A strongly-interacting phase of the minimal supersymmetric model

We argue that in the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model with a large trilinear coupling both the fundamental Higgs boson and a bound state of squarks (formed via strong scalar interaction) can have a non-zero VEV. This alters drastically the pattern of electroweak-symmetry breaking and the Higgs phenomenology. In particular, the upper bound on the supersymmetric Higgs-boson mass may be relaxed. Also, the Higgs boson can be produced at hadron colliders through a direct coupling to gluons. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.