Combining real and virtual Higgs boson mass constraints

Abstract

Within the framework of the standard model we observe that there is a significant discrepancy between the most precise $Z$ boson decay asymmetry measurement and the limit from direct searches for Higgs boson production. Using methods inspired by the Particle Data Group we explore the possible effect on fits of the Higgs boson mass. In each case the central value and the 95% confidence level upper limit increase significantly relative to the conventional fit. The results suggest caution in drawing conclusions about the Higgs boson mass from the existing data.

11 pages, Latex. Citations are added and paper is otherwise reconciled with version to be published in Physical Review Letters

Cited by in corpus (7)

• Quarks and Leptons Beyond the Third Generation
• The Phenomenology of a Top Quark Seesaw Model
• Theory of Z boson decays
• Higgs boson mass constraints from precision data and direct searches
• Z-Decays to b Quarks and the Higgs Boson Mass
• The Indirect Limit on the Standard Model Higgs Boson Mass from the Precision FERMILAB, LEP and SLD Data
• Bounds on M_W, M_t, Sin^2 theta_eff^lept