Revisiting a light NMSSM pseudoscalar at the LHC

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of the LHC to detect a light, singlet-like pseudoscalar Higgs boson in the NMSSM through specific decay channels, highlighting promising mass ranges and detection strategies.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of LHC signatures for a light NMSSM pseudoscalar, emphasizing decay modes and mass ranges that enhance detection prospects.

Findings

Pair production of A1 below 60 GeV is promising with 30/fb luminosity.

Decay of the heaviest scalar into Z and A1 offers detection opportunities.

Light A1 detection could serve as a hallmark of non-minimal supersymmetry.

Abstract

The discovery of a light, singlet-like pseudoscalar Higgs boson, $A_1$, of the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM) could provide a hallmark signature of non-minimal supersymmetry. We review here the potential of the LHC to probe such a light $A_1$ in the decays of one of the heavier scalar Higgs bosons of the NMSSM. We find the production of pairs of the $A_1$, with a mass below 60 GeV or so, via decays of the two lightest scalar states to be especially promising, for an integrated luminosity as low as 30/fb. For heavier masses, the decay of the heaviest scalar into a $Z$ boson and an $A_1$ could lead to its detection at the LHC.