Three structures, X(6600), X(6900), and X(7100), have emerged from the J$/ψ\,$J$/ψ$ (J$/ψ$\to$μ^+μ^-$) mass spectrum. These are candidates of all-charm tetraquarks, an exotic form of hadronic matter. A clearer picture of these states is obtained using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS detector that corresponds to 315 fb$^{-1}$, which yields 3.6 times more J$/ψ\,$J$/ψ$ pairs than previous studies by CMS. All three structures, and their mutual interference, have statistical significances above five standard deviations. The presence of interference implies that the structures have common quantum numbers. Their squared masses align linearly with a resonance index and have natural widths that systematically decrease as the index increases. These features are consistent with radial excitations of tetraquarks composed of two aligned spin-1 diquarks without orbital excitation, and disfavor other interpretations. The J$/ψ\,$$ψ$(2S) $\to$$μ^+μ^-μ^+μ^-$ decay mode is also explored and the X(6900) and X(7100) states are found with significances exceeding 8 and 4 standard deviations, respectively.
Measured masses and widths of the three X states from the fits to the $\mathrm{J}/\psi\mathrm{J}/\psi$ mass spectrum from the Run 2+3 data sets. The amplitudes (phases) of the X(6600) and X(7100) relative to the X(6900) state are r1 = 1.790 ± 0.737 (phi1 = 1.693 ± 0.660 rad) and r3 = 0.429 ± 0.267 (phi3 = -0.388 ± 0.410 rad), respectively.
Measured masses and widths of the three X states from the fits to the $\mathrm{J}/\psi \psi(2S)$ mass spectrum from the Run 2+3 data sets.The amplitudes (phases) of the X(7100) relative to the X(6900) state are r = 0.692 ± 0.225 (phi1 = -1.486 ± 0.970 rad).
The $\mathrm{J}/\psi\mathrm{J}/\psi$ invariant-mass spectrum covering the full range of the fit: 6.175 - 15.0 GeV.
The observation of associated production of an $Υ$(1S) meson with a Z boson and a measurement of the ratio of its fiducial cross section to the fiducial cross section of the Z boson are presented. Both the $Υ$(1S) meson and the Z boson are identified via decays into a pair of opposite-sign muons. The analysis is based on proton-proton (pp) collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, collected with the CMS detector in 2016$-$2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Using the production of the Z boson decaying into four muons as a normalization channel, the ratio of the fiducial cross sections $σ$(pp $\to$ Z $+$$Υ$(1S))$\mathcal{B}$(Z $\to$$μ^+μ^-$)$\mathcal{B}$($Υ$(1S) $\to$$μ^+μ^-$ ) to $σ$(pp $\to$ Z)$\mathcal{B}$(Z $\to$ 4$μ$) is measured to be $\mathcal{R}_{\mathrm{Z+Υ}\mathrm{(1S)}}$ = (21.1 $\pm$ 55 (stat) $\pm$ 0.6 (syst) $\times$ 10$^{-3}$), where stat and syst denote the statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively. The result is used to extract the effective double-parton scattering cross section $σ_\text{eff}$ = 13.0$^{+7.7}_{-3.4}$. In addition, for the first time, $σ_\text{eff}$ is measured in bins of the transverse momentum of the $Υ$(1S) meson or of the Z boson.
$\sigma(\mathrm{pp}\to\mathrm{Z+Y(1S)})\mathcal{B}(\mathrm{Z}\to\mu\mu)\mathcal{B}(\mathrm{Y(1S)}\to\mu\mu) / \sigma(\mathrm{pp}\to\mathrm{Z})\mathcal{B}(\mathrm{Z}\to\mu\mu\mu\mu)$
DPS $\sigma(\mathrm{pp}\to\mathrm{Z+Y(1S)})\mathcal{B}(\mathrm{Z}\to\mu\mu)\mathcal{B}(\mathrm{Y(1S)}\to\mu\mu) / \sigma(\mathrm{pp}\to\mathrm{Z})\mathcal{B}(\mathrm{Z}\to\mu\mu\mu\mu)$
$\sigma(\mathrm{pp}\to\mathrm{Z+Y(1S)})\mathcal{B}(\mathrm{Z}\to\mu\mu)\mathcal{B}(\mathrm{Y(1S)}\to\mu\mu) / \sigma(\mathrm{pp}\to\mathrm{Z})\mathcal{B}(\mathrm{Z}\to\mu\mu\mu\mu)$
A search is performed for a heavy scalar resonance X decaying to a Higgs boson (H) and a Higgs-like scalar boson (Y) in the two bottom quark (H $\to$$\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$) and four quark (Y $\to$ VV $\to$ 4q) final state, where V denotes a W or Z boson. Masses of the X between 900 and 4000 GeV and the Y between 60 and 2800 GeV are considered. The search is performed in data collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC from proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV center-of-mass energy, with a data set corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. It targets the Lorentz-boosted regime, in which the products of the H $\to$$\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$ decay can be reconstructed as a single large-area jet, and those from the Y $\to$ VV $\to$ 4q decay as either one Y $\to$ 4q or two V to $\mathrm{q\bar{q}}$ jets. Jet identification and mass reconstruction exploit machine-learning tools, including a novel attention-based "particle transformer" for Y $\to$ 4q identification. No significant excess is observed in the data above the standard model background expectation. Upper limits on the product of production cross section and branching fraction as low as 0.2 fb are derived at 95% confidence level for various mass hypotheses. This is the first search at the LHC for scalar resonances in the all-hadronic $\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$VV decay channel.
Projected distributions of the $\mathrm{m}_{\mathrm{X}}^{\text{rec}}$ observable in the SP region of the fully merged (FM) category, after a maximum likelihood fit to the data with an $\mathrm{X} \to \mathrm{HY} \to \mathrm{b}\bar{\mathrm{b}}\mathrm{WW}$ signal with $\mathrm{m}_{\mathrm{X}} = 900$ GeV and $\mathrm{m}_{\mathrm{Y}} = 80$ GeV and best-fit production cross section times branching fraction of 15 fb. The lower panels show the pull per bin, defined as $(\mathrm{data} - \mathrm{bkg.})/\sigma_{\mathrm{stat}}$, where $\sigma_{\mathrm{stat}}$ is the statistical uncertainty in the data, as well as the systematic uncertainty normalized to $\sigma_{\mathrm{stat}}$. The full yields in each bin are presented here without division by the bin width as shown in the paper.
Projected distributions of the $\mathrm{m}_{\mathrm{Y}}^{\text{rec}}$ observable in the SP region of the fully merged (FM) category, after a maximum likelihood fit to the data with an $\mathrm{X} \to \mathrm{HY} \to \mathrm{b}\bar{\mathrm{b}}\mathrm{WW}$ signal with $\mathrm{m}_{\mathrm{X}} = 900$ GeV and $\mathrm{m}_{\mathrm{Y}} = 80$ GeV and best-fit production cross section times branching fraction of 15 fb. The lower panels show the pull per bin, defined as $(\mathrm{data} - \mathrm{bkg.})/\sigma_{\mathrm{stat}}$, where $\sigma_{\mathrm{stat}}$ is the statistical uncertainty in the data, as well as the systematic uncertainty normalized to $\sigma_{\mathrm{stat}}$. The full yields in each bin are presented here without division by the bin width as shown in the paper.
Projected distributions of the $\mathrm{m}_{\mathrm{X}}^{\text{rec}}$ observable in the SP region of the semimerged (SM) category, after a maximum likelihood fit to the data with an $\mathrm{X} \to \mathrm{HY} \to \mathrm{b}\bar{\mathrm{b}}\mathrm{WW}$ signal with $\mathrm{m}_{\mathrm{X}} = 1200$ GeV and $\mathrm{m}_{\mathrm{Y}} = 900$ GeV and best-fit production cross section times branching fraction of 250 fb. The lower panels show the pull per bin, defined as $(\mathrm{data} - \mathrm{bkg.})/\sigma_{\mathrm{stat}}$, where $\sigma_{\mathrm{stat}}$ is the statistical uncertainty in the data, as well as the systematic uncertainty normalized to $\sigma_{\mathrm{stat}}$. The full yields in each bin are presented here without division by the bin width as shown in the paper.
In the physics program of the CMS experiment during the CERN LHC Run 3, which started in 2022, the long-lived particle triggers have been improved and extended to expand the scope of the corresponding searches. These dedicated triggers and their performance are described in this paper, using several theoretical benchmark models that extend the standard model of particle physics. The results are based on proton-proton collision data collected with the CMS detector during 2022$-$2024 at a center-of-mass energy of 13.6 TeV, corresponding to integrated luminosities of up to 123 fb$^{-1}$.
Offline standard tracking efficiency during Run~3 for different tracking iterations, as a function of simulated radial position of the track production vertex. In the figure, $t\bar{t}$ simulation for 2025 conditions and an average PU of 62 is used, and the tracks are required to have $\mathrm{p_T}>0.9$ GeV and $|\eta|<2.5$. The tracking efficiency is defined as the ratio of the simulated tracks (with the aforementioned selection requirements) geometrically matched to a reconstructed track, divided by the total simulated tracks passing the selections.
Overall standard tracking efficiency at the HLT during Run~3, as a function of the simulated radial position of the track production vertex. In the figure, $t\bar{t}$ simulation for 2025 conditions and an average PU of 62 is used, and the tracks are required to have $\mathrm{p_T}>0.9$ GeV and $|\eta|<2.5$. The tracking efficiency is defined as the ratio of the simulated tracks (with the aforementioned selection requirements) geometrically matched to a reconstructed track, divided by the total simulated tracks passing the selections.
L1T+HLT efficiency of the MET+IsoTrk trigger as a function of the number of tracker layers with valid measurements of the track that pass the offline requirements, in $\tilde{\chi}_{1}^{\pm} \rightarrow \tilde{\chi}_{1}^{0}$+X simulated events for 2022 conditions, where $m_{\tilde{\chi}_{1}^{\pm}}=900$ GeV and $\tilde{\chi}_{1}^{0}$ is nearly mass-degenerate with $\tilde{\chi}_{1}^{\pm}$. The efficiency is shown for LLPs with $c\tau=$ 10, 100, and 1000 cm in black, blue, and red, respectively.
A measurement of the fiducial cross section of the associated production of a Z boson and a high-$p_\mathrm{T}$ photon, where the Z decays to two neutrinos, and a search for anomalous triple gauge couplings are reported. The results are based on data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV during 2016$-$2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The fiducial Z$γ$ cross section, where a photon with a $p_\mathrm{T}$ greater than 225 GeV is produced in association with a Z, and the Z decays to a $ν\barν$ pair (Z($ν\barν$)$γ$), is measured to be 23.3$^{+1.4}_{-1.3}$ fb, in agreement, within uncertainties, with the standard model prediction. The differential cross section as a function of the photon $p_\mathrm{T}$ has been measured and compared with standard model predictions computed at next-to-leading and at next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics. Constraints have been placed on the presence of anomalous couplings that affect the ZZ$γ$ and Z$γγ$ vertex using the $p_\mathrm{T}$ spectrum of the photons. The observed 95% confidence level intervals for $CP$-conserving $h_3^γ$ and $h_4^γ$ are determined to be ($-$3.4, 3.5) $\times$ 10$^{-4}$ and ($-$6.8, 6.8) $\times$ 10$^{-7}$, and for $h_3^\mathrm{Z}$ and $h_4^\mathrm{Z}$ they are ($-$2.2, 2.2) $\times$ 10$^{-4}$ and ($-$4.1, 4.2) $\times$ 10$^{-7}$, respectively. These are the strictest limits to date on $h_3^γ$, $h_3^\mathrm{Z}$ and $h_4^\mathrm{Z}$.
Post-fit reconstruction-level photon transverse momentum $p_{T}^{\gamma}$ distribution in the ECAL barrel signal region. The yields correspond to the post-fit expectation from the maximum-likelihood fit used in the analysis, with uncertainties reflecting the post-fit total (stat+syst) uncertainty per bin. Data correspond to the full Run-2 dataset (138 fb$^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV).
Post-fit reconstruction-level photon transverse momentum $p_{T}^{\gamma}$ distribution in the ECAL endcaps signal region. The yields correspond to the post-fit expectation from the maximum-likelihood fit used in the analysis, with uncertainties reflecting the post-fit total (stat+syst) uncertainty per bin. Data correspond to the full Run-2 dataset (138 fb$^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV).
Measured and predicted fiducial cross sections (fb) in the EB, EE, and combined phase space. The fiducial phase space definition follows the analysis selection in the paper. Predictions are shown at NLO (MADGRAPH5_aMC@NLO) and NNLO (MATRIX).
A search for exotic Higgs boson decays H $\to$$\mathcal{AA}$, with $\mathcal{A}$$\to$$γγ$ is presented, using events with a semi-merged topology. One of the hypothetical particles, $\mathcal{A}$, is assumed to decay promptly into a semi-merged diphoton system reconstructed as a single photon-like object, while the other $\mathcal{A}$ decays into two resolved photons. The search is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The data agree with the standard model background expectation. Upper limits are set on the product of the Higgs boson production cross section and the branching fraction, $σ$(pp $\to$ H)$\mathcal{B}$(H $\to$$\mathcal{AA}$$\to$ 4$γ$), which range from 0.264 to 0.005 pb at 95% confidence level, for $\mathcal{A}$ masses in the range 1 $\lt$ $m_\mathcal{A}$ $\lt$ 15 GeV. These limits are the most stringent to date in the 1$-$5 GeV $m_\mathcal{A}$ range.
The 2D $m_A$ spectra in the final signal region. The unrolled 2D $m_A$ distribution made by scanning along bins of increasing $m_{A2}$ at fixed $m_{A1}$ before incrementing in $m_{A1}$. Only the bins in the $m_{A}$-SR region are included, with the x-axis corresponding to the unrolled bin index of the selected bins, listed sequentially. The data distributions (black points) are plotted against the total predicted background distributions (blue curves) after fitting to the data. The statistical plus systematic uncertainties in the background distribution are plotted as the blue band. The corresponding distributions of simulated $\mathrm{H} \to \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \to 4 \gamma$ events for $m_A = $3 (purple curve), 10 (gray curve), and 15 GeV (orange curve) are also overlaid on top. They are each normalized to the value of the expected upper limit to the signal cross section times 50. The lower panels of each plot show the ratio of the observed data over the predicted background as the black points, with the error bars representing the statistical uncertainties in the former. The ratio of the statistical plus systematic uncertainties in the background over the background prediction is shown as the blue band.
1D projections on the $m_{A1}$ axis of the 2D $m_A$ distribution in the final signal region. The data distributions (black points) are plotted against the total predicted background distributions (blue curves) after fitting to the data. The statistical plus systematic uncertainties in the background distribution are plotted as the blue band. The corresponding distributions of simulated $\mathrm{H} \to \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \to 4 \gamma$ events for $m_A = $3 (purple curve), 10 (gray curve), and 15 GeV (orange curve) are also overlaid on top. They are each normalized to the value of the expected upper limit to the signal cross section times 50. The lower panels of each plot show the ratio of the observed data over the predicted background as the black points, with the error bars representing the statistical uncertainties in the former. The ratio of the statistical plus systematic uncertainties in the background over the background prediction is shown as the blue band.
1D projections on the $m_{A2}$ axis of the 2D $m_A$ distribution in the final signal region. The data distributions (black points) are plotted against the total predicted background distributions (blue curves) after fitting to the data. The statistical plus systematic uncertainties in the background distribution are plotted as the blue band. The corresponding distributions of simulated $\mathrm{H} \to \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \to 4 \gamma$ events for $m_A = $3 (purple curve), 10 (gray curve), and 15 GeV (orange curve) are also overlaid on top. They are each normalized to the value of the expected upper limit to the signal cross section times 50. The lower panels of each plot show the ratio of the observed data over the predicted background as the black points, with the error bars representing the statistical uncertainties in the former. The ratio of the statistical plus systematic uncertainties in the background over the background prediction is shown as the blue band.
A measurement of the Z$γ$ production cross section in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13.6 TeV is presented. Data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 34.8 fb$^{-1}$, collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2022 are used. Events with an oppositely charged pair of muons or electrons, with an invariant mass corresponding to a Z boson, together with an isolated photon are selected. The measured fiducial cross section for the combined electron and muon channels is 1.896 $\pm$ 0.033 (stat) $\pm$ 0.05 (syst) $\pm$ 0.006 (theo) pb, in agreement with the standard model prediction of 1.922 $\pm$ 0.094 pb. Constraints on neutral triple gauge couplings generated by dimension-8 operators in a recently proposed effective field theory framework are determined for the first time.
Histograms represent the post-fit distribution of $mass_{\mu^+\mu^-\gamma}$. The number of signal and background are associated with the total uncertainty, and the number of data events are associated with the poisson errors. The last bins include overflow events.
Histograms represent the post-fit distribution of $mass_{e^+e^-\gamma}$. The number of signal and background are associated with the total uncertainty, and the number of data events are associated with the poisson errors. The last bins include overflow events.
Expected and observed 95% CL limits on nTGC parameters for the combination of the measurements in the electron and muon channels. The first three rows show the results using the VPM that preserves only the U(1)EM symmetry, while the last three rows show the results from the GSPM that preserves the SU(2)L x U(1)Y symmetry. Corresponding to Table 3 in the paper.
We present searches for light dark matter (DM) with masses 3-9 GeV/$c^2$ in the presence of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE$ν$NS) from $^{8}$B solar neutrinos with the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment. This analysis uses a 5.7 tonne-year exposure with data collected between March 2023 and April 2025. In an energy range spanning 1-6 keV, we report no significant excess of events attributable to dark matter nuclear recoils, but we observe a significant signal from $^{8}$B CE$ν$NS interactions that is consistent with expectation. We set world-leading limits on spin-independent and spin-dependent-neutron DM-nucleon interactions for masses down to 5 GeV/$c^2$. In the no-dark-matter scenario, we observe a signal consistent with $^{8}$B CE$ν$NS events, corresponding to a $4.5σ$ statistical significance. This is the most significant evidence of $^{8}$B CE$ν$NS interactions and is enabled by robust background modeling and mitigation techniques. This demonstrates LZ's ability to detect rare signals at keV-scale energies.
90% CL WIMP SI cross sections, including sensitivities
90% CL WIMP SDn cross sections, including sensitivities and nuclear structure uncertainties
90% CL WIMP SDp cross sections, including sensitivities and nuclear structure uncertainties
The first observation of electroweak production of a photon in association with two forward jets in proton-proton collisions is presented. The measurement uses data recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC during 2016$-$2018 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The analysis is performed in a region enriched in photon production via vector boson fusion, with a requirement on the transverse momentum of the photon to exceed 200 GeV. The cross section is measured to be 202$^{+36}_{-32}$ fb, at a significance with respect to the null hypothesis that exceeds five standard deviations. This is in agreement with the standard model prediction of 177$^{+13}_{-12}$ fb. Differential cross sections are measured as a function of various observables. Limits are set on dimension-6 effective field theory operators that contribute to the WW$γ$ interaction. The observed 95% confidence intervals for the corresponding Warsaw basis Wilson coefficients $c_\mathrm{W}$ and $c_\mathrm{HWB}$ are [$-$0.11, 0.16] and [$-$1.6, 1.5], respectively.
Summary of uncertainties affecting the measurement as extracted from the fit to data. The total uncertainty is obtained by adding individual contributions in quadrature.
The rapidity gap fraction as a function of $p_{\mathrm{T}^{veto}}$ in data and simulated samples for EW $\gamma$jj and QCD $\gamma$jj. The black points with error bars represent the data and their statistical uncertainties. The theory prediction, calculated using Madgraph5_aMC@NLO version 2.6.5 at NLO in QCD together with PYTHIA version 8.240, as well as MC statistical uncertainties are shown by the colored band.
Normalized differential cross sections, compared with the SM predictions, as a function of the absolute value of pseudorapidity of the leading jet in transverse momentum. The SM predictions are obtained using Madgraph5_aMC@NLO version 2.6.5 at NLO in QCD with PYTHIA version 8.240
A search for pairs of light neutral pseudoscalar bosons (A) resulting from the decay of a Higgs boson is performed. The search is conducted using LHC proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, collected with the CMS detector in 2016$-$2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The A boson decays into a highly collimated electron-positron pair. A novel multivariate algorithm using tracks and calorimeter information is developed to identify these distinctive signatures, and events are selected with two such merged electron-positron pairs. No significant excess above the standard model background predictions is observed. Upper limits on the branching fraction for H $\to$ AA $\to$ 4e are set at 95% confidence level, for masses between 10 and 100 MeV and proper decay lengths below 100 $μ$m, reaching branching fraction sensitivities as low as 10$^{-5}$. This is the first search for Higgs boson decays to four electrons via light pseudoscalars at the LHC. It significantly improves the experimental sensitivity to axion-like particles with masses below 100 MeV.
Invariant mass distribution of the four-electron system ($m_{4 e}$) for selected events (points), compared to the background-only fit (red) with its $68\%$ and $95\%$~CL uncertainty bands (green and yellow). A non-stacked benchmark signal (blue) for a Higgs boson decaying to a pair of ALPs with $m_a=20MeV$ and $c \tau = 10\,\mu\mathrm{m}$ is overlaid and normalized to a branching ratio of $4.6 \times 10^{-5}$, which corresponds to the $95\%$~CL upper limit value set by this analysis. The lower panel shows the same data after subtracting the background fit.
Observed (solid points) and expected (dashed lines) $95\%$ CL upper limits on the Higgs boson branching fraction to a pair of ALPs decaying into electron-positron pairs ($ H \to A A \to e e$), shown as a function of the ALP mass for benchmark proper decay lengths of 1 $\,\mu\mathrm{m}$ (upper left), 10 $\,\mu\mathrm{m}$ (upper right), and 100 $\,\mu\mathrm{m}$ (lower left). The green and yellow bands represent the one and two standard deviation confidence intervals around the expected limits. The lower right panel shows a map of the observed $95\%$ CL upper limit, shown as a color scale, as a function of the ALP mass $m_ A$ and proper decay length $c \tau$.
A map of the observed $95\%$ CL upper limit on the Higgs boson branching fraction for $ H \to A A \to4 e$, as a function of the ALP mass and the ratio of the ALP coupling to electrons to the energy scale of the ALP effective interaction.
Forum