Suggestions for Improved Benchmark Scenarios for Higgs-Boson Searches at LEP2

TL;DR

This paper proposes new benchmark scenarios for Higgs-boson searches at LEP2, refining parameter definitions to optimize detection prospects and exploring the impact of different MSSM parameter choices on Higgs mass and decay properties.

Contribution

It introduces improved and new benchmark scenarios for MSSM Higgs searches at LEP2, with precise parameter definitions to maximize Higgs mass and assess detection challenges.

Findings

The m_h^max benchmark scenario maximizes Higgs mass for given tan(beta).

A scenario with large |mu| and moderate M_SUSY affects Higgs decay channels.

Certain parameter regions suppress Higgs decay into bottom quarks, complicating detection.

Abstract

We suggest new benchmark scenarios for the Higgs-boson search at LEP2. Keeping m_t and M_SUSY fixed, we improve on the definition of the maximal mixing benchmark scenario defining precisely the values of all MSSM parameters such that the new m_h^max benchmark scenario yields the parameters which maximize the value of m_h for a given tan(beta). The corresponding scenario with vanishing mixing in the scalar top sector is also considered. We propose a further benchmark scenario with a relatively large value of |mu|, a moderate value of M_SUSY, and moderate mixing parameters in the scalar top sector. While the latter scenario yields m_h values that in principle allow to access the complete M_A-tan(beta)-plane at LEP2, on the other hand it contains parameter regions where the Higgs-boson detection can be difficult, because of a suppression of the branching ratio of its decay into bottom quarks.