Light Signals from a Lighter Higgs

Understand

With the Higgs search program already quite mature, there is the exciting possibility of discovering a new particle with rates near that of the SM Higgs.

• We consider models with a signal in $\gamma \gamma$ below the SM Higgs mass, taking the recent $2.9\, \sigma$ (local) CMS excess at 95 GeV as a target.
• We discuss singlet models with additional vectorlike matter, but argue that a Type-I two Higgs doublet model provides a more economical scenario.
• In such a setup, going into regions of moderate-to-strong fermiophobia, the enhanced $\gamma \gamma$ branching ratio allows signals from $VH$+VBF production to yield $\sigma \times BR_{\gamma\gamma} $ comparable to total SM rates.