A search for the production of three Higgs bosons ($HHH$) in the $b\bar{b}b\bar{b}b\bar{b}$ final state is presented. The search uses $126~\text{fb}^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The analysis targets both non-resonant and resonant production of $HHH$. The resonant interpretations primarily consider a cascade decay topology of $X\rightarrow SH\rightarrow HHH$ with masses of the new scalars $X$ and $S$ up to 1.5 TeV and 1 TeV, respectively. In addition to scenarios where $S$ is off-shell, the non-resonant interpretation includes a search for standard model (SM) $HHH$ production, with limits on the tri-linear and quartic Higgs self-coupling set. No evidence for $HHH$ production is observed. An upper limit of 59 fb is set, at 95% confidence level, on the cross-section for Standard-Model $HHH$ production.
Jet pairing efficiencies over the parameter space for the SM-like $(\kappa_3,\kappa_4)$ scan. The pairing efficiency is evaluated in the 6$b$ region when a correct pairing is possible — that is, the six leading jets are geometrically matched to truth-level b-quarks.
Jet pairing efficiencies over the parameter space for the TRSM signals. The pairing efficiency is evaluated in the 6$b$ region when a correct pairing is possible — that is, the six leading jets are geometrically matched to truth-level b-quarks.
Jet pairing efficiencies over the parameter space for the narrow-width heavy resonance signals. The pairing efficiency is evaluated in the 6$b$ region when a correct pairing is possible — that is, the six leading jets are geometrically matched to truth-level b-quarks.