Higgs-strahlung and $WW$ fusion in $e^+e^-$ collisions

Abstract

Higgs-strahlung $e^+e^-\to ZH$ and $WW$ fusion $e^+e^-\to\bar\nu_e\nu_e H$ 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.