Higgs Searches in the $H \to WW$ Decay Mode Using the ATLAS Detector

The prospects for Higgs boson searches in the $H ightarrow WW$ decay mode are investigated. Search strategies are presented for the channels ${H+0j}$ (${H ightarrow WW ightarrow e umu u}$), ${H+2j}$ (${H ightarrow WW ightarrow e umu u}$), and ${H+2j}$ (${H ightarrow WW ightarrowell u qq}$). Methods to extract the background normalization from data are discussed for all channels. With an integrated luminosity of 10 fb$^{-1}$, the $H+0j$, $H ightarrow WW ightarrow e umu u$ channel can reach a 5$sigma$ discovery for a Standard Model Higgs boson in the range $145135$~GeV.