Search for a Low-Mass Standard Model Higgs Boson in the ττ Decay Channel in pp̅ Collisions at √s=1.96 TeV

Abstract

We report on a search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying into pairs of τ leptons in pp̅ collisions produced by the Tevatron at √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 ττ final state is set for hypothetical Higgs boson masses between 100 and 150 GeV/c2. For a Higgs boson of 120 GeV/c2 the observed (expected) limit is 14.6 (15.3) the predicted value.