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Abstract

Within models containing a very light scalar particle coupled to the 125 GeV Higgs boson, we present the first detailed study of Higgs decays into three of these light scalars. We determine model-independent conditions which the scalar sector after electroweak symmetry breaking has to satisfy in order for the threebody channel to become relevant. Using a specific model-the real scalar singlet-extension of the Standard Model (SM)-we then identify scenarios, where the rates of scalar three-body Higgs decays are comparable to or even exceed those of the well-studied two-body channel. All those scenarios are shown to be compatible with current experimental and theoretical constraints. We finally argue that scalar threebody Higgs decays lead to exciting new collider signatures with six SM fermions in the final state. Calculating the corresponding event rates, we find that e.g. six-muon or six-tau final states may be in reach of dedicated searches at the LHC or ILC experiments.