CLIC Physics Overview

This paper, based on the invited talk given at the 17th Lomonosov Conference of Elementary Particle Physics, summarizes the physics program at CLIC, with particular emphasis on the Higgs physics studies. The physics reach of CLIC operating in three energy stages, at 350 GeV, 1.4 TeV and 3 TeV center-of-mass energies is reviewed. The energy-staged approach is motivated by the high-precision physics measurements in the Higgs and top sector as well as by direct and indirect searches for beyond the Standard Model physics. The first stage, at or above 350 GeV, gives access to precision Higgs physics through the Higgsstrahlung and WW-fusion production processes, providing absolute values of the Higgs couplings to fermions and bosons. This stage also addresses precision top physics around the top-pair-production threshold. The second stage, at 1.4 TeV, opens the energy frontier, allowing for the discovery of new physics phenomena. This stage also gives access to additional Higgs properties, such as the top-Yukawa coupling, the Higgs potential and rare Higgs decay branching ratios. The ultimate CLIC energy of 3 TeV enlarges the CLIC physics potential even further, covering the complete scope for precision Standard Model physics, direct searches for pair-production of new particles up to 1.5 TeV mass-scale, and provides the highest sensitivity to new physics models at much larger mass-scales through indirect searches. The staged implementation of CLIC would enable a long-term physics program at the energy frontier, providing insight into a wide range of physics measurements also beyond the capabilities of LHC and its high-luminosity upgrade.