Rates for rapidity gap Higgs production

Abstract

We present model-independent estimates of the signal-to-background ratio for Higgs --> b anti-b detection in double-diffractive events at the Tevatron and the LHC. For the missing-mass approach to be able to identify the Higgs boson, it will be necessary to tag the b quark jets in the central region. The signal is predicted to be very small at the Tevatron, but observable at the LHC. We note that the double-diffractive dijet production, may serve as a unique gluon factory. This process can be used also as a Pomeron-Pomeron luminosity monitor.