Finger printing the presence of extra scalars in the h \u2192 Vff\u2032 forward-backward asymmetry

Abstract

In this work we analyse the forward-backward asymmetry of the h → V f f′ decay in the Aligned two-Higgs Doublet Model. The Standard Model prediction for this asymmetry for V = W is small, as it suffers from Yukawa suppression and is absent for V = Z. This does not necessarily have to hold true in the Aligned model where these contributions can in principle be re-enhanced through the independent alignment factors ςf. In this analysis we conclude that, due to the additional contributions corresponding to the Aligned two-Higgs Doublet Model together with extra sources of CP-violation for the V = Z channel, the Standard Model predictions can be significantly modified in a great region of the parameter space. These deviations, that could be potentially measured at the High Luminosity LHC or future Higgs factories, would be a clear signal of new physics, and would shed new light on the possible extensions of the Standard Model and new sources of CP-violation.