Higgs Bosons at 98 and 125 GeV at LEP and the LHC

TL;DR

This paper explores NMSSM scenarios where a light Higgs at 98 GeV explains LEP excesses and a heavier Higgs at 125 GeV matches LHC signals, discussing detection prospects and dark matter implications.

Contribution

It introduces specific NMSSM scenarios that simultaneously account for LEP and LHC Higgs observations, including potential detection strategies.

Findings

The 98 GeV Higgs can explain LEP excesses.

The 125 GeV Higgs aligns with LHC signals.

Detection prospects at the 14 TeV LHC are promising.

Abstract

We discuss NMSSM scenarios in which the lightest Higgs boson $h_1$ is consistent with the small LEP excess at about 98 GeV in $e^+e^- \to Zh$ with $h\to b\anti b$ and the heavier Higgs boson $h_2$ has the primary features of the LHC Higgs-like signals at 125 GeV, including an enhanced $\gamma\gamma$ rate. Verification or falsification of the 98 GeV $h_1$ may be possible at the LHC during the 14 TeV run. The detection of the other NMSSM Higgs bosons at the LHC and future colliders is also discussed, as well as dark matter properties of the scenario under consideration.