Combined search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying to a bb pair using the full CDF data set

TL;DR

This paper combines all available CDF data to search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying into bottom quark pairs, observing a modest excess over background predictions.

Contribution

It provides the most comprehensive search using the full CDF dataset, enhancing sensitivity to Higgs bosons in the 90-150 GeV/c^2 mass range.

Findings

Observed a 2.5 sigma excess over background

Most significant local excess is 2.7 sigma

Results improve constraints on Higgs production in this channel

Abstract

We combine the results of searches for the standard model Higgs boson based on the full CDF Run II data set obtained from sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV p-pbar collisions at the Fermilab Tevatron corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9.45/fb. The searches are conducted for Higgs bosons that are produced in association with a W or Z boson, have masses in the range 90-150 GeV/c^2, and decay into bb pairs. An excess of data is present that is inconsistent with the background prediction at the level of 2.5 standard deviations (the most significant local excess is 2.7 standard deviations).