Intermediate-mass higgs boson production and the equivalent vector boson approximation

Abstract

We have considered production of Higgs bosons in the process qq→qqWW→qqH and qq→qqZZ→qqZZ→qqH. It is shown that the contribution σ_T of the transversely polarized intermediate vector bosons (V) in the equivalent vector boson approximation (EVBA) is comparable to the contribution σ_L of the longitudinal ones. σ_T can be as large as 1.5-2 times σ_L. We also find that for interme diate values of m_H, viz. 0.3-0.6 TeV, the leading EVBA for σ=σ_L + σ_T overestimates the exact total cross section by a factor, up to 2-3, even at high energies. σ_T is negligible compared to the leading contribution σ_L only for m_H≥0.6 TeV, where the EVBA is correct within 15-20%.