A generic search is presented for the associated production of a Z boson or a photon with an additional unspecified massive particle X, pp $\to$ pp + Z/$\gamma$ + X, in proton-tagged events from proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, recorded in 2017 with the CMS detector and the CMS-TOTEM precision proton spectrometer. The missing mass spectrum is analysed in the 600-1600 GeV range and a fit is performed to search for possible deviations from the background expectation. No significant excess in data with respect to the background predictions has been observed. Model-independent upper limits on the visible production cross section of pp $\to$ pp + Z/$\gamma$ + X are set.
$m_{miss}$ distributions in the $pp\rightarrow ppZeeX$, with the protons reconstructed with the multi(+z)-multi(-z)method. The background distributions are shown after the fit. The expectations for a signal with $m_{X} = 1000$ GeV are superimposed, where the fiducial production cross section is normalised to 1 pb.
$m_{miss}$ distributions in the $pp\rightarrow ppZeeX$, with the protons reconstructed with the multi(+z)-single(-z)method. The background distributions are shown after the fit. The expectations for a signal with $m_{X} = 1000$ GeV are superimposed, where the fiducial production cross section is normalised to 1 pb.
$m_{miss}$ distributions in the $pp\rightarrow ppZeeX$, with the protons reconstructed with the single(+z)-multi(-z)method. The background distributions are shown after the fit. The expectations for a signal with $m_{X} = 1000$ GeV are superimposed, where the fiducial production cross section is normalised to 1 pb.
The central exclusive production of charged-hadron pairs in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV is examined, based on data collected in a special high-$\beta^*$ run of the LHC. The nonresonant continuum processes are studied with the invariant mass of the centrally produced two-pion system in the resonance-free region, $m_{\pi^+\pi^-}$$\lt$ 0.7 GeV or $m_{\pi^+\pi^-}$$\gt$ 1.8 GeV. Differential cross sections as functions of the azimuthal angle between the surviving protons, squared exchanged four-momenta, and $m_{\pi^+\pi^-}$ are measured in a wide region of scattered proton transverse momenta, between 0.2 and 0.8 GeV, and for pion rapidities $\lvert y\rvert$$\lt$ 2. A rich structure of interactions related to double-pomeron exchange is observed. A parabolic minimum in the distribution of the two-proton azimuthal angle is observed for the first time. It can be interpreted as an effect of additional pomeron exchanges between the protons from the interference between the bare and the rescattered amplitudes. After model tuning, various physical quantities are determined that are related to the pomeron cross section, proton-pomeron and meson-pomeron form factors, pomeron trajectory and intercept, and coefficients of diffractive eigenstates of the proton.
Distribution of the squared momentum transfer of the virtual pion in several $(p_\mathrm{1,T}, p_\mathrm{2,T})$ bins, in units of $\mu\mathrm{b}/\mathrm{GeV}^3$.
A search is presented for high-mass exclusive diphoton production via photon-photon fusion in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV in events where both protons survive the interaction. The analysis utilizes data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 103 fb$^{-1}$ collected in 2016-2018 with the central CMS detector and the CMS and TOTEM precision proton spectrometer (PPS). Events that have two photons with high transverse momenta ($p_\mathrm{T}^\gamma$$\gt$ 100 GeV), back-to-back in azimuth, and with a large diphoton invariant mass ($m_{\gamma\gamma}$$\gt$ 350 GeV) are selected. To remove the dominant inclusive diphoton backgrounds, the kinematic properties of the protons detected in PPS are required to match those of the central diphoton system. Only events having opposite-side forward protons detected with a fractional momentum loss between 0.035 and 0.15 (0.18) for the detectors on the negative (positive) side of CMS are considered. One exclusive diphoton candidate is observed for an expected background of 1.1 events. Limits at 95% confidence level are derived for the four-photon anomalous coupling parameters $\lvert\zeta_1\rvert$ $\lt$ 0.073 TeV$^{-4}$ and $\lvert\zeta_2\rvert$ $\lt$ 0.15 TeV$^{-4}$, using an effective field theory. Additionally, upper limits are placed on the production of axion-like particles with coupling strength to photons $f^{-1}$ that varies from 0.03 TeV$^{-1}$ to 1 TeV$^{-1}$ over the mass range from 500 to 2000 GeV.
95% expected and observed one-dimensional limits on $\zeta_1$ and $\zeta_2$ anomalous LbyL production parameters, when the other parameter is set to zero. This corresponds to a search region of $m_{\gamma\gamma} > 350$ GeV, $0.070 < \xi^+ < 0.111$, and $0.070 < \xi^- < 0.138$.
Limits on axion-like particle production.
A search for exclusive two-photon production via photon exchange in proton-proton collisions, pp $\to$ p$\gamma\gamma$p with intact protons, is presented. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 9.4 fb$^{-1}$ collected in 2016 using the CMS and TOTEM detectors at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC. Events are selected with a diphoton invariant mass above 350 GeV and with both protons intact in the final state, to reduce backgrounds from strong interactions. The events of interest are those where the invariant mass and rapidity calculated from the momentum losses of the forward-moving protons matches the mass and rapidity of the central, two-photon system. No events are found that satisfy this condition. Interpreting this result in an effective dimension-8 extension of the standard model, the first limits are set on the two anomalous four-photon coupling parameters. If the other parameter is constrained to its standard model value, the limits at 95% CL are $\lvert\zeta_1\rvert$ $\lt$ 2.9 $\times$ 10$^{-13}$ GeV$^{-4}$ and $\lvert\zeta_2\rvert$ $\lt$ 6.0 $\times$ 10$^{-13}$ GeV$^{-4}$.
95% expected and observed one-dimensional limits on $\zeta_1$ and $\zeta_2$ anomalous LbyL production parameters, when the other parameter is set to zero. This corresponds to a search region of $m_{\gamma\gamma} > 350$ GeV, $0.070 < \xi^+ < 0.111$, and $0.070 < \xi^- < 0.138$.
95% expected and observed limits on $\zeta_1$ and $\zeta_2$ anomalous LbyL production parameters. The parametric elliptic form is assumed: $a_0\zeta_1^2+a_1\zeta_1\zeta_2+a_2\zeta_2^2=1$. This corresponds to a search region of $m_{\gamma\gamma} > 350$ GeV, $0.070 < \xi^+ < 0.111$, and $0.070 < \xi^- < 0.138$.
Measurements are presented of the single-diffractive dijet cross section and the diffractive cross section as a function of the proton fractional momentum loss $\xi$ and the four-momentum transfer squared $t$. Both processes pp$\to$pX and pp$\to$Xp, ie with the proton scattering to either side of the interaction point, are measured, where X includes at least two jets; the results of the two processes are averaged. The analyses are based on data collected simultaneously with the CMS and TOTEM detectors at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$= 8 TeV during a dedicated run with $\beta^{\ast} =$ 90 m at low instantaneous luminosity and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 37.5 nb$^{-1}$. The single-diffractive dijet cross section $\sigma^\mathrm{pX}_{\mathrm{jj}}$, in the kinematic region $\xi \lt$ 0.1, 0.03 $\lt |$t$| \lt 1$ GeV$^2$, with at least two jets with transverse momentum $p_\mathrm{T} >$ 40 GeV, and pseudorapidity $|\eta| \lt$ 4.4, is 21.7$\pm$0.9 (stat)$^{+3.0}_{-3.3}$ (syst) $\pm$ 0.9 (lum) nb. The ratio of the single-diffractive to inclusive dijet yields, normalised per unit of $\xi$, is presented as a function of $x$, the longitudinal momentum fraction of the proton carried by the struck parton. The ratio in the kinematic region defined above, for $x$ values in the range $-$2.9 $\leq \log_{10} x \leq$$-$1.6, is $R = (\sigma^\mathrm{pX}_{\mathrm{jj}}/\Delta\xi)/\sigma_{\mathrm{jj}} =$ 0.025$\pm$0.001 (stat) $\pm$ 0.003 (syst), where $\sigma^\mathrm{pX}_{\mathrm{jj}}$ and $\sigma_{\mathrm{jj}}$ are the single-diffractive and inclusive dijet cross sections, respectively. The results are compared with predictions from models of diffractive and nondiffractive interactions. Monte Carlo predictions based on the HERA diffractive parton distribution functions agree well with the data when corrected for the effect of soft rescattering between the spectator partons.
Differential cross section as a function of $t$ for single-diffractive dijet production, in the kinematic region $\xi < 0.1$, $0.03 < \lvert t \rvert < 1\,\mathrm{GeV}^2$, with at least two jets with transverse momentum $p_{\mathrm{T}} > 40\,\mathrm{GeV}$, and pseudorapidity $\lvert \eta \rvert < 4.4$.
Differential cross section as a function of $\xi$ for single-diffractive dijet production, in the kinematic region $\xi < 0.1$, $0.03 < \lvert t \rvert < 1\,\mathrm{GeV}^2$, with at least two jets with transverse momentum $p_{\mathrm{T}} > 40\,\mathrm{GeV}$, and pseudorapidity $\lvert \eta \rvert < 4.4$.
A search for the central exclusive production of top quark-antiquark pairs ($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$) is performed for the first time using proton-tagged events in proton-proton collisions at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 29.4 fb$^{-1}$. The $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ decay products are reconstructed using the central CMS detector, while forward protons are measured in the CMS-TOTEM precision proton spectrometer. An observed (expected) upper bound on the production cross section of 0.59 (1.14) pb is set at 95% confidence level, for collisions of protons with fractional momentum losses between 2 and 20%.
A search for dark matter (DM) particles produced in association with bottom quarks is presented. The analysis uses proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The search is performed in the final state with large missing transverse momentum and a pair of jets originating from bottom quarks. No significant excess of data is observed with respect to the standard model expectation. Results are interpreted in the context of a type-II two-Higgs-doublet model with an additional light pseudoscalar (2HDM+a). An upper limit is set on the mass of the lighter pseudoscalar, excluding masses up to 260 GeV at 95% confidence level. Sensitivity to the parameter space with the ratio of the vacuum expectation values of the two Higgs doublets, $\tan\beta$, greater than 15 is achieved, capitalizing on the enhancement of couplings between pseudoscalars and bottom quarks with high $\tan\beta$.
A search is performed for exclusive high-mass $\gamma\gamma$$\to$ WW and $\gamma\gamma$$\to$ ZZ production in proton-proton collisions using intact forward protons reconstructed in near-beam detectors, with both weak bosons decaying into boosted and merged jets. The analysis is based on a sample of proton-proton collisions collected by the CMS and TOTEM experiments at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 100 fb$^{-1}$. No excess above the standard model background prediction is observed, and upper limits are set on the pp $\to$ pWWp and pp $\to$ pZZp cross sections in a fiducial region defined by the diboson invariant mass $m$(VV) $\lt$ 1 TeV (with V = W, Z) and proton fractional momentum loss 0.04 $\lt$$\xi$$\lt$ 0.20. The results are interpreted as new limits on dimension-6 and dimension-8 anomalous quartic gauge couplings.
Expected and observed upper limits on the AQGC operators $a^W_0/\Lambda^2$, with no unitarization. The $y$ axis shows the limit on the ratio of the observed cross section to the cross section predicted for each anomalous coupling value ($\sigma_\mathrm{AQGC}$).
Expected and observed upper limits on the AQGC operators $a^W_C/\Lambda^2$, with no unitarization. The $y$ axis shows the limit on the ratio of the observed cross section to the cross section predicted for each anomalous coupling value ($\sigma_\mathrm{AQGC}$).
Expected and observed upper limits on the AQGC operators $a^Z_0/\Lambda^2$, with no unitarization. The $y$ axis shows the limit on the ratio of the observed cross section to the cross section predicted for each anomalous coupling value ($\sigma_\mathrm{AQGC}$).
A search for a heavy pseudoscalar Higgs boson, A, decaying to a 125 GeV Higgs boson h and a Z boson is presented. The h boson is identified via its decay to a pair of tau leptons, while the Z boson is identified via its decay to a pair of electrons or muons. The search targets the production of the A boson via the gluon-gluon fusion process, gg $\to$ A, and in association with bottom quarks, $\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$A. The analysis uses a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV. Constraints are set on the product of the cross sections of the A production mechanisms and the A $\to$ Zh decay branching fraction. The observed (expected) upper limit at 95% confidence level ranges from 0.049 (0.060) pb to 1.02 (0.79) pb for the gg $\to$ A process and from 0.053 (0.059) pb to 0.79 (0.61) pb for the $\text{b}\bar{\text{b}}$A process in the probed range of the A boson mass, $m_\text{A}$, from 225 GeV to 1 TeV. The results of the search are used to constrain parameters within the ${\text{M}_{\text{h,EFT}}^{\text{125}}}$ benchmark scenario of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model. Values of $\tan\beta$ below 2.2 are excluded in this scenario at 95% confidence level for all $m_\text{A}$ values in the range from 225 to 350 GeV.
Exclusion limits on ggA production.
Exclusion limits on ggA production.
Example description
A search for $t$-channel exchange of leptoquarks (LQs) is performed in dimuon and dielectron spectra using proton-proton collision data collected at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Eight scenarios are considered, in which scalar or vector LQs couple up or down quarks to muons or electrons, for dilepton invariant masses above 500 GeV. The LQ masses are probed up to 5 TeV, beyond a regime probed by previous pair-production and single-production searches. The differential distributions of dilepton events are fit to templates that model the nonresonant LQ exchange and various standard model background processes. Limits are set on LQ-fermion coupling strengths for scalar and vector LQ masses in the 1-5 TeV range at 95% confidence level, establishing stringent limits on first- and second-generation LQs.
Observed and Expected UL exclusions on the $BR(H\to SUEP)$ of hadronic signals with $m_{A'} = 0.7\;GeV$ and $BR(A' \rightarrow ee) = BR(A' \rightarrow \mu\mu) = 0.15$ and $BR(A' \rightarrow \pi\pi) = 0.7$.
The observed data in the dielectron channel and the fitted signal-plus-background templates, shown for the $S_{e u}$ scenario with a candidate LQ mass of 2.5 TeV. Distributions of events are binned in the reconstructed dilepton mass, rapidity, and cosine theta.
Observed and Expected UL exclusions on the $BR(H\to S)$ of leptonic signals with $m_{A'} = 0.5\;GeV$ and $BR(A' \rightarrow ee) = BR(A' \rightarrow \mu\mu) = 0.2$ and $BR(A' \rightarrow \pi\pi) = 0.6$.
Forum