Higgs decay to two W bosons ($\Gamma (H\to W^{+}{W}^{-})$)

The tree-level two-body decay width from $2m_W^{2}H{W}_{\mu }^{+}{W}^{-\mu }/v$ isabove the on-shell threshold. The charged pair is distinguishable, so no identical-particle factor divides this result. Below threshold, physical multi-particle decays through virtual W bosons require a different Lorentz-invariant phase-space measure.

For $x=m_W^2/m_H^2<1/4$, the on-shell longitudinal pair contributes the displayed tree-level partial decay width. In the Higgs boson rest frame, its polarization vectors have contraction $(m_H^2/2-m_W^2)/m_W^2$. Multiplying by the Higgs boson coupling to W bosons gives $|{\mathcal{M}}_{LL}{|}^2=m_H^4(1-2x{)}^2/v^2$; the two-body Lorentz-invariant phase space then gives the width. The sum over transverse polarizations adds $8x^2$ to the longitudinal polynomial. Below threshold, physical decays through virtual W bosons require a different multiparticle calculation.