This paper presents a search for dark matter in the context of a two-Higgs-doublet model together with an additional pseudoscalar mediator, $a$, which decays into the dark-matter particles. Processes where the pseudoscalar mediator is produced in association with a single top quark in the 2HDM+$a$ model are explored for the first time at the LHC. Several final states which include either one or two charged leptons (electrons or muons) and a significant amount of missing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis is based on proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS experiment at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV during LHC Run2 (2015-2018), corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. No significant excess above the Standard Model predictions is found. The results are expressed as 95% confidence-level limits on the parameters of the signal models considered.
Efficiencies of the DMt samples in the tW1L channel for all bins in the SR. The efficiency is defined as the number of weighted reconstructed events over the number of weighted TRUTH events in the SR. The maps include all samples in the $m_a - m_H$ plane with $tan\beta = 1$.
Acceptances on TRUTH level of the DMt samples in the tW1L channel for all bins in the SR. The acceptance is defined as the number of weighted TRUTH events in the SR over the number of expected events without any selections. The maps include all samples in the $m_a - m_H$ plane with $tan\beta = 1$.
Efficiencies of the DMt samples in the tW1L channel for all bins in the SR. The efficiency is defined as the number of weighted reconstructed events over the number of weighted TRUTH events in the SR. The maps include all samples in the $m_H - tan\beta$ plane with $m_a = 250~GeV$.
A search for charged leptons with large impact parameters using 139 fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV $pp$ collision data from the ATLAS detector at the LHC is presented, addressing a long-standing gap in coverage of possible new physics signatures. Results are consistent with the background prediction. This search provides unique sensitivity to long-lived scalar supersymmetric lepton-partners (sleptons). For lifetimes of 0.1 ns, selectron, smuon and stau masses up to 720 GeV, 680 GeV, and 340 GeV are respectively excluded at 95% confidence level, drastically improving on the previous best limits from LEP.
Cutflow for SR-$ee$ for 5 representative signal points. For the following $\tilde{e}$ mass and lifetime points, the number of Monte Carlo events generated are: 24,000 for (100 GeV, 0.01 ns), 16,000 for (300 GeV, 1 ns), and 12,000 for (500 GeV, 0.1 ns). For the $\tilde{\tau}$ mass and lifetime points, the number of Monte Carlo events generated are: 30,000 for (200 GeV, 0.1 ns), and 104,000 for (300 GeV, 0.1 ns).
Cutflow for SR-$ee$ for 5 representative signal points. For the following $\tilde{e}$ mass and lifetime points, the number of Monte Carlo events generated are: 24,000 for (100 GeV, 0.01 ns), 16,000 for (300 GeV, 1 ns), and 12,000 for (500 GeV, 0.1 ns). For the $\tilde{\tau}$ mass and lifetime points, the number of Monte Carlo events generated are: 30,000 for (200 GeV, 0.1 ns), and 104,000 for (300 GeV, 0.1 ns).
Cutflow for SR-$e\mu$ for 2 representative signal points. For the $\tilde{\tau}$ mass and lifetime points, the number of Monte Carlo events generated are: 30,000 for (200 GeV, 0.1 ns), and 104,000 for (300 GeV, 0.1 ns).
A search for a heavy neutral Higgs boson, $A$, decaying into a $Z$ boson and another heavy Higgs boson, $H$, is performed using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$ from proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The search considers the $Z$ boson decaying into electrons or muons and the $H$ boson into a pair of $b$-quarks or $W$ bosons. The mass range considered is 230-800 GeV for the $A$ boson and 130-700 GeV for the $H$ boson. The data are in good agreement with the background predicted by the Standard Model, and therefore 95% confidence-level upper limits for $\sigma \times B(A\rightarrow ZH) \times B(H\rightarrow bb$ or $H\rightarrow WW)$ are set. The upper limits are in the range 0.0062-0.380 pb for the $H\rightarrow bb$ channel and in the range 0.023-8.9 pb for the $H\rightarrow WW$ channel. An interpretation of the results in the context of two-Higgs-Doublet models is also given.
The mass distribution of the bb system before any mbb window cuts for the 2 tag category in b-associated production. The signal distribution for (mA, mH) = (600, 300) GeV is also shown, and is normalised such that the production cross-section times the branching ratios B(A->ZH)xB(H->bb) corresponds to 1 pb. Background components are displayed separately.
The mass distribution of the bb system before any mbb window cuts for the 3 tag category in b-associated production. The signal distribution for (mA, mH) = (600, 300) GeV is also shown, and is normalised such that the production cross-section times the branching ratios B(A->ZH)xB(H->bb) corresponds to 1 pb. Background components are displayed separately.
The mllbb mass distribution for the mbb window defined for (mA, mH)=(600, 300) GeV in the 2 tag category with gluon-gluon fusion production is shown. The number of entries shown in each bin is the number of events in that bin divided by the width of the bin. The signal distribution for (mA, mH) = (600, 300) GeV is also shown, and is normalised such that the production cross-section times the branching ratios B(A->ZH)xB(H->bb) corresponds to 1 pb. Background components are displayed separately.
A search for dark matter is conducted in final states containing a photon and missing transverse momentum in proton$-$proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV. The data, collected during 2015$-$2018 by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN LHC, correspond to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. No deviations from the predictions of the Standard Model are observed and 95% confidence-level upper limits between 2.45 fb and 0.5 fb are set on the visible cross section for contributions from physics beyond the Standard Model, in different ranges of the missing transverse momentum. The results are interpreted as 95% confidence-level limits in models where weakly interacting dark-matter candidates are pair-produced via an s-channel axial-vector or vector mediator. Dark-matter candidates with masses up to 415 (580) GeV are excluded for axial-vector (vector) mediators, while the maximum excluded mass of the mediator is 1460 (1470) GeV. In addition, the results are expressed in terms of 95% confidence-level limits on the parameters of a model with an axion-like particle produced in association with a photon, and are used to constrain the coupling $g_{aZ\gamma}$ of an axion-like particle to the electroweak gauge bosons.
Distribution of $E^{miss}_T$ in data and for the expected SM background in the SRs after performing the 'simplified shape fit'. The error bars are statistical, and the dashed band includes statistical and systematic uncertainties determined by the fit. The expectations for the simplified model for two different values of $m_{\chi}$ and $m_{med}$, and with $g_{q}=0.25$ and $g_{\chi}=1.0$ and for the ALP model are also shown. The lower panel shows the ratio of data to expected background event yields.
Distribution of $E^{miss}_T$ in data and for the expected SM background in the SRs after performing the 'simplified shape fit'. Overflows are included in the fourth bin of each distribution. The error bars are statistical, and the dashed band includes statistical and systematic uncertainties determined by the fit. The expectations for the simplified model for two different values of $m_{\chi}$ and $m_{med}$, and with $g_{q}=0.25$ and $g_{\chi}=1.0$ and for the ALP model are also shown. The lower panel shows the ratio of data to expected background event yields.
Distribution of $E^{miss}_T$ in data and for the expected SM background in the Single-Muon CR after performing the 'simplified shape fit'. The $E^{miss}_T$ calculation in this CR does not include the muon contribution. The error bars are statistical, and the dashed band includes statistical and systematic uncertainties determined by the fit. The lower panel shows the ratio of data to expected background event yields.
A search for the supersymmetric partners of quarks and gluons (squarks and gluinos) in final states containing jets and missing transverse momentum, but no electrons or muons, is presented. The data used in this search were recorded by the ATLAS experiment in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV during Run 2 of the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. The results are interpreted in the context of various $R$-parity-conserving models where squarks and gluinos are produced in pairs or in association and a neutralino is the lightest supersymmetric particle. An exclusion limit at the 95% confidence level on the mass of the gluino is set at 2.30 TeV for a simplified model containing only a gluino and the lightest neutralino, assuming the latter is massless. For a simplified model involving the strong production of mass-degenerate first- and second-generation squarks, squark masses below 1.85 TeV are excluded if the lightest neutralino is massless. These limits extend substantially beyond the region of supersymmetric parameter space excluded previously by similar searches with the ATLAS detector.
Observed $m_{\mathrm{eff}}$ distributions in signal regions MB-SSd. The histograms show the MC background predictions normalised by the background-only fit. The hatched (red) error bands indicate experimental and MC statistical uncertainties. Expected distributions for benchmark signal model points, normalised using the approximate NNLO+NNLL cross-section times integrated luminosity, are also shown for comparison (masses in GeV).
Observed $m_{\mathrm{eff}}$ distributions in signal regions MB-SSd. The histograms show the MC background predictions normalised by the background-only fit. The hatched (red) error bands indicate experimental and MC statistical uncertainties. Expected distributions for benchmark signal model points, normalised using the approximate NNLO+NNLL cross-section times integrated luminosity, are also shown for comparison (masses in GeV).
Observed metSig distributions in signal regions MB-SSd. The histograms show the MC background predictions normalised by the background-only fit. The hatched (red) error bands indicate experimental and MC statistical uncertainties. Expected distributions for benchmark signal model points, normalised using the approximate NNLO+NNLL cross-section times integrated luminosity, are also shown for comparison (masses in GeV).
A search is presented for the production of the Standard Model Higgs boson in association with a high-energy photon. With a focus on the vector-boson fusion process and the dominant Higgs boson decay into $b$-quark pairs, the search benefits from a large reduction of multijet background compared to more inclusive searches. Results are reported from the analysis of 132 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data at $\sqrt{s}$=13 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The measured Higgs boson signal yield in this final-state signature is $1.3 \pm 1.0$ times the Standard Model prediction. The observed significance of the Higgs boson signal above the background is 1.3 standard deviations, compared to an expected significance of 1.0 standard deviations.
Comparisons of data and simulated event distributions of the BDT input variable \(\Delta \eta_{jj}\) in the two \(m_{bb}\) sidebands after kinematic reweighting of the non-resonant \(b\bar{b}\gamma jj\) background. The data are shown as black points, and the background contributions are stacked in coloured histograms. The Higgs boson signal contribution is scaled up and represented by the dashed red line. The bottom panel in each plot shows the ratio of the data to the SM prediction, where the uncertainty band corresponds to the statistical uncertainty only.
Comparisons of data and simulated event distributions of the BDT input variable \(p_{\text{T}}^{\text{balance}}\) in the two \(m_{bb}\) sidebands after kinematic reweighting of the non-resonant \(b\bar{b}\gamma jj\) background. The data are shown as black points, and the background contributions are stacked in coloured histograms. The Higgs boson signal contribution is scaled up and represented by the dashed red line. The bottom panel in each plot shows the ratio of the data to the SM prediction, where the uncertainty band corresponds to the statistical uncertainty only.
The \(m_{bb}\) distributions in the HighBDT categories, overlaid with contributions from the \(H\gamma jj\) signal as well as the resonant \(Z\gamma jj\) and non-resonant \(b\bar{b} \gamma jj\) background fits. The combined \(\chi^2\) per degree of freedom is \(45.2/45\). The bottom panel in each plot presents the significance of the Higgs boson signal relative to the non-resonant \(b\bar{b} \gamma jj\) background in each bin.
Several extensions of the Standard Model predict the production of dark matter particles at the LHC. An uncharted signature of dark matter particles produced in association with $VV=W^\pm W^\mp$ or $ZZ$ pairs from a decay of a dark Higgs boson $s$ is searched for using 139 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions recorded by the ATLAS detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The $s\to V(q\bar q)V(q\bar q)$ decays are reconstructed with a novel technique aimed at resolving the dense topology from boosted $VV$ pairs using jets in the calorimeter and tracking information. Dark Higgs scenarios with $m_s > 160$ GeV are excluded.
Data overlaid on SM background post-fit yields stacked in each SR and CR category and E<sub>T</sub><sup>miss</sup> bin with the maximum-likelihood estimators set to the conditional values of the CR-only fit, and propagated to SR and CRs. Pre-fit uncertainties cover differences between the data and pre-fit background prediction.
Dominant sources of uncertainty for three dark Higgs scenarios after the fit to Asimov data generated from the expected values of the maximum-likelihood estimators including predicted signals with m<sub>Z'</sub> = 1 TeV and m<sub>s</sub> of (a) 160 GeV, (b) 235 GeV, and (c) 310 GeV. The uncertainty in the fitted signal yield relative to the theory prediction is presented. Total is the quadrature sum of statistical and total systematic uncertainties, which consider correlations.
The ratios (μ) of the 95% C.L. upper limits on the combined s→ W<sup>±</sup>W<sup>∓</sup> and s→ ZZ cross section to simplified model expectations for the m<sub>Z'</sub>=0.5 TeV scenario, for various m<sub>s</sub> hypotheses. The observed limits (solid line) are consistent with the expectation under the SM-only hypothesis (dashed line) within uncertainties (filled band), except for a small excess for m<sub>s</sub>=160 GeV, discussed in the text.
The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider reports a search for charged-lepton-flavour violation in decays of $Z$ bosons into a τ lepton and an electron or muon of opposite charge.
The best-fit expected and observed distributions of the combined NN output in the CRZ$\tau\tau$ for the $\mu\tau$ channel for events with 1-prong $\tau_\text{had-vis}$ candidates. The last bin in each plot includes overflow events.
The best-fit expected and observed distributions of the combined NN output in the CRZ$\tau\tau$ for the $\mu\tau$ channel for events with 3-prong $\tau_\text{had-vis}$ candidates. The last bin in each plot includes overflow events.
The best-fit expected and observed distributions of the combined NN output in the VRSS for the $e\tau$ channel for events with 1-prong $\tau_\text{had-vis}$ candidates. The last bin in each plot includes overflow events.
A search for pair production of scalar leptoquarks, each decaying into either an electron or a muon and a top quark, is presented. This is the first leptoquark search using ATLAS data to investigate top-philic cross-generational couplings that could provide explanations for recently observed anomalies in $B$ meson decays. This analysis targets high leptoquark masses which cause the decay products of each resultant top quark to be contained within a single high-$p_{\mathrm{T}}$ large-radius jet. The full Run 2 dataset is exploited, consisting of 139 fb$^{-1}$ of data collected from proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV from 2015 to 2018 with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. In the absence of any significant deviation from the background expectation, lower limits on the leptoquark masses are set at 1480 GeV and 1470 GeV for the electron and muon channel, respectively.
Expected and observed upper limits at the 95% CL on the leptoquark pair production cross section as a function of leptoquark mass under the assumption of $\mathcal{B}$(LQ->$te$)=1.
Expected and observed upper limits at the 95% CL on the leptoquark pair production cross section as a function of leptoquark mass under the assumption of $\mathcal{B}$(LQ->$t\mu$)=1.
Expected and observed 95% CL lower limits on the leptoquark mass as a function of the branching ratio $\mathcal{B}$(LQ->$te$).
A search is presented for new phenomena in events characterised by high jet multiplicity, no leptons (electrons or muons), and four or more jets originating from the fragmentation of $b$-quarks ($b$-jets). The search uses 139 fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV proton-proton collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider during Run 2. The dominant Standard Model background originates from multijet production and is estimated using a data-driven technique based on an extrapolation from events with low $b$-jet multiplicity to the high $b$-jet multiplicities used in the search. No significant excess over the Standard Model expectation is observed and 95% confidence-level limits that constrain simplified models of R-parity-violating supersymmetry are determined. The exclusion limits reach 950 GeV in top-squark mass in the models considered.
<b>- - - - - - - - Overview of HEPData Record - - - - - - - -</b> <br><br> <b>Exclusion contours:</b> <ul> <li><a href="?table=stbchionly_obs">Stop to bottom quark and chargino exclusion contour (Obs.)</a> <li><a href="?table=stbchionly_exp">Stop to bottom quark and chargino exclusion contour (Exp.)</a> <li><a href="?table=stbchi_obs">Stop to higgsino LSP exclusion contour (Obs.)</a> <li><a href="?table=stbchi_exp">Stop to higgsino LSP exclusion contour (Exp.)</a> <li><a href="?table=sttN_obs">Stop to top quark and neutralino exclusion contour (Obs.)</a> <li><a href="?table=sttN_exp">Stop to top quark and neutralino exclusion contour (Exp.)</a> </ul> <b>Upper limits:</b> <ul> <li><a href="?table=stbchionly_xSecUL_obs">Obs Xsection upper limit in stop to bottom quark and chargino</a> <li><a href="?table=stop_xSecUL_obs">Obs Xsection upper limit in higgsino LSP</a> <li><a href="?table=stbchionly_xSecUL_exp">Exp Xsection upper limit in stop to bottom quark and chargino</a> <li><a href="?table=stop_xSecUL_exp">Exp Xsection upper limit in higgsino LSP</a> </ul> <b>Kinematic distributions:</b> <ul> <li><a href="?table=SR_yields">SR_yields</a> </ul> <b>Cut flows:</b> <ul> <li><a href="?table=cutflow">cutflow</a> </ul> <b>Acceptance and efficiencies:</b> As explained in <a href="https://twiki.cern.ch/twiki/bin/view/AtlasPublic/SupersymmetryPublicResults#summary_of_auxiliary_material">the twiki</a>. <ul> <li> <b>stbchi_6je4be:</b> <a href="?table=stbchi_Acc_6je4be">stbchi_Acc_6je4be</a> <a href="?table=stbchi_Eff_6je4be">stbchi_Eff_6je4be</a> <li> <b>stbchi_7je4be:</b> <a href="?table=stbchi_Acc_7je4be">stbchi_Acc_7je4be</a> <a href="?table=stbchi_Eff_7je4be">stbchi_Eff_7je4be</a> <li> <b>stbchi_8je4be:</b> <a href="?table=stbchi_Acc_8je4be">stbchi_Acc_8je4be</a> <a href="?table=stbchi_Eff_8je4be">stbchi_Eff_8je4be</a> <li> <b>stbchi_9ji4be:</b> <a href="?table=stbchi_Acc_9ji4be">stbchi_Acc_9ji4be</a> <a href="?table=stbchi_Eff_9ji4be">stbchi_Eff_9ji4be</a> <li> <b>stbchi_6je5bi:</b> <a href="?table=stbchi_Acc_6je5bi">stbchi_Acc_6je5bi</a> <a href="?table=stbchi_Eff_6je5bi">stbchi_Eff_6je5bi</a> <li> <b>stbchi_7je5bi:</b> <a href="?table=stbchi_Acc_7je5bi">stbchi_Acc_7je5bi</a> <a href="?table=stbchi_Eff_7je5bi">stbchi_Eff_7je5bi</a> <li> <b>stbchi_8je5bi:</b> <a href="?table=stbchi_Acc_8je5bi">stbchi_Acc_8je5bi</a> <a href="?table=stbchi_Eff_8je5bi">stbchi_Eff_8je5bi</a> <li> <b>stbchi_9ji5bi:</b> <a href="?table=stbchi_Acc_9ji5bi">stbchi_Acc_9ji5bi</a> <a href="?table=stbchi_Eff_9ji5bi">stbchi_Eff_9ji5bi</a> <li> <b>stbchi_8ji5bi:</b> <a href="?table=stbchi_Acc_8ji5bi">stbchi_Acc_8ji5bi</a> <a href="?table=stbchi_Eff_8ji5bi">stbchi_Eff_8ji5bi</a> <li> <b>sttN_6je4be:</b> <a href="?table=sttN_Acc_6je4be">sttN_Acc_6je4be</a> <a href="?table=sttN_Eff_6je4be">sttN_Eff_6je4be</a> <li> <b>sttN_7je4be:</b> <a href="?table=sttN_Acc_7je4be">sttN_Acc_7je4be</a> <a href="?table=sttN_Eff_7je4be">sttN_Eff_7je4be</a> <li> <b>sttN_8je4be:</b> <a href="?table=sttN_Acc_8je4be">sttN_Acc_8je4be</a> <a href="?table=sttN_Eff_8je4be">sttN_Eff_8je4be</a> <li> <b>sttN_9ji4be:</b> <a href="?table=sttN_Acc_9ji4be">sttN_Acc_9ji4be</a> <a href="?table=sttN_Eff_9ji4be">sttN_Eff_9ji4be</a> <li> <b>sttN_6je5bi:</b> <a href="?table=sttN_Acc_6je5bi">sttN_Acc_6je5bi</a> <a href="?table=sttN_Eff_6je5bi">sttN_Eff_6je5bi</a> <li> <b>sttN_7je5bi:</b> <a href="?table=sttN_Acc_7je5bi">sttN_Acc_7je5bi</a> <a href="?table=sttN_Eff_7je5bi">sttN_Eff_7je5bi</a> <li> <b>sttN_8je5bi:</b> <a href="?table=sttN_Acc_8je5bi">sttN_Acc_8je5bi</a> <a href="?table=sttN_Eff_8je5bi">sttN_Eff_8je5bi</a> <li> <b>sttN_9ji5bi:</b> <a href="?table=sttN_Acc_9ji5bi">sttN_Acc_9ji5bi</a> <a href="?table=sttN_Eff_9ji5bi">sttN_Eff_9ji5bi</a> <li> <b>sttN_8ji5bi:</b> <a href="?table=sttN_Acc_8ji5bi">sttN_Acc_8ji5bi</a> <a href="?table=sttN_Eff_8ji5bi">sttN_Eff_8ji5bi</a> </ul> <b>Truth Code snippets</b> and <b>SLHA</a> files are available under "Resources" (purple button on the left)
The observed exclusion contour at 95% CL as a function of the $\it{m}_{\tilde{\chi}^{\pm}_{1}}$ vs. $\it{m}_{\tilde{t}}$. Masses that are within the contours are excluded. Limits are shown for $B(\tilde{t} \rightarrow b \chi^{+}_{1})$ equal to unity.
The expected exclusion contour at 95% CL as a function of the $\it{m}_{\tilde{\chi}^{\pm}_{1}}$ vs. $\it{m}_{\tilde{t}}$. Masses that are within the contour are excluded. Limits are shown for $B(\tilde{t} \rightarrow b \chi^{+}_{1})$ equal to unity.
A search for heavy resonances decaying into a pair of $Z$ bosons leading to $\ell^+\ell^-\ell'^+\ell'^-$ and $\ell^+\ell^-\nu\bar\nu$ final states, where $\ell$ stands for either an electron or a muon, is presented. The search uses proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected from 2015 to 2018 that corresponds to the full integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the ATLAS detector during Run 2 of the Large Hadron Collider. Different mass ranges spanning 200 GeV to 2000 GeV for the hypothetical resonances are considered, depending on the final state and model. In the absence of a significant observed excess, the results are interpreted as upper limits on the production cross section of a spin-0 or spin-2 resonance. The upper limits for the spin-0 resonance are translated to exclusion contours in the context of Type-I and Type-II two-Higgs-doublet models, and the limits for the spin-2 resonance are used to constrain the Randall--Sundrum model with an extra dimension giving rise to spin-2 graviton excitations.
Distribution of the four-lepton invariant mass in the four-lepton final state for the ggF-MVA-high 4-muon category.
Distribution of the four-lepton invariant mass in the four-lepton final state for the ggF-MVA-high 2e2mu category.
Distribution of the four-lepton invariant mass in the four-lepton final state for the ggF-MVA-high 4-electron category.
The observation of forward proton scattering in association with lepton pairs ($e^+e^-+p$ or $\mu^+\mu^-+p$) produced via photon fusion is presented. The scattered proton is detected by the ATLAS Forward Proton spectrometer while the leptons are reconstructed by the central ATLAS detector. Proton-proton collision data recorded in 2017 at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV are analyzed, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 14.6 fb$^{-1}$. A total of 57 (123) candidates in the $ee+p$ ($\mu\mu+p$) final state are selected, allowing the background-only hypothesis to be rejected with a significance exceeding five standard deviations in each channel. Proton-tagging techniques are introduced for cross-section measurements in the fiducial detector acceptance, corresponding to $\sigma_{ee+p}$ = 11.0 $\pm$ 2.6 (stat.) $\pm$ 1.2 (syst.) $\pm$ 0.3 (lumi.) fb and $\sigma_{\mu\mu+p}$ = 7.2 $\pm$ 1.6 (stat.) $\pm$ 0.9 (syst.) $\pm$ 0.2 (lumi.) fb in the dielectron and dimuon channel, respectively.
The measured fiducial cross sections. The first systematic uncertainty is the combined systematic uncertainty excluding luminosity, the second is the luminosity
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$^{-1}$.
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.
This paper describes a measurement of light-by-light scattering based on Pb+Pb collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment during Run 2 of the LHC. The study uses $2.2$ nb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity collected in 2015 and 2018 at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}=5.02$ TeV. Light-by-light scattering candidates are selected in events with two photons produced exclusively, each with transverse energy $E_{\mathrm{T}}^{\gamma} > 2.5$ GeV, pseudorapidity $|\eta_{\gamma}| < 2.37$, diphoton invariant mass $m_{\gamma\gamma} > 5$ GeV, and with small diphoton transverse momentum and diphoton acoplanarity. The integrated and differential fiducial cross sections are measured and compared with theoretical predictions. The diphoton invariant mass distribution is used to set limits on the production of axion-like particles. This result provides the most stringent limits to date on axion-like particle production for masses in the range 6-100 GeV. Cross sections above 2 to 70 nb are excluded at the 95% CL in that mass interval.
Measured differential fiducial cross sections of $\gamma\gamma \rightarrow \gamma\gamma$ production in Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV for diphoton invariant mass are shown as points with error bars giving the statistical uncertainty and grey bands indicating the size of the total uncertainty. The results are compared with the prediction from the SuperChic v3.0 MC generator (solid line) with bands denoting the theoretical uncertainty.
Measured normalised differential fiducial cross sections of $\gamma\gamma \rightarrow \gamma\gamma$ production in Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV for diphoton invariant mass are shown as points with error bars giving the statistical uncertainty and grey bands indicating the size of the total uncertainty. The results are compared with the prediction from the SuperChic v3.0 MC generator (solid line).
Measured differential fiducial cross sections of $\gamma\gamma \rightarrow \gamma\gamma$ production in Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV for diphoton $|cos(\theta*)|$ are shown as points with error bars giving the statistical uncertainty and grey bands indicating the size of the total uncertainty. The results are compared with the prediction from the SuperChic v3.0 MC generator (solid line) with bands denoting the theoretical uncertainty.
The associated production of a Higgs boson with a $W$ or $Z$ boson decaying into leptons and where the Higgs boson decays to a $b\bar{b}$ pair is measured in the high vector-boson transverse momentum regime, above 250 GeV, with the ATLAS detector. The analysed data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$, were collected in proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider between 2015 and 2018 at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV. The measured signal strength, defined as the ratio of the measured signal yield to that predicted by the Standard Model, is $0.72 ^{+0.39}_{-0.36}$ corresponding to an observed (expected) significance of 2.1 (2.7) standard deviations. Cross-sections of associated production of a Higgs boson decaying into $b$ quark pairs with a $W$ or $Z$ gauge boson, decaying into leptons, are measured in two exclusive vector boson transverse momentum regions, 250-400 GeV and above 400 GeV, and interpreted as constraints on anomalous couplings in the framework of a Standard Model effective field theory.
Observed correlations between the measured reduced stage-1.2 simplified template VH, V->leptons and H->bb cross sections, including both the statistical and systematic uncertainties.
Measured and predicted VH, V->leptons reduced stage-1.2 simplified template cross sections times the H->bb and V->leptons branching fractions with corresponding uncertainties. All possible Z decays into neutral and charged leptons are considered.
Linear combinations of Wilson coefficients corresponding to the principal component decomposition eigenvectors. The corresponding eigenvalues, representing in the gaussian approximation the inverse uncertainty square of the measured eigenvector, is also indicated.
A search is presented for four-top-quark production using an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Events are selected if they contain a same-sign lepton pair or at least three leptons (electrons or muons). Jet multiplicity, jet flavour and event kinematics are used to separate signal from the background through a multivariate discriminant, and dedicated control regions are used to constrain the dominant backgrounds. The four-top-quark production cross section is measured to be 24$^{+7}_{-6}$ fb. This corresponds to an observed (expected) significance with respect to the background-only hypothesis of 4.3 (2.4) standard deviations and provides evidence for this process.
The results of fitted inclusive ${t\bar{t}t\bar{t}}$ cross-section
The results of the fitted signal strength $\mu$
List of the uncertainties in the signal strength $\mu$, grouped in categories. The quoted values are obtained by repeating the fit, fixing a set of nuisance parameters of the sources corresponding to the considered category, and subtracting in quadrature the resulting uncertainty from the total uncertainty of the nominal fit presented in the last line. The total uncertainty is different from the sum in quadrature of the components due to correlations between nuisance parameters.
In this paper, a new technique for reconstructing and identifying hadronically decaying $\tau^+\tau^-$ pairs with a large Lorentz boost, referred to as the di-$\tau$ tagger, is developed and used for the first time in the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. A benchmark di-$\tau$ tagging selection is employed in the search for resonant Higgs boson pair production, where one Higgs boson decays into a boosted $b\bar{b}$ pair and the other into a boosted $\tau^+\tau^-$ pair, with two hadronically decaying $\tau$-leptons in the final state. Using 139 fb$^{-1}$ of proton$-$proton collision data recorded at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, the efficiency of the di-$\tau$ tagger is determined and the background with quark- or gluon-initiated jets misidentified as di-$\tau$ objects is estimated. The search for a heavy, narrow, scalar resonance produced via gluon$-$gluon fusion and decaying into two Higgs bosons is carried out in the mass range 1$-$3 TeV using the same dataset. No deviations from the Standard Model predictions are observed, and 95% confidence-level exclusion limits are set on this model.
Signal acceptance times selection efficiency as a function of the resonance mass, at various stages of the event selection. From top to bottom: an event pre-selection (trigger, object definitions and $E_{T}^{miss}>10$ GeV) is performed first; the requirements on the di-$\tau$ object and large-$R$ jet detailed in the text are then applied; finally, the $HH$ SR definition must be satisfied.
Signal acceptance times selection efficiency as a function of the resonance mass, at various stages of the event selection. From top to bottom: an event pre-selection (trigger, object definitions and $E_{T}^{miss}>10$ GeV) is performed first; the requirements on the di-$\tau$ object and large-$R$ jet detailed in the text are then applied; finally, the $HH$ SR definition must be satisfied.
Distribution of $m^{vis}_{HH}$ after applying all the event selection that define the $HH$ SR, except the requirement on $m^{vis}_{HH}$. The background labelled as "Others" contains $W$+jets, diboson, $t\bar{t}$ and single-top-quark processes. The $X\rightarrow HH \rightarrow b\bar{b}\tau^{+}\tau^{-}$ signal is overlaid for two resonance mass hypotheses with a cross-section set to the expected limit, while all backgrounds are pre-fit. The first and the last bins contains the under-flow and over-flow bin entries, respectively. The hatched bands represent combined statistical and systematic uncertainties.
The Standard Model of particle physics encapsulates our current best understanding of physics at the smallest scales. A fundamental axiom of this theory is the universality of the couplings of the different generations of leptons to the electroweak gauge bosons. The measurement of the ratio of the rate of decay of $W$ bosons to $\tau$-leptons and muons, $R(\tau/\mu) = B(W \to \tau \nu_\tau)/B(W \to \mu \nu_\mu)$, constitutes an important test of this axiom. A measurement of this quantity with a novel technique using di-leptonic $t\bar{t}$ events is presented based on 139 fb${}^{-1}$ of data recorded with the ATLAS detector in proton--proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV. Muons originating from $W$ bosons and those originating from an intermediate $\tau$-lepton are distinguished using the lifetime of the $\tau$-lepton, through the muon transverse impact parameter, and differences in the muon transverse momentum spectra. The value of $R(\tau/\mu)$ is found to be $0.992 \pm 0.013 [\pm 0.007 (stat) \pm 0.011 (syst)]$ and is in agreement with the hypothesis of universal lepton couplings as postulated in the Standard Model. This is the most precise measurement of this ratio, and the only such measurement from the Large Hadron Collider, to date.
The number of data and fitted simulated events in each bin of the $|d_{0}^{\mu}|$ distribution in the $5<p_{\textrm{T}}^{\mu}<10$ GeV selection in the $e-\mu$ channel.
The number of data and fitted simulated events in each bin of the $|d_{0}^{\mu}|$ distribution in the $5<p_{\textrm{T}}^{\mu}<10$ GeV selection in the $\mu-\mu$ channel.
The number of data and fitted simulated events in each bin of the $|d_{0}^{\mu}|$ distribution in the $10<p_{\textrm{T}}^{\mu}<20$ GeV selection in the $e-\mu$ channel.
A measurement of event-shape variables in proton$-$proton collisions at large momentum transfer is presented using data collected at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Six event-shape variables calculated using hadronic jets are studied in inclusive multijet events using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. Measurements are performed in bins of jet multiplicity and in different ranges of the scalar sum of the transverse momenta of the two leading jets, reaching scales beyond 2 TeV. These measurements are compared with predictions from Monte Carlo event generators containing leading-order or next-to-leading order matrix elements matched to parton showers simulated to leading-logarithm accuracy. At low jet multiplicities, shape discrepancies between the measurements and the Monte Carlo predictions are observed. At high jet multiplicities, the shapes are better described but discrepancies in the normalisation are observed.
Measured relative cross sections for multijet production as a function of $\tau_{\perp}$ for $n^{\textrm{jet}}$ = 3 and 1 TeV < $H_{\textrm{T2}}$ < 1.5 TeV.
Measured relative cross sections for multijet production as a function of $\tau_{\perp}$ for $n^{\textrm{jet}}$ = 3 and 1 TeV < $H_{\textrm{T2}}$ < 1.5 TeV.
Measured relative cross sections for multijet production as a function of $\tau_{\perp}$ for $n^{\textrm{jet}}$ = 4 and 1 TeV < $H_{\textrm{T2}}$ < 1.5 TeV.
A search for heavy resonances decaying into a $W$ or $Z$ boson and a Higgs boson produced in proton$-$proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV is presented. The analysis utilizes the dominant $W \to q \bar{q}^\prime$ or $Z \to q \bar{q}$ and $H \to b \bar{b}$ decays with substructure techniques applied to large-radius jets. A sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the ATLAS detector is analyzed and no significant excess of data is observed over the background prediction. The results are interpreted in the context of the Heavy Vector Triplet model with spin-1 $W^\prime$ and $Z^\prime$ bosons. Upper limits on the cross section are set for resonances with mass between 1.5 and 5.0 TeV, ranging from 6.8 to 0.53 fb for $W^\prime \to WH$ and from 8.7 to 0.53 fb for $Z^\prime \to ZH$ at the 95 % confidence level.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the cross section in the WH channel.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the cross section in the WH channel.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the cross section in the ZH channel.
Inclusive and differential cross-sections for the production of top quarks in association with a photon are measured with proton$-$proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. The data were collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC during Run 2 between 2015 and 2018 at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The measurements are performed in a fiducial volume defined at parton level. Events with exactly one photon, one electron and one muon of opposite sign, and at least two jets, of which at least one is $b$-tagged, are selected. The fiducial cross-section is measured to be $39.6\,^{+2.7}_{-2.3}\,\textrm{fb}$. Differential cross-sections as functions of several observables are compared with state-of-the-art Monte Carlo simulations and next-to-leading-order theoretical calculations. These include cross-sections as functions of photon kinematic variables, angular variables related to the photon and the leptons, and angular separations between the two leptons in the event. All measurements are in agreement with the predictions from the Standard Model.
The measured fiducial cross-section in the electron-muon channel. The first uncertainty is the statistical uncertainty and the second one is the systematic uncertainty.
The absolute differential cross-section measured in the fiducial phase-space as a function of the photon pT in the electron-muon channel. The uncertainty is decomposed into four components which are the signal modelling uncertainty, the background modelling uncertainty, the experimental uncertainty, and the data statistical uncertainty.
The absolute differential cross-section measured in the fiducial phase-space as a function of the photon $|\eta|$ in the electron-muon channel. The uncertainty is decomposed into four components which are the signal modelling uncertainty, the background modelling uncertainty, the experimental uncertainty, and the data statistical uncertainty.
Measurements of the Standard Model Higgs boson decaying into a $b\bar{b}$ pair and produced in association with a $W$ or $Z$ boson decaying into leptons, using proton-proton collision data collected between 2015 and 2018 by the ATLAS detector, are presented. The measurements use collisions produced by the Large Hadron Collider at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = $13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. The production of a Higgs boson in association with a $W$ or $Z$ boson is established with observed (expected) significances of 4.0 (4.1) and 5.3 (5.1) standard deviations, respectively. Cross-sections of associated production of a Higgs boson decaying into bottom quark pairs with an electroweak gauge boson, $W$ or $Z$, decaying into leptons are measured as a function of the gauge boson transverse momentum in kinematic fiducial volumes. The cross-section measurements are all consistent with the Standard Model expectations, and the total uncertainties vary from 30% in the high gauge boson transverse momentum regions to 85% in the low regions. Limits are subsequently set on the parameters of an effective Lagrangian sensitive to modifications of the $WH$ and $ZH$ processes as well as the Higgs boson decay into $b\bar{b}$.
Best-fit values and uncertainties for $VH, V\rightarrow\mathrm{leptons}$ for the cross-section times the $H\rightarrow b\bar{b}$ branching fraction, in the reduced stage-1.2 simplififed template cross-sections (STXS) scheme. The SM predictions for each region is also shown. They are obtained from the samples of simulated events scaled to the inclusive cross-sections calculated at NNLO(QCD)+NLO(EW) accuracy for the $qq\rightarrow WH$ and $qq\rightarrow ZH$ processes, and at NLO+NLL accuracy for the $gg\rightarrow ZH$ process. The contributions to the total uncertainty in the measurements from statistical (Stat.) or systematic uncertainties in the signal modelling (Th. sig.), background modelling (Th. bkg.) and in experimental performance (Exp.) are given separately. All leptonic decays of the $V$ bosons (including those to $\tau$ leptons, $\ell = e, \mu, \tau$) are considered.
Best-fit values and uncertainties for $VH, V\rightarrow\mathrm{leptons}$ for the cross-section times the $H\rightarrow b\bar{b}$ branching fraction, in the reduced stage-1.2 simplififed template cross-sections (STXS) scheme. The SM predictions for each region is also shown. They are obtained from the samples of simulated events scaled to the inclusive cross-sections calculated at NNLO(QCD)+NLO(EW) accuracy for the $qq\rightarrow WH$ and $qq\rightarrow ZH$ processes, and at NLO+NLL accuracy for the $gg\rightarrow ZH$ process. The contributions to the total uncertainty in the measurements from statistical (Stat.) or systematic uncertainties in the signal modelling (Th. sig.), background modelling (Th. bkg.) and in experimental performance (Exp.) are given separately. All leptonic decays of the $V$ bosons (including those to $\tau$ leptons, $\ell = e, \mu, \tau$) are considered.
Observed correlations between the measured reduced stage-1.2 simplified template $VH, H \rightarrow b\bar{b}$ cross-sections (STXS), including both the statistical and systematic uncertainties. All leptonic decays of the $V$ bosons (including those to $\tau$ leptons, $\ell = e, \mu, \tau$) are considered.
Differential cross-section measurements are presented for the electroweak production of two jets in association with a $Z$ boson. These measurements are sensitive to the vector-boson fusion production mechanism and provide a fundamental test of the gauge structure of the Standard Model. The analysis is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by ATLAS at $\sqrt{s}$=13 TeV and with an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. The differential cross-sections are measured in the $Z\rightarrow \ell^+\ell^-$ decay channel ($\ell=e,\mu$) as a function of four observables: the dijet invariant mass, the rapidity interval spanned by the two jets, the signed azimuthal angle between the two jets, and the transverse momentum of the dilepton pair. The data are corrected for the effects of detector inefficiency and resolution and are sufficiently precise to distinguish between different state-of-the-art theoretical predictions calculated using Powheg+Pythia8, Herwig7+Vbfnlo and Sherpa 2.2. The differential cross-sections are used to search for anomalous weak-boson self-interactions using a dimension-six effective field theory. The differential cross-section as a function of the signed azimuthal angle between the two jets is found to be particularly sensitive to the interference between the Standard Model and dimension-six scattering amplitudes and provides a direct test of charge-conjugation and parity invariance in the weak-boson self-interactions.
Differential cross-sections for EW $Zjj$ production as a function of $m_{jj}$ with breakdown of associated uncertainties. The statistical uncertainty is correlated across bins according to the statistical cross correlation matrix presented in Table 21.
Differential cross-sections for EW $Zjj$ production as a function of $|\Delta y_{jj}|$ with breakdown of associated uncertainties. The statistical uncertainty is correlated across bins according to the statistical cross correlation matrix presented in Table 21.
Differential cross-sections for EW $Zjj$ production as a function of $p_{\mathrm{T},\ell\ell}$ with breakdown of associated uncertainties. The statistical uncertainty is correlated across bins according to the statistical cross correlation matrix presented in Table 21.
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