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NMSSM Higgs Detection: LHC, LC, $\gam C$ Collider Complementarity and Higgs-to-Higgs Decays

John F. Gunion, Michal Szleper

TL;DR

This paper addresses the challenge of detecting NMSSM Higgs bosons when Higgs-to-Higgs decays obscure traditional LHC signatures. It demonstrates that a low-energy γγ collider, built from a pair of CLIC modules, can effectively survey the process γγ → h_H → h_Lh_L across realistic NMSSM scenarios, using multiple final states (4b, 2b2τ, 4τ) and employing mass reconstruction and spectrum-tuned operation. Through simulations with Pythia, CAIN, and WHIZARD, the study shows robust background control and precise determination of h and a masses, highlighting the collider’s potential to reveal NMSSM Higgs physics inaccessible at the LHC. The authors advocate γγ collision facilities as a critical complement to the LHC, capable of detailing the NMSSM Higgs sector where SM-like Higgs decays dominate or hide standard signals.

Abstract

We discuss the importance of being able to detect Higgs-to-Higgs-pair decays in the context of the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Model (NMSSM) and demonstrate the excellent capabilities of a photon collider for this purpose.

NMSSM Higgs Detection: LHC, LC, $\gam C$ Collider Complementarity and Higgs-to-Higgs Decays

TL;DR

This paper addresses the challenge of detecting NMSSM Higgs bosons when Higgs-to-Higgs decays obscure traditional LHC signatures. It demonstrates that a low-energy γγ collider, built from a pair of CLIC modules, can effectively survey the process γγ → h_H → h_Lh_L across realistic NMSSM scenarios, using multiple final states (4b, 2b2τ, 4τ) and employing mass reconstruction and spectrum-tuned operation. Through simulations with Pythia, CAIN, and WHIZARD, the study shows robust background control and precise determination of h and a masses, highlighting the collider’s potential to reveal NMSSM Higgs physics inaccessible at the LHC. The authors advocate γγ collision facilities as a critical complement to the LHC, capable of detailing the NMSSM Higgs sector where SM-like Higgs decays dominate or hide standard signals.

Abstract

We discuss the importance of being able to detect Higgs-to-Higgs-pair decays in the context of the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Model (NMSSM) and demonstrate the excellent capabilities of a photon collider for this purpose.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 3 sections, 2 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. The $\gamma\gamma$ Collider
  3. Conclusion

Figures (2)

  • Figure 1: Signal (big red peak) vs. backgrounds ($4b$ -- green; $2b 2c$ -- blue; $4c$ -- yellow) for $\gamma\gamma\to h\to aa\to 4b$ for various $m_h$ and $m_a$ choices. $E_e=75~{\rm GeV}$ broad-spectrum results.
  • Figure 2: Signal (big red peak) vs. $b\overline b \tau^+\tau^-$ and $c\overline c\tau^+\tau^-$ backgrounds ($2b2\tau$ -- green; $2c2\tau$ -- blue) for $\gamma\gamma\to h\to aa\to 2b2\tau$ for $(m_{h},m_{a})=(115,56)$, $(123,35)$, $(118,41)$ and $(124,59)~{\rm GeV}$. $E_e=75~{\rm GeV}$ peaked-spectrum results.