Search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying to a W pair in the fully leptonic final state in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports a search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying into W pairs in proton-proton collisions at 7 TeV, using CMS data, and sets exclusion limits in the 129-270 GeV mass range.

Contribution

First search for Higgs to WW in fully leptonic final state at 7 TeV with CMS, establishing exclusion limits in the 129-270 GeV mass range.

Findings

No significant excess observed over background.

Higgs boson excluded in the 129-270 GeV mass range.

Data corresponds to 4.6 fb^-1 collected at 7 TeV.

Abstract

A search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying to W+W- in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV is reported. The data are collected at the LHC with the CMS detector, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 inverse femtobarns. The W+W- candidates are selected in events with two charged leptons and large missing transverse energy. No significant excess of events above the standard model background expectations is observed, and upper limits on the Higgs boson production relative to the standard model Higgs expectation are derived. The standard model Higgs boson is excluded in the mass range 129-270 GeV at 95% confidence level.