Semileptonic decays of the Higgs boson at the Tevatron

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential to improve Higgs boson detection at the Tevatron by analyzing semileptonic decay channels, employing realistic simulations and kinematic selection techniques, with implications for LHC searches.

Contribution

It introduces new analysis strategies for semileptonic Higgs decays using realistic simulations, enhancing detection sensitivity in specific mass ranges.

Findings

Kinematic selections improve signal over background.

Sensitivity increase in 120-150 GeV mass range.

Techniques applicable to LHC Higgs searches.

Abstract

We examine the prospects for extending the Tevatron reach for a Standard Model Higgs boson by including the semileptonic Higgs boson decays h --> WW --> l nu jj for M_h >~ 2 M_W, and h --> W jj --> l nu jj for M_h <~ 2 M_W, where j is a hadronic jet. We employ a realistic simulation of the signal and backgrounds using the Sherpa Monte Carlo event generator. We find kinematic selections that enhance the signal over the dominant W+jets background. The resulting sensitivity could be an important addition to ongoing searches, especially in the mass range 120 <~ M_h <~ 150 GeV. The techniques described can be extended to Higgs boson searches at the Large Hadron Collider.