Testing Higgs self-couplings at e^+e^- linear colliders

To establish the Higgs mechanism sui generis experimentally, the self-energy potential of the Higgs field must be reconstructed. This task requires the measurement of the trilinear and quadrilinear self-couplings, as predicted, for instance, in the Standard Model or in supersymmetric theories. The couplings can be probed in multiple Higgs production at high-luminosity linear colliders. Complementing earlier studies to develop a coherent picture of the trilinear couplings, we have analyzed the production of pairs of neutral Higgs bosons in all relevant channels of double Higgs-strahlung, associated multiple Higgs production and WW/ZZ fusion to Higgs pairs. Received: 3 March 1999 / Published online: 15 July 1999     

Six-fermion production and Higgs boson physics at future e^+ e^- colliders

The six-fermion production processes , with all the lepton flavours and , relevant to the study of the intermediate-mass Higgs boson at future linear colliders are analysed. A Monte Carlo program, taking into account the whole set of tree-level scattering amplitudes and the relevant radiative effects, is developed to provide integrated cross-sections and generation of unweighted events. The complete calculation is compared with the available results of real Higgs production, and the opportunities of precision studies with event generation are discussed, demonstrating the relevance of a full six-fermion calculation. Numerical results for integrated cross-sections with various kinematical cuts and including radiative effects are given and commented. In the analysis of event samples, several distributions are studied and found to be sensitive to the presence and to the properties of the Higgs boson. Received: 20 December 1998 / Published online: 27 April 1999     

The low energy limit of the minimal nonlinear supersymmetric SU(5)-model; production and decay of Higgs particles

We consider the Higgssector in the low energy limit of the minimal nonlinear supersymmetric SU(5) model. We estimate radiative corrections to the Higgs masses using the effective potential. Furthermore Higgs boson decays are investigated and differences to the MSSM are discussed. Recieved: 28 October 1998 / Revised version: 17 December 1998 / Published online: 1 March 1999     

Masses and couplings of the lightest Higgs bosons in (M + 1)SSM

We study the upper limits on the mass of the lightest and second lightest CP even Higgs bosons in the (M + 1)SSM, the MSSM extended by a gauge singlet. The dominant two loop contributions to the effective potential are included, which reduce the Higgs masses by GeV. Since the coupling R of the lightest Higgs scalar to gauge bosons can be small, we study in detail the relations between the masses and couplings of both lightest scalars. We present upper bounds on the mass of a ”strongly” coupled Higgs (R < 1/2) as a function of lower experimental limits on the mass of a ”weakly” coupled Higgs (R < 1/2). With the help of these results, the whole parameter space of the model can be covered by Higgs boson searches. Received: 7 September 1999 / Published online: 12 July 2002     

Radiative corrections to the scalar Higgs masses in a non-minimal supersymmetric Standard Model

We calculate the dominant one-loop radiative corrections arising from quark-squark loops to the mass squared matrix of theCP-even Higgs bosons in a non-minimal supersymmetric Standard Model containing two Higgs doublets and a Higgs singlet chiral superfield using one-loop effective potential approximation. We use this result to evaluate upper and lower bounds on the radiatively corrected masses of all the scalar Higgs bosons as a function of the parameters of the model. We find that the one-loop radiative corrections are substantial only for the lightest Higgs boson of the model and can push its mass beyond the reach of LEP. We also calculate an absolute upper bound on the mass of the radiatively corrected lightest Higgs boson and compare it with the corresponding bound in the minimal supersymmetric Standard Model.     

Alternative mass-shell renormalization for a minimal supersymmetric Higgs sector

An Aoki–Denner form of the renormalization scheme is suggested for the physical amplitudes in the minimal supersymmetric standard model. With the more explicit wave-function renormalization, the scheme is parameterized by the mass of the physical pseudoscalar () and the mass of heavy CP-even neutral Higgs () instead of the conventional , as input. The counterterm of is defined on mass shell perturbatively just within the Higgs sector. The renormalization of gauge-scalar mixings are fixed by proper Ward–Takahashi identities. The effect of the reparameterization is also probed to the radiative correction of the mass of the lightest Higgs. Received: 23 March 1999 / Published online: 16 November 1999     

The b \to X_s \gamma rate and Higgs boson limits in the constrained minimal supersymmetric model

New NLO calculations have become available using resummed radiative corrections. Using these calculations we perform a global fit of the supergravity inspired constrained minimal supersymmetric model. We find that the resummed calculations show similar constraints as the LO calculations, namely that only with a relatively heavy supersymmetric mass spectrum of (1 TeV) the b– Yukawa unification and the rate can coexist in the large scenario. The resummed calculations are found to reduce the renormalization scale uncertainty considerably. The low scenario is excluded by the present Higgs limits from LEP II. The constraint from the Higgs limit in the plane is severe, if the trilinear coupling at the GUT scale is fixed to zero, but is considerably reduced for . The relatively heavy SUSY spectrum required by corresponds to a Higgs mass of GeV in the CMSSM. Received: 14 February 2001 / Revised version: 22 March 2001 / Published online: 29 June 2001     

Implications of the precision data for very light Higgs Boson scenarios in 2HDM(II)

We present an up-to-date analysis of the constraints the precision data impose on the (CP-conserving) Two Higgs Doublet Model of type II with emphasis on the possible existence of very light neutral (pseudo)scalar Higgs boson with mass below 20–30 GeV. We show that even in the presence of such light particles, the 2HDM(II) can describe the electroweak data with the precision comparable to that given by the SM. Particularly interesting lower limits on the mass of the lighter neutral CP-even scalar are obtained in the scenario with light CP-odd Higgs boson and large . Received: 8 June 1999 / Published online: 14 October 1999     

Higgs production: CP studies in e^-e^- collisions

We review the production of scalar Higgs-like particles in high-energy electron–electron collisions, via the fusion of electroweak gauge bosons. The emphasis is on how to distinguish a CP-even from a CP-odd Higgs particle. Among the more significant differences, we find that in the CP-odd case, the Higgs spectrum is much harder, and the dependence of the total cross section on the product of the polarizations of the two beams much stronger, than in the CP-even case. We also briefly discuss parity violation, and the production of charged Higgs bosons. Received: 1 December 1998 / Revised version: 15 February 1999 / Published online: 18 June 1999     

Induced Higgs couplings to neutral bosons in e+e− collisions

We calculate induced couplings of the type HV_γ in the standard model, where H is a Higgs meson and V is a virtual or real neutral gauge boson (Z⁰ or photon). Numerous applications are given for e⁺e^? collisions and various Higgs meson decays. The calculated rates are in general somewhat too low to make these processed an attractive way to search for the Higgs boson. However, once it has been found, it is argued that these processes should be studied experimentally since the induced couplings probe the structure of the gauge theory in an interesting way. In particular, it may be possible to infer the existence of one or more heavy fermion generations (of mass ?m_Z) by observing their virtual effects in radiative decays into Higgs particles. We also briefly treat the related coupling HV_γ with V a heavy quarkonium vector state.     

Flavour dynamics with general scalar fields

We consider a spontaneously broken gauge theory based on the standard model (SM) group with scalar fields that carry arbitrary representations of G, and we investigate some general properties of the charged and neutral current involving these fields. In particular we derive the conditions for having real or complex couplings of the Z boson to two different neutral or charged scalar fields, and for the existence of CP-violating Z-scalar-scalar couplings. Moreover, we study models with the same fermion content as in the SM, with one SU(2) Higgs singlet, and an arbitrary number of Higgs doublets. We show that the structure of the Z-Higgs boson and of the Yukawa couplings in these models can be such that CP-violating form factors which conserve chirality are induced at the one-loop level. Received: 18 December 1998 / Published online: 22 March 1999     

O(αs) corrections to polarized top quark decay into a charged Higgs boson: $t(\uparrow)\to{H}^+ + b$

We calculate the O(α_s) radiative corrections to polarized top quark decay into a charged Higgs boson and a massive bottom quark in two variants of the two-Higgs-doublet model. The radiative corrections to the polarization asymmetry of the decay may become as large as 25%. We provide analytical formulae for the unpolarized and polarized rates for m_b≠0 and for m_b=0. For m_b=0 our closed-form expressions for the unpolarized and polarized rates become rather compact. PACS 12.38.Bx; 13.88.+e; 14.65.Ha; 14.80.Cp     

A supersymmetric extension of the standard model with bilinear R-parity violation

The minimum supersymmetric standard model with bilinear R-parity violation is studied systematically. As we consider low-energy supersymmetry, we examine the structure of the bilinear R-parity violating model carefully. We analyze the mixing of, e.g., Higgs bosons with sleptons, neutralinos with neutrinos and charginos with charged leptons in the model. Possible and some important physics results, e.g. that the lightest Higgs may be heavier than the weak Z-boson at tree level, are obtained. The Feynman rules for the model are derived in the 't Hooft–Feynman gauge, which is convenient if perturbative calculations are needed beyond the tree level. Received: 26 April 1999 / Revised version: 28 June 1999 / Published online: 16 November 1999     

The Higgs sector of the minimal supersymmetric standard model including radiative corrections

We discuss the Higgs sector of the minimal supersymmetric standard model including effects of radiative corrections. The formalism is explained in detail for computing radiative corrections to the masses and the coupling constants of the Higgs bosons. The radiative corrections to the masses are studied in the on-shell renormalization scheme. The radiative corrections to the mixing angles between the two CP-even Higgs bosons and the Higgs self-coupling constants are investigated in a simple procedure. The explicit analytic expressions are given for the radiative corrections due to the loops containing the top and bottom quarks and their superpartners. Simple approximate formulae are derived from the analytic expressions obtained in the on-shell renormalization scheme. We numerically study the effects of radiative corrections on the mass of the lighter Higgs boson and the mixing angles between the two CP-even Higgs bosons.     

On the 1-Loop Renormalization of the Electroweak Standard Model and its Application to Leptonic Processes

A renormalization scheme for the electroweak standard model is presented in which the electric charge and the masses of the gauge bosons, Higgs particle and fermions are used as physical parameters. The photon is treated such that quantum electrodynamics is contained as a simple substructure. Field renormalization respecting the gauge symmetry gives finite propagators and vertex functions. The Ward identities between the Green functions of the unphysical sector allow a renormalization that maintains the simple pole structure of the propagators in the t'Hooft-Feynman gauge. We give a complete list of self energies and all renormalization constants also in the unphysical Higgs and ghost sector. Explicit results are given for the renormalized self energies, vertex functions and boxes that enter the evaluation of 1-loop radiative corrections to fermionic processes. We calculate the 1-loop radiative corrections to purely leptonic reactions like μ decay, vμ_μe scattering and μ pair production in e⁺e⁻annihilation. A test of the standard model is performed by comparing these low energy data with the results of the PP collider experiments for the W and Z boson masses.     

Experimental signatures of fermiophobic Higgs bosons

The most general Two Higgs Doublet Model potential without explicit CP violation depends on 10 real independent parameters. Excluding spontaneous CP violation results in two 7 parameter models. Although both models give rise to 5 scalar particles and 2 mixing angles, the resulting phenomenology of the scalar sectors is different. If flavour changing neutral currents at tree level are to be avoided, one has, in both cases, four alternative ways of introducing the fermion couplings. In one of these models the mixing angle of the CP even sector can be chosen in such a way that the fermion couplings to the lightest scalar Higgs boson vanishes. At the same time it is possible to suppress the fermion couplings to the charged and pseudo-scalar Higgs bosons by appropriately choosing the mixing angle of the CP odd sector. We investigate the phenomenology of both models in the fermiophobic limit and present the different branching ratios for the decays of the scalar particles. We use the present experimental results from the LEP collider to constrain the models. Received: 21 July 1999 / Revised version: 6 September 1999 / Published online: 3 November 1999     

MSSM Higgs boson searches at the Tevatron and the LHC: Impact of different benchmark scenarios

The Higgs boson search has shifted from LEP2 to the Tevatron and will subsequently move to the LHC. The current limits from the Tevatron and the prospective sensitivities at the LHC are often interpreted in specific MSSM scenarios. For heavy Higgs boson production and subsequent decay into or τ⁺τ^–, the present Tevatron data allow one to set limits in the M_A–tan β plane for small M_A and large tan β values. Similar channels have been explored for the LHC, where the discovery reach extends to higher values of M_A and smaller tan β. Searches for MSSM charged Higgs bosons, produced in top decays or in association with top quarks, have also been investigated at the Tevatron and the LHC. We analyze the current Tevatron limits and prospective LHC sensitivities. We discuss how robust they are with respect to variations of the other MSSM parameters and possible improvements of the theoretical predictions for Higgs boson production and decay. It is shown that the inclusion of supersymmetric radiative corrections to the production cross sections and decay widths leads to important modifications of the present limits on the MSSM parameter space. The impact on the region where only the lightest MSSM Higgs boson can be detected at the LHC is also analyzed. We propose to extend the existing benchmark scenarios by including additional values of the higgsino mass parameter μ. This affects only slightly the search channels for a SM-like Higgs boson, while having a major impact on the searches for non-standard MSSM Higgs bosons.     

Production of scalar Higgs and pseudoscalar Higgs in multi-Higgs doublet models at \gamma\gamma colliders

We present the effects of heavy CP-even (H) and CP-odd (A) Higgs bosons on the production cross section of the process at the energy around the mass poles of the Higgs bosons. It is found that interference between H and A with small mass gap, as well as the ones between Higgs bosons and continuum, contributes to the cross section, if the photon beams are polarized and if we observe the helicity of the top quarks. It is demonstrated in the framework of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model that the H and A contributions can be sizable at future colliders for small values of . The methods to measure the CP-parity of the Higgs boson are also presented. The statistical significance of detecting the Higgs signals and measuring the Higgs CP-parity is evaluated. Received: 16 December 1999 / Revised version: 30 January 2000 / Published online: 6 April 2000     

Electric and weak electric dipole form factors for heavy fermions in a general two Higgs doublet model

The electric and weak electric dipole form factors for heavy fermions are calculated in the context of the most general two Higgs doublet model (2HDM). We find that a large top mass can produce a significant enhancement of the electric dipole form factor in the case of the b and c quarks. This effect can be used to distinguish between different 2HDM scenarios. Received: 30 April 1999 / Revised version: 23 Juny 1999 / Published online: 14 October 1999     

Radiative corrections to Higgs boson masses in supersymmetric models

The effect of radiative corrections on the Higgs masses and couplings in supersymmetric models is summarized. Radiative corrections in both the minimal and nonminimal models are discussed. It is pointed out that large singlet Higgs vacuum expectation values are screened out from the radiative corrections to the lightest Higgs mass in nonminimal models. In supersymmetric models the crucial mass limit for the Higgs search may be around 150 GeV.