HIG-12-051

Search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying to tau pairs produced in association with a W or Z boson

This is a condensed description with plots for the analysis CMS-HIG-12-051

Abstract

A search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying to tau pairs is presented using data collected in 2011 and 2012 with the CMS detector at the LHC. The topologies studied represent three or four lepton final states, where the Higgs boson is produced in association with the leptonic decay of a W or Z boson, respectively. The analyses use collision data samples corresponding to integrated luminosities of 5 fb^-1 collected at √s = 7 TeV and 12 fb^-1 of 8 TeV. Upper limits between 2.7 and 5.5 times the standard model prediction are established on the product of Higgs boson cross section and tau pair decay branching fraction for Higgs masses between 110 and 145 GeV.

Main Results

Setting the upper limit on the production of the standard model Higgs boson in association with W or Z when the Higgs boson decays to a pair of tau leptons

Tex files with limits:

• Cross Section Limits (tex file)

Tables from CMS-HIG-12-051

Table	Label	Description
	Table 1 pdf, png	Number of observed events and expected yields from the different background processes for 3 and 4-lepton channels. The uncertainties represent combination of the statistical and systematic uncertainty.
	Table 2 pdf, png	Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on the SM Higgs boson production. Limit is expressed as σ/σSM: the ratio of the excluded production rate times branching fraction to that predicted by the SM.

Figures from CMS-HIG-12-051

Figure	Label	Description
	Figure 1 pdf, png	Observed and expected Higgs boson candidate mass spectra in the llτh channel. The expected contribution from the associated production of a SM Higgs boson with mass of 125 GeV is shown by the dashed line. The yields of each process are determined using the same maximum likelihood fit to a signal-plus-background hypothesis used in the limit setting procedure.
	Figure 1 pdf, png	Observed and expected Higgs boson candidate mass spectra in the llττ channel. The expected contribution from the associated production of a SM Higgs boson with mass of 125 GeV is shown by the dashed line. The yields of each process are determined using the same maximum likelihood fit to a signal-plus-background hypothesis used in the limit setting procedure.
	Figure 2 pdf, png	Observed and median expected 95% CL upper limits on SM Higgs production set by llτh analysis.
	Figure 2 pdf, png	Observed 95% CL upper limits on SM Higgs production set by llτh analysis are compared to the median observed limit expected in the presence of a SM Higgs boson, using "signal injection". The observed limit is compared to the distribution of observed limits computed using many signal-injected pseudo-datasets.
	Figure 3 pdf, png	Observed and median expected 95% CL upper limits on SM Higgs production set by llττ analysis.
	Figure 3 pdf, png	Observed 95% CL upper limits on SM Higgs production set by llττ analysis are compared to the median observed limit expected in the presence of a SM Higgs boson, using "signal injection". The observed limit is compared to the distribution of observed limits computed using many signal-injected pseudo-datasets.
	Figure 4 pdf, png	Observed and median expected 95% CL upper limits on SM Higgs production set by the combination of analyses presented in the note.
	Figure 4 pdf, png	Observed 95% CL upper limits on SM Higgs production set by combination of analyses presented in the note are compared to the median observed limit expected in the presence of a SM Higgs boson, using "signal injection". The observed limit is compared to the distribution of observed limits computed using many signal-injected pseudo-datasets.

Additional plots for public talks

Figure	Label	Description
	Figure 5 pdf, png	Hadronic tau fake rate in llττ (ZH analysis) as a function of tau pT for the medium HPS combined isolation with the resulting fit. Results from 2011, 2012 run A and B (April-July) and 2012 C (July-September).
	Figure 6 pdf, png	Validation of the hadronic tau fake rate method in μμτhτh and eeτhτh final states (ZH analysis). Tau pair is required to have same sign and pass loose isolation with no cut on the scalar sum of their transverse momenta.
	Figure 7 pdf, png	Observed and expected Higgs boson candidate visible mass spectrum in llττ channel obtained from 7 TeV data. Expected contribution from the SM Higgs boson with mass 125 GeV is shown by the dashed line. The background mass distributions show the results of the maximum likelihood fit using the background-only hypothesis used in the limit setting procedure.
	Figure 8 pdf,png	Observed and expected Higgs boson candidate visible mass spectrum in llττ channel obtained from 8 TeV data. Expected contribution from the SM Higgs boson with mass 125 GeV is shown by the dashed line. The background mass distributions show the results of the maximum likelihood fit using the background-only hypothesis used in the limit setting procedure.
	Figure 9 pdf,png	Median expected 95% CL upper limits on SM Higgs production in individual subchannels and their combination.
	Figure 10 pdf,png	Comparison of observed data with the predicted backgrounds in the eμτh “fake tau”control region in 7 TeV data. The non-prompt background estimate is computed in the same manner as that in the signal region.
	Figure 11 pdf,png	Comparison of observed data with the predicted backgrounds in the eμτh “fake tau” control region in 8 TeV data. The non-prompt background estimate is computed in the same manner as that in the signal region.
	Figure 12 pdf,png	Comparison of observed data with the predicted backgrounds in the μμτh “fake tau”control region in 7 TeV data. The non-prompt background estimate is computed in the same manner as that in the signal region.
	Figure 13 pdf,png	Comparison of observed data with the predicted backgrounds in the μμτh “fake tau” control region in 8 TeV data. The non-prompt background estimate is computed in the same manner as that in the signal region.