A search for a new heavy scalar particle $X$ decaying into a Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson and a new singlet scalar particle $S$ is presented. The search uses a proton-proton ($pp$) collision data sample with an integrated luminosity of 140 fb$^{-1}$ recorded at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The most sensitive mass parameter space is explored in $X$ mass ranging from 500 to 1500 GeV, with the corresponding $S$ mass in the range 200-500 GeV. The search selects events with two hadronically decaying $\tau$-lepton candidates from $H\to \tau^+\tau^-$ decays and one or two light leptons ($\ell=e,\,\mu$) from $S\to VV$ ($V = W,\,Z$) decays while the remaining $V$ boson decays hadronically or to neutrinos. A multivariate discriminant based on event kinematics is used to separate the signal from the background. No excess is observed beyond the expected SM background and 95% confidence level upper limits between 72 fb and 542 fb are derived on the cross-section $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH)$ assuming the same SM-Higgs boson-like decay branching ratios for the $S\to VV$ decay. Upper limits on the visible cross-sections $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH \to WW\tau\tau)$ and $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH \to ZZ\tau\tau)$ are also set in the ranges 3-26 fb and 6-33 fb, respectively.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits are shown for $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH)$ obtained from $WW1\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$, $WW2\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$, $ZZ2\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$, and their combination, as a function of combined $m_{S}$ and $m_{X}$ masses ($m_{S}$+$m_{X}/25$) in GeV.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits are shown for $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH\to WW\tau\tau)$ obtained from the combination of $WW1\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$ and $WW2\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$ channels, as a function of combined $m_{S}$ and $m_{X}$ masses ($m_{S}$+$m_{X}/25$) in GeV. The NMSSM scans of the allowed cross-sections for $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH\to WW\tau\tau)$ are also compared.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits are shown for $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH\to ZZ\tau\tau)$ obtained from $ZZ2\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$ channel, as a function of combined $m_{S}$ and $m_{X}$ masses ($m_{S}$+$m_{X}/25$) in GeV. The NMSSM scans of the allowed cross-sections for $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH\to ZZ\tau\tau)$ are also compared.
A search for forward proton scattering in association with light-by-light scattering mediated by an axion-like particle is presented, using the ATLAS Forward Proton spectrometer to detect scattered protons and the central ATLAS detector to detect pairs of outgoing photons. Proton-proton collision data recorded in 2017 at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV were analysed, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 14.6 fb$^{-1}$. A total of 441 candidate signal events were selected. A search was made for a narrow resonance in the diphoton mass distribution, corresponding to an axion-like particle (ALP) with mass in the range 150-1600 GeV. No excess is observed above a smooth background. Upper limits on the production cross section of a narrow resonance are set as a function of the mass, and are interpreted as upper limits on the ALP production coupling constant, assuming 100% decay branching ratio into a photon pair. The inferred upper limit on the coupling constant is in the range 0.04-0.09 TeV$^{-1}$ at 95%confidence level.
Signal selection efficiency as a function of ALP mass $m_{\textrm{X}}$ for the exclusive (EL), single-dissociative (SD), and double-dissociative (DD) processes. The ratio of the number of selected events to the number of generated MC events is given (black points) and is parameterised by an analytic function (red solid line). The linear (black dashed line) and cubic (blue chain line) interpolations of the black points are used to derive the envelopes (cyan filled region) which are regarded as systematic uncertainties.
The diphoton mass distribution of the mixed-data sample (black points).
The $(\xi_{\gamma\gamma}^{+},\xi_{\gamma\gamma}^{-})$ distribution of the selected data candidates after the full event selection in $m_{\gamma\gamma}$ in [150,1600] GeV with $m_{\gamma\gamma}$ contours (blue) and $y_{\gamma\gamma}$ contours (black). The range of $\xi_{\gamma\gamma}$ in which forward-proton matching is possible, $[0.035-\xi_{\textrm{th}}, 0.08+\xi_{\textrm{th}} ]$, for events that pass the matching requirement to the A or C side as indicated. No event passed the matching requirement for both the A-side and C-side.
A search for physics beyond the Standard Model inducing periodic signals in the dielectron and diphoton invariant mass spectra is presented using 139 fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV $pp$ collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. Novel search techniques based on continuous wavelet transforms are used to infer the frequency of periodic signals from the invariant mass spectra and neural network classifiers are used to enhance the sensitivity to periodic resonances. In the absence of a signal, exclusion limits are placed at the 95% confidence level in the two-dimensional parameter space of the clockwork gravity model. Model-independent searches for deviations from the background-only hypothesis are also performed.
The observed exclusion limit at 95% CL for the clockwork gravity model projected in the $k–M_{5}$ parameter space for the $ee$ channel for the case with mass thresholds.
The median expected exclusion limit at 95% CL for the clockwork gravity model projected in the $k–M_{5}$ parameter space for the $ee$ channel for the case with mass thresholds.
The expected plus one standard deviation exclusion limit at 95% CL for the clockwork gravity model projected in the $k–M_{5}$ parameter space for the $ee$ channel for the case with mass thresholds.
A search for leptoquarks decaying into the $b\tau$ final state is performed using Run 2 proton-proton collision data from the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector. The benchmark models considered in this search are vector leptoquarks with electric charge of 2/3e and scalar leptoquarks with an electric charge of 4/3e. No significant excess above the Standard Model prediction is observed, and 95% confidence level upper limits are set on the cross-section times branching fraction of leptoquarks decaying into $b\tau$. For the vector leptoquark production two models are considered: the Yang-Mills and Minimal coupling models. In the Yang-Mills (Minimal coupling) scenario, vector leptoquarks with a mass below 1.58 (1.35) TeV are excluded for a gauge coupling of 1.0 and below 2.05 (1.99) TeV for a gauge coupling of 2.5. In the case of scalar leptoquarks, masses below 1.28 TeV (1.53 TeV) are excluded for a Yukawa coupling of 1.0 (2.5). Finally, an interpretation of the results with minimal model dependence is performed for each of the signal region categories, and limits on the visible cross-section for beyond the Standard Model processes are provided.
Observed (solid line) and expected (dashed line) 95% CL upper limits on the cross-section of single plus non-resonant plus pair vector LQ production from the combination of the high b-jet $p_{T}$ signal region for the $\tau_\text{lep}\tau_\text{had}$ and $\tau_\text{had}\tau_\text{had}$ channels. [$U_1^{YM}$ model ($\kappa$ = 0) with $\lambda$ = 1.0]
Observed (solid line) and expected (dashed line) 95% CL upper limits on the cross-section of single plus non-resonant plus pair vector LQ production from the combination of the high b-jet $p_{T}$ signal region for the $\tau_\text{lep}\tau_\text{had}$ and $\tau_\text{had}\tau_\text{had}$ channels. [$U_1^{YM}$ model ($\kappa$ = 0) with $\lambda$ = 1.7]
Observed (solid line) and expected (dashed line) 95% CL upper limits on the cross-section of single plus non-resonant plus pair vector LQ production from the combination of the high b-jet $p_{T}$ signal region for the $\tau_\text{lep}\tau_\text{had}$ and $\tau_\text{had}\tau_\text{had}$ channels. [$U_1^{YM}$ model ($\kappa$ = 0) with $\lambda$ = 2.5]
New particles with large masses that decay into hadronically interacting particles are predicted by many models of physics beyond the Standard Model. A search for a massive resonance that decays into pairs of dijet resonances is performed using 140 fb$^{-1}$ of proton$-$proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector during Run 2 of the Large Hadron Collider. Resonances are searched for in the invariant mass of the tetrajet system, and in the average invariant mass of the pair of dijet systems. A data-driven background estimate is obtained by fitting the tetrajet and dijet invariant mass distributions with a four-parameter dijet function and a search for local excesses from resonant production of dijet pairs is performed. No significant excess of events beyond the Standard Model expectation is observed, and upper limits are set on the production cross-sections of new physics scenarios.
The average tetrajet invariant mass distributions in data, along with the fitted background estimates for 0.10 < $\alpha$ < 0.12.
The average tetrajet invariant mass distributions in data, along with the fitted background estimates for 0.12 < $\alpha$ < 0.14.
The average tetrajet invariant mass distributions in data, along with the fitted background estimates for 0.14 < $\alpha$ < 0.16.
This letter reports the observation of $W(\ell\nu)\gamma\gamma$ production in proton-proton collisions. This measurement uses the full Run 2 sample of events recorded at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV by the ATLAS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb$^{-1}$. Events with a leptonically-decaying $W$ boson and at least two photons are considered. The background-only hypothesis is rejected with an observed and expected significance of $5.6$ standard deviations. The inclusive fiducial production cross section of $W(e\nu)\gamma\gamma$ and $W(\mu\nu)\gamma\gamma$ events is measured to be $\sigma_{\mathrm{fid}} = 13.8 \pm 1.1 (\mathrm{stat}) \substack{+2.1 \\ -2.0} (\mathrm{syst}) \pm 0.1 (\mathrm{lumi})$ fb, in agreement with the Standard Model prediction.
The measured fiducial $W(\rightarrow e\nu / \mu\nu)\gamma\gamma$ integrated cross section compared with both the signal event generator predictions.
Higgs boson production via gluon-gluon fusion is measured in the $WW^{\ast} \to e\nu\mu\nu$ decay channel. The dataset utilized corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the ATLAS detector from $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV proton-proton collisions delivered by the Large Hadron Collider between 2015 and 2018. Differential cross sections are measured in a fiducial phase space restricted to the production of at most one additional jet. The results are consistent with Standard Model expectations, derived using different Monte Carlo generators.
Measured differential fiducial cross section for $p_{T}^{H}$ in the 0+1-jet fiducial region using the regularized in-likelihood unfolding method. The quoted uncertainties include statistical and systematic uncertainties from experimental and theory sources as well as background normalization effects and shape effects from background and signal.
Measured differential fiducial cross section for $m_{\ell\ell}$ in the 0+1-jet fiducial region using the regularized in-likelihood unfolding method. The quoted uncertainties include statistical and systematic uncertainties from experimental and theory sources as well as background normalization effects and shape effects from background and signal.
Measured differential fiducial cross section for $Y_{\ell\ell}$ in the 0+1-jet fiducial region using the regularized in-likelihood unfolding method. The quoted uncertainties include statistical and systematic uncertainties from experimental and theory sources as well as background normalization effects and shape effects from background and signal.
A search for pair-produced scalar or vector leptoquarks decaying into a $b$-quark and a $\tau$-lepton is presented using the full LHC Run 2 (2015-2018) data sample of 139 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the ATLAS detector in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} =13$ TeV. Events in which at least one $\tau$-lepton decays hadronically are considered, and multivariate discriminants are used to extract the signals. No significant deviations from the Standard Model expectation are observed and 95% confidence-level upper limits on the production cross-section are derived as a function of leptoquark mass and branching ratio $B$ into a $\tau$-lepton and $b$-quark. For scalar leptoquarks, masses below 1460 GeV are excluded assuming $B=100$%, while for vector leptoquarks the corresponding limit is 1650 GeV (1910 GeV) in the minimal-coupling (Yang-Mills) scenario.
Acceptance $\times$ efficiency for the $\tau_\text{lep}\tau_\text{had}$ signal region assuming $\beta$ = 0.5 as a function of m$_\text{LQ}$.
Acceptance $\times$ efficiency for the $\tau_\text{had}\tau_\text{had}$ signal region assuming $\beta$ = 0.5 as a function of m$_\text{LQ}$.
The observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the scalar LQ pair production cross-sections assuming B = 1 as a function of m$_\text{LQ}$.
Searches for the exclusive decays of the Higgs boson to an $\omega$ meson and a photon or a $K^{*}$ meson and a photon can probe flavour-conserving and flavour-violating Higgs boson couplings to light quarks, respectively. Searches for these decays, along with the analogous $Z$ boson decay to an $\omega$ meson and a photon, are performed with a $pp$ collision data sample corresponding to integrated luminosities of up to 134 fb$^{-1}$ collected at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The obtained 95% confidence-level upper limits on the respective branching fractions are ${\cal B}(H\rightarrow\omega\gamma)< 5.5\times 10^{-4}$, ${\cal B}(H\rightarrow K^{*}\gamma)< 2.2\times10^{-4}$ and ${\cal B}(Z\rightarrow \omega\gamma)<3.9\times 10^{-6}$. The limits for $H\rightarrow \omega\gamma$ and $Z\rightarrow \omega\gamma$ are 370 times and 140 times the Standard Model expected values, respectively. The result for $Z\rightarrow \omega\gamma$ corresponds to a two-orders-of-magnitude improvement over the limit obtained by the DELPHI experiment at LEP.
Numbers of observed and expected background events for the $m_{\mathcal{M}\gamma}$ ranges of interest. Each expected background and the corresponding uncertainty of its mean is obtained from a background-only fit to the data; the uncertainty does not take into account statistical fluctuations in each mass range. Expected $Z$ and Higgs boson signal contributions, with their corresponding total systematic uncertainty, are shown for reference branching fractions of $10^{-6}$ and $10^{-4}$, respectively.
Expected and observed branching fraction limits at the 95% CL for $H/Z\rightarrow \omega\gamma$ and $H\rightarrow K^{*}\gamma$.
This paper presents for the first time a precise measurement of the production properties of the Z boson in the full phase space of the decay leptons. This is in contrast to the many previous precise unfolded measurements performed in the fiducial phase space of the decay leptons. The measurement is obtained from proton-proton collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment in 2012 at $\sqrt s$ = 8 TeV at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.2 fb$^{-1}$. The results, based on a total of 15.3 million Z-boson decays to electron and muon pairs, extend and improve a previous measurement of the full set of angular coefficients describing Z-boson decay. The double-differential cross-section distributions in Z-boson transverse momentum p$_T$ and rapidity y are measured in the pole region, defined as 80 $<$ m $<$ 100 GeV, over the range $|y| <$ 3.6. The total uncertainty of the normalised cross-section measurements in the peak region of the p$_T$ distribution is dominated by statistical uncertainties over the full range and increases as a function of rapidity from 0.5-1.0% for $|y| <$ 2.0 to 2-7% at higher rapidities. The results for the rapidity-dependent transverse momentum distributions are compared to state-of-the-art QCD predictions, which combine in the best cases approximate N$^4$LL resummation with N$^3$LO fixed-order perturbative calculations. The differential rapidity distributions integrated over p$_T$ are even more precise, with accuracies from 0.2-0.3% for $|y| <$ 2.0 to 0.4-0.9% at higher rapidities, and are compared to fixed-order QCD predictions using the most recent parton distribution functions. The agreement between data and predictions is quite good in most cases.
Measured $p_T$ cross sections in full-lepton phase space for |y| < 0.4.
Measured $p_T$ cross sections in full-lepton phase space for 0.4 < |y| < 0.8.
Measured $p_T$ cross sections in full-lepton phase space for 0.8 < |y| < 1.2.
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