Revisiting a light NMSSM pseudoscalar at the LHC

Abstract

The discovery of a light, singlet-like pseudoscalar Higgs boson, $A_1$, of the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM) could provide a hallmark signature of non-minimal supersymmetry. We review here the potential of the LHC to probe such a light $A_1$ in the decays of one of the heavier scalar Higgs bosons of the NMSSM. We find the production of pairs of the $A_1$, with a mass below 60 GeV or so, via decays of the two lightest scalar states to be especially promising, for an integrated luminosity as low as 30/fb. For heavier masses, the decay of the heaviest scalar into a $Z$ boson and an $A_1$ could lead to its detection at the LHC.