Electroweak Symmetry Breaking Beyond the Standard Model

TL;DR

This paper reviews various models of electroweak symmetry breaking, analyzing their fine-tuning issues and exploring whether the Higgs boson must be elementary, providing a comprehensive overview as of 2011.

Contribution

It compares different theoretical models of electroweak symmetry breaking, highlighting their fine-tuning problems and the nature of the Higgs boson beyond the Standard Model.

Findings

Fine-tuning varies across models like MSSM, NMSSM, and GMSB.

Composite and Higgsless models offer alternative mechanisms.

Current understanding as of 2011 remains inconclusive about the Higgs's fundamental nature.

Abstract

In this talk, I shall address two key issues related to electroweak symmetry breaking. First, how fine-tuned different models are that trigger this phenomenon? Second, even if a light Higgs boson exists, does it have to be necessarily elementary? After a brief introduction, I shall first review the fine-tuning aspects of the MSSM, NMSSM, generalized NMSSM and GMSB scenarios. I shall then compare and contrast the little Higgs, composite Higgs and the Higgsless models. Finally, I shall summarize by giving a broad overview on where we stand at the end of 2011.