Gauge dependence and renormalization of tan β in the minimal supersymmetric standard model -: art. no. 095014

Well-known and newly developed renormalization schemes for tan beta are analyzed in view of three desirable properties: gauge independence, process independence, and numerical stability in perturbation theory. Arguments are provided that no scheme can meet all three requirements, and, as an illustration, a "no-go-theorem" for the renormalization of tan beta is established. Nevertheless, two particularly attractive schemes emerge. A discussion about which scheme might be the best compromise in practice is given.