Search for the Higgs boson in the H->WW(*)->lvlv decay channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

TL;DR

This paper reports a search for the Standard Model Higgs boson in the H->WW->lvlv decay channel using ATLAS data at 7 TeV, setting exclusion limits on its mass range based on observed events.

Contribution

It provides the first limits on Higgs boson production in the H->WW channel at 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector, excluding certain mass ranges at 95% confidence level.

Findings

No significant excess observed over background.

Excluded Higgs mass range 145-206 GeV at 95% CL.

Set upper limits on Higgs production cross section.

Abstract

A search for the Higgs boson has been performed in the H->WW->lvlv channel (l=e/mu) with an integrated luminosity of 2.05/fb of pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. No significant excess of events over the expected background is observed and limits on the Higgs boson production cross section are derived for a Higgs boson mass in the range 110<mH<300 GeV. The observations exclude the presence of a Standard Model Higgs boson with a mass 145<mH<206 GeV at 95% confidence level.