Search for the Standard Model Higgs Boson in the ZH→νν̅ bb̅ Channel in 5.2 fb^-1 of pp̅ Collisions at √s=1.96 TeV

Abstract

A search is performed for the standard model Higgs boson in 5.2 fb^-1of pp̅ collisions at √s=1.96 TeV, collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The final state considered is a pair of b jets and large missing transverse energy, as expected from pp̅ →ZH→νν̅ bb̅ production. The search is also sensitive to the WH→ℓνbb̅ channel when the charged lepton is not identified. For a Higgs boson mass of 115 GeV, a limit is set at the 95% C.L. on the cross section multiplied by branching fraction for [pp̅ →(Z/W)H](H→bb̅ ) that is a factor of 3.7 larger than the standard model value, consistent with the factor of 4.6 expected.