Detecting the standard model Higgs boson in the WW decay channel using forward proton tagging at the LHC

We present a detailed study of the central exclusive production of the standard model Higgs boson in the WW decay channel at the LHC. We include estimates of the experimental acceptance, including that of the proposed proton tagging detectors at 220 m and 420 m around either ATLAS and/or CMS, and the level 1 trigger acceptances. We give first estimates of the photon-photon and glue-glue background processes in the semi-leptonic and fully leptonic decay channels. We find that there will be a detectable signal for Higgs masses between 140 GeV and 200 GeV, and that the backgrounds should be controllable.