Search of a Standard Model Higgs Boson in ATLAS using Vector Boson Fusion

The potential for the discovery of a Standard Model Higgs boson in the mass range m_H < 2m_Z in the vector boson fusion (VBF) mode has been studied for the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. I will show that the characteristic signatures of jets in the forward regions of the detector and of low jet activity in the central region allow for an efficient background rejection. I will emphasize the H → τ τ decay mode that has been studied using a realistic simulation of the expected detector performance and background processes estimation. Results on other decay modes and Higgs coupling parameters will be presented as well. These studies demonstrate the large discovery potential from the Higgs production in VBF and the unique opportunity of measuring its Yukawa coupling to fermions.