The decay $h\to Z \gamma$ in the Standard-Model Effective Field Theory

Abstract

We calculate the $S$-matrix element for the Higgs boson decay to a $Z$-boson and a photon, $h\to Z\gamma$, at one-loop in the Standard-Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT) framework and in linear $R_{\xi}$-gauges. Our SMEFT expansion includes all relevant operators up to dimension-6 considered in Warsaw basis without resorting to any flavour or CP-conservation assumptions. Within this approximation there are 23 dimension-6 operators affecting the amplitude, not including flavour and hermitian conjugation. The result for the on-shell $h\to Z\gamma$ amplitude is gauge invariant, renormalisation-scale invariant and gauge-fixing parameter independent. The calculated ratio of the SMEFT versus the SM expectation for the $h\to Z\gamma$ decay width is then written in a semi-numerical form which is useful for further comparisons with related processes. For example, the $h\to Z\gamma$ amplitude contains 16 operators in common with the $h\to \gamma\gamma$ amplitude and one can draw useful results about its feasibility at current and future LHC data.