Physicists tighten search for hidden Higgs particle that could reshape particle physics
A new analysis of collision data from CERN's Large Hadron Collider has set the most stringent limits yet on a theorized heavy Higgs boson predicted by supersymmetry—a leading candidate for physics beyond the standard model. The findings constrain the parameter space for extensions of current physics that could unlock new particle types and explain fundamental mysteries about the universe's structure.
Originaltitel: Search for a heavy pseudoscalar Higgs boson decaying to a 125 GeV Higgs boson and a Z boson in final states with two tau and two light leptons in proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV
<p>A search for a heavy pseudoscalar Higgs boson, A, decaying to a 125 GeV Higgs boson h and a Z boson is presented. The h boson is identified via its decay to a pair of tau leptons, while the Z boson is identified via its decay to a pair of electrons or muons. These arch targets the production of the A boson via the gluon-gluon fusion process, gg → A, and in association with bottom quarks, bb¯A. The analysis uses a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1 collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 13 TeV. Constraints are set on the product of the cross sections of the A production mechanisms and the A → Zh decay branching fraction. The observed (expected) upper limit at 95% confidence level ranges from 0.049 (0.060) pb to 1.02 (0.79) pb for the gg → A process and from 0.053 (0.059) pb to 0.79 (0.61) pb for the bb¯A process in the probed range of the A boson mass, mA, from 225 GeV to 1 TeV. The results of the search are used to constrain parameters within the M125h,EFT benchmark scenario of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model. Values of tan β below 2.2 are excluded in this scenario at 95% confidence level for all mA values in the range from 225 to 350 GeV.</p>