Searching for the intermediate-mass Higgs boson

Abstract

We study the feasibility of detecting a neutral Higgs boson $H^0$, with mass between 2$m_t$≊80 GeV (by assumption) and 2$m_W$ at an $e^{+}$ $e^{\mathrm{-}}$ machine or the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC). Backgrounds to the production at an $e^{+}$ $e^{\mathrm{-}}$ machine of $H^0$ in association with a Z are calculated with particular emphasis on the case when $m_H$≊$m_z$. We present a detailed survey of the signals for and backgrounds to the inclusive or associated production at the SSC of $H^0$ followed by the decay of $H^0$ into one of the available channels. There is no signature which is established to be identifiable at the SSC. Only a few signatures remain to be studied, and the further calculations of most immediate interest are pointed out.