Clarifications on the impact of theoretical uncertainties on the Tevatron Higgs exclusion limits

TL;DR

This paper argues that the theoretical uncertainties in Higgs production cross sections at the Tevatron have been underestimated, and properly accounting for them would weaken the exclusion limits set by CDF and D0 collaborations.

Contribution

It demonstrates that their approach to estimating uncertainties is reasonable and aligns with methods used by LHC experiments, impacting Higgs exclusion bounds.

Findings

Properly accounting for uncertainties loosens Higgs exclusion limits.

Their uncertainty estimation method is justified and consistent with LHC practices.

Revised analysis confirms the importance of theoretical uncertainties in experimental bounds.

Abstract

In this note, we respond to the comments and criticisms made by the representatives of the CDF and D0 collaborations on our recent papers in which we point out that the theoretical uncertainties in the Higgs production cross section have been largely un- derestimated and, if properly taken into account, will significantly loosen the Tevatron Higgs exclusion bounds. We show that our approach to the theoretical uncertainties is reasonable and fully justified. In particular, we show that our procedure is not very different from that adopted by the LHC experiments and if the latter is used in the Tevatron case, one obtains much larger uncertainties that those assumed by the CDF and D0 collaborations. Furthermore, we provide additional details on our statistical analysis of the CDF and D0 exclusion limit and show that it is conceptually correct.