Higgs-strahlung and WW fusion in e + e − collisions
Abstract
Higgs-strahlung
e
+
e
−
→ZH
and
WW
fusion
e
+
e
−
→
ν
¯
e
ν
e
H
are the most important mechanisms for the production of Higgs bosons in
e
+
e
−
collisions at LEP2 and future
e
+
e
−
linear colliders. We have calculated the cross sections and energy/angular distributions of the Higgs boson for these production mechanisms. When the
Z
boson decays into (electron-)neutrinos, the two production amplitudes interfere. In the cross-over region between the two mechanisms the interference term is positive and of the same size as the individual cross sections, thus enhancing the production rate.