Search for a Standard Model Higgs Boson in CMS via Vector Boson Fusion in the H->WW->l\nu l\nu Channel

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the CMS detector's ability to discover the Standard Model Higgs boson via vector boson fusion, focusing on the H->WW->l u l u decay channel, and demonstrates potential for 5 sigma discovery within specific luminosity and mass ranges.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed simulation-based analysis of Higgs detection prospects in the VBF channel, including background measurement and mass estimation methods.

Findings

5 sigma significance achievable with 12-72 1/fb for 130-200 GeV Higgs masses

Background can be measured to 7% accuracy with 30 1/fb

Proposed method to estimate Higgs mass using transverse mass distributions

Abstract

We present the potential for discovering the Standard Model Higgs boson produced by the vector-boson fusion mechanism. We considered the decay of Higgs bosons into the W+W- final state, with both W-bosons subsequently decaying leptonically. The main background is ttbar with one or more jets produced. This study is based on a full simulation of the CMS detector, and up-to-date reconstruction codes. The result is that a signal of 5 sigma significance can be obtained with an integrated luminosity of 12-72 1/fb for Higgs boson masses between 130-200 GeV. In addition, the major background can be measured directly to 7% from the data with an integrated luminosity of 30 1/fb. In this study, we also suggested a method to obtain information in Higgs mass using the transverse mass distributions.