NNLO QCD predictions for the H → WW → ℓνℓν signal at the LHC

Abstract

We present a first computation of the next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) QCD cross-section at the LHC for the production of four leptons from a Higgs boson decaying into W bosons. We study the cross-section for a mass value of Mh ≤ 165GeV; around this value a Standard Model Higgs boson decays almost exclusively into W-pairs. We apply all nominal experimental cuts on the final state leptons and the associated jet activity and study the magnitude of higher-order effects up to NNLO on all kinematic variables which are constrained by experimental cuts. We find that the magnitude of the higher-order corrections varies significantly with the signal selection cuts. As a main result we give the value of the cross-section at NNLO with all selection cuts envisaged for the search of the Higgs boson. © SISSA 2007.