Evidence for Higgs boson decay to a pair of muons is presented. This result combines searches in four exclusive categories targeting the production of the Higgs boson via gluon fusion, via vector boson fusion, in association with a vector boson, and in association with a top quark-antiquark pair. The analysis is performed using proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$, recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. An excess of events over the background expectation is observed in data with a significance of 3.0 standard deviations, where the expectation for the standard model (SM) Higgs boson with mass of 125.38 GeV is 2.5. The combination of this result with that from data recorded at $\sqrt{s} =$ 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 5.1 and 19.7 fb$^{-1}$, respectively, increases both the expected and observed significances by 1%. The measured signal strength, relative to the SM prediction, is 1.19 $^{+0.40}_{-0.39}$ (stat) $^{+0.15}_{-0.14}$ (syst). This result constitutes the first evidence for the decay of the Higgs boson to second generation fermions and is the most precise measurement of the Higgs boson coupling to muons reported to date.
The observed DNN output distribution in the VBF-SR region for data collected in 2016 compared to the post-fit background estimate for the contributing SM processes. The post-fit distributions for the Higgs boson signal produced via ggH and VBF modes with mass of 125.38 GeV are also reported. The predicted backgrounds are obtained from a S+B fit performed across analysis regions and years. The total post-fit and pre-fit uncertainties on the background prediction are also reported.
The observed DNN output distribution in the VBF-SR region for data collected in 2017 compared to the post-fit background estimate for the contributing SM processes. The post-fit distributions for the Higgs boson signal produced via ggH and VBF modes with mass of 125.38 GeV are also reported. The predicted backgrounds are obtained from a S+B fit performed across analysis regions and years. The total post-fit and pre-fit uncertainties on the background prediction are also reported.
The observed DNN output distribution in the VBF-SR region for data collected in 2018 compared to the post-fit background estimate for the contributing SM processes. The post-fit distributions for the Higgs boson signal produced via ggH and VBF modes with mass of 125.38 GeV are also reported. The predicted backgrounds are obtained from a S+B fit performed across analysis regions and years. The total post-fit and pre-fit uncertainties on the background prediction are also reported.
The production of Z boson pairs in proton-proton (pp) collisions, pp $\to$ (Z/$\gamma^*$)(Z/$\gamma^*$) $\to$ 2$\ell$ 2$\ell'$, where $\ell,\ell'$ = e or $\mu$, is studied at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$, collected during 2016-2018. The ZZ production cross section, $\sigma_{\text{tot}}$ (pp $\to$ ZZ) = 17.2 $\pm$ 0.3 (stat) $\pm$ 0.5 (syst) $\pm$ 0.4 (theo) $\pm$ 0.3 (lumi) pb, measured for events with two pairs of opposite-sign, same-flavor leptons produced in the mass region 60 $\lt$ $m_{\ell^+\ell^-}$ $\lt $ 120 GeV is consistent with standard model predictions. Differential cross sections are also measured and agree with theoretical predictions. The invariant mass distribution of the four-lepton system is used to set limits on anomalous ZZZ and ZZ$\gamma$ couplings.
Differential cross sections normalized to the fiducial cross section for the combined 4e, 2e2µ, and 4µ decay channels as a function of pT for all leptons in the event
Differential cross sections normalized to the fiducial cross section for the combined 4e, 2e2µ, and 4µ decay channels as a function of pT for all Z bosons in the event
Differential cross sections normalized to the fiducial cross section for the combined 4e, 2e2µ, and 4µ decay channels as a function of pT of the ZZ system
A measurement of the W$^+$W$^-$ boson pair production cross section in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV is presented. The data used in this study are collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The W$^+$W$^-$ candidate events are selected by requiring two oppositely charged leptons (electrons or muons). Two methods for reducing background contributions are employed. In the first one, a sequence of requirements on kinematic quantities is applied allowing a measurement of the total production cross section: 117.6 $\pm$ 6.8 pb, which agrees well with the theoretical prediction. Fiducial cross sections are also reported for events with zero or one jet, and the change in the zero-jet fiducial cross section with the jet transverse momentum threshold is measured. Normalized differential cross sections are reported within the fiducial region. A second method for suppressing background contributions employs two random forest classifiers. The analysis based on this method includes a measurement of the total production cross section and also a measurement of the normalized jet multiplicity distribution in W$^+$W$^-$ events. Finally, a dilepton invariant mass distribution is used to probe for physics beyond the standard model in the context of an effective field theory, and constraints on the presence of dimension-6 operators are derived.
Summary of cross sections obtained in the sequential cut analysis. The uncertainty listed is the total uncertainty obtained from the fit to the yields. Same flavor, SF, and different flavor, DF, cross sections are given.
Measured fraction of events after unfolding for $N_J = 0, 1, \geq 2$ jets. The first uncertainty is statistical and the second combines systematic uncertainties from the response matrix and from the background subtraction.
Expected and observed 68% and 95% confidence intervals on the measurement of the Wilson coefficients associated with the three CP-preserving, dimension-6 operators.
A first observation is presented for the electroweak production of a W boson, a photon, and two jets in proton-proton collisions. The W boson decays are selected by requiring one identified electron or muon and an imbalance in transverse momentum. The two jets are required to have a high dijet mass and a large separation in pseudorapidity. The measurement is based on data collected with the CMS detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The observed (expected) significance for this process is 4.9 (4.6) standard deviations. After combining with previously reported CMS results at 8 TeV, the observed (expected) significance is 5.3 (4.8) standard deviations. The cross section for the electroweak W$\gamma$jj production in a restricted fiducial region is measured as 20.4 $\pm$ 4.5 fb and the total cross section for W$\gamma$ production in association with 2 jets in the same fiducial region is 108 $\pm$ 16 fb. All results are in good agreement with recent theoretical predictions. Constraints are placed on anomalous quartic gauge couplings in terms of dimension-8 effective field theory operators.
The measured EW W$\gamma$jj fiducial cross section. The uncertainty is the combined stastical uncertianty and the systematic uncertainty including experimental and theortical sources. The EW W$\gamma$jj is produced using MadGraph5_aMC@NLO v2.6.0 at LO. Within the acceptance, the theoretical cross section is 17.0 fb.
The measured W$\gamma$jj cross section, combining the EW and QCD-induced production mechanisms. The uncertainty is the combined stastical uncertianty and the systematic uncertainty including experimental and theortical sources. The QCD W$\gamma$jj is produced using MadGraph5_aMC@NLO v2.4.2 at NLO in QCD. Within the acceptance, the theoretical cross section of QCD W$\gamma$jj is 72.7 fb. The EW W$\gamma$jj is produced using MadGraph5_aMC@NLO v2.6.0 at LO. Within the acceptance, the theoretical cross section of EW W$\gamma$jj is 17.0 fb. The total EW+QCD W$\gamma$ jj cross section is the sum of the two processes.
Constraints on dimension-8 effective field theory operators.
A search is described for the production of a pair of bottom-type vector-like quarks (VLQs), each decaying into a b or $\mathrm{\bar{b}}$ quark and either a Higgs or a Z boson, with a mass greater than 1000 GeV. The analysis is based on data from proton-proton collisions at a 13 TeV center-of-mass energy recorded at the CERN LHC, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. As the predominant decay modes of the Higgs and Z bosons are to a pair of quarks, the analysis focuses on final states consisting of jets resulting from the six quarks produced in the events. Since the two jets produced in the decay of a highly Lorentz-boosted Higgs or Z boson can merge to form a single jet, nine independent analyses are performed, categorized by the number of observed jets and the reconstructed event mode. No signal in excess of the expected background is observed. Lower limits are set on the VLQ mass at 95% confidence level equal to 1570 GeV in the case where the VLQ decays exclusively to a b quark and a Higgs boson, 1390 GeV for when it decays exclusively to a b quark and a Z boson, and 1450 GeV for when it decays equally in these two modes. These limits represent significant improvements over the previously published VLQ limits.
Measured values of the trigger efficiencies for events with $\HT > 1350\GeV$. The uncertainties are statistical only.
Reconstructed VLQ mass distributions for simulated signal events with a generated VLQ mass $m_{B} = 1200\GeV$. A moderate requirement of $\chi^{2}$/ndf < 2$ is applied to the events. Mass distributions for 4-jet (left), 5-jet (center), and 6-jet (right) events are shown for the three decay modes: bHbH (upper row), bHbZ (middle row), and bZbZ (lower row).
Reconstructed VLQ mass distributions for simulated signal events with a generated VLQ mass $m_{B} = 1200\GeV$. A moderate requirement of $\chi^{2}$/ndf < 2$ is applied to the events. Mass distributions for 4-jet (left), 5-jet (center), and 6-jet (right) events are shown for the three decay modes: bHbH (upper row), bHbZ (middle row), and bZbZ (lower row).
A search for the pair production of heavy leptons as predicted by the type-III seesaw mechanism is presented. The search uses proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to 139 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity recorded by the ATLAS detector during Run 2 of the Large Hadron Collider. The analysis focuses on the final state with two light leptons (electrons or muons) of different flavour and charge combinations, with at least two jets and large missing transverse momentum. No significant excess over the Standard Model expectation is observed. The results are translated into exclusion limits on heavy-lepton masses, and the observed lower limit on the mass of the type-III seesaw heavy leptons is 790 GeV at 95% confidence level.
Cross-sections of the type-III seesaw process for mass points used in the analysis. Branching ratios into at least two leptons are presented with the corresponding effective cross-section.
Expected and observed 95 % CLs exclusion limits for the type-III seesaw process with the corresponding one- and two-standard-deviation bands, showing the 95 % CL upper limit on the cross-section.
Selection efficiencies in percentage relative to the events with at least two leptons for signal mass points used in the analysis. The efficiency is defined as the ratio of expected signal events in a signal region compared with the number of expected events produced, for integrated luminosity 139 fb$^{-1}$.
Evidence is presented for the electroweak (EW) production of two jets (jj) in association with two Z bosons and constraints on anomalous quartic gauge couplings are set. The analysis is based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = $ 13 TeV collected with the CMS detector in 2016-2018, and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. The search is performed in the fully leptonic final state ZZ $\to$ $\ell\ell\ell'\ell'$, where $\ell,\ell' = $ e, $\mu$. The EW production of two jets in association with two Z bosons is measured with an observed (expected) significance of 4.0 (3.5) standard deviations. The cross sections for the EW production are measured in three fiducial volumes and the result is $\sigma_{\mathrm{EW}}$(pp $\to$ ZZjj $\to$ $\ell\ell\ell'\ell'$jj) = 0.33 $^{+0.11}_{-0.10}$ (stat) $^{+0.04}_{-0.03}$ (syst) fb in the most inclusive volume, in agreement with the standard model prediction of 0.275 $\pm$ 0.021 fb. Measurements of total cross sections for jj production in association with two Z bosons are also reported. Limits on anomalous quartic gauge couplings are derived in terms of the effective field theory operators T0, T1, T2, T8, and T9.
Data from paper Table 3. Measured and expected fiducial cross-sections in the ZZjj inclusive fiducial region.
Data from paper Table 3. Measured and expected fiducial cross-sections in the VBS-enriched loose fiducial region.
Data from paper Table 3. Measured and expected fiducial cross-sections in the VBS-enriched tight fiducial region.
The NA61/SHINE collaboration studies at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) the onset of deconfinement in hadronic matter by the measurement of particle production in collisions of nuclei with various sizes at a set of energies covering the SPS energy range. This paper presents results on inclusive double-differential spectra and mean multiplicities of $\pi^{-}$ mesons produced in the 5\% most \textit{central} $^7$Be+$^9$Be collisions at beam momenta of 19$A$, 30$A$, 40$A$, 75$A$ and 150$A$ GeV/$c$ obtained by the so-called $h^-$ method which does not require any particle identification. The shape of the transverse mass spectra differs from the shapes measured in central Pb+Pb collisions and inelastic p+p interactions. The normalized width of the rapidity distribution decreases with increasing collision energy and is in between the results for inelastic nucleon-nucleon and central Pb+Pb collisions. The mean multiplicity of pions per wounded nucleon in \textit{central} $^7$Be+$^9$Be collisions is close to that in central Pb+Pb collisions up to 75$A$GeV/$c$. However, at the top SPS energy the result is close to the one for inelastic nucleon-nucleon interactions. The results are discussed in the context of predictions for the onset of deconfinement at the CERN SPS collision energies.
Transverse momentum spectra of PI− in rapidity slices produced in the 5% most central Be+Be collisions at 19A GeV/c.
Transverse momentum spectra of PI− in rapidity slices produced in the 5% most central Be+Be collisions at 30A GeV/c.
Transverse momentum spectra of PI− in rapidity slices produced in the 5% most central Be+Be collisions at 40A GeV/c.
Results of a search for new particles decaying into eight or more jets and moderate missing transverse momentum are presented. The analysis uses 139 fb$^{-1}$ of proton$-$proton collision data at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV collected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider between 2015 and 2018. The selection rejects events containing isolated electrons or muons, and makes requirements according to the number of $b$-tagged jets and the scalar sum of masses of large-radius jets. The search extends previous analyses both in using a larger dataset and by employing improved jet and missing transverse momentum reconstruction methods which more cleanly separate signal from background processes. No evidence for physics beyond the Standard Model is found. The results are interpreted in the context of supersymmetry-inspired simplified models, significantly extending the limits on the gluino mass in those models. In particular, limits on the gluino mass are set at 2 TeV when the lightest neutralino is nearly massless in a model assuming a two-step cascade decay via the lightest chargino and second-lightest neutralino.
Post-fit yields for data and prediction in each of the multi-bin signal regions for the 8 jet regions.
Post-fit yields for data and prediction in each of the multi-bin signal regions for the 9 jet regions.
Post-fit yields for data and prediction in each of the multi-bin signal regions for the 10 jet regions.
This Letter presents a search for the production of new heavy resonances decaying into a Higgs boson and a photon using proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. The analysis is performed by reconstructing hadronically decaying Higgs boson $(H\to b\bar{b})$ candidates as single large-radius jets. A novel algorithm using information about the jet constituents in the center-of-mass frame of the jet is implemented to identify the two $b$-quarks in the single jet. No significant excess of events is observed above the expected background. Upper limits are set on the production cross-section times branching fraction for narrow spin-1 resonances decaying into a Higgs boson and a photon in the resonance mass range from 0.7 to 4 TeV, cross-sections times branching fraction are excluded between 11.6 fb and 0.11 fb at a 95% confidence level.
Data distribution of the reconstructed $m_{J\gamma}$ and background only fitting in the single-b-tagged category. Background and signal fit functions are provided in Table 3. Background event yields are calculated using the fitted background function.
Data distribution of the reconstructed $m_{J\gamma}$ and background only fitting in the double-b-tagged category. Background and signal fit functions are provided in Table 3. Background event yields are calculated using the fitted background function.
Background and signal functions, with their fit parameters. For the background function, the parameters are fitted from the data distribution. The "Yield" is the total number of events in data in the single-b-tagged or double-b-tagged fitting range. For the single-b-tagged category, the fitting range is [1400GeV, 4200GeV], and for the double-b-tagged category, it is [600GeV, 4200GeV]. The background event yields per bin in Table 1 and Table 2 are calculated using the data yield multiplied by the integral of the normalized background function in that bin. For the signal function, the value for the parameters are from parametrisation studies and CB stands for a Crystal-Ball function. Signal distributions in Figure 1a and Figure 1b are normalized to an arbitrary yield, for illustration purpose.
Forum