Search for Higgs Bosons Produced in Association with b-Quarks

TL;DR

This paper searches for neutral Higgs bosons produced with b-quarks in proton-antiproton collisions, setting limits on their production and interpreting results within supersymmetric models with high tan(beta).

Contribution

It introduces a novel search method for Higgs bosons in association with b-quarks using a data-driven background estimation and a two-dimensional fit approach.

Findings

Set mass-dependent limits on Higgs production cross-section times branching ratio.

Placed constraints on tan(beta) in supersymmetric Higgs models.

Developed a background estimation technique using a displaced vertex algorithm.

Abstract

We present a search for neutral Higgs bosons decaying into b-bbar, produced in association with b quarks in p-pbar collisions. This process could be observable in supersymmetric models with high values of tan(beta). The event sample corresponds to 2.6/fb of integrated luminosity collected with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. We search for an enhancement in the mass of the two lead jets in events with three jets identified as coming from b quarks using a displaced vertex algorithm. A data-driven procedure is used to estimate the dijet mass spectrum of the non-resonant multijet background. The contributions of backgrounds and possible signal are determined by a two-dimensional fit of the data, using the dijet mass together with an additional variable which is sensitive to the flavor composition of the three tagged jets. We set mass-dependent limits on sigma(p-pbar-->phi b) X BR(phi-->b-bbar) which are applicable for a narrow scalar particle phi produced in association with b quarks. We also interpret the results as limits on tan(beta) in supersymmetric Higgs models including the effects of the Higgs boson width.