Constraints on heavy neutral leptons interacting with a singlet scalar

Abstract

Heavy neutral leptons (HNLs) are an attractive minimal extension of the Standard Model, as is a singlet scalar $s$ mixing with the Higgs boson. If both are present, it is natural for HNLs to interact with $s$. For a light singlet,the decay $N\to s\nu$ can dominate over weak HNL decays. We reinterpret existing constraints on HNL mixing from the DELPHI, CHARM and Belle experiments for 0.5-100 GeV mass HNLs, taking into account the new decay channel. Although the constraints are typically weakened, in some cases they can become stronger, due to observable $s\to\ell^+\ell^-$ decays in the detectors. The method presented here could be used to recast constraints from other (older) experiments without resorting to computationally expensive Monte Carlo simulations. In addition, we update and correct some errors in the analysis of the original constraints, in the absence of the singlet.