Probing a 2HDM Type-I light Higgs state via $H_{\rm SM} \to hh \to b\bar b\gamma \gamma$ at the LHC

TL;DR

This paper investigates the potential to discover a light Higgs boson in the 2HDM Type-I model at the LHC through the specific decay channel involving two photons and two b-quarks, proposing benchmark points for future experimental searches.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of the $b\bar{b}\gamma\gamma$ final state for light Higgs detection in the 2HDM Type-I at the LHC, including proposed benchmark points.

Findings

Feasibility of detecting a light Higgs via $b\bar{b}\gamma\gamma$ at LHC Run-3.

Identification of specific benchmark points for future searches.

Analysis consistent with current experimental constraints.

Abstract

We study the discovery potential for a light Higgs boson via $gg \to H_{\text{SM-like}} \to hh \to b\bar{b}\gamma\gamma$ process at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Focusing on the 2-Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM) Type-I, which can accommodate light neutral Higgs states, of $\mathcal{O}(100)$ GeV or less in mass, while agreeing with theoretical and up-to-date experimental constraints, we explore the feasibility of a light CP-even Higgs state $h$ via the largely unexplored final state $b\bar{b}\gamma\gamma$ at Run-3 of the LHC. We further propose a few Benchmark Points (BPs) for future searches.