This letter reports the observation of $W(\ell\nu)\gamma\gamma$ production in proton-proton collisions. This measurement uses the full Run 2 sample of events recorded at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV by the ATLAS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb$^{-1}$. Events with a leptonically-decaying $W$ boson and at least two photons are considered. The background-only hypothesis is rejected with an observed and expected significance of $5.6$ standard deviations. The inclusive fiducial production cross section of $W(e\nu)\gamma\gamma$ and $W(\mu\nu)\gamma\gamma$ events is measured to be $\sigma_{\mathrm{fid}} = 13.8 \pm 1.1 (\mathrm{stat}) \substack{+2.1 \\ -2.0} (\mathrm{syst}) \pm 0.1 (\mathrm{lumi})$ fb, in agreement with the Standard Model prediction.
The measured fiducial $W(\rightarrow e\nu / \mu\nu)\gamma\gamma$ integrated cross section compared with both the signal event generator predictions.
A search is presented for a heavy resonance $Y$ decaying into a Standard Model Higgs boson $H$ and a new particle $X$ in a fully hadronic final state. The full Large Hadron Collider Run 2 dataset of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}= 13$ TeV collected by the ATLAS detector from 2015 to 2018 is used, and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. The search targets the high $Y$-mass region, where the $H$ and $X$ have a significant Lorentz boost in the laboratory frame. A novel signal region is implemented using anomaly detection, where events are selected solely because of their incompatibility with a learned background-only model. It is defined using a jet-level tagger for signal-model-independent selection of the boosted $X$ particle, representing the first application of fully unsupervised machine learning to an ATLAS analysis. Two additional signal regions are implemented to target a benchmark $X$ decay into two quarks, covering topologies where the $X$ is reconstructed as either a single large-radius jet or two small-radius jets. The analysis selects Higgs boson decays into $b\bar{b}$, and a dedicated neural-network-based tagger provides sensitivity to the boosted heavy-flavor topology. No significant excess of data over the expected background is observed, and the results are presented as upper limits on the production cross section $\sigma(pp \rightarrow Y \rightarrow XH \rightarrow q\bar{q}b\bar{b}$) for signals with $m_Y$ between 1.5 and 6 TeV and $m_X$ between 65 and 3000 GeV.
Acceptance times efficiency for signal grid in anomaly signal region.
Acceptance times efficiency for signal grid in merged two-prong signal region.
Acceptance times efficiency for signal grid in resolved two-prong signal region.
Results from a wide range of searches targeting different experimental signatures with and without missing transverse momentum ($E_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{miss}}$) are used to constrain a Two-Higgs-Doublet Model (2HDM) with an additional pseudo-scalar mediating the interaction between ordinary and dark matter (2HDM+$a$). The analyses use up to 139 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider during 2015-2018. The results from three of the most sensitive searches are combined statistically. These searches target signatures with large $E_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{miss}}$ and a leptonically decaying $Z$ boson; large $E_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{miss}}$ and a Higgs boson decaying to bottom quarks; and production of charged Higgs bosons in final states with top and bottom quarks, respectively. Constraints are derived for several common and new benchmark scenarios in the 2HDM+$a$.
Observed combination limits at 95% CL in the $(m_{a},m_{A})$ plane under the assumption of $sin\theta$ = 0.35.
Expected combination limits at 95% CL in the $(m_{a},m_{A})$ plane under the assumption of $sin\theta$ = 0.35.
1 sigma band of expected combination limits at 95% CL in the $(m_{a},m_{A})$ plane under the assumption of $sin\theta$ = 0.35.
This Letter presents the measurement of the fiducial and differential cross-sections of the electroweak production of a $Z \gamma$ pair in association with two jets. The analysis uses 140 fb$^{-1}$ of LHC proton-proton collision data taken at $\sqrt{s}$=13 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector during the years 2015-2018. Events with a $Z$ boson candidate decaying into either an $e^+e^-$ or $\mu^+ \mu^-$ pair, a photon and two jets are selected. The electroweak component is extracted by requiring a large dijet invariant mass and a large rapidity gap between the two jets and is measured with an observed and expected significance well above five standard deviations. The fiducial $pp \rightarrow Z \gamma jj$ cross-section for the electroweak production is measured to be 3.6 $\pm$ 0.5 fb. The total fiducial cross-section that also includes contributions where the jets arise from strong interactions is measured to be $16.8^{+2.0}_{-1.8}$ fb. The results are consistent with the Standard Model predictions. Differential cross-sections are also measured using the same events and are compared with parton-shower Monte Carlo simulations. Good agreement is observed between data and predictions.
Post-fit mjj distributions in the mjj>500 GeV SR. The uncertainty band around the expectation includes all systematic uncertainties (including MC statistical uncertainty) and takes into account their correlations as obtained from the fit. The error bar around the data points represents the data statistical uncertainty. Events beyond the upper limit of the histogram are included in the last bin.
Post-fit mjj distributions in the mjj>500 GeV CR. The uncertainty band around the expectation includes all systematic uncertainties (including MC statistical uncertainty) and takes into account their correlations as obtained from the fit. The error bar around the data points represents the data statistical uncertainty. Events beyond the upper limit of the histogram are included in the last bin.
Post-fit mjj distributions in the mjj>150 GeV Extended SR. The uncertainty band around the expectation includes all systematic uncertainties (including MC statistical uncertainty) and takes into account their correlations as obtained from the fit. The error bar around the data points represents the data statistical uncertainty. Events beyond the upper limit of the histogram are included in the last bin.
Semi-visible jets, with a significant contribution to the event's missing transverse momentum, can arise in strongly interacting dark sectors. This results in an event topology where one of the jets can be aligned with the direction of the missing transverse momentum. The first search for semi-visible jets produced via a $t$-channel mediator exchange is presented. The analysis uses proton-proton collisions with an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$ and a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected with the ATLAS detector during the Run 2 of the LHC. No excess over Standard Model predictions is observed. Assuming a coupling strength of unity between the mediator, a Standard Model quark and a dark quark, mediator masses up to 2.7 TeV are excluded at the 95% confidence level. Upper limits on the coupling strength are also derived.
The post-fit yields in the nine bins of the $(p_\textrm{T}^{\textrm{bal}}, |\phi_{\textrm{max}} - \phi_{\textrm{min}}|)$ grid. Error band includes all the systematic uncertainties.
The post-fit distributions of HT for the SR. Data are compared with background predictions, and six signal predictions covering a representative mediator mass and invisible fraction range are overlaid. The uncertainties include all systematic and statistical components. The last bin contains the overflow.
The post-fit distributions of $E_{\text{T}}^{\text{miss}}$ for the SR. Data are compared with background predictions, and six signal predictions covering a representative mediator mass and invisible fraction range are overlaid. The uncertainties include all systematic and statistical components. The last bin contains the overflow.
A search for heavy long-lived multi-charged particles is performed using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Data collected in 2015-2018 at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV from $pp$ collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$ are examined. Particles producing anomalously high ionization, consistent with long-lived spin-1/2 massive particles with electric charges from $|q|=2e$ to $|q|=7e$ are searched for. No statistically significant evidence of such particles is observed, and 95% confidence level cross-section upper limits are calculated and interpreted as the lower mass limits for a Drell-Yan plus photon-fusion production mode. The least stringent limit, 1060 GeV, is obtained for $|q|=2e$ particles, and the most stringent one, 1600 GeV, is for $|q|=6e$ particles.
The signal efficiencies for spin-1/2 MCPs with different charges and masses for the DY+PF production mode versus their mass.
Observed 95% CL cross-section upper limits as a function of the muon-like spin-1/2 MCP's mass for the DY+PF production mode.
Cutflow (sum of weights of events satisfying cumulative selection requirements) for several signal benchmark points. Event counts are scaled by their respective cross-sections.
Parton energy loss in the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) is studied with a measurement of photon-tagged jet production in 1.7 nb$^{-1}$ of Pb+Pb data and 260 pb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ data, both at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} = 5.02$ TeV, with the ATLAS detector. The process $pp \to \gamma$+jet+$X$ and its analogue in Pb+Pb collisions is measured in events containing an isolated photon with transverse momentum ($p_\mathrm{T}$) above $50$ GeV and reported as a function of jet $p_\mathrm{T}$. This selection results in a sample of jets with a steeply falling $p_\mathrm{T}$ distribution that are mostly initiated by the showering of quarks. The $pp$ and Pb+Pb measurements are used to report the nuclear modification factor, $R_\mathrm{AA}$, and the fractional energy loss, $S_\mathrm{loss}$, for photon-tagged jets. In addition, the results are compared with the analogous ones for inclusive jets, which have a significantly smaller quark-initiated fraction. The $R_\mathrm{AA}$ and $S_\mathrm{loss}$ values are found to be significantly different between those for photon-tagged jets and inclusive jets, demonstrating that energy loss in the QGP is sensitive to the colour-charge of the initiating parton. The results are also compared with a variety of theoretical models of colour-charge-dependent energy loss.
The differential cross-section of photon-tagged jets as a function of jet $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ in pp collisions.
The yields of photon-tagged jets as a function of jet $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ in Pb+Pb collisions for different centrality intervals.
The nuclear modification factor of photon-tagged jets as a function of jet $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ for different centrality intervals.
A precision measurement of the matrix elements for $\eta\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ and $\eta\to\pi^0\pi^0\pi^0$ decays is performed using a sample of $(10087\pm44)\times10^6$$J/\psi$ decays collected with the BESIII detector. The decay $J/\psi \to \gamma \eta$ is used to select clean samples of 631,686 $\eta\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ decays and 272,322 $\eta\to\pi^0\pi^0\pi^0$ decays. The matrix elements for both channels are in reasonable agreement with previous measurements. The non-zero $gX^2Y$ term for the decay mode $\eta\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ is confirmed, as reported by the KLOE Collaboration, while the other higher-order terms are found to be insignificant. Dalitz plot asymmetries in the $\eta\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ decay are also explored and are found to be consistent with charge conjugation invariance. In addition, a cusp effect is investigated in the $\eta\to\pi^0\pi^0\pi^0$ decay, and no obvious structure around the $\pi^+\pi^-$ mass threshold is observed.
The acceptance corrected $\eta\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ data from 10 billion $J/\psi$ events collected at BESIII and the corresponding statistical uncertainties in the Dalitz plot variables $X$ and $Y$. The data are divided into $20\times20$ bins in $X$ and $Y$, and only the bins with non-zero event are listed in the table. The first two columns in the table are the center values of $X$ and $Y$, respectively. The last column is the acceptance corrected data and the corresponding statistical uncertainties.
The acceptance corrected $\eta\to\pi^0\pi^0\pi^0$ data from 10 billion $J/\psi$ events collected at BESIII and the corresponding statistical uncertainties in the Dalitz plot variables $X$ and $Y$. The data are divided into $20\times20$ bins in $X$ and $Y$, and only the bins with non-zero event are listed in the table. The first two columns in the table are the center values of $X$ and $Y$, respectively. The last column is the acceptance corrected data and the corresponding statistical uncertainties.
Measurements of the suppression and correlations of dijets is performed using 3 $\mu$b$^{-1}$ of Xe+Xe data at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} = 5.44$ TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Dijets with jets reconstructed using the $R=0.4$ anti-$k_t$ algorithm are measured differentially in jet $p_{\text{T}}$ over the range of 32 GeV to 398 GeV and the centrality of the collisions. Significant dijet momentum imbalance is found in the most central Xe+Xe collisions, which decreases in more peripheral collisions. Results from the measurement of per-pair normalized and absolutely normalized dijet $p_{\text{T}}$ balance are compared with previous Pb+Pb measurements at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} =5.02$ TeV. The differences between the dijet suppression in Xe+Xe and Pb+Pb are further quantified by the ratio of pair nuclear-modification factors. The results are found to be consistent with those measured in Pb+Pb data when compared in classes of the same event activity and when taking into account the difference between the center-of-mass energies of the initial parton scattering process in Xe+Xe and Pb+Pb collisions. These results should provide input for a better understanding of the role of energy density, system size, path length, and fluctuations in the parton energy loss.
The centrality intervals in Xe+Xe collisions and their corresponding TAA with absolute uncertainties.
The centrality intervals in Xe+Xe and Pb+Pb collisions for matching SUM ET FCAL intervals and respective TAA values for Xe+Xe collisions.
The performance of the jet energy scale (JES) for jets with $|y| < 2.1$ evaluated as a function of pT_truth in different centrality bins. Simulated hard scatter events were overlaid onto events from a dedicated sample of minimum-bias Xe+Xe data.
The production of a $W$ boson in association with a single charm quark is studied using 140 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s} = 13\,\mathrm{TeV}$ proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The charm quark is tagged by a charmed hadron, reconstructed with a secondary-vertex fit. The $W$ boson is reconstructed from an electron/muon decay and the missing transverse momentum. The mesons reconstructed are $D^{\pm} \to K^\mp \pi^\pm \pi^\pm$ and $D^{*\pm} \to D^{0} \pi^\pm \to (K^\mp \pi^\pm) \pi^\pm$, where $p_{\text{T}}(e, \mu) > 30\,\mathrm{GeV}$, $|\eta(e, \mu)| < 2.5$, $p_{\text{T}}(D) > 8\,\mathrm{GeV}$, and $|\eta(D)| < 2.2$. The integrated and normalized differential cross-sections as a function of the pseudorapidity of the lepton from the $W$ boson decay, and of the transverse momentum of the meson, are extracted from the data using a profile likelihood fit. The measured fiducial cross-sections are $\sigma^{\mathrm{OS-SS}}_{\mathrm{fid}}(W^{-}{+}D^{+}) = 50.2\pm0.2\,\mathrm{(stat.)}\,^{+2.4}_{-2.3}\,\mathrm{(syst.)}\,\mathrm{pb}$, $\sigma^{\mathrm{OS-SS}}_{\mathrm{fid}}(W^{+}{+}D^{-}) = 48.5\pm0.2\,\mathrm{(stat.)}\,^{+2.3}_{-2.2}\,\mathrm{(syst.)}\,\mathrm{pb}$, $\sigma^{\mathrm{OS-SS}}_{\mathrm{fid}}(W^{-}{+}D^{*+}) = 51.1\pm0.4\,\mathrm{(stat.)}\,^{+1.9}_{-1.8}\,\mathrm{(syst.)}\,\mathrm{pb}$, and $\sigma^{\mathrm{OS-SS}}_{\mathrm{fid}}(W^{+}{+}D^{*-}) = 50.0\pm0.4\,\mathrm{(stat.)}\,^{+1.9}_{-1.8}\,\mathrm{(syst.)}\,\mathrm{pb}$. Results are compared with the predictions of next-to-leading-order quantum chromodynamics calculations performed using state-of-the-art parton distribution functions. The ratio of charm to anti-charm production cross-sections is studied to probe the $s$-$\bar{s}$ quark asymmetry and is found to be $R_c^\pm = 0.971\pm0.006\,\mathrm{(stat.)}\pm0.011\,\mathrm{(syst.)}$.
Measured fiducial cross-sections times the single-lepton-flavor W boson branching ratio.
Measured cross section ratios for the W+D production. The $R_{c}(D^{(*)})$ observable is obtained by combining the individual measurements of $R_{c}(D^{+})$ and $R_{c}(D^{*+})$ as explained in the text. The displayed cross sections are integrated over each differential bin.
Measured $p_{\mathrm{T}}(D^{+})$ differential fiducial cross-section times the single-lepton-flavor W boson branching ratio in the $W^{-}+D^{+}$ channel. The last $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ bin has no upper bound. The displayed cross sections are integrated over each differential bin.