SM Higgs: Issues
LEP2 analysis is clear-cut, and the reach is predictable
The Tevatron analysis is an exciting prospect. Is it credible?
- In my view, yes: it is an exercise similar in scale to the top discovery, with a similar number of backgrounds and requiring similar level of detector understanding.
- but it will be harder: the irreducible signal:background is worse
- it has caught the imagination of experimenters
- the single biggest problem with the studies so far (in my opinion) is the assumptions about the bb dijet mass resolution
- can the assumed resolution really be achieved (and in a high luminosity environment)?
- can it be improved (through the use of “smarter” algorithms)? e.g. kT?