Higgs pseudo-observables, second Riemann sheet and all that

The relation between physical observables measured at LHC and Tevatron and standard model Higgs pseudo-observables (production cross section and partial decay widths) is revised by extensively using the notion of the Higgs complex pole on the second Riemann sheet of the S-matrix. The extension of their definition to higher orders is considered, confronting the problems that arise when QED (QCD) corrections are included in computing realistic observables. Numerical results are presented for pseudo-observables related to the standard model Higgs boson decay and production. The relevance of the result for exclusion plots of the standard model Higgs boson for high masses (up to 600 GeV) is discussed. Furthermore, a recipe for the analytical continuation of Feynman loop integrals from real to complex internal masses and complex Mandelstam invariants is thoroughly discussed. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V.