Search for Associated Production of a Higgs Boson and Two Vector Bosons via Vector-Boson Scattering at 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. vents containing two forward jets consistent with VBS, a large-radius jet from the decay of a boosted Higgs boson (H) to a pair of b quarks, and zero, one, or two charged leptons coming from V-boson decays are selected. The process is excluded at 95% confidence level for observed (expected) values of the VVHH coupling modifier κ₂V outside the interval: 0.40 < κ_₂V < 1.60 (0.34 < κ_₂V < 1.66) This assumes Standard Model values for all other couplings and establishes a novel probe of the VVHH interaction. Constraints are also set on the individual κ₂W and κ₂Z coupling modifiers, as well as on the allowed region in the κ_₂W − κ_₂Z plane.