Exploiting h→W*W* decays at the upgraded Fermilab Tevatron

Abstract

We study the observability of a standard-model-like Higgs boson at an upgraded Fermilab Tevatron via the mode $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{h}{W}^{*}{W}^{*}.$ We concentrate on the main channel $g\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{g}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{h}{W}^{*}{W}^{*}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}l\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}\overline{l}\ensuremath{\nu}.$ We also find the mode $q{q}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{W}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{h}{W}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}{W}^{*}{W}^{*}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{l}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}\ensuremath{\nu}{l}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}\ensuremath{\nu}\mathrm{jj}$ useful. We perform detector level simulations by making use of a Monte Carlo program SHW. Optimized searching strategy and kinematical cuts are developed. We find that with a c.m. energy of 2 TeV and an integrated luminosity of $30 {\mathrm{fb}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ the signal should be observable at a $3\ensuremath{\sigma}$ level or better for the mass range of $145 \mathrm{GeV}\ensuremath{\lesssim}{m}_{h}\ensuremath{\lesssim}180 \mathrm{GeV}.$ For 95% confidence-level exclusion, the mass reach is $135 \mathrm{GeV}\ensuremath{\lesssim}{m}_{h}\ensuremath{\lesssim}190 \mathrm{GeV}.$ We also present results of studying these channels with a model-independent parametrization. Further improvement is possible by including other channels. We conclude that the upgraded Fermilab Tevatron will have the potential to significantly advance our knowledge of Higgs boson physics.