A 96 GeV Higgs Boson in the 2HDMS: $e^+e^-$ collider prospects

Abstract

The CMS collaboration reported a $\sim 3 \, \sigma$ (local) excess at $96\;$GeV in the search for light Higgs-boson decaying into two photons. This mass coincides with a $\sim 2 \, \sigma$ (local) excess in the $b\bar b$ final state at LEP. We show an interpretation of these possible signals as the lightest Higgs boson in the 2 Higgs Doublet Model with an additional complex Higgs singlet (2HDMS). The interpretation is in agreement with all experimental and theoretical constraints. We concentrate on the 2HDMS type II, which resembles the Higgs and Yukawa structure of the Next-to Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. We discuss the experimental prospects for constraining our explanation at future $e^+e^-$ colliders, with concrete analyses based on the ILC prospects.