$e^+e^-\to H^+H^-$ signals at LEP2 energies in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model

Abstract

In this paper we compare $H^+H^-$ and $W^+W^-$ into four-fermion production at centre-of-mass energies typical of LEP2 and somewhat larger. The theoretical framework considered is the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. The interest in exploiting the $e^+e^-$ CERN collider at values of $\sqrt s$ greater than 192 GeV could come from the discovery of Supersymmetric signals during runs at lower energy. If these indicate that a charged Higgs boson exists in the mass range $\MH\approx95-105$ GeV, then a few years of running at $\sqrt s=205-215$ GeV and nominal luminosity could make the detection of such scalars feasible, in the purely leptonic channel $τν_ττν_τ$ and, for small $\tb$'s, also in the semi-hadronic(leptonic) one ${jj}τν_τ$. Charged Higgs bosons of the above nature cannot be produced by the beam energies approved at present for LEP2. However, if runs beyond the so-called `192 GeV cryogenic limit' will be approved by the CERN Council, our selection procedure will enable us to establish the presence, or otherwise, of charged Higgs bosons in the mentioned mass range

30 pages, latex, epsfig, 12 postscript figures, complete paper available at ftp://axpa.hep.phy.cam.ac.uk/stefano/cavendish_9615 and at http://www.hep.phy.cam.ac.uk/theory/papers/