We compute the one-loop corrections to the $Z \to b\bar{b}$ vertex in the $U(1)_R$ symmetric minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model. We find that the predicted value of $R_b$ is consistent with experiment if the mass of the lighter top squark is no more than 180 GeV. Furthermore, other data combines to place a lower bound of 88 GeV on the mass of the light top squark. A top squark in this mass range should be accessible to searches by experiments at FNAL and LEP.

We consider the radiative decay b → sγ, and the correction to the Zbb vertex in technicolor models with scalars. In these models, the scalar develops a vacuum expectation value when the technifermions condense, and the ordinary fermions develop masses via Yukawa couplings. Since the symmetry breaking sector involves both a fundamental scalar doublet and an isotriplet of composite scalars (the technipions), the phenomenology associated with the charged scalars is similar to that found in a type-I two-Higgs doublet model. We show that the correction to the Zbb vertex is small over the allowed parameter space of the model in the two limits that we consider, and that there can be large, potentially observable, contributions to the b → sγ branching fraction. © 1995.