Search for a Low-Mass Standard Model Higgs Boson in the $\ensuremath{\tau}\ensuremath{\tau}$ Decay Channel in $p\overline{p}$ Collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.96\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$

Search for a Low-Mass Standard Model Higgs Boson in the $τ τ$ Decay Channel in $p \bar{p}$ Collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 1.96 TeV$

T. Aaltonen et al. (CDF Collaboration)

Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 181804 – Published 2 May 2012

Abstract

We report on a search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying into pairs of $τ$ leptons in $p \bar{p}$ collisions produced by the Tevatron at $\sqrt{s} = 1.96 TeV$ . The analyzed data sample was recorded by the CDFII detector and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $6.0 {fb}^{- 1}$ . The search is performed in the final state with one $τ$ decaying leptonically and the second one identified through its semihadronic decay. Since no significant excess is observed, a 95% credibility level upper limit on the production cross section times branching ratio to the $τ τ$ final state is set for hypothetical Higgs boson masses between 100 and $150 GeV / c^{2}$ . For a Higgs boson of $120 GeV / c^{2}$ the observed (expected) limit is 14.6 (15.3) the predicted value.