Challenges for MSSM Higgs searches at Hadron Colliders

Abstract

In this article we analyze the impact of B-physics and Higgs physics at LEP on standard and non-standard Higgs bosons searches at the Tevatron and the LHC, within the framework of minimal flavor violating supersymmetric models. The B-physics constraints we consider come from the experimental measurements of the rare B-decays b -> s gamma and B_u -> tau nu and the experimental limit on the B_s -> mu+ mu- branching ratio. We show that these constraints are severe for large values of the trilinear soft breaking parameter A_t, rendering the non-standard Higgs searches at hadron colliders less promising. On the contrary these bounds are relaxed for small values of A_t and large values of the Higgsino mass parameter mu, enhancing the prospects for the direct detection of non-standard Higgs bosons at both colliders. We also consider the available ATLAS and CMS projected sensitivities in the standard model Higgs search channels, and we discuss the LHC's ability in probing the whole MSSM parameter space. In addition we also consider the expected Tevatron collider sensitivities in the standard model Higgs h -> b bbar channel to show that it may be able to find 3 sigma evidence in the B-physics allowed regions for small or moderate values of the stop mixing parameter.