Low mass Higgs signals at the LHC in the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential to detect a light CP-odd Higgs boson in the NMSSM at the LHC, highlighting unique decay channels that could distinguish it from the MSSM.

Contribution

It demonstrates the discovery prospects of a singlet-like $a_1$ in the NMSSM via specific decay modes, which are not feasible in the MSSM.

Findings

$a_1$ with mass ≤ $M_Z$ can be identified via $ au^+ au^-$ decay.

The $ au^+ au^-$ channel offers a viable detection method for $a_1$.

The $ ext{BR}(a_1 o au^+ au^-)$ can be significant in the NMSSM.

Abstract

In the NMSSM, because of introducing a complex singlet superfield, the lightest CP-odd Higgs boson, $a_1$, can be a singlet-like state with a tiny doublet component in large regions of parameter space. In this paper, we examine the discovery potential of $a_1$ produced in association with a bottom-antibottom pair at the LHC through $\tau^+\tau^-$ and $\gamma\gamma$ decay modes. It is shown that an $a_1$ with mass $\leq M_Z$ can be extracted from the SM backgrounds by using the $\tau^+\tau^-$ decay channel, a possibility precluded to the MSSM. In contrast, the $\gamma\gamma$ decay mode is overwhelmed by backgrounds despite the fact that the branching ratio of this mode can reach unity when $a_1$ is a pure singlet.