On Exclusive $h \to V \ell^+ \ell^-$ Decays

Abstract

We study a set of exclusive decay modes of the Standard Model Higgs boson into a vector meson and a dilepton pair: $h\to V \ell^+ \ell^-$, with $V=Υ, J/ψ,ϕ$, and $\ell=μ, τ$, determining the decay rates, the dilepton mass spectra and the $V$ longitudinal helicity fraction distributions. In the same framework, we analyze the exclusive modes into neutrino pairs $h\to V ν\bar ν$. We also discuss the implications of the recent CMS and ATLAS results for the lepton flavor-changing process $h\to τ^+ μ^-$ on the $h\to V τ^+ μ^-$ decay modes.

13 pages, 4 figures; v2 matches published version