Search for associated production of a Higgs boson and two vector bosons via vector boson scattering at sqrt(s) = 13 TeV

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 𝐻to a pair of 𝑏quarks, 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.