Detecting a Higgs pseudoscalar with a Z boson at the LHC

Abstract

We have adopted two Higgs doublet models to study the production of a Higgs pseudoscalar (A0) in association with a Z gauge boson from gluon fusion (gg→ZA0) at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The prospects for the discovery of ZA0→ℓℓ̄bb̄ are investigated with physics backgrounds and realistic cuts. Promising results are found for mA≲260 GeV in two Higgs doublet models when the heavier Higgs scalar (H0) can decay into a Z boson and a Higgs pseudoscalar (A0). Although the cross section of gg→ZA0 is usually small in the minimal supersymmetric standard model, it can be significantly enhanced in general two Higgs doublet models. This discovery channel might provide an opportunity to search for a Higgs scalar and a Higgs pseudoscalar simultaneously at the LHC and could lead to new physics beyond the Standard Model and the minimal supersymmetric model.