Higgs flavor violation as a signal to discriminate models

We consider the Higgs Lepton Flavor Violating process h → τμ, in which CMS found a 2.5 σ excess of events, from a model independent perspective, and find that it is difficult to generate this operator without also obtaining a sizeable Wilson coefficient for the dipole operators responsible for tau radiative decay, constrained by BABAR to BR(τ → μγ) < 4.4 × 10−8. We then survey a set of representative models for new physics, to determine which ones are capable of evading this problem. We conclude that, should this measurement persist as a signal, type-III Two Higgs Doublet Models and Higgs portal-like models are favored, while SUSY and Composite Higgs models are unlikely to explain it.