Predictions of the sign of \mu from supersymmetry breaking models

Abstract

The sign of the supersymmetric Higgs mass \mu is usually taken as an independent input parameter in analyses of the supersymmetric standard model. I study the role of theories of supersymmetry breaking in determining the sign of \mu as an output. Models with vanishing soft scalar couplings at the apparent gauge coupling unification scale are known to predict positive \mu. I investigate more general results for the sign of \mu as a function of the holomorphic soft scalar couplings, and compare to predictions of models with gaugino mass dominance at higher scales. In a significant region of the B_0/m_{1/2} versus A_0/m_{1/2} plane including A_0 = B_0 = 0, \mu must be positive. In another region, \mu is definitely negative. Only in a smaller intermediate region does knowledge of the supersymmetry breaking mechanism not permit a definite prediction of the sign of \mu. The last region will shrink considerably as the top quark mass becomes more accurately known.