A search is presented for fractionally charged particles with charge below 1$e$, using their small energy loss in the tracking detector as a key variable to observe a signal. The analyzed data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions collected at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV in 2016-2018 at the CERN LHC. This is the first search at the LHC for new particles with charges between $e/$3 and 0.9$e$, including an extension of previous results at a charge of 2$e/$3. Masses up to 640 GeV and charges as low as $e/$3 are excluded at 95% confidence level. These are the most stringent limits to date for the considered Drell-Yan-like production mode.
Signal yields for two charge scenarios considered in the analysis, as well as their associated uncertainties.
Signal yields for the charge scenarios considered in the analysis, as well as their associateds uncertainties.
Signal yields for two charge scenarios considered in the analysis, as well as their associated uncertainties.
Measurements of jet substructure describing the composition of quark- and gluon-initiated jets are presented. Proton-proton (pp) collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ =13 TeV collected with the CMS detector are used, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. Generalized angularities are measured that characterize the jet substructure and distinguish quark- and gluon-initiated jets. These observables are sensitive to the distributions of transverse momenta and angular distances within a jet. The analysis is performed using a data sample of dijet events enriched in gluon-initiated jets, and, for the first time, a Z+jet event sample enriched in quark-initiated jets. The observables are measured in bins of jet transverse momentum, and as a function of the jet radius parameter. Each measurement is repeated applying a "soft drop" grooming procedure that removes soft and large angle radiation from the jet. Using these measurements, the ability of various models to describe jet substructure is assessed, showing a clear need for improvements in Monte Carlo generators.
Particle-level distributions of ungroomed AK4 multiplicity in 120 < PT < 150 GeV in the Z+jet region.
Particle-level distributions of ungroomed AK4 multiplicity in 120 < PT < 150 GeV in the central dijet region.
Particle-level distributions of ungroomed AK4 pTD2 in 120 < PT < 150 GeV in the Z+jet region.
Differential cross sections for the Drell-Yan process, including Z boson production, using the dimuon decay channel are measured in proton-lead (pPb) collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of 8.16 TeV. A data sample recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC is used, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 173 nb$^{-1}$. The differential cross section as a function of the dimuon mass is measured in the range 15-600 GeV, for the first time in proton-nucleus collisions. It is also reported as a function of dimuon rapidity over the mass ranges 15-60 GeV and 60-120 GeV, and ratios for the p-going over the Pb-going beam directions are built. In both mass ranges, the differential cross sections as functions of the dimuon transverse momentum $p_\mathrm{T}$ and of a geometric variable $\phi^*$ are measured, where $\phi^*$ highly correlates with $p_\mathrm{T}$ but is determined with higher precision. In the Z mass region, the rapidity dependence of the data indicate a modification of the distribution of partons within a lead nucleus as compared to the proton case. The data are more precise than predictions based upon current models of parton distributions.
Differential fiducial cross section (without the acceptance correction) for the DY process measured in the muon channel, as a function of dimuon invariant mass. The quoted error is the quadratic sum of the statistical and systematic uncertainties. The global normalisation uncertainty of 3.5% is listed separately.
Differential fiducial cross section (without the acceptance correction) for the DY process measured in the muon channel, as a function of rapidity in the centre-of-mass frame for $15<m_{\mu\mu}<60$ GeV. The quoted error is the quadratic sum of the statistical and systematic uncertainties. The global normalisation uncertainty of 3.5% is listed separately.
Differential fiducial cross section (without the acceptance correction) for the DY process measured in the muon channel, as a function of rapidity in the centre-of-mass frame for $60<m_{\mu\mu}<120$ GeV. The quoted error is the quadratic sum of the statistical and systematic uncertainties. The global normalisation uncertainty of 3.5% is listed separately.
Evidence for Higgs boson decay to a pair of muons is presented. This result combines searches in four exclusive categories targeting the production of the Higgs boson via gluon fusion, via vector boson fusion, in association with a vector boson, and in association with a top quark-antiquark pair. The analysis is performed using proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$, recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. An excess of events over the background expectation is observed in data with a significance of 3.0 standard deviations, where the expectation for the standard model (SM) Higgs boson with mass of 125.38 GeV is 2.5. The combination of this result with that from data recorded at $\sqrt{s} =$ 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 5.1 and 19.7 fb$^{-1}$, respectively, increases both the expected and observed significances by 1%. The measured signal strength, relative to the SM prediction, is 1.19 $^{+0.40}_{-0.39}$ (stat) $^{+0.15}_{-0.14}$ (syst). This result constitutes the first evidence for the decay of the Higgs boson to second generation fermions and is the most precise measurement of the Higgs boson coupling to muons reported to date.
The observed DNN output distribution in the VBF-SR region for data collected in 2016 compared to the post-fit background estimate for the contributing SM processes. The post-fit distributions for the Higgs boson signal produced via ggH and VBF modes with mass of 125.38 GeV are also reported. The predicted backgrounds are obtained from a S+B fit performed across analysis regions and years. The total post-fit and pre-fit uncertainties on the background prediction are also reported.
The observed DNN output distribution in the VBF-SR region for data collected in 2017 compared to the post-fit background estimate for the contributing SM processes. The post-fit distributions for the Higgs boson signal produced via ggH and VBF modes with mass of 125.38 GeV are also reported. The predicted backgrounds are obtained from a S+B fit performed across analysis regions and years. The total post-fit and pre-fit uncertainties on the background prediction are also reported.
The observed DNN output distribution in the VBF-SR region for data collected in 2018 compared to the post-fit background estimate for the contributing SM processes. The post-fit distributions for the Higgs boson signal produced via ggH and VBF modes with mass of 125.38 GeV are also reported. The predicted backgrounds are obtained from a S+B fit performed across analysis regions and years. The total post-fit and pre-fit uncertainties on the background prediction are also reported.
A search is conducted for a low-mass charged Higgs boson produced in a top quark decay and subsequently decaying into a charm and a strange quark. The data sample was recorded in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV by the CMS experiment at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The search is performed in the process of top quark pair production, where one top quark decays to a bottom quark and a charged Higgs boson, and the other to a bottom quark and a W boson. With the W boson decaying to a charged lepton (electron or muon) and a neutrino, the final state comprises an isolated lepton, missing transverse momentum, and at least four jets, of which two are tagged as b jets. To enhance the search sensitivity, one of the jets originating from the charged Higgs boson is required to satisfy a charm tagging selection. No significant excess beyond standard model predictions is found in the dijet invariant mass distribution. An upper limit in the range 1.68-0.25% is set on the branching fraction of the top quark decay to the charged Higgs boson and bottom quark for a charged Higgs boson mass between 80 and 160 GeV.
Expected and observed 95% CL exclusion limits in % on BR(t->H+ b) for the muon channel after the individual charm tagging categories have been combined.
Expected and observed 95% CL exclusion limits in % on BR(t->H+ b) for the electron channel after the individual charm tagging categories have been combined.
Expected and observed 95% CL exclusion limits in % on BR(t->H+ b) after the individual charm tagging categories and the muon and electron channels have been combined.
A search for a heavy resonance decaying to a top quark and a W boson in the fully hadronic final state is presented. The analysis is performed using data from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The search is focused on heavy resonances, where the decay products of each top quark or W boson are expected to be reconstructed as a single, large-radius jet with a distinct substructure. The production of an excited bottom quark, b*, is used as a benchmark when setting limits on the cross section for a heavy resonance decaying to a top quark and a W boson. The hypotheses of b* quarks with left-handed, right-handed, and vector-like chiralities are excluded at 95% confidence level for masses below 2.6, 2.8, and 3.1 TeV, respectively. These are the most stringent limits on the b* quark mass to date, extending the previous best limits by almost a factor of two.
Upper limits on the product of the cross section and branching fraction at 95% CL for a left-handed b* quark as a function of b* quark mass.
Upper limits on the product of the cross section and branching fraction at 95% CL for a right-handed b* quark as a function of b* quark mass.
Upper limits on the product of the cross section and branching fraction at 95% CL for a vector-like b* quark as a function of b* quark mass.
Angular distributions of the decay B$^+$$\to$ K$^*$(892)$^+\mu^+\mu^-$ are studied using events collected with the CMS detector in $\sqrt{s} =$ 8 TeV proton-proton collisions at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.0 fb$^{-1}$. The forward-backward asymmetry of the muons and the longitudinal polarization of the K$^*$(892)$^+$ meson are determined as a function of the square of the dimuon invariant mass. These are the first results from this exclusive decay mode and are in agreement with a standard model prediction.
The measured signal yields, FL, AFB in bins of the dimuon invariant mass squared. The first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic.
A search is presented for heavy bosons decaying to Z($\nu\bar{\nu}$)V(qq'), where V can be a W or a Z boson. A sample of proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV was collected by the CMS experiment during 2016-2018. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. The event categorization is based on the presence of high-momentum jets in the forward region to identify production through weak vector boson fusion. Additional categorization uses jet substructure techniques and the presence of large missing transverse momentum to identify W and Z bosons decaying to quarks and neutrinos, respectively. The dominant standard model backgrounds are estimated using data taken from control regions. The results are interpreted in terms of radion, W' boson, and graviton models, under the assumption that these bosons are produced via gluon-gluon fusion, Drell-Yan, or weak vector boson fusion processes. No evidence is found for physics beyond the standard model. Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level on various types of hypothetical new bosons. Observed (expected) exclusion limits on the masses of these bosons range from 1.2 to 4.0 (1.1 to 3.7) TeV.
Simulated distributions are shown for the cosine of the decay angle of SM vector bosons in the rest frame of a parent particle with a mass (mX) of 2\TeV. Solid lines represent VBF scenarios. Dashed lines represent ggF/DY scenarios.
Distributions of mT for ggF/DY-produced resonances X of mass 4.5 TeV.
Distributions of mT for VBF-produced resonances X of mass 4.5 TeV.
A search for physics beyond the standard model (SM) in final states with an electron or muon and missing transverse momentum is presented. The analysis uses data from proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2016–2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. No significant deviation from the SM prediction is observed. Model-independent limits are set on the production cross section of W’ bosons decaying into lepton-plus-neutrino final states. Within the framework of the sequential standard model, with the combined results from the electron and muon decay channels a W’ boson with mass less than 5.7 TeV is excluded at 95% confidence level. Results on a SM precision test, the determination of the oblique electroweak W parameter, are presented using LHC data for the first time. These results together with those from the direct W’ resonance search are used to extend existing constraints on composite Higgs scenarios. This is the first experimental exclusion on compositeness parameters using results from LHC data other than Higgs boson measurements.
Product of signal selection efficiency and acceptance as a function of resonance mass for a SSM WPRIME decaying to electron or muon plus neutrino.It is calculated as the number of WPRIME signal events passing the selection process over the number of generated events. In the selection process there is no requirement on a minimum $M_T$ applied. The SSM WPRIME signal samples have been generated with PYTHIA 8.2. More details in paper
Electron $p_{T}$ distribution using 2016-2018 data sets. The complete set of selection criteria were applied. Two examples of SSM WPRIME boson signal samples with masses of 3.8 and 5.6 TeV are shown. The lower panel shows the ratio of data to SM prediction, and the shaded band represents the systematic uncertainties.
$p_{T}^{miss}$ distribution in the electron channel using 2016-2018 data sets. The complete set of selection criteria were applied. Two examples of SSM WPRIME boson signal samples with masses of 3.8 and 5.6 TeV are shown. The lower panel shows the ratio of data to SM prediction, and the shaded band represents the systematic uncertainties.
A search for new top quark interactions is performed within the framework of an effective field theory using the associated production of either one or two top quarks with a Z boson in multilepton final states. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. Five dimension-six operators modifying the electroweak interactions of the top quark are considered. Novel machine-learning techniques are used to enhance the sensitivity to effects arising from these operators. Distributions used for the signal extraction are parameterized in terms of Wilson coefficients describing the interaction strengths of the operators. All five Wilson coefficients are simultaneously fit to data and 95% confidence level intervals are computed. All results are consistent with the SM expectations.
Covariance between the Wilson coefficients (in units of TeV$^{-4}$), after the 5D fit to data.
Correlation between the Wilson coefficients (in %), after the 5D fit to data.