Beyond the Standard Model Higgs physics: Hunting $h\to bs$ with Higgs-strahlung at CEPC and FCC-ee

Abstract

The next generation of circular electron-positron colliders, such as the Circular Electron Positron Collider and the Future Circular Collider, will provide an unprecedented level of precision in probing the properties of the Higgs boson. In this study, we examine the flavor-changing neutral Higgs decay $h\to bs$ produced via the Higgs-strahlung process within the framework of the Two-Higgs-Doublet Model Type III. We identify regions of the parameter space that remain viable after applying stringent constraints from current experimental data. By employing a multivariate analysis based on Boosted Decision Trees, we project that a signal significance of $5\sigma$ can be achieved, even after accounting for irreducible backgrounds and systematic uncertainties. Our findings show that these future colliders could offer a unique avenue for discovering signatures of physics beyond the standard model.

Comments: Version accepted for publication in JHEP