[Paper Review] The lightest neutral and doubly charged Higgs bosons of supersymmetric left-right models

Katri Huitu, P. N. Pandita+1 more|ArXiv.org|Oct 27, 1999

Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies3 citations

TL;DR

This paper investigates the phenomenology of light Higgs bosons in supersymmetric left-right models, focusing on the lightest CP-even neutral Higgs and doubly charged Higgs states. It shows that the lightest neutral Higgs mass exceeds the minimal supersymmetric standard model limit due to extended Higgs sectors, while fermion couplings approach Standard Model values; notably, the doubly charged Higgs boson emerges as a key signature for these models due to its potentially low mass and distinctive decay channels.

ABSTRACT

We review the phenomenology of light Higgs scalars in supersymmetric left-right models. We consider models with minimal particle content (with and without non-renormalizable higher-dimensional terms) and with additional Higgs superfields. The upper bound on the lightest CP-even neutral Higgs boson in these models is larger than in the minimal supersymmetric standard model, and the Higgs couplings to fermions approach those of the Standard Model. Possibly light doubly charged Higgs boson may provide the best signature of these models.

Motivation & Objective

• To analyze the properties of the lightest neutral and doubly charged Higgs bosons in supersymmetric left-right models.
• To examine how the inclusion of additional Higgs superfields or higher-dimensional terms affects Higgs mass and couplings.
• To assess the phenomenological viability of these models, particularly through the potential discovery of a light doubly charged Higgs boson.
• To compare the Higgs sector of these models with the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM), especially regarding the upper bound on the lightest CP-even Higgs mass.

Proposed method

• The study employs a supersymmetric left-right gauge group structure with minimal particle content and extended Higgs sectors.
• It incorporates both renormalizable and non-renormalizable higher-dimensional terms in the superpotential to explore model variations.
• The analysis uses effective potential techniques and radiative corrections to compute the masses of the lightest CP-even neutral Higgs and doubly charged Higgs states.
• Fermion couplings to the Higgs bosons are evaluated and compared to Standard Model predictions.
• The model's parameter space is scanned to identify regions where the lightest neutral Higgs mass is enhanced and the doubly charged Higgs remains light.
• Phenomenological signatures are assessed, particularly focusing on the detectability of the doubly charged Higgs at linear colliders.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 What is the upper bound on the mass of the lightest CP-even neutral Higgs boson in supersymmetric left-right models with extended Higgs sectors?
• RQ2 How do the couplings of the lightest neutral Higgs to fermions compare to those in the Standard Model?
• RQ3 Can the doubly charged Higgs boson remain light enough to be detectable at linear colliders?
• RQ4 What role do non-renormalizable higher-dimensional terms play in modifying the Higgs mass spectrum?
• RQ5 How does the Higgs sector of these models differ from the minimal supersymmetric standard model in terms of mass and coupling structure?

Key findings

• The upper bound on the lightest CP-even neutral Higgs boson mass is larger than in the minimal supersymmetric standard model due to the extended Higgs sector.
• Fermion couplings to the lightest neutral Higgs boson approach those of the Standard Model, indicating a potential for SM-like Higgs behavior.
• A doubly charged Higgs boson can be light enough to provide a distinctive and potentially discoverable signature at linear colliders.
• The inclusion of higher-dimensional terms or additional Higgs superfields modifies the Higgs mass spectrum, enabling a heavier lightest neutral Higgs state.
• The doubly charged Higgs boson emerges as the most promising experimental signature for distinguishing these models from the MSSM.