The decay A(0) -> h(0)Z(*) in the inverted hierarchy scenario and its detection prospects at the large hadron collider

• Searches are being carried out at the large hadron collider (LHC) for the decay of the CP-odd scalar (A(0)) in two-Higgs-doublet models (2HDMs) with natural flavour conservation (NFC) in the channel A(0) -> h(0)Z (with m(h)(0) = 125 GeV and Z on-shell). In the absence of any signal, limits on the parameter space of [tan beta, cos(beta - alpha), mA0] in each 2HDM are derived for m(A)(0) > 225 GeV. In this work, we consider the scenario of inverted hierarchy with m(h)(0) < 125 GeV and m(H)(0) = 125 GeV in which the decay A(0) -> h(0)Z(*) (i.e. including the case of an off-shell Z) can have a large branching ratio in the 2HDM (Type I) for m(A)(0) < 225 GeV. We calculate the signal cross section sigma(gg -> A(0)) ' BR(A(0) -> h(0)Z (*)) ' BR(h(0) -> b<(b)over bar>) in the 2HDM (Type I) with NFC and compare its magnitude with the cross section for the case of normal hierarchy (m(h)(0) = 125 GeV) that is currently being searched for at the LHC. For the experimentally unexplored region m(A)(0) < 225 GeV it is shown that the above cross section for signal events in the scenario of inverted hierarchy can be of the order of a few picobarns. Such sizeable cross sections are several orders of magnitude larger than the cross sections for the case of normal hierarchy, thus motivating an extension of the ongoing searches for A(0) -> h(0)Z(*) to probe the scenario of inverted hierarchy.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Subatomär fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Subatomic Physics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

large hadron collider

two Higgs doublet model

electrically neutral Higgs bosons

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