Measurements of jet cross-section ratios between inclusive bins of jet multiplicity are performed in 140 fb$^{-1}$ of proton--proton collisions with $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV center-of-mass energy, recorded with the ATLAS detector at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. Observables that are sensitive the energy-scale and angular distribution of radiation due to the strong interaction in the final state are measured double-differentially, in bins of jet multiplicity, and are unfolded to account for acceptance and detector-related effects. Additionally, the scalar sum of the two leading jets' transverse momenta is measured triple-differentially, in bins of the third jet's transverse momentum as well as bins of jet multiplicity. The measured distributions are used to construct ratios of the inclusive jet-multiplicity bins, which have been shown to be sensitive to the strong coupling $\alpha_{\textrm S}$ while being less sensitive than other observables to systematic uncertainties and parton distribution functions. The measured distributions are compared with state-of-the-art QCD calculations, including next-to-next-to-leading-order predictions. Studies leading to reduced jet energy scale uncertainties significantly improve the precision of this work, and are documented herein.
R32 for $H_{T2}$, 60 GeV < $p_{T,3}$
R32 for $H_{T2}$, 0.05 x $H_{T2} < $p_{T,3}$
R32 for $H_{T2}$, 0.1 x $H_{T2} < $p_{T,3}$
Measurements of transverse energy$-$energy correlations and their associated azimuthal asymmetries in multijet events are presented. The analysis is performed using a data sample corresponding to 139 $\mbox{fb\(^{-1}\)}$ of proton$-$proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV, collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The measurements are presented in bins of the scalar sum of the transverse momenta of the two leading jets and unfolded to particle level. They are then compared to next-to-next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations for the first time, which feature a significant reduction in the theoretical uncertainties estimated using variations of the renormalisation and factorisation scales. The agreement between data and theory is good, thus providing a precision test of QCD at large momentum transfers $Q$. The strong coupling constant $\alpha_s$ is extracted differentially as a function of $Q$, showing a good agreement with the renormalisation group equation and with previous analyses. A simultaneous fit to all transverse energy$-$energy correlation distributions across different kinematic regions yields a value of $\alpha_\mathrm{s}(m_Z) = 0.1175 \pm 0.0006 \mbox{ (exp.)} ^{+0.0034}_{-0.0017} \mbox{ (theo.)}$, while the global fit to the asymmetry distributions yields $\alpha_{\mathrm{s}}(m_Z) = 0.1185 \pm 0.0009 \mbox{ (exp.)} ^{+0.0025}_{-0.0012} \mbox{ (theo.)}$.
Particle-level TEEC results
Particle-level TEEC results for the first HT2 bin
Particle-level TEEC results for the second HT2 bin
The production of a $W$ boson in association with a single charm quark is studied using 140 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s} = 13\,\mathrm{TeV}$ proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The charm quark is tagged by a charmed hadron, reconstructed with a secondary-vertex fit. The $W$ boson is reconstructed from an electron/muon decay and the missing transverse momentum. The mesons reconstructed are $D^{\pm} \to K^\mp \pi^\pm \pi^\pm$ and $D^{*\pm} \to D^{0} \pi^\pm \to (K^\mp \pi^\pm) \pi^\pm$, where $p_{\text{T}}(e, \mu) > 30\,\mathrm{GeV}$, $|\eta(e, \mu)| < 2.5$, $p_{\text{T}}(D) > 8\,\mathrm{GeV}$, and $|\eta(D)| < 2.2$. The integrated and normalized differential cross-sections as a function of the pseudorapidity of the lepton from the $W$ boson decay, and of the transverse momentum of the meson, are extracted from the data using a profile likelihood fit. The measured fiducial cross-sections are $\sigma^{\mathrm{OS-SS}}_{\mathrm{fid}}(W^{-}{+}D^{+}) = 50.2\pm0.2\,\mathrm{(stat.)}\,^{+2.4}_{-2.3}\,\mathrm{(syst.)}\,\mathrm{pb}$, $\sigma^{\mathrm{OS-SS}}_{\mathrm{fid}}(W^{+}{+}D^{-}) = 48.5\pm0.2\,\mathrm{(stat.)}\,^{+2.3}_{-2.2}\,\mathrm{(syst.)}\,\mathrm{pb}$, $\sigma^{\mathrm{OS-SS}}_{\mathrm{fid}}(W^{-}{+}D^{*+}) = 51.1\pm0.4\,\mathrm{(stat.)}\,^{+1.9}_{-1.8}\,\mathrm{(syst.)}\,\mathrm{pb}$, and $\sigma^{\mathrm{OS-SS}}_{\mathrm{fid}}(W^{+}{+}D^{*-}) = 50.0\pm0.4\,\mathrm{(stat.)}\,^{+1.9}_{-1.8}\,\mathrm{(syst.)}\,\mathrm{pb}$. Results are compared with the predictions of next-to-leading-order quantum chromodynamics calculations performed using state-of-the-art parton distribution functions. The ratio of charm to anti-charm production cross-sections is studied to probe the $s$-$\bar{s}$ quark asymmetry and is found to be $R_c^\pm = 0.971\pm0.006\,\mathrm{(stat.)}\pm0.011\,\mathrm{(syst.)}$.
Measured fiducial cross-sections times the single-lepton-flavor W boson branching ratio.
Measured cross section ratios for the W+D production. The $R_{c}(D^{(*)})$ observable is obtained by combining the individual measurements of $R_{c}(D^{+})$ and $R_{c}(D^{*+})$ as explained in the text. The displayed cross sections are integrated over each differential bin.
Measured $p_{\mathrm{T}}(D^{+})$ differential fiducial cross-section times the single-lepton-flavor W boson branching ratio in the $W^{-}+D^{+}$ channel. The last $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ bin has no upper bound. The displayed cross sections are integrated over each differential bin.
A search for events with a dark photon produced in association with a dark Higgs boson via rare decays of the Standard Model $Z$ boson is presented, using 139 fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV proton-proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The dark Higgs boson decays into a pair of dark photons, and at least two of the three dark photons must each decay into a pair of electrons or muons, resulting in at least two same-flavor opposite-charge lepton pairs in the final state. The data are found to be consistent with the background prediction, and upper limits are set on the dark photon's coupling to the dark Higgs boson times the kinetic mixing between the Standard Model photon and the dark photon, $\alpha_{D}\varepsilon^2$, in the dark photon mass range of $[5, 40]$ GeV except for the $\Upsilon$ mass window $[8.8, 11.1]$ GeV. This search explores new parameter space not previously excluded by other experiments.
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on the production cross-section times branching fraction as a function of $m_{A'}$ at dark Higgs boson mass of 20 GeV
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on the production cross-section times branching fraction as a function of $m_{A'}$ at dark Higgs boson mass of 30 GeV
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on the production cross-section times branching fraction as a function of $m_{A'}$ at dark Higgs boson mass of 40 GeV
Measurements of differential cross sections are presented for inclusive isolated-photon production in $pp$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV provided by the LHC and using 139 fb$^{-1}$ of data recorded by the ATLAS experiment. The cross sections are measured as functions of the photon transverse energy in different regions of photon pseudorapidity. The photons are required to be isolated by means of a fixed-cone method with two different cone radii. The dependence of the inclusive-photon production on the photon isolation is investigated by measuring the fiducial cross sections as functions of the isolation-cone radius and the ratios of the differential cross sections with different radii in different regions of photon pseudorapidity. The results presented in this paper constitute an improvement with respect to those published by ATLAS earlier: the measurements are provided for different isolation radii and with a more granular segmentation in photon pseudorapidity that can be exploited in improving the determination of the proton parton distribution functions. These improvements provide a more in-depth test of the theoretical predictions. Next-to-leading-order QCD predictions from JETPHOX and SHERPA and next-to-next-to-leading-order QCD predictions from NNLOJET are compared to the measurements, using several parameterisations of the proton parton distribution functions. The measured cross sections are well described by the fixed-order QCD predictions within the experimental and theoretical uncertainties in most of the investigated phase-space region.
Measured cross sections for inclusive isolated-photon production as a function of $E_{\rm T}^{\gamma}$ for $|\eta^{\gamma}|<0.6$ and photon isolation cone radius $R=0.4$.
Measured cross sections for inclusive isolated-photon production as a function of $E_{\rm T}^{\gamma}$ for $0.6<|\eta^{\gamma}|<0.8$ and photon isolation cone radius $R=0.4$.
Measured cross sections for inclusive isolated-photon production as a function of $E_{\rm T}^{\gamma}$ for $0.8<|\eta^{\gamma}|<1.37$ and photon isolation cone radius $R=0.4$.
This paper presents measurements of charged-hadron spectra obtained in $pp$, $p$+Pb, and Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ or $\sqrt{s_{_\text{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV, and in Xe+Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_\text{NN}}}=5.44$ TeV. The data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC have total integrated luminosities of 25 pb${}^{-1}$, 28 nb${}^{-1}$, 0.50 nb${}^{-1}$, and 3 $\mu$b${}^{-1}$, respectively. The nuclear modification factors $R_{p\text{Pb}}$ and $R_\text{AA}$ are obtained by comparing the spectra in heavy-ion and $pp$ collisions in a wide range of charged-particle transverse momenta and pseudorapidity. The nuclear modification factor $R_{p\text{Pb}}$ shows a moderate enhancement above unity with a maximum at $p_{\mathrm{T}} \approx 3$ GeV; the enhancement is stronger in the Pb-going direction. The nuclear modification factors in both Pb+Pb and Xe+Xe collisions feature a significant, centrality-dependent suppression. They show a similar distinct $p_{\mathrm{T}}$-dependence with a local maximum at $p_{\mathrm{T}} \approx 2$ GeV and a local minimum at $p_{\mathrm{T}} \approx 7$ GeV. This dependence is more distinguishable in more central collisions. No significant $|\eta|$-dependence is found. A comprehensive comparison with several theoretical predictions is also provided. They typically describe $R_\text{AA}$ better in central collisions and in the $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ range from about 10 to 100 GeV.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - <br><b>charged-hadron spectra:</b> <br><i>pp reference:</i> <a href="?version=1&table=Table1">for p+Pb</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table10">for Pb+Pb</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table19">for Xe+Xe</a> <br><i>p+Pb:</i> <a href="?version=1&table=Table2">0-5%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table3">5-10%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table4">10-20%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table5">20-30%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table6">30-40%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table7">40-60%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table8">60-90%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table9">0-90%</a> <br><i>Pb+Pb:</i> <a href="?version=1&table=Table11">0-5%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table12">5-10%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table13">10-20%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table14">20-30%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table15">30-40%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table16">40-50%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table17">50-60%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table18">60-80%</a> <br><i>Xe+Xe:</i> <a href="?version=1&table=Table20">0-5%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table21">5-10%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table22">10-20%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table23">20-30%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table24">30-40%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table25">40-50%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table26">50-60%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table27">60-80%</a> </br>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - <br><b>nuclear modification factors (p<sub>T</sub>):</b> <br><i>R<sub>pPb</sub>:</i> <a href="?version=1&table=Table28">0-5%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table29">5-10%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table30">10-20%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table31">20-30%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table32">30-40%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table33">40-60%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table34">60-90%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table35">0-90%</a> <br><i>R<sub>AA</sub> (Pb+Pb):</i> <a href="?version=1&table=Table36">0-5%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table37">5-10%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table38">10-20%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table39">20-30%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table40">30-40%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table41">40-50%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table42">50-60%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table43">60-80%</a> <br><i>R<sub>AA</sub> (Xe+Xe):</i> <a href="?version=1&table=Table44">0-5%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table45">5-10%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table46">10-20%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table47">20-30%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table48">30-40%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table49">40-50%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table50">50-60%</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table51">60-80%</a> </br>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - <br><b>nuclear modification factors (y*/eta):</b> <br><i>R<sub>pPb</sub>:</i> <br> 0-5%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table52">0.66-0.755GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table53">2.95-3.35GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table54">7.65-8.8GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table55">15.1-17.3GeV</a> <br> 5-10%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table56">0.66-0.755GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table57">2.95-3.35GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table58">7.65-8.8GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table59">15.1-17.3GeV</a> <br> 10-20%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table60">0.66-0.755GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table61">2.95-3.35GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table62">7.65-8.8GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table63">15.1-17.3GeV</a> <br> 20-30%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table64">0.66-0.755GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table65">2.95-3.35GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table66">7.65-8.8GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table67">15.1-17.3GeV</a> <br> 30-40%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table68">0.66-0.755GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table69">2.95-3.35GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table70">7.65-8.8GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table71">15.1-17.3GeV</a> <br> 40-60%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table72">0.66-0.755GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table73">2.95-3.35GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table74">7.65-8.8GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table75">15.1-17.3GeV</a> <br> 60-90%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table76">0.66-0.755GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table77">2.95-3.35GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table78">7.65-8.8GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table79">15.1-17.3GeV</a> <br> 0-90%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table80">0.66-0.755GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table81">2.95-3.35GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table82">7.65-8.8GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table83">15.1-17.3GeV</a> <br><i>R<sub>AA</sub> (Pb+Pb):</i> <br> 0-5%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table84">1.7-1.95GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table85">6.7-7.65GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table86">20-23GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table87">60-95GeV</a> <br> 5-10%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table88">1.7-1.95GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table89">6.7-7.65GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table90">20-23GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table91">60-95GeV</a> <br> 10-20%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table92">1.7-1.95GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table93">6.7-7.65GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table94">20-23GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table95">60-95GeV</a> <br> 20-30%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table96">1.7-1.95GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table97">6.7-7.65GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table98">20-23GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table99">60-95GeV</a> <br> 30-40%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table100">1.7-1.95GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table101">6.7-7.65GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table102">20-23GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table103">60-95GeV</a> <br> 40-50%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table104">1.7-1.95GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table105">6.7-7.65GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table106">20-23GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table107">60-95GeV</a> <br> 50-60%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table108">1.7-1.95GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table109">6.7-7.65GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table110">20-23GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table111">60-95GeV</a> <br> 60-80%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table112">1.7-1.95GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table113">6.7-7.65GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table114">20-23GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table115">60-95GeV</a> <br><i>R<sub>AA</sub> (Xe+Xe):</i> <br> 0-5%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table116">1.7-1.95GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table117">6.7-7.65GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table118">20-23GeV</a> <br> 5-10%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table119">1.7-1.95GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table120">6.7-7.65GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table121">20-23GeV</a> <br> 10-20%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table122">1.7-1.95GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table123">6.7-7.65GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table124">20-23GeV</a> <br> 20-30%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table125">1.7-1.95GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table126">6.7-7.65GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table127">20-23GeV</a> <br> 30-40%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table128">1.7-1.95GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table129">6.7-7.65GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table130">20-23GeV</a> <br> 40-50%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table131">1.7-1.95GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table132">6.7-7.65GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table133">20-23GeV</a> <br> 50-60%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table134">1.7-1.95GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table135">6.7-7.65GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table136">20-23GeV</a> <br> 60-80%: <a href="?version=1&table=Table137">1.7-1.95GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table138">6.7-7.65GeV</a> <a href="?version=1&table=Table139">20-23GeV</a> <br>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Charged-hadron cross-section in pp collisions. The systematic uncertainties are described in the section 7 of the paper. The total systematic uncertainties are determined by adding the contributions from all relevant sources in quadrature.
Charged-hadron spectrum in the centrality interval 0-5% for p+Pb, divided by 〈TPPB〉. The systematic uncertainties are described in the section 7 of the paper. The total systematic uncertainties are determined by adding the contributions from all relevant sources in quadrature.
A search for a new pseudoscalar $a$-boson produced in events with a top-quark pair, where the $a$-boson decays into a pair of muons, is performed using $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV $pp$ collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $139\, \mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The search targets the final state where only one top quark decays to an electron or muon, resulting in a signature with three leptons $e\mu\mu$ and $\mu\mu\mu$. No significant excess of events above the Standard Model expectation is observed and upper limits are set on two signal models: $pp \rightarrow t\bar{t}a$ and $pp \rightarrow t\bar{t}$ with $t \rightarrow H^\pm b$, $H^\pm \rightarrow W^\pm a$, where $a\rightarrow\mu\mu$, in the mass ranges $15$ GeV $ < m_a < 72$ GeV and $120$ GeV $ \leq m_{H^{\pm}} \leq 160$ GeV.
Comparison between data and expected background for the on-$Z$-boson control region in the $e\mu\mu$ final state. The bins correspond to different jet and $b$-jet multiplicities. Rare background processes include $ZZ+$jets, $WWZ$, $WZZ$, $ZZZ$, and $t\bar{t}t\bar{t}$.
Comparison between data and expected background for the on-$Z$boson control region in the $\mu\mu\mu$ final state. The bins correspond to different jet and $b$-jet multiplicities. Rare background processes include $ZZ+$jets, $WWZ$, $WZZ$, $ZZZ$, and $t\bar{t}t\bar{t}$.
Di-muon mass distribution for the $e\mu\mu$ signal region for data and expected background. The expected signal distribution for $m_a = 35$ GeV is shown assuming $\sigma(t\bar{t}a)\times \text{Br}(a\rightarrow\mu\mu) = 4$ fb. Rare background processes include $ZZ+$jets, $WWZ$, $WZZ$, $ZZZ$, and $t\bar{t}t\bar{t}$.
Properties of the underlying-event in $pp$ interactions are investigated primarily via the strange hadrons $K_{S}^{0}$, $\Lambda$ and $\bar\Lambda$, as reconstructed using the ATLAS detector at the LHC in minimum-bias $pp$ collision data at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV. The hadrons are reconstructed via the identification of the displaced two-particle vertices corresponding to the decay modes $K_{S}^{0}\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-$, $\Lambda\rightarrow\pi^-p$ and $\bar\Lambda\rightarrow\pi^+\bar{p}$. These are used in the construction of underlying-event observables in azimuthal regions computed relative to the leading charged-particle jet in the event. None of the hadronisation and underlying-event physics models considered can describe the data over the full kinematic range considered. Events with a leading charged-particle jet in the range of $10 < p_T \leq 40$ GeV are studied using the number of prompt charged particles in the transverse region. The ratio $N(\Lambda + \bar\Lambda)/N(K_{S}^{0})$ as a function of the number of such charged particles varies only slightly over this range. This disagrees with the expectations of some of the considered Monte Carlo models.
Mean multiplicity of $K^{0}_{S}$ per unit $(\eta, \phi)$ in the away region vs. leading-jet $p_{T}$
Statistical covariance between bins of Table 1
Mean multiplicity of $K^{0}_{S}$ per unit $(\eta, \phi)$ in the towards region vs. leading-jet $p_{T}$
This paper presents the observation of four-top-quark ($t\bar{t}t\bar{t}$) production in proton-proton collisions at the LHC. The analysis is performed using an integrated luminosity of 140 fb$^{-1}$ at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected using the ATLAS detector. Events containing two leptons with the same electric charge or at least three leptons (electrons or muons) are selected. Event kinematics are used to separate signal from background through a multivariate discriminant, and dedicated control regions are used to constrain the dominant backgrounds. The observed (expected) significance of the measured $t\bar{t}t\bar{t}$ signal with respect to the standard model (SM) background-only hypothesis is 6.1 (4.3) standard deviations. The $t\bar{t}t\bar{t}$ production cross section is measured to be $22.5^{+6.6}_{-5.5}$ fb, consistent with the SM prediction of $12.0 \pm 2.4$ fb within 1.8 standard deviations. Data are also used to set limits on the three-top-quark production cross section, being an irreducible background not measured previously, and to constrain the top-Higgs Yukawa coupling and effective field theory operator coefficients that affect $t\bar{t}t\bar{t}$ production.
Post-fit distributions for the number of jets ($N_{j}$) in CR $t\bar{t}W^{+}$+jets. The QmisID represents the backgrounds with a mis-assigned charge. HF e and HF $\mu$ are the backgrounds with fake/non-prompt leptons. Mat. Conv. and Low $m_{\gamma*}$ are the material and virtual photon conversions.
Post-fit distributions for the number of jets ($N_{j}$) in CR $t\bar{t}W^{-}$+jets. The QmisID represents the backgrounds with a mis-assigned charge. HF e and HF $\mu$ are the backgrounds with fake/non-prompt leptons. Mat. Conv. and Low $m_{\gamma*}$ are the material and virtual photon conversions.
Post-fit distributions for the number of jets ($N_{j}$) in CR 1b(+). The QmisID represents the backgrounds with a mis-assigned charge. HF e and HF $\mu$ are the backgrounds with fake/non-prompt leptons. Mat. Conv. and Low $m_{\gamma*}$ are the material and virtual photon conversions.
A search is reported for excited $\tau$-leptons and leptoquarks in events with two hadronically decaying $\tau$-leptons and two or more jets. The search uses proton-proton (pp) collision data at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV recorded by the ATLAS experiment during the Run 2 of the Large Hadron Collider in 2015-2018. The total integrated luminosity is 139 fb$^{-1}$. The excited $\tau$-lepton is assumed to be produced and to decay via a four-fermion contact interaction into an ordinary $\tau$-lepton and a quark-antiquark pair. The leptoquarks are assumed to be produced in pairs via the strong interaction, and each leptoquark is assumed to couple to a charm or lighter quark and a $\tau$-lepton. No excess over the background prediction is observed. Excited $\tau$-leptons with masses below 2.8 TeV are excluded at 95% CL in scenarios with the contact interaction scale $\Lambda$ set to 10 TeV. At the extreme limit of model validity where $\Lambda$ is set equal to the excited $\tau$-lepton mass, excited $\tau$-leptons with masses below 4.6 TeV are excluded. Leptoquarks with masses below 1.3 TeV are excluded at 95% CL if their branching ratio to a charm quark and a $\tau$-lepton equals 1. The analysis does not exploit flavour-tagging in the signal region.
Observed and expected upper 95% CL limit on the $\tau^\ast$ production cross-section as a function of $m_{\tau^\ast}$ for a fixed value of the contact interaction scale, $\Lambda = 10$ TeV.
Observed and expected lower 95% CL limit on the contact interaction scale $\Lambda$ as a function of $m_{\tau^\ast}$.
Observed and expected upper 95% CL limit on the LQ production cross-section as a function of $m_\mathrm{LQ}$. The LQ couples to a tau lepton and a c-quark. The limits are also valid for scenarios in which the LQ couples to lighter quarks.