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 $V=\Upsilon, J/\psi,\phi$, and $\ell=\mu, \tau$, 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 $h\to V \nu \bar \nu$. We also discuss the implications of the recent CMS and ATLAS results for the lepton flavor-changing process $h\to \tau^+ \mu^-$ on the $h\to V \tau^+ \mu^-$ decay modes.