A Search for the Higgs Boson using Very Forward Tracking Detectors with CDF

TL;DR

This paper proposes adding high-precision forward tracking detectors to the CDF experiment at Tevatron to enhance Higgs boson searches, improve mass measurements, and enable diverse QCD and exotic physics studies.

Contribution

Introduction of silicon strip telescopes with time-of-flight counters at CDF to transform the collider environment and expand physics research capabilities.

Findings

Enhanced Higgs search sensitivity and mass resolution.

Ability to measure high-|t| elastic scattering and gluon jets.

Potential to discover signs of SUSY and extra dimensions.

Abstract

We propose to add high precision track detectors 55m downstream on both (E&W) sides of CDF, to measure high Feynman-x protons and antiprotons in association with central states. A primary motivation is to search for the Higgs boson, and if it is seen to measure its mass precisely. The track detectors will be silicon strip telescopes backed up by high resolution time-of-flight counters. The addition of these small detectors effectively converts the Tevatron into a gluon-gluon collider with sqrt{s} from 0 to ~ 200 GeV. This experiment will also measure millions/year clean high-|t| elastic scattering events and produce millions of pure gluon jets. Besides a wealth of unique QCD studies we will search for signs of exotic physics such as SUSY and Large Extra Dimensions.