Charged MSSM Higgs Bosons at CMS: Reach and Parameter Dependence

TL;DR

This paper assesses the CMS experiment's potential to discover charged MSSM Higgs bosons, analyzing how SUSY parameters and theoretical uncertainties influence the discovery reach with 30 fb^-1 of data.

Contribution

It combines experimental sensitivity studies with detailed analysis of SUSY parameter effects and theory uncertainties on charged Higgs boson discovery prospects.

Findings

Variation in mu can shift tan_beta reach by up to 40

Significant theory uncertainties affect signal predictions

Full simulation results inform discovery potential

Abstract

We review the analysis of the 5 sigma discovery contours for the charged MSSM Higgs boson at the CMS experiment with 30 fb^-1 for the two cases M_H+ < m_t and M_H+ > m_t. Latest results for the CMS experimental sensitivities based on full simulation studies are combined with state-of-the-art theoretical predictions of MSSM Higgs-boson production and decay properties. Special focus is put on the SUSY parameter dependence of the 5 sigma contours. The variation of mu can shift the prospective discovery reach in tan_beta by up to Delta tan_beta = 40. We furthermore discuss various theory uncertainties on the signal cross section and branching ratio calculations. In order to arrive at a reliable interpretation of a signal of the charged MSSM Higgs boson at the LHC a strong reduction in the relevant theory uncertainties will be necessary.