Search for beyond the standard model Higgs bosons decaying into a $\mathrm{b\overline{b}}$ pair in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV

TL;DR

This study searches for non-standard Higgs bosons decaying into bottom quark pairs in proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV, setting upper limits on their production and interpreting results within MSSM and 2HDM models.

Contribution

First search for beyond the standard model Higgs bosons decaying into b-quark pairs with additional b-quark in 13 TeV pp collisions, providing new constraints on extended Higgs sectors.

Findings

No significant excess observed over standard model background.

Set upper limits on cross section times branching ratio for Higgs masses up to 1300 GeV.

Results constrain parameter space of MSSM and 2HDM scenarios.

Abstract

A search for Higgs bosons that decay into a bottom quark-antiquark pair and are accompanied by at least one additional bottom quark is performed with the CMS detector. The data analyzed were recorded in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.7 fb$^{-1}$. The final state considered in this analysis is particularly sensitive to signatures of a Higgs sector beyond the standard model, as predicted in the generic class of two Higgs doublet models (2HDMs). No signal above the standard model background expectation is observed. Stringent upper limits on the cross section times branching fraction are set for Higgs bosons with masses up to 1300 GeV. The results are interpreted within several MSSM and 2HDM scenarios.