The MSSM Higgs Sector at O(alpha_b alpha_s) and Beyond

TL;DR

This paper calculates two-loop corrections to the MSSM Higgs boson masses, focusing on the bottom sector, and assesses theoretical uncertainties from higher-order effects across parameter space.

Contribution

It provides a detailed evaluation of O(alpha_b alpha_s) corrections and compares renormalization schemes, improving precision in MSSM Higgs mass predictions.

Findings

Two-loop corrections can shift the lightest Higgs mass by up to 3 GeV for mu < 0.

Different renormalization schemes yield comparable results, reducing theoretical uncertainties.

Residual scale dependence indicates the size of uncalculated higher-order corrections.

Abstract

We evaluate O(alpha_b alpha_s) corrections in the MSSM Higgs boson sector, including an analysis of the renormalization in the bottom/scalar bottom sector. For mu < 0 the genuine two-loop corrections to the mass of the lightest Higgs boson mass can amount up to 3 GeV. Different renormalization schemes are applied and numerically compared. Likewise the residual dependence on the renormalization scale is investigated. This allows to determine the remaining theoretical uncertainties from unknown higher-order corrections at O(alpha_b alpha_s^2) for different regions of the MSSM parameter space.