MSSM Higgs Boson Searches at the LHC: Benchmark Scenarios for Run 2 and Beyond

TL;DR

This paper introduces six new benchmark scenarios for MSSM Higgs boson searches at the LHC, aligning with recent experimental results and exploring various SUSY particle mass configurations and CP violation effects.

Contribution

It proposes novel benchmark scenarios for MSSM Higgs searches, incorporating recent theoretical predictions and experimental constraints, including scenarios with heavy and light SUSY particles, and CP violation.

Findings

All scenarios are compatible with Run 2 LHC results.

Some scenarios feature a SM-like Higgs with specific mass and coupling properties.

Certain scenarios include CP violation effects.

Abstract

We propose six new benchmark scenarios for Higgs boson searches in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. Our calculations follow the recommendations of the LHC Higgs Cross Section Working Group, and benefit from recent developments in the predictions for the Higgs-boson masses and mixing. All of the proposed scenarios are compatible with the most recent results from Run 2 of the LHC. In particular, they feature a scalar with mass and couplings compatible with those of the observed Higgs boson, and a significant portion of their parameter space is allowed by the limits from the searches for SUSY particles and additional Higgs bosons. We define a scenario where all SUSY particles are relatively heavy, and two scenarios with light colorless SUSY particles (charginos, neutralinos and, in one case, staus). In addition, we present two scenarios featuring alignment without decoupling, realized with either the lighter or the heavier scalar being SM-like, and a scenario with CP violation.