Radiative corrections to the decay H==>hh in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model

We set up a suitable renormalization programme for the one-loop computation of the decay rate Gamma(H==>hh) in the Minimal Supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model. We then perform an explicit diagrammatic calculation, including the full contributions from top, bottom, stop and sbottom loops. We find that, for tan(beta) close to 1, and m_H greater than or approximately equal to 2 m_t, the results can significantly differ from those previously obtained in the effective potential approach. However, the latter method remains a good approximation in the region of parameter space which is most relevant for H searches at large hadron colliders.Comment: 11 A4-pages, 3 figures not included, CERN-TH.6603/9

Strings at the Intermediate Scale, or is the Fermi Scale Dual to the Planck Scale?

We show that if the string scale is identifed with the intermediate scale, $M_s=\sqrt{M_W M_{Planck}} \sim 10^{11}$ GeV, then the notorious hierarchy, $M_W/M_{Planck} \sim 10^{-16}$, can be explained using only $M_c/M_s \sim 0.01 \sim \alpha_{GUT}$ as small input parameters, where $M_c$ is the compactification scale. This is possible for weakly-coupled Type-I open-string vacua if the observed world is assumed to live in an N=1 supersymmetric 3-brane sector coupled to a separate, hidden, 3-brane world which breaks supersymmetry, because for such a model $M_W/M_{Planck} = 1/2 \alpha_{GUT}^2 (M_c/M_s)^6$. We discuss some of the phenomenological issues presented by such an intermediate-scale string, showing that its benefits include: (i) the possibility of logarithmic gauge-coupling unification of the SM couplings at $M_s$; (ii) a natural axionic solution to the strong-CP problem with a phenomenologically-acceptable Peccei-Quinn scale; (iii) experimentally-interesting neutrino masses, and more.Comment: 16 pages, LaTeX, no figure

On the two-loop sbottom corrections to the neutral Higgs boson masses in the MSSM

We compute the O(ab*as) two-loop corrections to the neutral Higgs boson masses in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, using the effective potential approach. Such corrections can be important in the region of parameter space corresponding to tan(beta)>>1 and sizeable mu. In spite of the formal analogy with the O(at*as) corrections, there are important differences, since the dominant effects are controlled by the sbottom-Higgs scalar couplings. We propose a convenient renormalization scheme that avoids unphysically large threshold effects associated with the bottom mass, and absorbs the bulk of the O(ab*as + ab*at) corrections into the one-loop expression. We give general explicit formulae for the O(ab*as) corrections to the neutral Higgs boson mass matrix. We also discuss the importance of the O(ab^2) corrections and derive a formula for their contribution to mh in a simple limiting case.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures. Version to appear in Nucl. Phys.

The decays gluino -> stop_1 b-quark W and gluino -> stop_1 c-quark and phenomenological implications in supersymmetric theories

We show that the decay gluino -> stop_1 b-quark W is important and can even be dominant in the region of parameter space where it is kinematically allowed. We discuss phenomenological implications within the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model and models with broken R-parity. We consider the flavour diagonal case as well as a possible mixing between squarks of different generations. In the latter case also the decay gluino -> stop_1 c-quark is potentially important. We show that the decay gluino -> stop_1 b-quark W is sensitive to the stop mixing angle. Furthermore we demonstrate that in scenarios with a higgsino--like LSP the gluino decays mainly into final states containing top quarks or a light stop if allowed by kinematics.Comment: LaTex, 15 pages, 8 figures, uses JHEP3.cls (included), v2, improved discussion of gluino -> stop_1 c-quark, conclusions unchanged, version to appear in JHE

Chargino Production at LEP2 in a Supergravity Model

In the framework of a particular supergravity model which provides a natural solution to the $\mu$--problem we show how the discovery of a chargino at LEP2 and the measurement of its mass and production cross--section, together with the measurement of the mass of the lightest neutralino, would determine the entire Higgs and SUSY spectrum. We give detailed predictions for the Higgs and SUSY spectrum as a function of the chargino production cross--section, for constant values of the lightest chargino and gluino masses.Comment: 11 pages, latex, 4 figures uufile

Detecting and Studying e+e−→H0A0,H+H−e^+e^-\to H^0A^0,H^+H^- in the MSSM: Implications of Supersymmetric Decays and Discriminating GUT Scenarios

We demonstrate that supersymmetric decays, as typified by the predictions of several GUT-scale boundary condition choices, do not prevent detection of $Z^* \to H^0A^0,H^+H^-$, at a $1-4$ TeV $e^+e^-$ or $\mu^+\mu^-$ collider operating at anticipated luminosity. For much of parameter space the relative branching ratios for various SUSY and non-SUSY decays can be measured with sufficient accuracy that different GUT-scale boundary condition choices can be distinguished from one another at a very high confidence level.Comment: 54 pages, full postscript file also available via anonymous ftp at ftp://ucdhep.ucdavis.edu/gunion/pair.p

Phenomenological implications of light stop and higgsinos

We examine the phenomenological implications of light $\tilde{t}_R$ and higgsinos in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, assuming $\tan^2 \beta < m_t / m_b$ and heavy $\tilde{t}_L$ and gauginos. In this simplified setting, we study the contributions to $\Delta m_{B_d}$, $\epsilon_K$, $BR(b \rightarrow s \gamma)$, $R_b \equiv \Gamma (Z \rightarrow b \overline{b}) / \Gamma ( Z \to {\rm hadrons})$, $BR(t \to b W)$, and their interplay.Comment: plain LATEX, 6 figures, 23 A4 page

The MSSM invisible Higgs in the light of dark matter and g-2

Giving up the assumption of the gaugino mass unification at the GUT scale, the latest LEP and Tevatron data still allow the lightest supersymmetric Higgs to have a large branching fraction into invisible neutralinos. Such a Higgs may be difficult to discover at the LHC and is practically unreachable at the Tevatron. We argue that, for some of these models to be compatible with the relic density, light sleptons with masses not far above the current limits are needed. There are however models that allow for larger sleptons masses without being in conflict with the relic density constraint. This is possible because these neutralinos can annihilate efficiently through a Z-pole. We also find that many of these models can nicely account, at the 2\sigma level, for the discrepancy in the latest g-2 measurement. However, requiring consistency with the g-2 at the 1\sigma level, excludes models that lead to the largest Higgs branching fraction into LSP's. In all cases one expects that even though the Higgs might escape detection, one would have a rich SUSY phenomenology even at the Tevatron, through the production of charginos and neutralinos.Comment: 16 pages and 5 figures. New references added, text and figures unchange