Search

We examine the parameter space of the Next to Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM) with Singlino-dominated neutralino $\widetilde\chi_1^0$ as the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP). Our study focuses on identifying the regions within this parameter space that produce a thermal relic abundance of $\widetilde\chi_1^0$ smaller than the observed cold dark matter relic density while remaining consistent with constraints from LEP measurements, low-energy experiments, Higgs measurements, LHC data, and dark matter direct detection experiments. We identify the dominant annihilation modes of the LSP neutralino across varying LSP mass ranges $\sim \mathcal{O}(1)-\mathcal{O}(10^{3})~$GeV. Furthermore, we conduct a benchmark study to assess the production rates of triple-boson final states emerging from direct electroweakino pair production at the LHC. Drawing insights from these findings, we perform a detailed collider analysis to explore the future potential of probing the triple-boson final states involving a light Higgs boson at the high-luminosity LHC (HL-LHC)., Comment: 31 pages, 17 figures, 4 tables

In this article, we review the application of modern machine-learning (ML) techniques to boost the search for processes involving the top quarks at the LHC. We revisit the formalism of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), and Attention Mechanisms. Based on recent studies, we explore their applications in designing improved top taggers, top reconstruction, and event classification tasks. We also examine the ML-based likelihood-free inference approach and generative unfolding models, focusing on their applications to scenarios involving top quarks., Comment: A short review prepared by invitation for EPJ Special Topics issue. Version accepted for publication; 45 pages, 17 figures, 1 table; v2: typos corrected

In a previous publication, we studied the parameter space of the phenomenological Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (pMSSM) with a light neutralino thermal dark matter ($M_{\tilde{\chi}_1^0} \leq M_h/2$) and observed that the recent results from the dark matter and collider experiments put strong constraints on this scenario. In this work, we present in detail the arguments behind the robustness of this result against scanning over the large number of parameters in pMSSM. The Run-3 of LHC will be crucial in probing the surviving regions of the parameter space. We further investigate the impact of light staus on our parameter space and also provide benchmarks which can be interesting for Run-3 of LHC. We analyse these benchmarks at the LHC using the machine learning framework of \texttt{XGBOOST}. Finally, we also discuss the effect of non-standard cosmology on the parameter space., Comment: 34 pages, 22 figures, 8 tables

Optimal kinematic observables are often defined in specific frames and then approximated at the reconstruction level. We show how multi-dimensional unfolding methods allow us to reconstruct these observables in their proper rest frame and in a probabilistically faithful way. We illustrate our approach with a measurement of a CP-phase in the top Yukawa coupling. Our method makes use of key advantages of generative unfolding, but as a constructed observable it fits into standard LHC analysis frameworks., Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures

Observation of lepton number ($L$) violation by two units at colliders would provide evidence for the Majorana nature of neutrinos. We study signals of $L$-violation in the context of two popular models of neutrino masses, the type-II seesaw model and the Zee model, wherein small neutrino masses arise at the tree-level and one-loop level, respectively. We focus on $L$-violation signals at the LHC arising through the process $pp \to \ell^{\pm}\ell^{\prime \pm}$ + jets within these frameworks. We obtain sensitivity to $L$-violation in the type-II seesaw model for triplet scalar masses up to 700 GeV and in the Zee model for charged scalar masses up to 4.8 TeV at the high-luminosity LHC with an integrated luminosity of $3~\text{ab}^{-1}$., Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, and 1 table

We study the prospects for observing exotic decays of the Standard Model Higgs boson $h$ into light beyond the Standard Model scalars $a$ with mass $m_{a} \lesssim m_{h}/2$ in the single Higgs and Higgs pair production channels at the high luminosity run of the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). Discovery prospects for single Higgs production in the gluon-gluon fusion and vector boson fusion modes with the Higgs boson decaying via the exotic mode $h \to aa \to 4\tau$ are analyzed at the HL-LHC. The projected sensitivity for exotic Higgs decays in the non-resonant Higgs pair production channel $pp \to hh \to (h \to b\bar{b})(h \to aa \to 4\tau) \to 2b4\tau$ at the HL-LHC and a future $\sqrt{s}=100~$TeV hadron collider (FCC-hh) are also estimated. Furthermore, we study HL-LHC's potential reach for the Higgs-strahlung process in the $2b4\tau$ channel, taking into account the contamination from non-resonant Higgs pair production. Finally, the potential reach for resonant Higgs pair production in the $2b4\tau$ channel %$pp \to H \to (h \to b\bar{b})(h \to aa \to 4\tau)$ at the HL-LHC is also explored for several choices of $\{m_{H},m_{a}\}$. Our studies suggest that significant improvements over existing bounds are achievable in several production channels, motivating new dedicated searches for $h \rightarrow aa \rightarrow 4 \tau$ at the HL-LHC and future colliders., Comment: 59 pages, 18 figures, 15 tables

We explore the parameter space of lepton flavor violating (LFV) neutral Higgs Yukawa couplings with the muon and tau leptons that can be probed at the high-luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) via the vector boson fusion~(VBF) Higgs production process. Our projected sensitivities for the Standard Model Higgs ($h$) LFV branching ratio ${\rm Br}(h \to \mu\tau)$ in the $pp \to h j j \to (h \to \mu \tau) jj$ channel at the HL-LHC are contrasted with the current and future low-energy constraints from the anomalous magnetic moment and electric dipole moment of the muon, as well as with other LFV observables, such as $\tau\to 3\mu$ and $\tau\to \mu\gamma$. We also study the LFV prospects of a generic beyond the Standard Model neutral Higgs boson ($H$) with a mass in the range of $m_{H}\in [20,800]~$GeV and give the projected model-independent upper limits on the VBF production cross-section of $Hjj$ times the branching ratio of $H\to \mu\tau$ at the HL-LHC. We interpret these results in the context of a two-Higgs doublet model as a case study., Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, 6 tables. Revised version, to appear in Phys. Rev. D

We explore the parameter space of the phenomenological Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (pMSSM) with a light neutralino thermal dark matter ($m_{\tilde{\chi}_1^0} \leq m_h/2$) that is consistent with current collider and astrophysical constraints. We consider both positive and negative values of the higgsino mass parameter ($\mu$). Our investigation shows that the recent experimental results from the LHC as well as from direct detection searches for dark matter by the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) collaboration rule out the $Z$-funnel region for the $\mu>0$ scenario. The same results severely restrict the $h$-funnel region for positive $\mu$, however, the allowed points can be probed easily with few more days of data from the LZ experiment. In the $\mu<0$ scenario, we find that very light higgsinos in both the $Z$ and $h$ funnels might survive the present constraints from the electroweakino searches at the LHC, and dedicated efforts from experimental collaborations are necessary to make conclusive statements about their present status., Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, 1 table; v2: version published in PRL

We analyze the scenario within the Next to Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM), where the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) is singlino-like neutralino. By systematically considering various possible admixtures in the electroweakino sector, we classify regions of parameter space where the next to lightest supersymmetric particle (NLSP) is a long-lived electroweakino while remaining consistent with constraints from flavor physics, dark matter direct detection, and collider data. We identify viable cascade decay modes featuring the long-lived NLSP for directly produced chargino-neutralino pairs, thus, leading to displaced vertex signatures at the high luminosity LHC (HL-LHC). We construct track based analysis in order to uncover such scenarios at the HL-LHC and analyze their discovery potential. We show that through such focused searches for the long-lived particles at the HL-LHC, one can probe regions of the electroweakino parameter space that are otherwise challenging., Comment: 34 pages, 11 figures, 3 tables

We study the processes $pp \to t\bar{t}Z$ and $pp \to tZj$ in the framework of Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT), employing conventional cut-and-count as well as machine learning techniques to take advantage of kinematic information in complex final states involving multiple leptons and $b$ jets. We explore the projected sensitivity for two SMEFT operators, $\mathcal{O}_{tZ}$ and $\mathcal{O}_{tW}$, that induce electroweak dipole moment interactions for top quarks, through direct searches in these electroweak top production processes at the HL-LHC. New physics modifications to dominant backgrounds are also considered. We show that the new physics sensitivity can be enhanced through a combination of differential distributions for relevant kinematic observables and machine learning techniques. Searches in $t\bar{t}Z$ and $tZj$ production result in stronger constraints on $\mathcal{C}_{tZ}$ and $\mathcal{C}_{tW}$, respectively. At the HL-LHC, $\mathcal{C}_{tZ}$ can be probed up to $-0.41 \lesssim \mathcal{C}_{tZ} \lesssim 0.47$ through searches in the $pp \to t\bar{t}Z + tWZ \to 3\ell + 2b\ + \geq 2j$ channel while $\mathcal{C}_{tW}$ can be probed up to $-0.14 \lesssim \mathcal{C}_{tW} < 0.11$ from searches in the $pp \to tZj + t\bar{t}Z + tWZ \to 3\ell + 1b + 1/2j$ channel, at $95\%$ CL., Comment: 19 pages, 9 figures, 8 tables

Constraining the Higgs boson properties is a cornerstone of the LHC program and future colliders. In this Snowmass contribution, we study the potential to directly probe the Higgs-top CP-structure via the $t\bar{t}h$ production at the HL-LHC, 100 TeV FCC and muon colliders. We find the limits on the CP phase ($\alpha$) at 95% CL are $|\alpha| \lesssim 36^\circ$ with dileptonic $t\bar t (h\to b\bar b) $ and $|\alpha| \lesssim 25^\circ$ with combined $t\bar t (h\to \gamma\gamma) $ at the HL-LHC. The 100 TeV FCC brings a significant improvement in sensitivity with $|\alpha| \lesssim 3^\circ$ for the dileptonic $t\bar t (h\to b\bar b) $, due to the remarkable gain in the signal cross-section and the increased luminosity. At future muon colliders, we find that the bounds with semileptonic $t\bar t (h\to b\bar b) \nu\bar\nu$ are $|\alpha| \lesssim 9^\circ$ for 10 TeV and $|\alpha| \lesssim 3^\circ$ for 30 TeV, respectively., Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, contribution to Snowmass 2021

First-principle simulations are at the heart of the high-energy physics research program. They link the vast data output of multi-purpose detectors with fundamental theory predictions and interpretation. This review illustrates a wide range of applications of modern machine learning to event generation and simulation-based inference, including conceptional developments driven by the specific requirements of particle physics. New ideas and tools developed at the interface of particle physics and machine learning will improve the speed and precision of forward simulations, handle the complexity of collision data, and enhance inference as an inverse simulation problem., Comment: Review article based on a Snowmass 2021 contribution

We explore parameter space in the Zee Model to resolve the long-standing tension of the electron and muon anomalous magnetic moment (AMM). The model comprises a second Higgs doublet and a charged singlet at electroweak scale and generates Majorana neutrino masses at one-loop level; the neutral partner of the $SU(2)_L$ doublet contributes to the AMM of electron and muon via one loop and two-loop corrections. We propose two minimal flavor structures that can explain these anomalies while fitting the neutrino oscillation data. We find that the neutral Higgs resides in the mass range of roughly 10-300 GeV or 1-30 GeV, depending on the flavor structures. The model is consistent with constraints from colliders, electroweak precision data, and lepton flavor violation. To be comprehensive, we examine the constraints from the electric dipole moment (EDM) and find a region of parameter space that gives a sizable contribution to muon EDM while simultaneously giving corrections to muon AMM. In addition to the light scalar, the two charged scalars with masses as low as 100 GeV can induce nonstandard interactions $\varepsilon_{ee}$ as large as $8\%$, potentially hinting at new physics. We also investigate the projected capability of future lepton colliders to probe the currently allowed parameter space consistent with both electron and muon AMMs via direct searches in the $\ell^{+}\ell^{-}\to \ell^{+}\ell^{-}(H \to \ell^{+}\ell^{-})$ channel., Comment: 31pages+ references, plots updated, added references, matches published version

We explore the direct Higgs-top CP measurement via the $pp\to t\bar{t}h$ channel at the high-luminosity LHC. We show that a combination of machine learning techniques and efficient kinematic reconstruction methods can boost new physics sensitivity, effectively probing the complex $t\bar{t}h$ multi-particle phase space. Special attention is devoted to top quark polarization observables, uplifting the analysis from a raw rate to a polarization study. Through a combination of hadronic, semi-leptonic, and di-leptonic top pair final states in association with $h\to \gamma\gamma$, we obtain that the HL-LHC can probe the Higgs-top coupling modifier and CP-phase, respectively, up to $|\kappa_t|\lesssim 8\%$ and $|\alpha|\lesssim 13^{\circ}$ at $68\%$~CL., Comment: Published version in PRD, 12 pages, 5 figures

In this article we review the case for a light ($< m_{h_{125}}/2$) neutralino and sneutrino being a viable Dark Matter (DM) candidate in Supersymmetry(SUSY). To that end we recapitulate, very briefly, three issues related to the DM which impact the discussions : calculation of DM relic density, detection of the DM in Direct and Indirect experiments and creation /detection at the Colliders. In case of SUSY, the results from Higgs and SUSY searches at the colliders also have implications for the DM mass and couplings. In view of the constraints coming from all these sources, the possibility of a light neutralino is all but ruled out for the constrained MSSM : cMSSM. The pMSSM, where the gaugino masses are not related at high scale, is also quite constrained and under tension in case of thermal DM and will be put to very stern test in the near future in Direct Detection (DD) experiments as well as by the LHC analyses. However in the pMSSM with modified cosmology and hence non-thermal DM or in the NMSSM, a light neutralino is much more easily accommodated. A light RH sneutrino is also still a viable DM candidate although it requires extending the MSSM with additional singlet neutrino superfields. All of these possibilities can be indeed tested jointly in the upcoming SUSY-electroweakino and Higgs searches at the HL/HE luminosity LHC, the upcoming experiments for the Direct Detection (DD) and indirect detection for the DM as well as the high precision electron-positron colliders under planning., Comment: A short review of the low mass LSP in SUSY prepared by invitation for EPJ Special Topics on "Supersymmetry and Unification" -edited by U. Chattopadhyay and S. Roy- 29 pages, 8 figures

The search for di-Higgs final states is typically limited at the LHC to the dominant gluon fusion channels, with weak boson fusion only assuming a spectator role. In this work, we demonstrate that when it comes to searches for resonant structures that arise from iso-singlet mixing in the Higgs sector, the weak boson fusion sideline can indeed contribute to winning the discovery game. Extending existing experimental resonance searches by including both contributions is therefore crucial., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, 1 table; v2: references added, version published in PRD

The prospects of observing the non-resonant di-Higgs production in the Standard Model at the proposed high energy upgrade of the LHC, $viz.$ the HE-LHC$~$($\sqrt{s}=27~{\rm TeV}$ and $\mathcal{L} = 15~{\rm ab^{-1}}$) is studied. Various di-Higgs final states are considered based on their cleanliness and signal yields. The search for the non-resonant double Higgs production at the HE-LHC is performed in the $b\bar{b}\gamma\gamma$, $b\bar{b}\tau^{+}\tau^{-}$, $b\bar{b}WW^{*}$, $WW^{*}\gamma\gamma$, $b\bar{b}ZZ^{*}$ and $b\bar{b}\mu^{+}\mu^{-}$ channels. The signal-background discrimination is performed through multivariate analyses using the Boosted Decision Tree Decorrelated$~$(BDTD) algorithm in the$~$TMVA framework, the XGBoost toolkit and Deep Neural Network$~$(DNN). The variation in the kinematics of Higgs pair production as a function of the self-coupling of the Higgs boson, $\lambda_{h}$, is also studied. The ramifications of varying $\lambda_{h}$ on the $b\bar{b}\gamma\gamma$, $b\bar{b}\tau^{+}\tau^{-}$ and $b\bar{b}WW^{*}$ search analyses optimized for the SM hypothesis is also explored., Comment: Version 2; Modified significance formula used; version accepted for publication in JHEP

Unlike its minimal counterpart, the Next to Minimal supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM) allows the possibility that the lightest neutralino could have a mass as small as $\sim 1 {\rm GeV}$ while still providing a significant component of relic dark matter (DM). Such a neutralino can provide an invisible decay mode to the Higgs as well. Further, the observed SM-like Higgs boson ($H_{125}$) could also have an invisible branching fraction as high as $\sim 19\%$. Led by these facts, we first delineate the region of parameter space of the NMSSM with a light neutralino ($M_{{\tilde{\chi}}_{1}^{0}} < 62.5 {\rm GeV}$) that yields a thermal neutralino relic density smaller than the measured relic density of cold dark matter, and is also compatible with constraints from collider searches, searches for dark matter, and from flavor physics. We then examine the prospects for probing the NMSSM with a light neutralino via direct DM detection searches, via invisible Higgs boson width experiments at future $e^+e^-$ colliders, via searches for a light singlet Higgs boson in $2b2\mu$, $2b2\tau$ and $2\mu2\tau$ channels and via pair production of winos or doublet higgsinos at the high luminosity LHC and its proposed energy upgrade. For this last-mentioned electroweakino search, we perform a detailed analysis to map out the projected reach in the $3l+{\rm E{\!\!\!/}_T}$ channel, assuming that chargino decays to $W {\tilde{\chi}}_{1}^{0}$ and the neutralino(s) decay to $Z$ or $H_{125}$ + ${\tilde{\chi}}_{1}^{0}$. We find that the HL-LHC can discover SUSY in just part of the parameter space in each of these channels, which together can probe almost the entire parameter space. The HE-LHC probes essentially the entire region with higgsinos (winos) lighter than 1 TeV (2 TeV) independently of how the neutralinos decay, and leads to significantly larger signal rates., Comment: 57 pages, 25 figures, 13 tables; v2: references added, version accepted for publication in PRD

The projected reach of direct electroweakino searches at the HL-LHC ($\sqrt{s}=14~{\rm TeV}, ~3000~{\rm fb^{-1}}$ LHC) in the framework of simplified models with R-parity violating (RPV) operators: $\lambda_{112}^{\prime \prime}u^{c}d^{c}s^{c}$ and $\lambda_{113}^{\prime\prime}u^{c}d^{c}b^{c}$, is studied. Four different analysis channels are chosen: $Wh$ mediated $1l+2b+jets+\rm E{\!\!\!/}_T$, $Wh$ mediated $1l+2\gamma+jets+\rm E{\!\!\!/}_T$, $WZ$ mediated $3l+jets+\rm E{\!\!\!/}_T$ and $WZ$ mediated $3l+2b+jets+\rm E{\!\!\!/}_T$ and the projected exclusion/discovery reach of direct wino searches in these channels is analyzed by performing a detailed cut based collider analysis. The projected exclusion contour reaches up to $600-700~{\rm GeV}$ for a massless bino-like $\chi_{1}^{0}$ from searches in the $Wh$ mediated $1l+2b+jets+\rm E{\!\!\!/}_T$, $Wh$ mediated $1l+2\gamma +jets+\rm E{\!\!\!/}_T$ and $WZ$ mediated $3l+jets+\rm E{\!\!\!/}_T$ channels, while the $WZ$ mediated $3l+2b+jets+\rm E{\!\!\!/}_T$ search channel is found to have a projected exclusion reach up to $600~{\rm GeV}$ for $150~{\rm GeV} < M_{\chi_{1}^{0}} < 250~{\rm GeV}$. The baryon number violating simplified scenario considered in this work is found to furnish a weaker projected reach (typically by a factor of $\sim 1/2$) than the R-parity conserving (RPC) case. The projected reach at the HL-LHC in these four channels is also recast for realistic benchmark scenarios., Comment: 52 pages, 13 figures, 8 tables; v2: references added, version published in PRD

In this work, we show the importance of searches for heavy resonant scalars ($H$) and pseudoscalars ($A$). Taking cue from the present searches, we make projections for searches in an extended scalar sector at the high luminosity run of the Large Hadron Collider. We study the three most relevant search channels, \textit{i.e.}, $H \to hh, \; H/A \to t\bar{t}$ and $b\bar{b}H/A$. Upon studying multifarious final states for the resonant double Higgs production, we find that the $b\bar{b}\gamma\gamma$ ($\sigma(pp \to H \to hh) \in [81.27,14.45]$ fb for $m_H \in [300,600]$ GeV at 95\% C.L.) and $b\bar{b}b\bar{b}$ ($[5.4,2.5]$ fb for $m_H \in [800,1000]$ GeV at 95\% C.L.) channels are the most constraining. For the $b\bar{b}H$ channel, we can exclude $\sigma(pp \to b\bar{b}H) \in [22.2,3.7]$ fb for $m_H \in [300,500]$ GeV. Finally, we consider the phenomenological Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model as an example and impose various present constraints and our future direct search-limits and obtain strong constraints on the $m_A-\tan{\beta}$ parameter space, where $m_A$ and $\tan{\beta}$ are respectively the mass of the pseudoscalar and the ratio of the vacuum expectation values of the two Higgs doublets. Assuming that the heavy Higgs boson decays only to Standard Model (SM) states, we find that the $H \to hh \to b\bar{b}\gamma\gamma$ ($H \to t\bar{t}$) channel excludes $\tan{\beta}$ as low as 4 ($m_A \in [400,800]$ GeV) at 95\% CL. This weakens up to $\sim 5.5$ when the $b\bar{b}H$ channel dominates. Upon allowing for non-SM decay modes, the limits weaken., Comment: v2: 72 pages, 41 captioned figures and 21 tables; Results updated, systematic uncertainties included, Feynman diagrams added; conclusions unchanged. Version accepted for publication in JHEP

In this work we have considered a minimal extension of Standard Model by a local $U(1)$ gauge group in order to accommodate a stable (fermionic) Dark Matter (DM) candidate. We have focussed on parameter regions where DM possesses adequate self interaction, owing to the presence of a light scalar mediator (the dark Higgs), alleviating some of the tensions in the small-scale structures. We have studied the scenario in the light of a variety of data, mostly from dark matter direct searches, collider searches and flavour physics experiments, with an attempt to constrain the interactions of the standard model (SM) particles with the ones in the Dark Sector (DS). Assuming a small gauge kinetic mixing parameter, we find that for rather heavy DM %$\gtrsim \mathcal{O}(1-10)\,\, {\rm GeV}$%, the most stringent bound on the mixing angle of the Dark Higgs with the SM Higgs boson comes from dark matter direct detection experiments, while for lighter DM, LHC constraints become more relevant. Note that, due to the presence of very light mediators the usual realisation of direct detection constraints in terms of momentum independent cross sections had to be reevaluated for our scenario. In addition, we find that the smallness of the relevant portal couplings, as dictated by data, critically suppress the viability of DM production by the standard "freeze-out" mechanism in such simplified scenarios. In particular, the viable DM masses are $\lesssim \mathcal{O}(2)$ GeV $i.e.$ in the regions where direct detection limits tend to become weak. For heavier DM with large self-interactions, we hence conclude that non-thermal production mechanisms are favoured. Lastly, future collider reach of such a simplified scenario has also been studied in detail., Comment: 63 pages, 21 figures, 7 tables

We study the prospects of observing the non-resonant di-Higgs pair production in the Standard Model (SM) at the high luminosity run of the 14 TeV LHC (HL-LHC), upon combining multiple final states chosen on the basis of their yield and cleanliness. In particular, we consider the $b\bar{b}\gamma \gamma, b\bar{b} \tau^+ \tau^-, b\bar{b} WW^*, WW^*\gamma \gamma$ and $4W$ channels mostly focusing on final states with photons and/or leptons and study 11 final states. We employ multivariate analyses to optimise the discrimination between signal and backgrounds and find it performing better than simple cut-based analyses. The various differential distributions for the Higgs pair production have non-trivial dependencies on the Higgs self-coupling ($\lambda_{hhh}$). We thus explore the implications of varying $\lambda_{hhh}$ for the most sensitive search channel for the double Higgs production, \textit{viz.}, $b\bar{b}\gamma\gamma$. The number of signal events originating from SM di-Higgs production in each final state is small and for this reason measurement of differential distributions may not be possible. Furthermore, we consider various physics beyond the standard model scenarios to quantify the effects of contamination while trying to measure the SM di-Higgs signals in detail. In particular, we study generic resonant heavy Higgs decays to a pair of SM-like Higgs bosons or to a pair of top quarks, heavy pseudoscalar decaying to an SM-like Higgs and a $Z$-boson, charged Higgs production in association with a top and a bottom quark and also various well-motivated supersymmetric channels. We set limits on the cross-sections for the aforementioned new physics scenarios, above which these can be seen as excesses over the SM background and affect the measurement of Higgs quartic coupling. We also discuss the correlations among various channels which can be useful to identify the new physics model., Comment: Version 2; 70 pages, 17 figures and 26 tables; version accepted for publication in JHEP

We study the decay of 125 GeV Higgs boson to light LSP neutralino in the phenomenological minimal supersymmetric standard model in the context of collider searches and astrophysical experiments. We consider the parameter space for light neutralinos that can be probed via the invisible Higgs decays and higgsino searches at the ILC. We consider the cases where the light neutralino is compatible with the observed relic density or where the thermal relic is over-abundant, pointing to non-standard cosmology. In the former case, when the neutralino properties give rise to under-abundant relic density, the correct amount of relic abundance is assumed to be guaranteed by either additional DM particles or by non-thermal cosmology. We contrast these different cases. We assess what astrophysical measurements can be made, in addition to the measurements made at the ILC, which can provide a clue to the nature of the light neutralino. We find that a number of experiments, including Xenon-nT, PICO-250, LZ in conjunction with measurements made at the ILC on invisible Higgs width can pin down the nature of this neutralino, along with its cosmological implications. Additionally, we also point out potential LHC signatures that could be complementary in this region of parameter space., Comment: 40 pages, 21 figures

ATLAS and CMS collaborations have reported the results on the Higgs search analyzing $\sim 36$ fb$^{-1}$ data from Run-II of LHC at 13 TeV. In this work, we study the Higgs sector of the phenomenological Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, in light of the recent Higgs data, by studying separately the impact of Run-I and Run-II data. One of the major impacts of the new data on the parameter space comes from the direct searches of neutral CP-even and CP-odd heavy Higgses ($H$ and $A$, respectively) in the $H/A \to \tau^{+} \tau^{-}$ channel which disfavours high $\tan\beta$ regions more efficiently than Run-I data. Secondly, we show that the latest result of the rare radiative decay of $B$ meson imposes a slightly stronger constraint on low $\tan \beta$ and low $M_A$ region of the parameter space, as compared to its previous measurement. Further, we find that in a global fit Run-II light Higgs signal strength data is almost comparable in strength with the corresponding Run-I data. Finally, we discuss scenarios with the Heavy Higgs boson decaying into electroweakinos and third generation squarks and sleptons., Comment: 51 pages, 22 figures