A search for a heavy charged-boson resonance decaying into a charged lepton (electron or muon) and a neutrino is reported. A data sample of 139 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC during 2015-2018 is used in the search. The observed transverse mass distribution computed from the lepton and missing transverse momenta is consistent with the distribution expected from the Standard Model, and upper limits on the cross section for $pp \to W^\prime \to \ell\nu$ are extracted ($\ell = e$ or $\mu$). These vary between 1.3 pb and 0.05 fb depending on the resonance mass in the range between 0.15 and 7.0 TeV at 95% confidence level for the electron and muon channels combined. Gauge bosons with a mass below 6.0 TeV and 5.1 TeV are excluded in the electron and muon channels, respectively, in a model with a resonance that has couplings to fermions identical to those of the Standard Model $W$ boson. Cross-section limits are also provided for resonances with several fixed $\Gamma / m$ values in the range between 1% and 15%. Model-independent limits are derived in single-bin signal regions defined by a varying minimum transverse mass threshold. The resulting visible cross-section upper limits range between 4.6 (15) pb and 22 (22) ab as the threshold increases from 130 (110) GeV to 5.1 (5.1) TeV in the electron (muon) channel.
Transverse mass distribution for events satisfying all selection criteria in the electron channel.
Transverse mass distribution for events satisfying all selection criteria in the muon channel.
Upper limits at the 95% CL on the cross section for SSM $W^\prime$ production and decay to the electron+neutrino channel as a function of the $W^\prime$ pole mass.
The problems of neutrino masses, matter-antimatter asymmetry, and dark matter could be successfully addressed by postulating right-handed neutrinos with Majorana masses below the electroweak scale. In this work, leptonic decays of $W$ bosons extracted from 32.9 fb$^{-1}$ to 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ of 13 TeV proton-proton collisions at the LHC are used to search for heavy neutral leptons (HNLs) that are produced through mixing with muon or electron neutrinos. The search is conducted using the ATLAS detector in both prompt and displaced leptonic decay signatures. The prompt signature requires three leptons produced at the interaction point (either $\mu\mu e$ or $e e\mu$) with a veto on same-flavour opposite-charge topologies. The displaced signature comprises a prompt muon from the $W$ boson decay and the requirement of a dilepton vertex (either $\mu\mu$ or $\mu e$) displaced in the transverse plane by 4-300 mm from the interaction point. The search sets constraints on the HNL mixing to muon and electron neutrinos for HNL masses in the range 4.5-50 GeV.
Displaced HNL event selection efficiency as a function of mean proper decay length for HNL mass 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 GeV.
Prompt HNL event selection efficiency as a function of mean proper decay length for HNL mass 10 GeV.
Displaced HNL search observed 95% confidence level exclusion contour in $|U_{\mu}|^2$ as a function of HNL mass (LNC case).
Several models of physics beyond the Standard Model predict the existence of dark photons, light neutral particles decaying into collimated leptons or light hadrons. This paper presents a search for long-lived dark photons produced from the decay of a Higgs boson or a heavy scalar boson and decaying into displaced collimated Standard Model fermions. The search uses data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ collected in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV recorded in 2015-2016 with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The observed number of events is consistent with the expected background, and limits on the production cross section times branching fraction as a function of the proper decay length of the dark photon are reported. A cross section times branching fraction above 4 pb is excluded for a Higgs boson decaying into two dark photons for dark-photon decay lengths between 1.5 mm and 307 mm.
Upper limits at 95% CL on the cross section times branching fraction for the process $H \to 2\gamma_d + X$ with $m_H$ = 125 GeV in the muon-muon final state.
Upper limits at 95% CL on the cross section times branching fraction for the process $H \to 4\gamma_d + X$ with $m_H$ = 125 GeV in the muon-muon final state.
Upper limits at 95% CL on the cross section times branching fraction for the process $H \to 2\gamma_d + X$ with $m_H$ = 800 GeV in the muon-muon final state.
A search for excited electrons produced in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV via a contact interaction $q\bar{q} \to ee^*$ is presented. The search uses 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ of data collected in 2015 and 2016 by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. Decays of the excited electron via a contact interaction into an electron and a pair of quarks ($eq\bar{q}$) are targeted in final states with two electrons and two hadronic jets, and decays via a gauge interaction into a neutrino and a $W$ boson ($\nu W$) are probed in final states with an electron, missing transverse momentum, and a large-radius jet consistent with a hadronically decaying $W$ boson. No significant excess is observed over the expected backgrounds. Upper limits are calculated for the $pp \to ee^* \to eeq\bar{q}$ and $pp \to ee^* \to e\nu W$ production cross sections as a function of the excited electron mass $m_{e^*}$ at 95% confidence level. The limits are translated into lower bounds on the compositeness scale parameter $\Lambda$ of the model as a function of $m_{e^*}$. For $m_{e^*} < 0.5$ TeV, the lower bound for $\Lambda$ is 11 TeV. In the special case of $m_{e^*} = \Lambda$, the values of $m_{e^*} < 4.8$ TeV are excluded. The presented limits on $\Lambda$ are more stringent than those obtained in previous searches.
The distribution of $m_{lljj}$ used to discriminate the signal from background processes in the $eejj$ channel. The distribution is shown after applying the preselection criteria. The background contributions are constrained using the CRs. The signal models assume $\Lambda$ = 5 TeV. The uncertainties for the expected backgrounds represent all considered systematic and statistical sources.
The distribution of $m_{T}^{\nu W}$ used to discriminate the signal and background processes in the $e\nu J$ channel. The distribution is shown after applying the preselection criteria. The background contributions are constrained using the CRs. The signal models assume $\Lambda$ = 5 TeV. The last bin includes overflow events (the underflow is not shown). The uncertainties for the expected backgrounds represent all considered systematic and statistical sources.
Upper limits on $\sigma\times B$ as a function of $m_{e^*}$ in the $eejj$ channel. The $\pm 1(2)\sigma$ uncertainty bands around the expected limit represent all sources of systematic and statistical uncertainties.
The inclusive cross-section for jet production in association with a Z boson decaying into an electron-positron pair is measured as a function of the transverse momentum and the absolute rapidity of jets using 19.9 fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt s = 8$ TeV proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The measured Z + jets cross-section is unfolded to the particle level. The cross-section is compared with state-of-the-art Standard Model calculations, including the next-to-leading-order and next-to-next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations, corrected for non-perturbative and QED radiation effects. The results of the measurements cover final-state jets with transverse momenta up to 1 TeV, and show good agreement with fixed-order calculations.
List of experimentally considered systematic uncertainties for the Z + jets cross-section measurement
The double-differential Z + jets production cross-section as a function of |y_{jet}| in the 25 GeV < p_{T}^{jet} < 50 GeV range. The particle level phase space definition: - 66 GeV < m_{ee} < 116 GeV - |eta_{electron}| < 2.47 - p_{T}^{electron} > 20 GeV - anti-kt R=0.4 jets N>=1 - |y_{jet}| < 3.4 - p_{T}^{jet} > 25 GeV - Delta R(jet, electron) > 0.4
The double-differential Z + jets production cross-section as a function of |y_{jet}| in the 50 GeV < p_{T}^{jet} < 100 GeV range. The particle level phase space definition: - 66 GeV < m_{ee} < 116 GeV - |eta_{electron}| < 2.47 - p_{T}^{electron} > 20 GeV - anti-kt R=0.4 jets N>=1 - |y_{jet}| < 3.4 - p_{T}^{jet} > 25 GeV - Delta R(jet, electron) > 0.4
A search is performed for localised excesses in dijet mass distributions of low-dijet-mass events produced in association with a high transverse energy photon. The search uses up to 79.8 fb$^{-1}$ of LHC proton-proton collisions collected by the ATLAS experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV during 2015-2017. Two variants are presented: one which makes no jet flavour requirements and one which requires both jets to be tagged as $b$-jets. The observed mass distributions are consistent with multi-jet processes in the Standard Model. The data are used to set upper limits on the production cross-section for a benchmark $Z^\prime$ model and, separately, on generic Gaussian-shape contributions to the mass distributions, extending the current ATLAS constraints on dijet resonances to the mass range between 225 and 1100 GeV.
Dijet mass distribution for the flavour inclusive category. Data, estimated background and uncertainties are shown. Events are collected using the single-photon trigger and contain a $E_T^{\gamma} > 150$ GeV photon and two $p_T^{jet} > 25$ GeV jets.
Dijet mass distribution for the flavour inclusive category. Data, estimated background and uncertainties are shown. Events are collected using the combined trigger and contain a $E_T^{\gamma} > 95$ GeV photon and two $p_T^{jet} > 65$ GeV jets.
Dijet mass distribution for the b-tagged category. Data, estimated background and uncertainties are shown. Events are collected using the single-photon trigger and contain a $E_T^{\gamma} > 150$ GeV photon and two $p_T^{jet} > 25$ GeV jets.
A search for new particles decaying into a pair of top quarks is performed using proton-proton collision data recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = $13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb$^{-1}$. Events consistent with top-quark pair production and the fully hadronic decay mode of the top quarks are selected by requiring multiple high transverse momentum jets including those containing $b$-hadrons. Two analysis techniques, exploiting dedicated top-quark pair reconstruction in different kinematic regimes, are used to optimize the search sensitivity to new hypothetical particles over a wide mass range. The invariant mass distribution of the two reconstructed top-quark candidates is examined for resonant production of new particles with various spins and decay widths. No significant deviation from the Standard Model prediction is observed and limits are set on the production cross-section times branching fraction for new hypothetical $Z'$ bosons, dark-matter mediators, Kaluza-Klein gravitons and Kaluza-Klein gluons. By comparing with the predicted production cross-sections, the $Z'$ boson in the topcolor-assisted-technicolor model is excluded for masses up to 3.1$-$3.6 TeV, the dark-matter mediators in a simplified framework are excluded in the mass ranges from 0.8 TeV to 0.9 TeV and from 2.0 TeV to 2.2 TeV, and the Kaluza-Klein gluon is excluded for masses up to 3.4 TeV, depending on the decay widths of the particles.
Acceptance times selection efficiency for topcolor-assisted-technicolor Z$^{\prime}_{TC2}$ as a function of top-quark pair mass for all regions A–D in the resolved analysis and the combination of all SRs in the boosted analysis.
Acceptance times selection efficiency for Kaluza-Klein graviton as a function of top-quark pair mass for all regions A–D in the resolved analysis and the combination of all SRs in the boosted analysis.
Acceptance times selection efficiency for Kaluza-Klein gluon Γ=30% as a function of top-quark pair mass for all regions A–D in the resolved analysis and the combination of all SRs in the boosted analysis.
A search for the production of three massive vector bosons in proton--proton collisions is performed using data at $\sqrt{s}=13\,TeV$ recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in the years 2015--2017, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $79.8\,\text{fb}^{-1}$. Events with two same-sign leptons $\ell$ (electrons or muons) and at least two reconstructed jets are selected to search for $WWW\to\ell\nu\ell\nu qq$. Events with three leptons without any same-flavour opposite-sign lepton pairs are used to search for $WWW\to\ell\nu\ell\nu\ell\nu$, while events with three leptons and at least one same-flavour opposite-sign lepton pair and one or more reconstructed jets are used to search for $WWZ\to\ell\nu qq \ell\ell$. Finally, events with four leptons are analysed to search for $WWZ\to\ell\nu\ell\nu\ell\ell$ and $WZZ\to qq \ell\ell\ell\ell$. Evidence for the joint production of three massive vector bosons is observed with a significance of 4.0 standard deviations, where the expectation is 3.1 standard deviations.
Measurement of the $WWW$ cross section.
Measurement of the $WWZ$ cross section.
A measurement of fiducial and differential cross-sections for $W^+W^-$ production in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=$13 TeV with the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $36.1$ fb$^{-1}$ is presented. Events with one electron and one muon are selected, corresponding to the decay of the diboson system as $WW\rightarrow e^{\pm}\nu\mu^{\mp}\nu$. To suppress top-quark background, events containing jets with a transverse momentum exceeding 35 GeV are not included in the measurement phase space. The fiducial cross-section, six differential distributions and the cross-section as a function of the jet-veto transverse momentum threshold are measured and compared with several theoretical predictions. Constraints on anomalous electroweak gauge boson self-interactions are also presented in the framework of a dimension-six effective field theory.
Measured fiducial cross-section as a function of the jet-veto $p_{T}$ threshold. The value at the jet-veto $p_{T}$ threshold of 35GeV corresponds to the nominal fiducial cross section measured in this publication.
Statistical correlation between bins in data for the measured fiducial cross-section as a function of the jet-veto $p_{T}$ threshold. The value at the jet-veto $p_{T}$ threshold of 35GeV corresponds to the nominal fiducial cross section measured in this publication.
Total correlation between bins in data for the measured fiducial cross-section as a function of the jet-veto $p_{T}$ threshold. The value at the jet-veto $p_{T}$ threshold of 35GeV corresponds to the nominal fiducial cross section measured in this publication.
A search for a right-handed gauge boson $W_{\mathrm{R}}$, decaying into a boosted right-handed heavy neutrino $N_{\mathrm{R}}$, in the framework of Left-Right Symmetric Models is presented. It is based on data from proton-proton collisions with a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider during the years 2015, 2016 and 2017, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 80 fb$^{-1}$. The search is performed separately for electrons and muons in the final state. A distinguishing feature of the search is the use of large-radius jets containing electrons. Selections based on the signal topology result in smaller background compared with to expected signal. No significant deviation from the Standard Model prediction is observed and lower limits are set in the $W_{\mathrm{R}}$ and $N_{\mathrm{R}}$ mass plane. Mass values of the $W_{\mathrm{R}}$ smaller than 3.8-5 TeV are excluded for $N_{\mathrm{R}}$ in the mass range 0.1-1.8 TeV.
Expected 95% CL exclusion contours in the $(m_{N_R}, m_{W_R})$ plane in the electron channel.
Observed 95% CL exclusion contours in the $(m_{N_R}, m_{W_R})$ plane in the electron channel.
Expected 95% CL exclusion contours in the $(m_{N_R}, m_{W_R})$ plane in the muon channel.
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