Sigma to p mu+ mu-: Standard Model or New Particle?

Abstract

The HyperCP collaboration observed three events for the decay Sigma to p mu+ mu-. They suggested that new physics may be required to understand the implied decay rate and the observed dimuon invariant mass distribution. Motivated by this result, we re-examine this mode. First within the standard model, and then assuming there is a new particle. Within the SM we find that this mode is long-distance dominated and its rate falls within the range suggested by the HyperCP measurement. We then examine the conditions under which the observation is consistent with a light Higgs boson and find an explicit example that satisfies all the constraints: the light pseudoscalar Higgs boson in the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model (NMSSM).