We present a search for magnetic monopoles and high-electric-charge objects using LHC Run 2 $\sqrt{s} =$13 TeV proton$-$proton collisions recorded by the ATLAS detector. A total integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ was collected by a specialized trigger. No highly ionizing particle candidate was observed. Considering the Drell-Yan and photon-fusion pair production mechanisms as benchmark models, cross-section upper limits are presented for spin-0 and spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ magnetic monopoles of magnetic charge $1g_\textrm{D}$ and $2g_\textrm{D}$ and for high-electric-charge objects of electric charge $20 \leq |z| \leq 100$, for masses between 200 GeV and 4000 GeV. The search improves by approximately a factor of three the previous cross-section limits on the Drell-Yan production of magnetic monopoles and high-electric charge objects. Also, the first ATLAS limits on the photon-fusion pair production mechanism of magnetic monopoles and high-electric-charge objects have been obtained.
Observed 95% CL upper limits on the cross section for all masses and charges of Drell-Yan spin-0 monopoles production as a function of mass for magnetic charges $|g|=1g_D$ and $|g|=2g_D$.
Observed 95% CL upper limits on the cross section for all masses and charges of Drell-Yan spin-1/2 monopoles production as a function of mass for magnetic charges $|g|=1g_D$ and $|g|=2g_D$.
Observed 95% CL upper limits on the cross section for all masses and charges of photon-fusion pair-produced spin-0 monopoles as a function of mass for magnetic charges $|g|=1g_D$ and $|g|=2g_D$.
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.
The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment is a dark matter detector centered on a dual-phase xenon time projection chamber. We report searches for new physics appearing through few-keV-scale electron recoils, using the experiment's first exposure of 60 live days and a fiducial mass of 5.5t. The data are found to be consistent with a background-only hypothesis, and limits are set on models for new physics including solar axion electron coupling, solar neutrino magnetic moment and millicharge, and electron couplings to galactic axion-like particles and hidden photons. Similar limits are set on weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) dark matter producing signals through ionized atomic states from the Migdal effect.
The SR1 data in the {S1c, log10S2c} space with respect to observed time. Top plot is first half of SR1 containing 178 of the final data set. Bottom plot is second half of SR1 containing 157 events.
Electronic Recoil (ER) detection efficiency evaluated as a function of simulated true ER energy [keVee]. The data contains ER detection efficiency for ROI of study.
The observed 90% C.L upper limit on effective neutrino magnetic moment (\mu_{\nu}[\mu_{B}]) in SR1. The data contains observed upper limit, median sensitivity and 1\sigma and 2\sigma sensitivity range.
A search for quantum black holes in electron+jet and muon+jet invariant mass spectra is performed with 140 fb$^{-1}$ of data collected by the ATLAS detector in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider. The observed invariant mass spectrum of lepton+jet pairs is consistent with Standard Model expectations. Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level on the production cross-sections times branching fractions for quantum black holes decaying into a lepton and a quark in a search region with invariant mass above 2.0 TeV. The resulting quantum black hole lower mass threshold limit is 9.2 TeV in the Arkani-Hamed-Dimopoulos-Dvali model, and 6.8 TeV in the Randall-Sundrum model.
The 95% CL model-independent upper limits on $\sigma \times Br$ for the non-SM signal production with decay into the lepton+jet. The limits take into account statistical and systematic uncertainties. Circles along the solid red line indicate the lower border of the SR (threshold of SR, Th$_\mathrm{SR}$), above which the observed limit is computed. The expected limits are shown by the dashed line. The $\pm 1\sigma$ and $\pm 2\sigma$ bands of expected limits are shown in green and yellow, respectively. The limits are obtained with pseudo-experiments.
The combined 95% CL upper limits on $\sigma \times Br$ as a function of threshold mass, $M_\mathrm{th}$, for QBH production with decay into lepton+jet for ADD-model (extra dimensions n = 6). The limits take into account statistical and systematic uncertainties. Circles along the solid red line indicate the mass $M_\mathrm{th}$ of the signal where the observed limit is computed. The expected limits are shown by the dashed line. The $\pm 1\sigma$ and $\pm 2\sigma$ bands are shown in green and yellow, respectively. The theoretically predicted $\sigma \times Br$ for the QBH production and decay is shown as the solid blue curve with squares.
The combined 95% CL upper limits on $\sigma \times Br$ as a function of threshold mass, $M_\mathrm{th}$, for QBH production with decay into lepton+jet for RS1-model (extra dimensions n = 1). The limits take into account statistical and systematic uncertainties. Circles along the solid red line indicate the mass $M_\mathrm{th}$ of the signal where the observed limit is computed. The expected limits are shown by the dashed line. The $\pm 1\sigma$ and $\pm 2\sigma$ bands are shown in green and yellow, respectively. The theoretically predicted $\sigma \times Br$ for the QBH production and decay is shown as the solid blue curve with squares.
New particles with large masses that decay into hadronically interacting particles are predicted by many models of physics beyond the Standard Model. A search for a massive resonance that decays into pairs of dijet resonances is performed using 140 fb$^{-1}$ of proton$-$proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector during Run 2 of the Large Hadron Collider. Resonances are searched for in the invariant mass of the tetrajet system, and in the average invariant mass of the pair of dijet systems. A data-driven background estimate is obtained by fitting the tetrajet and dijet invariant mass distributions with a four-parameter dijet function and a search for local excesses from resonant production of dijet pairs is performed. No significant excess of events beyond the Standard Model expectation is observed, and upper limits are set on the production cross-sections of new physics scenarios.
The average tetrajet invariant mass distributions in data, along with the fitted background estimates for 0.10 < $\alpha$ < 0.12.
The average tetrajet invariant mass distributions in data, along with the fitted background estimates for 0.12 < $\alpha$ < 0.14.
The average tetrajet invariant mass distributions in data, along with the fitted background estimates for 0.14 < $\alpha$ < 0.16.
A search for a new heavy scalar particle $X$ decaying into a Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson and a new singlet scalar particle $S$ is presented. The search uses a proton-proton ($pp$) collision data sample with an integrated luminosity of 140 fb$^{-1}$ recorded at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The most sensitive mass parameter space is explored in $X$ mass ranging from 500 to 1500 GeV, with the corresponding $S$ mass in the range 200-500 GeV. The search selects events with two hadronically decaying $\tau$-lepton candidates from $H\to \tau^+\tau^-$ decays and one or two light leptons ($\ell=e,\,\mu$) from $S\to VV$ ($V = W,\,Z$) decays while the remaining $V$ boson decays hadronically or to neutrinos. A multivariate discriminant based on event kinematics is used to separate the signal from the background. No excess is observed beyond the expected SM background and 95% confidence level upper limits between 72 fb and 542 fb are derived on the cross-section $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH)$ assuming the same SM-Higgs boson-like decay branching ratios for the $S\to VV$ decay. Upper limits on the visible cross-sections $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH \to WW\tau\tau)$ and $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH \to ZZ\tau\tau)$ are also set in the ranges 3-26 fb and 6-33 fb, respectively.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits are shown for $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH)$ obtained from $WW1\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$, $WW2\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$, $ZZ2\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$, and their combination, as a function of combined $m_{S}$ and $m_{X}$ masses ($m_{S}$+$m_{X}/25$) in GeV.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits are shown for $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH\to WW\tau\tau)$ obtained from the combination of $WW1\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$ and $WW2\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$ channels, as a function of combined $m_{S}$ and $m_{X}$ masses ($m_{S}$+$m_{X}/25$) in GeV. The NMSSM scans of the allowed cross-sections for $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH\to WW\tau\tau)$ are also compared.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits are shown for $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH\to ZZ\tau\tau)$ obtained from $ZZ2\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$ channel, as a function of combined $m_{S}$ and $m_{X}$ masses ($m_{S}$+$m_{X}/25$) in GeV. The NMSSM scans of the allowed cross-sections for $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH\to ZZ\tau\tau)$ are also compared.
A search for pair production of squarks or gluinos decaying via sleptons or weak bosons is reported. The search targets a final state with exactly two leptons with same-sign electric charge or at least three leptons without any charge requirement. The analysed data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$ of proton$-$proton collisions collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Multiple signal regions are defined, targeting several SUSY simplified models yielding the desired final states. A single control region is used to constrain the normalisation of the $WZ$+jets background. No significant excess of events over the Standard Model expectation is observed. The results are interpreted in the context of several supersymmetric models featuring R-parity conservation or R-parity violation, yielding exclusion limits surpassing those from previous searches. In models considering gluino (squark) pair production, gluino (squark) masses up to 2.2 (1.7) TeV are excluded at 95% confidence level.
Observed exclusion limits at 95% CL from Fig 7(a) for $\tilde{g}$ decays into SM gauge bosons and $\tilde{\chi}^{0}_{1}$
Positive one $\sigma$ observed exclusion limits at 95% CL from Fig 7(a) for $\tilde{g}$ decays into SM gauge bosons and $\tilde{\chi}^{0}_{1}$
Negative one $\sigma$ observed exclusion limits at 95% CL from Fig 7(a) for $\tilde{g}$ decays into SM gauge bosons and $\tilde{\chi}^{0}_{1}$
A search for events with a dark photon produced in association with a dark Higgs boson via rare decays of the Standard Model $Z$ boson is presented, using 139 fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV proton-proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The dark Higgs boson decays into a pair of dark photons, and at least two of the three dark photons must each decay into a pair of electrons or muons, resulting in at least two same-flavor opposite-charge lepton pairs in the final state. The data are found to be consistent with the background prediction, and upper limits are set on the dark photon's coupling to the dark Higgs boson times the kinetic mixing between the Standard Model photon and the dark photon, $\alpha_{D}\varepsilon^2$, in the dark photon mass range of $[5, 40]$ GeV except for the $\Upsilon$ mass window $[8.8, 11.1]$ GeV. This search explores new parameter space not previously excluded by other experiments.
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on the production cross-section times branching fraction as a function of $m_{A'}$ at dark Higgs boson mass of 20 GeV
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on the production cross-section times branching fraction as a function of $m_{A'}$ at dark Higgs boson mass of 30 GeV
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on the production cross-section times branching fraction as a function of $m_{A'}$ at dark Higgs boson mass of 40 GeV
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.
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.