HiggsBounds: Confronting arbitrary Higgs sectors with exclusion bounds from LEP and the Tevatron

HiggsBounds is a computer code that tests theoretical predictions of models with arbitrary Higgs sectors against the exclusion bounds obtained from the Higgs searches at LEP and the Tevatron. The included experimental information comprises exclusion bounds at 95% C.L. on topological cross sections. In order to determine which search topology has the highest exclusion power, the program also includes, for each topology, information from the experiments on the expected exclusion bound, which would have been observed in case of a pure background distribution. Using the predictions of the desired model provided by the user as input, HiggsBounds determines the most sensitive channel and tests whether the considered parameter point is excluded at the 95% C.L. HiggsBounds is available as a Fortran 77 and Fortran 90 code. The code can be invoked as a command line version, a subroutine version and an online version. Examples of exclusion bounds obtained with HiggsBounds are discussed for the Standard Model, for a model with a fourth generation of quarks and leptons and for the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model with and without CPCP-violation. The experimental information on the exclusion bounds currently implemented in HiggsBounds will be updated as new results from the Higgs searches become available.Program summaryProgram title: HiggsBoundsCatalogue identifier: AEFF_v1_0Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEFF_v1_0.htmlProgram obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University, Belfast, N. IrelandLicensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.htmlNo. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 55 733No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 1 986 213Distribution format: tar.gzProgramming language: Fortran 77, Fortran 90 (two code versions are offered).Computer: HiggsBounds can be built with any compatible Fortran 77 or Fortran 90 compiler. The program has been tested on x86 CPUs running under Linux (Ubuntu 8.04) and with the following compilers: The Portland Group Inc. Fortran compilers (pgf77, pgf90), the GNU project Fortran compilers (g77, gfortran).Operating system: LinuxRAM: minimum of about 6000 kbytes (dependent on the code version)Classification: 11.1External routines: HiggsBounds requires no external routines/libraries. Some sample programs in the distribution require the programs FeynHiggs 2.6.x or CPsuperH2 to be installed (see “Subprograms used”).Subprograms used:Cat IdTitleReferenceADKT_v2_0FeynHiggsv2.6.5CPC 180(2009)1426ADSR_v2_0CPsuperH2.0CPC 180(2009)312Full-size tableTable optionsView in workspaceDownload as CSVNature of problem: Determine whether a parameter point of a given model is excluded or allowed by LEP and Tevatron Higgs-boson search results.Solution method: The most sensitive channel from LEP and Tevatron searches is determined and subsequently applied to test this parameter point. The test requires as input model predictions for the Higgs-boson masses, branching ratios and ratios of production cross sections with respect to reference values.Restrictions: In the current version, results from decay-mode independent Higgs searches and results of searches for charged Higgs bosons are not taken into account.Running time: About 0.01 seconds (or less) for one parameter point using one processor of an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 CPU at 2.40 GHz for sample model scenarios with three Higgs bosons. It depends on the complexity of the Higgs sector (e.g. the number of Higgs bosons and the number of open decay channels) and on the code version.