Higgs boson production at the LHC: transverse momentum resummation effects in the H->2gamma, H->WW->lnu lnu and H->ZZ->4l decay modes

TL;DR

This paper improves predictions of Higgs boson production at the LHC by combining high-order QCD corrections with transverse momentum resummation, providing detailed results for key decay channels.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive calculation combining NNLO QCD corrections with NNLL transverse momentum resummation for Higgs production, implemented in the HRes program.

Findings

Enhanced accuracy in Higgs cross section predictions.

Detailed numerical results for key decay channels.

Compatibility with current experimental cuts.

Abstract

We consider Standard Model Higgs boson production through gluon--gluon fusion in hadron collisions. We combine the calculation of the next-to-next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the inclusive cross section with the resummation of multiple soft-gluon emissions at small transverse momenta up to next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy. The calculation is implemented in the numerical program HRes and allows us to retain the full kinematics of the Higgs boson and of its decay products. We present selected numerical results for the signal cross section at the LHC (\sqrt{s}=8 TeV), in the H->2gamma, H->WW->lnu lnu and H->ZZ->4l decay channels by using the nominal cuts applied in current Higgs boson searches by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations.