Search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to ll tau tau decay channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s)=7 TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports a search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying into ZZ to tau tau and lepton pairs in proton-proton collisions at 7 TeV, setting upper limits on production cross section without observing a significant signal.

Contribution

First search for Higgs decaying to ZZ to tau tau and lepton pairs at 7 TeV, providing new constraints on Higgs production in this decay channel.

Findings

No significant deviation from background observed.

Upper limits set at 95% confidence level for Higgs production cross section.

Limits are four to twelve times the predicted Standard Model values.

Abstract

A search is reported for the standard model Higgs boson in the decay mode H to ZZ to tau plus lepton pairs, where the leptons are either electrons or muons, in proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s)=7 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.7 inverse femtobarn collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. No evidence is found for a significant deviation from the background expectation. An upper limit four to twelve times larger than the predicted value is set at 95% confidence level for the product of the standard model Higgs boson production cross section and decay branching fraction in the mass range 190 < m(H) < 600 GeV.