A search for magnetic monopoles and high-electric-charge objects is presented using 34.4 fb$^{-1}$ of 13 TeV $pp$ collision data collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC during 2015 and 2016. The considered signature is based upon high ionization in the transition radiation tracker of the inner detector associated with a pencil-shape energy deposit in the electromagnetic calorimeter. The data were collected by a dedicated trigger based on the tracker high-threshold hit capability. The results are interpreted in models of Drell-Yan pair production of stable particles with two spin hypotheses (0 and 1/2) and masses ranging from 200 GeV to 4000 GeV. The search improves by approximately a factor of five the constraints on the direct production of magnetic monopoles carrying one or two Dirac magnetic charges and stable objects with electric charge in the range $20\le|z|\le60$ and extends the charge range to $60<|z|\le100$.
Observed 95% confidence-level upper limits on the cross section for Drell-Yan spin-0 monopole production as a function of mass for magnetic charges $|g|=1g_D$ and $|g|=2g_D$.
Observed 95% confidence-level upper limits on the cross section for Drell-Yan spin-0 HECO production as a function of mass for various values of electric charge in the range $20\le|z|\le100$.
Observed 95% confidence-level upper limits on the cross section for Drell-Yan spin-1/2 monopole production as a function of mass for magnetic charges $|g|=1g_D$ and $|g|=2g_D$.
The problems of neutrino masses, matter-antimatter asymmetry, and dark matter could be successfully addressed by postulating right-handed neutrinos with Majorana masses below the electroweak scale. In this work, leptonic decays of $W$ bosons extracted from 32.9 fb$^{-1}$ to 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ of 13 TeV proton-proton collisions at the LHC are used to search for heavy neutral leptons (HNLs) that are produced through mixing with muon or electron neutrinos. The search is conducted using the ATLAS detector in both prompt and displaced leptonic decay signatures. The prompt signature requires three leptons produced at the interaction point (either $\mu\mu e$ or $e e\mu$) with a veto on same-flavour opposite-charge topologies. The displaced signature comprises a prompt muon from the $W$ boson decay and the requirement of a dilepton vertex (either $\mu\mu$ or $\mu e$) displaced in the transverse plane by 4-300 mm from the interaction point. The search sets constraints on the HNL mixing to muon and electron neutrinos for HNL masses in the range 4.5-50 GeV.
Displaced HNL event selection efficiency as a function of mean proper decay length for HNL mass 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 GeV.
Prompt HNL event selection efficiency as a function of mean proper decay length for HNL mass 10 GeV.
Displaced HNL search observed 95% confidence level exclusion contour in $|U_{\mu}|^2$ as a function of HNL mass (LNC case).
A measurement of the associated production of a top-quark pair ($t\bar{t}$) with a vector boson ($W$, $Z$) in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV is presented, using $36.1$ fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity collected by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Events are selected in channels with two same- or opposite-sign leptons (electrons or muons), three leptons or four leptons, and each channel is further divided into multiple regions to maximize the sensitivity of the measurement. The $t\bar{t}Z$ and $t\bar{t}W$ production cross sections are simultaneously measured using a combined fit to all regions. The best-fit values of the production cross sections are $\sigma_{t\bar{t}Z} = 0.95 \pm 0.08_{\mathrm{stat.}} \pm 0.10_{\mathrm{syst.}}$ pb and $\sigma_{t\bar{t}W} = 0.87 \pm 0.13_{\mathrm{stat.}} \pm 0.14_{\mathrm{syst.}}$ pb in agreement with the Standard Model predictions. The measurement of the $t\bar{t}Z$ cross section is used to set constraints on effective field theory operators which modify the $t\bar{t}Z$ vertex.
The result of the simultaneous fit to the $t\bar{t}Z$ and $t\bar{t}W$ cross sections.
68% confidence level (CL) contours of the measured $t\bar{t}Z$ and $t\bar{t}W$ cross sections.
95% confidence level (CL) contours of the measured $t\bar{t}Z$ and $t\bar{t}W$ cross sections.
A search for supersymmetry in events with large missing transverse momentum, jets, and at least one hadronically decaying $\tau$-lepton is presented. Two exclusive final states with either exactly one or at least two $\tau$-leptons are considered. The analysis is based on proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ delivered by the Large Hadron Collider and recorded by the ATLAS detector in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess is observed over the Standard Model expectation. At 95% confidence level, model-independent upper limits on the cross section are set and exclusion limits are provided for two signal scenarios: a simplified model of gluino pair production with $\tau$-rich cascade decays, and a model with gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking (GMSB). In the simplified model, gluino masses up to 2000 GeV are excluded for low values of the mass of the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP), while LSP masses up to 1000 GeV are excluded for gluino masses around 1400 GeV. In the GMSB model, values of the supersymmetry-breaking scale are excluded below 110 TeV for all values of $\tan\beta$ in the range $2 \leq \tan\beta \leq 60$, and below 120 TeV for $\tan\beta>30$.
1$\tau$ Compressed SR eff.
1$\tau$ MediumMass SR eff.
2$\tau$ Compressed SR eff.
A search for resonant and non-resonant pair production of Higgs bosons in the $b\bar{b}\tau^+\tau^-$ final state is presented. The search uses 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data with $\sqrt{s}= 13$ TeV recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC in 2015 and 2016. The semileptonic and fully hadronic decays of the $\tau$-lepton pair are considered. No significant excess above the expected background is observed in the data. The cross-section times branching ratio for non-resonant Higgs boson pair production is constrained to be less than 30.9 fb, 12.7 times the Standard Model expectation, at 95% confidence level. The data are also analyzed to probe resonant Higgs boson pair production, constraining a model with an extended Higgs sector based on two doublets and a Randall-Sundrum bulk graviton model. Upper limits are placed on the resonant Higgs boson pair production cross-section times branching ratio, excluding resonances $X$ in the mass range $305~{\rm GeV} < m_X < 402~{\rm GeV}$ in the simplified hMSSM minimal supersymmetric model for $\tan\beta=2$ and excluding bulk Randall-Sundrum gravitons $G_{\mathrm{KK}}$ in the mass range $325~{\rm GeV} < m_{G_{\mathrm{KK}}} < 885~{\rm GeV}$ for $k/\overline{M}_{\mathrm{Pl}} = 1$.
Observed and expected limits at 95% CL on the cross-sections of RS Graviton to HH for k/MPl = 1 process
Observed and expected limits at 95% CL on the cross-sections of RS Graviton to HH for k/MPl = 2 process
Observed and expected limits at 95% CL on the cross-sections of hMSSM scalar X to HH process
Charged Higgs bosons produced either in top-quark decays or in association with a top-quark, subsequently decaying via $H^{\pm} \to \tau^{\pm}\nu_{\tau}$, are searched for in 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector. Depending on whether the top-quark produced together with $H^{\pm}$ decays hadronically or leptonically, the search targets $\tau$+jets and $\tau$+lepton final states, in both cases with a hadronically decaying $\tau$-lepton. No evidence of a charged Higgs boson is found. For the mass range of $m_{H^{\pm}}$ = 90-2000 GeV, upper limits at the 95% confidence level are set on the production cross-section of the charged Higgs boson times the branching fraction $\mathrm{B}(H^{\pm} \to \tau^{\pm}\nu_{\tau})$ in the range 4.2-0.0025 pb. In the mass range 90-160 GeV, assuming the Standard Model cross-section for $t\overline{t}$ production, this corresponds to upper limits between 0.25% and 0.031% for the branching fraction $\mathrm{B}(t\to bH^{\pm}) \times \mathrm{B}(H^{\pm} \to \tau^{\pm}\nu_{\tau})$.
Observed and expected 95% CL exclusion limits on $\sigma(pp\to tbH^+)\times \mathrm{\cal{B}}(H^+\to\tau\nu)$ as a function of the charged Higgs boson mass in 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV, after combination of the $\tau_{\rm had-vis}$+jets and $\tau_{\rm had-vis}$+lepton final states.
Observed and expected 95% CL exclusion limits on $\mathrm{\cal{B}}(t\to bH^+)\times\mathrm{\cal{B}}(H^+\to\tau\nu)$ as a function of the charged Higgs boson mass in 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV, after combination of the $\tau_{\rm had-vis}$+jets and $\tau_{\rm had-vis}$+lepton final states.
Observed 95% CL exclusion contour in the tan$\beta$ - $m_H$ plane shown in the context of the hMSSM, for the regions in which theoretical predictions are available (0.5$\leq\text{tan}\beta\leq60$).
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 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ from proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV recorded in 2015 and 2016 by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The search considers the $Z$ boson decaying to electrons or muons and the $H$ boson into a pair of $b$-quarks. No evidence for the production of an $A$ boson is found. Considering each production process separately, the 95% confidence-level upper limits on the $pp\rightarrow A\rightarrow ZH$ production cross-section times the branching ratio $H\rightarrow bb$ are in the range of 14-830 fb for the gluon-gluon fusion process and 26-570 fb for the $b$-associated process for the mass ranges 130-700 GeV of the $H$ boson and process for the mass ranges 130-700 GeV of the $H$ boson and 230-800 GeV of the $A$ boson. The results are interpreted in the context of the two-Higgs-doublet model.
The signal efficiency for the production modes (gluon-gluon fusion and b-associated production) and the signal regions used in the analysis. The efficiency denominator has the total number of generated MC events. The numerator includes the events passing the full signal region selection, including the mbb window cuts. The table shows for each signal mass pair (mA, mH) 3 efficiencies corresponding to the two production modes in the two categories, 2tag and 3tag. These corresponds to "nb = 2 category" and "nb >= 3 category", respectively, of the preprint. No numbers for gluon-gluon fusion in the 3tag category are provided since those are not used in the analysis. The efficiencies are given in fractions.
The cross section times BR(A->ZH) times BR(H->bb) limits for a narrow width A boson produced via gluon-gluon fusion. For each signal point, characterised by the mass pair (mA, mH), two limits are provided, the observed and the expected. The result refers to the nb=2 category only.
The cross section times BR(A->ZH) times BR(H->bb) limits for a narrow width A boson produced in association with b-quarks. For each signal point, characterised by the mass pair (mA, mH), two limits are provided, the observed and the expected. The result refers to the combination of the nb=2 and nb>=3 categories.
The results of a search for vector-like top quarks using events with exactly one lepton, at least four jets, and large missing transverse momentum are reported. The search is optimised for pair production of vector-like top quarks in the $Z(\rightarrow \! \! \nu \nu) \, t + X$ decay channel. LHC pp collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector in 2015 and 2016 are used, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. No significant excess over the Standard Model expectation is seen and upper limits on the production cross-section of a vector-like $T$ quark pair as a function of the $T$ quark mass are derived. The observed (expected) 95% CL lower limits on the $T$ mass are 870 GeV (890 GeV) for the weak-isospin singlet model, 1.05 TeV (1.06 TeV) for the weak-isospin doublet model and 1.16 TeV (1.17 TeV) for the pure $Zt$ decay mode. Limits are also set on the mass as a function of the decay branching ratios, excluding large parts of the parameter space for masses below 1 TeV.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limit on the cross-section times branching ratio for VLQ $T$ pair production as a function of the $T$ mass for BR($T \rightarrow Zt$) = 100%.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limit on the cross-section times branching ratio for VLQ $T$ pair production as a function of the $T$ mass for branching ratios according to the singlet model.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limit on the cross-section times branching ratio for VLQ $T$ pair production as a function of the $T$ mass for branching ratios according to the doublet model. Contributions from the $X$ or $B$ quark in the $(X^{5/3}, T)$ or $(T, B)$ doublet models are neglected, leading to very conservative limits.
The results of a search for direct pair production of heavy top-quark partners in 4.7 fb-1 of integrated luminosity from pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC are reported. Heavy top-quark partners decaying into a top quark and a neutral non-interacting particle are searched for in events with two leptons in the final state. No excess above the Standard Model expectation is observed. Limits are placed on the mass of a supersymmetric scalar top and of a spin-1/2 top-quark partner. A spin-1/2 top-quark partner with a mass between 300 GeV and 480 GeV, decaying to a top quark and a neutral non-interacting particle lighter than 100 GeV, is excluded at 95% confidence level.
(1) Number of generated MC events for the scalar top signal grid (2) Relative Cross section uncertainties for the scalar top signal grid.
(1) Acceptance of the same flavour selection for the scalar top signal grid (2) Selection efficiency of the same flavour selection for the scalar top signal grid (3) Product of the acceptance and efficiency of the same flavour selection for the scalar top signal grid (4) Relative experimental uncertainties on the acceptance times efficiency of the same flavour selection for the scalar top signal grid.
(1) Acceptance of the different flavour selection for the scalar top signal grid (2) Selection efficiency of the different flavour selection for the scalar top signal grid (3) Product of the acceptance and efficiency of the different flavour selection for the scalar top signal grid (4) Relative experimental uncertainties on the acceptance times efficiency of the different flavour selection for the scalar top signal grid.
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