MSSM Higgs searches in multi-b-jet final states at the LHC

TL;DR

This work assesses two purely hadronic MSSM Higgs search strategies at the LHC that yield four bottom-quark jets: associated $b\bar b H/A$ with $H/A\to b\bar b$ at large $\tan\beta$, and $H\to hh\to b\bar b b\bar b$ at low $\tan\beta$. Using fast detector simulations and detailed QCD background modeling, the authors quantify signal efficiencies, backgrounds, and significances under various jet-$p_T$ and $b$-tagging strategies. They find that these channels do not substantially extend the LHC MSSM reach beyond existing channels, chiefly due to overwhelming QCD backgrounds and sizable systematic uncertainties, though observations would still constrain Higgs couplings and branching ratios. The study highlights the formidable experimental challenges of fully hadronic four-$b$ final states and underscores the critical role of robust $b$-tagging and jet-energy calibration for future searches.

Abstract

This paper discusses the possibility to observe a signal from MSSM Higgs boson decays into final states containing four b-jets. Two specific channels are considered: bbH and bbA production with H,A -->bb, for large values of mH, mA and tan(beta), and H-->hh-->bbbb decays for 150 GeV < mH < 2 and for low values of tan(beta). Both channels are difficult to extract because of the very large reducible and irreducible QCD backgrounds. Even with an ultimate integrated luminosity, expected per LHC experiment, of 3*10**5 pb**-1, the region of the MSSM parameter space covered by these channels does not extend the reach beyond that accessible to other channels that were studied in the past. Nevertheless, their observation would help in constraining the couplings and branching ratios of the MSSM Higgs bosons.