- Physical Review Journals
All JournalsPhysics Magazine

Physical Review D

Reuse & Permissions

It is not necessary to obtain permission to reuse this article or its components as it is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI are maintained. Please note that some figures may have been included with permission from other third parties. It is your responsibility to obtain the proper permission from the rights holder directly for these figures.

Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation
  • Open Access

Investigating the 95 GeV Higgs boson excesses within the type-I (1+2)HDM

Ayoub Hmissou1,*, Stefano Moretti2,3,†, and Larbi Rahili1,‡

  • *Contact author: ayoub1hmissou@gmail.com
  • †Contact author: stefano.moretti@physics.uu.se/s.moretti@soton.ac.uk
  • ‡Contact author: l.rahili@uiz.ac.ma/rahililarbi@gmail.com
PDF

Phys. Rev. D 113, 015024 – Published 20 January, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/f571-lmgf

Abstract

In this work, we explore how the 2-Higgs doublet model (2HDM) type-I, extended by an inert doublet, can provide an explanation for the recently observed excesses at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in the γγ and τ+τ− final states. Hence, by imposing theoretical constraints and experimental bounds on the model parameter space, our findings show that a light CP-even Higgs boson, h, with a mass around 95 GeV, can account for these anomalies. This result aligns with the excess in bb¯ signatures reported in earlier data from the Large Electron-Positron (LEP) collider.

View figure in article

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Article Text

References (68)

  1. ATLAS Collaboration, Observation of a new particle in the search for the standard model Higgs boson with the ATLAS detector at the LHC, Phys. Lett. B 716, 1 (2012).
  2. CMS Collaboration, Observation of a new boson at a mass of 125 GeV with the CMS experiment at the LHC, Phys. Lett. B 716, 30 (2012).
  3. Belle Collaboration, Precise determination of the CKM matrix element |Vcb| with B¯0→D*+ℓ−ν¯ℓ decays with hadronic tagging at Belle, arXiv:1702.01521.
  4. C. Bobeth, M. Bordone, N. Gubernari, M. Jung, and D. van Dyk, Lepton-flavour non-universality of B¯→D*ℓν¯ angular distributions in and beyond the standard model, Eur. Phys. J. C 81, 984 (2021).
  5. Muon g-2 Collaboration, Measurement of the positive muon anomalous magnetic moment to 0.46 ppm, Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 141801 (2021).
  6. N. Kurinsky, D. Baxter, Y. Kahn, and G. Krnjaic, Dark matter interpretation of excesses in multiple direct detection experiments, Phys. Rev. D 102, 015017 (2020).
  7. M. Heikinheimo, S. Sassi, K. Nordlund, K. Tuominen, and N. Mirabolfathi, Identification of the low-energy excess in dark matter searches with crystal defects, Phys. Rev. D 106, 083009 (2022).
  8. S. Schael et al., Search for neutral MSSM Higgs bosons at LEP, Eur. Phys. J. C 47, 547 (2006).
  9. CMS Collaboration, Search for a standard model-like Higgs boson in the mass range between 70 and 110 GeV in the diphoton final state in proton-proton collisions at s=8 and 13 TeV, Phys. Lett. B 793, 320 (2019).
  10. CMS Collaboration, Search for a standard model-like Higgs boson in the mass range between 70 and 110 GeV in the diphoton final state in proton-proton collisions at s=13  TeV, Report No. CMS-PAS-HIG-20-002, 2023.
  11. G. Aad et al. (ATLAS Collaboration), Search for diphoton resonances in the 66 to 110 GeV mass range using 140  fb−1 of 13 TeV pp collisions collected with the ATLAS detector, J. High Energy Phys. 01 (2025) 053.
  12. A. Hayrapetyan et al. (CMS Collaboration.), Search for a standard model-like Higgs boson in the mass range between 70 and 110 GeV in the diphoton final state in proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV, Phys. Lett. B 860, 139067 (2025).
  13. G. Cacciapaglia, A. Deandrea, S. Gascon-Shotkin, S. Le Corre, M. Lethuillier, and J. Tao, Search for a lighter Higgs boson in two Higgs doublet models, J. High Energy Phys. 12 (2016) 068.
  14. R. Benbrik, M. Boukidi, S. Moretti, and S. Semlali, Explaining the 96 GeV Di-photon anomaly in a generic 2HDM Type-III, Phys. Lett. B 832, 137245 (2022).
  15. R. Benbrik, M. Boukidi, S. Moretti, and S. Semlali, Probing a 96 GeV Higgs boson in the di-photon channel at the LHC, Proc. Sci. ICHEP2022 (2022) 547 [arXiv:2211.11140].
  16. D. Azevedo, T. Biekötter, and P. M. Ferreira, 2HDM interpretations of the CMS diphoton excess at 95 GeV, J. High Energy Phys. 11 (2023) 017.
  17. T. Biekötter, M. Chakraborti, and S. Heinemeyer, A 96 GeV Higgs boson in the N2HDM, Eur. Phys. J. C 80, 2 (2020).
  18. S. Heinemeyer, C. Li, F. Lika, G. Moortgat-Pick, and S. Paasch, Phenomenology of a 96 GeV Higgs boson in the 2HDM with an additional singlet, Phys. Rev. D 106, 075003 (2022).
  19. T. Biekötter, S. Heinemeyer, and G. Weiglein, Mounting evidence for a 95 GeV Higgs boson, J. High Energy Phys. 08 (2022) 201.
  20. T. Biekötter, S. Heinemeyer, and G. Weiglein, The CMS di-photon excess at 95 GeV in view of the LHC Run 2 results, Phys. Lett. B 846, 138217 (2023).
  21. T. Biekötter, S. Heinemeyer, and G. Weiglein, 95.4 GeV diphoton excess at ATLAS and CMS, Phys. Rev. D 109, 035005 (2024).
  22. J. Cao, X. Guo, Y. He, P. Wu, and Y. Zhang, Diphoton signal of the light Higgs boson in natural NMSSM, Phys. Rev. D 95, 116001 (2017).
  23. F. Domingo, S. Heinemeyer, S. Paßehr, and G. Weiglein, Decays of the neutral Higgs bosons into SM fermions and gauge bosons in the CP-violating NMSSM, Eur. Phys. J. C 78, 942 (2018).
  24. K. Choi, S. H. Im, K. S. Jeong, and C. B. Park, Light Higgs bosons in the general NMSSM, Eur. Phys. J. C 79, 956 (2019).
  25. J. Cao, X. Jia, Y. Yue, H. Zhou, and P. Zhu, 96 GeV diphoton excess in seesaw extensions of the natural NMSSM, Phys. Rev. D 101, 055008 (2020).
  26. T. Biekötter, A. Grohsjean, S. Heinemeyer, C. Schwanenberger, and G. Weiglein, Possible indications for new Higgs bosons in the reach of the LHC: N2HDM and NMSSM interpretations, Eur. Phys. J. C 82, 178 (2022).
  27. J. Cao, X. Jia, J. Lian, and L. Meng, 95 GeV diphoton and bb¯ excesses in the general next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model, Phys. Rev. D 109, 075001 (2024).
  28. W. Li, H. Qiao, K. Wang, and J. Zhu, Light dark matter confronted with the 95 GeV diphoton excess, arXiv:2312.17599.
  29. U. Ellwanger, C. Hugonie, S. F. King, and S. Moretti, NMSSM explanation for excesses in the search for neutralinos and charginos and a 95 GeV Higgs boson, Eur. Phys. J. C 84, 788 (2024).
  30. J. Lian, 95 GeV excesses in the Z3-symmetric next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model, Phys. Rev. D 110, 115018 (2024).
  31. U. Ellwanger and C. Hugonie, Nmssm with correct relic density and an additional 95 GeV Higgs boson, Eur. Phys. J. C 84, 526 (2024).
  32. J. Cao, X. Jia, and J. Lian, Unified interpretation of the muon g-2 anomaly, the 95 GeV diphoton, and bb¯ excesses in the general next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model, Phys. Rev. D 110, 115039 (2024).
  33. P. S. B. Dev, R. N. Mohapatra, and Y. Zhang, Explanation of the 95 GeV γγ and bb¯ excesses in the minimal left-right symmetric model, Phys. Lett. B 849, 138481 (2024).
  34. A. Ahriche, 95 GeV excess in the Georgi-Machacek model: Single or twin peak resonance, Phys. Rev. D 110, 035010 (2024).
  35. T.-K. Chen, C.-W. Chiang, S. Heinemeyer, and G. Weiglein, 95 GeV Higgs boson in the Georgi-Machacek model, Phys. Rev. D 109, 075043 (2024).
  36. X. Du, H. Liu, and Q. Chang, Interpretation of 95 GeV excess within the Georgi-Machacek model in light of positive definiteness constraints, Phys. Rev. D 112, 015019 (2025).
  37. A. Kundu, P. Mondal, and G. Moultaka, Indications for new scalar resonances at the LHC and a possible interpretation, arXiv:2411.14126.
  38. R. Benbrik, M. Boukidi, and S. Moretti, Superposition of CP-even and CP-odd Higgs resonances: Explaining the 95 GeV excesses within a two-Higgs-doublet model, Phys. Rev. D 110, 115030 (2024).
  39. A. Khanna, S. Moretti, and A. Sarkar, Explaining 95 GeV anomalies in the 2-Higgs doublet model Type-I, Nucl. Phys. B1022, 117229 (2026).
  40. V. Keus, S. F. King, and S. Moretti, Three-Higgs-doublet models: Symmetries, potentials and Higgs boson masses, J. High Energy Phys. 01 (2014) 052.
  41. B. Grzadkowski, O. M. Ogreid, and P. Osland, Natural multi-Higgs model with dark matter and CP violation, Phys. Rev. D 80, 055013 (2009).
  42. S. Moretti and K. Yagyu, Constraints on parameter space from perturbative unitarity in models with three scalar doublets, Phys. Rev. D 91, 055022 (2015).
  43. S. L. Glashow and S. Weinberg, Natural conservation laws for neutral currents, Phys. Rev. D 15, 1958 (1977).
  44. G. C. Branco, P. M. Ferreira, L. Lavoura, M. N. Rebelo, M. Sher, and J. P. Silva, Theory and phenomenology of two-Higgs-doublet models, Phys. Rep. 516, 1 (2012).
  45. J. F. Gunion and H. E. Haber, The CP conserving two Higgs doublet model: The approach to the decoupling limit, Phys. Rev. D 67, 075019 (2003).
  46. V. Keus, S. F. King, S. Moretti, and K. Yagyu, CP violating two-Higgs-doublet model: Constraints and LHC predictions, J. High Energy Phys. 04 (2016) 048.
  47. A. Cordero-Cid, J. Hernández-Sánchez, V. Keus, S. F. King, S. Moretti, D. Rojas, and D. Sokołowska, CP violating scalar dark matter, J. High Energy Phys. 12 (2016) 014.
  48. A. Cordero-Cid, J. Hernández-Sánchez, V. Keus, S. Moretti, D. Rojas, and D. Sokołowska, Lepton collider indirect signatures of dark CP-violation, Eur. Phys. J. C 80, 135 (2020).
  49. A. Dey, J. Hernández-Sánchez, V. Keus, S. Moretti, and T. Shindou, On the CP properties of spin-0 dark matter, J. High Energy Phys. 06 (2025) 206.
  50. M. E. Peskin and T. Takeuchi, Estimation of oblique electroweak corrections, Phys. Rev. D 46, 381 (1992).
  51. W. Grimus, L. Lavoura, O. M. Ogreid, and P. Osland, The Oblique parameters in multi-Higgs-doublet models, Nucl. Phys. B801, 81 (2008).
  52. Particle Data Group, Review of particle physics, Phys. Rev. D 110, 030001 (2024).
  53. W. Grimus, L. Lavoura, O. M. Ogreid, and P. Osland, A precision constraint on multi-Higgs-doublet models, J. Phys. G 35, 075001 (2008).
  54. R. Barbieri, L. J. Hall, and V. S. Rychkov, Improved naturalness with a heavy Higgs: An Alternative road to LHC physics, Phys. Rev. D 74, 015007 (2006).
  55. P. Bechtle, S. Heinemeyer, T. Klingl, T. Stefaniak, G. Weiglein, and J. Wittbrodt, higgssignals-2: Probing new physics with precision Higgs measurements in the LHC 13 TeV era, Eur. Phys. J. C 81, 145 (2021).
  56. H. Bahl, T. Biekötter, S. Heinemeyer, C. Li, S. Paasch, G. Weiglein, and J. Wittbrodt, higgstools: BSM scalar phenomenology with new versions of higgsbounds and higgssignals, Comput. Phys. Commun. 291, 108803 (2023).
  57. P. Bechtle, D. Dercks, S. Heinemeyer, T. Klingl, T. Stefaniak, G. Weiglein and J. Wittbrodt, higgsbounds-5: Testing Higgs sectors in the LHC 13 TeV era, Eur. Phys. J. C 80, 1211 (2020).
  58. CMS Collaboration, Search for a scalar or pseudoscalar dilepton resonance produced in association with a massive vector boson or top quark-antiquark pair in multilepton events at s=13  TeV, Phys. Rev. D 110, 012013 (2024).
  59. F. Mahmoudi, superiso v2.3: A program for calculating flavor physics observables in Supersymmetry, Comput. Phys. Commun. 180, 1579 (2009).
  60. HFLAV Collaboration, Averages of b-hadron, c-hadron, and τ-lepton properties as of summer 2016, Eur. Phys. J. C 77, 895 (2017).
  61. LHCb Collaboration, Measurement of the Bs0→μ+μ− decay properties and search for the B0→μ+μ− and Bs0→μ+μ−γ decays, Phys. Rev. D 105, 012010 (2022).
  62. LHCb Collaboration, Analysis of neutral B-meson decays into two muons, Phys. Rev. Lett. 128, 041801 (2022).
  63. ALEPH, DELPHI, L3, OPAL, and The LEP Working Group for Higgs Boson Searches, Search for the standard model Higgs boson at LEP, Phys. Lett. B 565, 61 (2003).
  64. G. Passarino and M. J. G. Veltman, One loop corrections for e+e− annihilation Into μ+μ− in the Weinberg model, Nucl. Phys. B160, 151 (1979).
  65. F. Gianotti et al., Physics potential and experimental challenges of the LHC luminosity upgrade, Eur. Phys. J. C 39, 293 (2005).
  66. M. Cepeda et al., Report from working group 2: Higgs physics at the HL-LHC and HE-LHC, CERN Yellow Rep. Monogr. 7, 221 (2019).
  67. P. Bambade et al., The international linear collider: A global project, arXiv:1903.01629.
  68. C. Arcangeletti on behalf of ATLAS Collaboration, Measurement of Higgs boson production and search for new resonances in final states with photons and Z bosons with the ATLAS detector, https://indico.cern.ch/event/1281604/attachments/2660420/4608571/LHCSeminarArcangeletti_final.pdf, 7th of June, 2023.

Outline

Information

Phys. Rev. D 113, 015024– Published 20 January, 2026
  • Received 1 August 2025
  • Accepted 2 January 2026
Crossmark - Check for updates button
Creative Commons Logo

Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI. Funded by SCOAP3.

Published by the American Physical Society

Sign In to Your Journals Account

Filter

Filter

Article Lookup

Enter a citation