Finding Higgs bosons heavier than 2 m_W in dileptonic W-boson decays

TL;DR

This paper proposes improved observables based on generalized transverse mass for detecting heavy Higgs bosons (>2m_W) in dileptonic W decays, enhancing search sensitivity.

Contribution

It introduces generalized transverse mass observables that better account for on-shell W bosons, improving heavy Higgs detection methods.

Findings

Generalized transverse mass observables outperform existing variables.

Enhanced sensitivity for heavy Higgs boson searches.

Applicable to other narrow-width intermediate decays.

Abstract

We reconsider observables for discovering a heavy Higgs boson (with m_h > 2m_W) via its di-leptonic decays h -> WW -> l nu l nu. We show that observables generalizing the transverse mass that take into account the fact that both of the intermediate W bosons are likely to be on-shell give a significant improvement over the variables used in existing searches. We also comment on the application of these observables to other decays which proceed via narrow-width intermediates.