h → μτ at hadron colliders

We study the observability for a lepton flavor-changing decay of a Higgs boson h --> mu tau at hadron colliders. Flavor-changing couplings of a Higgs boson exist at tree level in models with multiple Higgs doublets. The h mu tau coupling is particularly motivated by the favorable interpretation of nu (mu)-nu (tau) oscillation. We find that at the Tevatron run II the unique mu tau signature could serve as the Higgs discovery channel, surpassing expectations for Higgs boson searches in the Sh? and in a large parameter region of the MSSM. The sensitivity will he greatly improved at the LHC, beyond the coverage at a muon collider Higgs factory.