Constraining Continuum Higgs Dynamics with Off-Shell Measurements: A Global Fit to ATLAS Neural Simulation-Based Inference Data

We perform the first global analysis of ATLAS Neural Simulation-Based Inference (NSBI) off-shell Higgs data within a Continuum Higgs Effective Field Theory framework, where the Higgs boson effectively acquires an anomalous scaling behavior characterized by a parameter d̸ = 1 through its coupling to a continuum sector. Using the full NSBI likelihoods from H → ZZ production with140 fb−1 of √s = 13 TeV data, we constrain the scaling dimension d and ultraviolet scale Λ∗. The data favor d = 2.43+0.25−0.31 and Λ∗ = 1.1 × 109 GeV at 68% CL, consistent with the Standard Model limit but allowing for mild dissipative dynamics. We exclude d > 2.2 for Λ∗ < 106 GeV at 95% confidence level. Our analysis demonstrates a ∼ 3× sensitivity improvement from the NSBI method and provides a novel probe of Higgs compositeness and quantum criticality beyond local effectivefield theories. (beniaiche_ahmed25@yahoo.fr)