Kanemura, M. Kikuchi, K. Mawatari, K. Sakurai, K. Yagyu, H-COUP Ver- sion 2: a program for one-loop corrected Higgs boson decays in non-minimal Higgs sectors, Comput. Phys. Commun.257, 107512 (2020),1910.12769. 10.1016/j.cpc.2020.107512
-
[21]
J. Braathen, S. Kanemura, M. Shimoda, Two-loop analysis of classically scale- invariant models with extended Higgs sectors, JHEP03, 297 (2021),2011.07580. 10.1007/JHEP03(2021)297
-
[22]
P. Basler, M. Mühlleitner, J. Müller, BSMPT v2 a tool for the electroweak phase tran- sition and the baryon asymmetry of the universe in extended Higgs Sectors, Comput. Phys. Commun.269, 108124 (2021),2007.01725. 10.1016/j.cpc.2021.108124
-
[23]
H. Bahl, J. Braathen, G. Weiglein, New Constraints on Extended Higgs Sectors from the Trilinear Higgs Coupling, Phys. Rev. Lett.129, 231802 (2022),2202.03453. 10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.231802
-
[24]
H. Bahl, W.H. Chiu, C. Gao, L.T. Wang, Y .M. Zhong, Tripling down on theWboson mass, Eur. Phys. J. C82, 944 (2022),2207.04059. 10.1140/epjc/s10052-022-10934-5
-
[25]
J.E. Falaki, Revisiting one-loop corrections to the trilinear Higgs boson self-coupling in the inert doublet model, Phys. Lett. B840, 137879 (2023),2301.13773. 10.1016/j.physletb.2023.137879
-
[26]
H. Bahl, J. Braathen, M. Gabelmann, G. Weiglein, anyH3: precise predictions for the trilinear Higgs coupling in the Standard Model and beyond, Eur. Phys. J. C83, 1156 (2023), [Erratum: Eur.Phys.J.C 84, 498 (2024)],2305.03015. 10.1140/epjc/s10052- 023-12173-8
-
[27]
M. Aiko, J. Braathen, S. Kanemura, Leading two-loop corrections to the Higgs di- photon decay in the inert doublet model, Eur. Phys. J. C85, 489 (2025),2307.14976. 12 10.1140/epjc/s10052-025-14184-z
-
[28]
A. Cherchiglia, L.J. Ferreira Leite, Maximal value for trilinear Higgs coupling in a 3-3-1 EFT, JHEP09, 101 (2025),2411.00094. 10.1007/JHEP09(2025)101
-
[29]
P. Basler, L. Biermann, M. Mühlleitner, J. Müller, R. Santos, J. Viana, BSMPT v3 a tool for phase transitions and primordial gravitational waves in extended Higgs sectors, Comput. Phys. Commun.316, 109766 (2025),2404.19037. 10.1016/j.cpc.2025.109766
-
[30]
H. Bahl, J. Braathen, M. Gabelmann, S. Paßehr, Generic two-loop results for trilinear and quartic scalar self-interactions, JHEP11, 161 (2025),2503.15645. 10.1007/JHEP11(2025)161
-
[31]
J. Braathen, S. Heinemeyer, A.P. Arnay, A. Verduras Schaeidt, Impact of one-loop cor- rections to trilinear scalar couplings on di-Higgs production in the RxSM, Eur. Phys. J. C85, 1153 (2025),2507.02569. 10.1140/epjc/s10052-025-14770-1
-
[32]
J. Braathen, S. Heinemeyer, C.P. Boatella, A. Verduras Schaeidt, Complementarity of gravitational wave analyses and di-Higgs production in the exploration of the Elec- troweak Phase Transition dynamics in the RxSM (2025),2510.12569
-
[33]
M. Brucherseifer, R. Gavin, M. Spira, Minimal supersymmetric Higgs boson self- couplings: Two-loopO(α tαs) corrections, Phys. Rev. D90, 117701 (2014),1309.3140. 10.1103/PhysRevD.90.117701
-
[34]
M. Mühlleitner, D.T. Nhung, H. Ziesche, The orderO (αtαs) corrections to the trilinear Higgs self-couplings in the complex NMSSM, JHEP12, 034 (2015),1506.03321. 10.1007/JHEP12(2015)034
-
[35]
C. Borschensky, T.N. Dao, M. Gabelmann, M. Mühlleitner, H. Rzehak, The trilinear Higgs self-couplings atO(α 2 t ) in the CP-violating NMSSM, Eur. Phys. J. C83, 118 (2023),2210.02104. 10.1140/epjc/s10052-023-11215-5
-
[36]
T.N. Dao, M. Gabelmann, M. Mühlleitner, Loop-corrected trilinear Higgs self- couplings in the NMSSM with inverse seesaw mechanism, Eur. Phys. J. C86, 210 (2026),2506.02743. 10.1140/epjc/s10052-026-15408-6
-
[37]
F. Arco, S. Heinemeyer, M. Mühlleitner, Large one-loop effects of BSM triple Higgs couplings on double Higgs production at e +e− colliders, JHEP01, 160 (2026), 2505.02947. 10.1007/JHEP01(2026)160
-
[38]
G. Degrassi, P. Slavich, On the two-loop BSM corrections toh− →γγin the aligned THDM, Eur. Phys. J. C83, 941 (2023),2307.02476. 10.1140/epjc/s10052-023-12097- 3
-
[39]
G. Degrassi, R. Gröber, P. Slavich, Two-loop BSM contributions to Higgs pair production in the aligned THDM, JHEP01, 041 (2026),2508.11539. 10.1007/JHEP01(2026)041
-
[40]
Theory and phenomenology of two-Higgs-doublet models
G.C. Branco, P.M. Ferreira, L. Lavoura, M.N. Rebelo, M. Sher, J.P. Silva, Theory and phenomenology of two-Higgs-doublet models, Phys. Rept.516, 1 (2012),1106.0034. 10.1016/j.physrep.2012.02.002
-
[41]
J. Bernon, J.F. Gunion, H.E. Haber, Y . Jiang, S. Kraml, Scrutinizing the alignment limit in two-Higgs-doublet models: m h=125 GeV, Phys. Rev. D92, 075004 (2015), 1507.00933. 10.1103/PhysRevD.92.075004
-
[42]
J. Bernon, J.F. Gunion, H.E. Haber, Y . Jiang, S. Kraml, Scrutinizing the alignment limit in two-Higgs-doublet models. II. mH=125 GeV, Phys. Rev. D93, 035027 (2016), 1511.03682. 10.1103/PhysRevD.93.035027
-
[43]
Generating Feynman diagrams and amplitudes with FeynArts 3,
T. Hahn, Generating Feynman diagrams and amplitudes with FeynArts 3, Comput. Phys. Commun.140, 418 (2001),hep-ph/0012260. 10.1016/S0010-4655(01)00290-9 13
-
[44]
Staub, From Superpotential to Model Files for FeynArts and CalcHep/CompHep, Comput
F. Staub, From Superpotential to Model Files for FeynArts and CalcHep/CompHep, Comput. Phys. Commun.181, 1077 (2010),0909.2863. 10.1016/j.cpc.2010.01.011
-
[45]
F. Staub, Automatic Calculation of supersymmetric Renormalization Group Equa- tions and Self Energies, Comput. Phys. Commun.182, 808 (2011),1002.0840. 10.1016/j.cpc.2010.11.030
-
[46]
Staub, SARAH 3.2: Dirac Gauginos, UFO output, and more, Comput
F. Staub, SARAH 3.2: Dirac Gauginos, UFO output, and more, Comput. Phys. Com- mun.184, 1792 (2013),1207.0906. 10.1016/j.cpc.2013.02.019
-
[47]
Staub, SARAH 4 : A tool for (not only SUSY) model builders, Comput
F. Staub, SARAH 4 : A tool for (not only SUSY) model builders, Comput. Phys. Com- mun.185, 1773 (2014),1309.7223. 10.1016/j.cpc.2014.02.018
-
[48]
R. Mertig, M. Böhm, A. Denner, Feyn calc - computer-algebraic calcula- tion of feynman amplitudes, Computer Physics Communications64, 345 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-4655(91)90130-D
-
[49]
V . Shtabovenko, R. Mertig, F. Orellana, New Developments in FeynCalc 9.0, Comput. Phys. Commun.207, 432 (2016),1601.01167. 10.1016/j.cpc.2016.06.008
-
[50]
V . Shtabovenko, R. Mertig, F. Orellana, FeynCalc 9.3: New features and improvements, Comput. Phys. Commun.256, 107478 (2020),2001.04407. 10.1016/j.cpc.2020.107478
-
[51]
V . Shtabovenko, R. Mertig, F. Orellana, FeynCalc 10: Do multiloop integrals dream of computer codes?, Comput. Phys. Commun.306, 109357 (2025),2312.14089. 10.1016/j.cpc.2024.109357
-
[52]
R. Mertig, R. Scharf, TARCER: A Mathematica program for the reduction of two loop propagator integrals, Comput. Phys. Commun.111, 265 (1998),hep-ph/9801383. 10.1016/S0010-4655(98)00042-3
-
[53]
S.P. Martin, Two Loop Effective Potential for a General Renormalizable Theory and Softly Broken Supersymmetry, Phys. Rev. D65, 116003 (2002),hep-ph/0111209. 10.1103/PhysRevD.65.116003
-
[54]
A. Denner, Techniques for calculation of electroweak radiative corrections at the one loop level and results for W physics at LEP-200, Fortsch. Phys.41, 307 (1993), 0709.1075. 10.1002/prop.2190410402
-
[55]
M. Krause, R. Lorenz, M. Muhlleitner, R. Santos, H. Ziesche, Gauge-independent Renormalization of the 2-Higgs-Doublet Model, JHEP09, 143 (2016),1605.04853. 10.1007/JHEP09(2016)143
-
[56]
A. Bredenstein, A. Denner, S. Dittmaier, M.M. Weber, Precise predictions for the Higgs-boson decay H —>WW/ZZ —>4 leptons, Phys. Rev. D74, 013004 (2006), hep-ph/0604011. 10.1103/PhysRevD.74.013004
-
[57]
H. Bahl, J. Braathen, M. Gabelmann, K. Radchenko, G. Weiglein, anyH3 and anyHH: precise predictions for trilinear Higgs couplings and double Higgs production in ex- tended scalar sectors, DESY-26-010, IFT–UAM/CSIC-26-7
-
[58]
J.A. Coarasa Perez, D. Garcia, J. Guasch, R.A. Jimenez, J. Sola, Quantum effects on t→H+bin the MSSM: A Window to ’ virtual ’ supersymmetry?, Eur. Phys. J. C2, 373 (1998),hep-ph/9607485. 10.1007/s100520050148
-
[59]
Wang, Scalable quantum tomography with fi- delity estimation, Phys
A. Freitas, D. Stockinger, Gauge dependence and renormalization of tan beta in the MSSM, Phys. Rev. D66, 095014 (2002),hep-ph/0205281. 10.1103/Phys- RevD.66.095014
-
[60]
A. Denner, S. Dittmaier, J.N. Lang, Renormalization of mixing angles, JHEP11, 104 (2018),1808.03466. 10.1007/JHEP11(2018)104
-
[61]
D. Azevedo, P. Gabriel, M. Muhlleitner, K. Sakurai, R. Santos, One-loop corrections to the Higgs boson invisible decay in the dark doublet phase of the N2HDM, JHEP10, 14 044 (2021),2104.03184. 10.1007/JHEP10(2021)044
-
[62]
F. Egle, M. Mühlleitner, R. Santos, J. Viana, One-loop corrections to the Higgs boson invisible decay in a complex singlet extension of the SM, Phys. Rev. D106, 095030 (2022),2202.04035. 10.1103/PhysRevD.106.095030
-
[63]
F. Egle, M. Mühlleitner, R. Santos, J. Viana, Electroweak corrections to Higgs boson decays in a Complex Singlet extension of the SM and their phenomenological impact, JHEP11, 116 (2023),2306.04127. 10.1007/JHEP11(2023)116
-
[64]
V . Cacchio, D. Chowdhury, O. Eberhardt, C.W. Murphy, Next-to-leading order uni- tarity fits in Two-Higgs-Doublet models with softZ 2 breaking, JHEP11, 026 (2016), 1609.01290. 10.1007/JHEP11(2016)026
-
[65]
B. Grinstein, C.W. Murphy, P. Uttayarat, One-loop corrections to the perturbative uni- tarity bounds in the CP-conserving two-Higgs doublet model with a softly brokenZ 2 symmetry, JHEP06, 070 (2016),1512.04567. 10.1007/JHEP06(2016)070
- [66]
-
[67]
S. Heinemeyer, M. Mühlleitner, K. Radchenko, G. Weiglein, Higgs pair production in the 2HDM: impact of loop corrections to the trilinear Higgs couplings and inter- ference effects on experimental limits, Eur. Phys. J. C85, 437 (2025),2403.14776. 10.1140/epjc/s10052-025-14124-x
-
[68]
Handbook of LHC Higgs cross sections: 4. Deciphering the nature of the Higgs sector
D. de Florian et al. (LHC Higgs Cross Section Working Group), Handbook of LHC Higgs Cross Sections: 4. Deciphering the Nature of the Higgs Sector, CERN Yellow Rep. Monogr.2, 1 (2017),1610.07922. 10.23731/CYRM-2017-002 15
discussion (0)
Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.