Search for the Neutral MSSM Higgs Bosons in the Decay Channel $A/H/h \to \mu^+ \mu^-$

Motivated by the high muon momentum resolution and identification efficiency achievable with the ATLAS detector, the observability of A/H/h to mu+ mu- channel is explored. The high experimental resolution in this decay mode compensates to some extent for the suppression of the branching ratio, with respect to the A/H/h to tau+ tau- decays. The analyses are performed in the Higgs mass range from 100 to 500 GeV. Two main analysis strategies are applied - the search for the dimuon final states resulting from the direct A/H/h production is combined with the search for the associated bbA/H/h production mode. The studies are optimized for the early stage of data taking up to an integrated luminosity of 30 fb−1 . All results are obtained combining the fast and the full simulation of the ATLAS detector with the nominal detector layout and the trigger efficiencies included. In addition, dedicated data samples are produced to study the impact of the pile-up and cavern background on the analysis performance. The estimation of the background contribution from the experimental data and the contribution of theoretical and experimental uncertainties are also addressed. The discovery potential is shown in the mA -tan beta plane in the context of the mh-max MSSM benchmark scenario.