Search for Associated Production of a Higgs Boson and Two Vector Bosons via Vector-Boson Scattering at √𝑠 = 13 TeV

Abstract

A search for Higgs boson (𝐻) production in association with two vector bosons (𝑉 = 𝑊, 𝑍) via vector-boson scattering (VBS) is presented using proton-proton collision data collected at √𝑠 = 13 TeV by the CMS experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb⁻¹. Events containing two forward jets consistent with VBS, a large-radius jet from the decay of a boosted 𝐻 to a pair of 𝑏 quarks, and zero, one, or two charged leptons coming from 𝑉 decays are selected. The process is excluded at 95% confidence level for observed (expected) values of the 𝑉⁢𝑉⁢𝐻⁡𝐻 coupling modifier 𝜅₂_⁢𝑉 outside the interval 0.40 < 𝜅₂_⁢𝑉 < 1.60 (0.34 <𝜅2_⁢𝑉 < 1.66), assuming standard model values for all other couplings, thus establishing a novel probe of the 𝑉⁢𝑉⁢𝐻⁡𝐻 interaction. Constraints are also set on the individual 𝜅₂_⁢𝑊 and 𝜅₂_⁢𝑍 coupling modifiers and on the allowed region in the 𝜅₂_⁢𝑊−𝜅₂_⁢𝑍 plane.