The result of a search for the pair production of the lightest supersymmetric partner of the bottom quark ($\tilde{b}_{1}$) using 139 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton data collected at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV by the ATLAS detector is reported. In the supersymmetric scenarios considered both of the bottom-squarks decay into a $b$-quark and the second-lightest neutralino, $\tilde{b}_{1} \rightarrow b + \tilde{\chi}^{0}_{2}$. Each $\tilde{\chi}^{0}_{2}$ is assumed to subsequently decay with 100% branching ratio into a Higgs boson ($h$) like the one in the Standard Model and the lightest neutralino: $\tilde{\chi}^{0}_{2} \rightarrow h + \tilde{\chi}^{0}_{1}$. The $\tilde{\chi}^{0}_{1}$ is assumed to be the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) and is stable. Two signal mass configurations are targeted: the first has a constant LSP mass of 60 GeV; and the second has a constant mass difference between the $\tilde{\chi}^{0}_{2}$ and $\tilde{\chi}^{0}_{1}$ of 130 GeV. The final states considered contain no charged leptons, three or more $b$-jets, and large missing transverse momentum. No significant excess of events over the Standard Model background expectation is observed in any of the signal regions considered. Limits at the 95% confidence level are placed in the supersymmetric models considered, and bottom-squarks with mass up to 1.5 TeV are excluded.
Distributions of ${E}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{miss}}$ after the background-only fit. The backgrounds which contribute only a small amount (diboson, W+jets and ttbar+W/Z/h) are grouped and labelled as `Other'.
Distributions of $m_{\mathrm{eff}}$ after the background-only fit. The backgrounds which contribute only a small amount (diboson, W+jets and ttbar+W/Z/h) are grouped and labelled as `Other'.
Distributions of Object-based $E_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{miss}} {Sig.}$ after the background-only fit. The backgrounds which contribute only a small amount (diboson, W+jets and ttbar+W/Z/h) are grouped and labelled as `Other'.
A search for charged Higgs bosons heavier than the top quark and decaying via $H^\pm \rightarrow tb$ is presented. The data analysed corresponds to 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV and was recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC in 2015 and 2016. The production of a charged Higgs boson in association with a top quark and a bottom quark, $pp \rightarrow tb H^\pm$, is explored in the mass range from $m_{H^\pm}$ = 200 to 2000 GeV using multi-jet final states with one or two electrons or muons. Events are categorised according to the multiplicity of jets and how likely these are to have originated from hadronisation of a bottom quark. Multivariate techniques are used to discriminate between signal and background events. No significant excess above the background-only hypothesis is observed and exclusion limits are derived for the production cross-section times branching fraction of a charged Higgs boson as a function of its mass, which range from 2.9 pb at $m_{H^\pm}$ = 200 GeV to 0.070 pb at $m_{H^\pm}$ = 2000 GeV. The results are interpreted in two benchmark scenarios of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model.
Expected and observed limits for the production of $H^{+} \to tb$ in association with a top quark and a bottom quark. The bands surrounding the expected limit show the 68% and 95% confidence intervals. The limits are based on the combination of the $\ell+$jets and $\ell\ell$ final states. Theory predictions are shown for three representative values of $\tan\beta$ in the $m_h^{\mathrm{mod-}}$ benchmark scenario. Uncertainties in the predicted $H^+$ cross-sections or branching ratios are not considered.
Expected and observed upper limits on $\tan\beta$ as a function of $m_{H^{+}}$ in the $m_h^{\mathrm{mod-}}$ scenario of the MSSM. Limits are shown for $\tan\beta$ values in the range of 0.5-60, where predictions are available from both scenarios. The bands surrounding the expected limits show the 68% and 95% confidence intervals. The limits are based on the combination of the $\ell+$jets and $\ell\ell$ final states. The production cross-section of $t\bar{t}H$ and $tH$, as well as the branching ratios of the $H$, are fixed to their SM values at each point in the plane. Uncertainties on the predicted $H^{+}$ cross-sections or branching ratios are not considered.
Expected and observed lower limits on $\tan\beta$ as a function of $m_{H^{+}}$ in the $m_h^{\mathrm{mod-}}$ scenario of the MSSM. Limits are shown for $\tan\beta$ values in the range of 0.5-60, where predictions are available from both scenarios. The bands surrounding the expected limits show the 68% and 95% confidence intervals. The limits are based on the combination of the $\ell+$jets and $\ell\ell$ final states. The production cross-section of $t\bar{t}H$ and $tH$, as well as the branching ratios of the $H$, are fixed to their SM values at each point in the plane. Uncertainties on the predicted $H^{+}$ cross-sections or branching ratios are not considered.