The $L_{\mu}-L_{\tau}$ extension of the standard model predicts the existence of a lepton-flavor-universality-violating $Z^{\prime}$ boson that couples only to the heavier lepton families. We search for such a $Z^\prime$ through its invisible decay in the process $e^+ e^- \to \mu^+ \mu^- Z^{\prime}$. We use a sample of electron-positron collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 10.58GeV collected by the Belle II experiment in 2019-2020, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 79.7fb$^{-1}$. We find no excess over the expected standard-model background. We set 90$\%$-confidence-level upper limits on the cross section for this process as well as on the coupling of the model, which ranges from $3 \times 10^{-3}$ at low $Z^{\prime}$ masses to 1 at $Z^{\prime}$ masses of 8$GeV/c^{2}$.
Observed 90% CL upper limits on the cross section $\sigma (e^+ e^- \to \mu^+ \mu^- Z', Z' \to $ invisible) as functions of the $Z'$ mass for the cases of negligible $\Gamma_{Z'}$ and for $\Gamma_{Z'} = 0.1 M_{Z'}$. Also shown are previous limits from Belle II.
Observed 90% CL upper limits on the coupling $g'$ for the fully invisible $L_\mu − L_\tau$ model as functions of the $Z'$ mass for the cases of negligible $\Gamma_{Z'}$ and for $\Gamma_{Z'} = 0.1 M_{Z'}$. Also shown are previous limits from NA64-e and Belle II searches. The red band shows the region that explains the muon anomalous magnetic moment $(g - 2)_\mu \pm 2 \sigma$. The vertical dashed line indicates the limit beyond which the hypothesis $B(Z' \to \chi\bar{\chi}) \approx 1$ is not respected in the negligible $\Gamma_{Z'}$ case.
Observed 90% CL upper limits on the coupling $g'$ for the vanilla $L_\mu − L_\tau$ model as functions of the $Z'$ mass. Also shown are previous limits from Belle II and NA64-e searches for invisible $Z'$ decays, and from Belle, BaBar and CMS searches for $Z'$ decays to muons (at 95% CL). The red band shows the region that explains the muon anomalous magnetic moment $(g - 2)_\mu \pm 2 \sigma$.
We determine the CKM matrix-element magnitude $|V_{cb}|$ using $\overline{B}^0\to D^{*+}\ell^-\bar\nu_\ell$ decays reconstructed in $189 \, \mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of collision data collected by the Belle II experiment, located at the SuperKEKB $e^+e^-$ collider. Partial decay rates are reported as functions of the recoil parameter $w$ and three decay angles separately for electron and muon final states. We obtain $|V_{cb}|$ using the Boyd-Grinstein-Lebed and Caprini-Lellouch-Neubert parametrizations, and find $|V_{cb}|_\mathrm{BGL}=(40.57\pm 0.31 \pm 0.95\pm 0.58)\times 10^{-3}$ and $|V_{cb}|_\mathrm{CLN}=(40.13 \pm 0.27 \pm 0.93\pm 0.58 )\times 10^{-3}$ with the uncertainties denoting statistical components, systematic components, and components from the lattice QCD input, respectively. The branching fraction is measured to be ${\cal B}(\overline{B}^0\to D^{*+}\ell^-\bar\nu_\ell)=(4.922 \pm 0.023 \pm 0.220)\%$. The ratio of branching fractions for electron and muon final states is found to be $0.998 \pm 0.009 \pm 0.020$. In addition, we determine the forward-backward angular asymmetry and the $D^{*+}$ longitudinal polarization fractions. All results are compatible with lepton-flavor universality in the Standard Model.
Measured partial decay rates $\Delta\Gamma$ (in units of $10^{-15}$ GeV)
Average of normalized decay rates over $\overline{B}^0\to D^{*+} e^- \bar\nu_e$ and $\overline{B}^0\to D^{*+} \mu^- \bar\nu_\mu$ decays
Average of normalized decay rates that are determined using the matrix inversion unfolding method
Additional spin-0 particles appear in many extensions of the standard model. We search for long-lived spin-0 particles $S$ in $B$-meson decays mediated by a $b\to s$ quark transition in $e^+e^-$ collisions at the $\Upsilon(4S)$ resonance at the Belle II experiment. Based on a sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $189 \mathrm{\,fb}^{-1}$, we observe no evidence for signal. We set model-independent upper limits on the product of branching fractions $\mathrm{Br}(B^0\to K^*(892)^0(\to K^+\pi^-)S)\times \mathrm{Br}(S\to x^+x^-)$ and $\mathrm{Br}(B^+\to K^+S)\times \mathrm{Br}(S\to x^+x^-)$, where $x^+x^-$ indicates $e^+e^-, \mu^+\mu^-, \pi^+\pi^-$, or $K^+K^-$, as functions of $S$ mass and lifetime at the level of $10^{-7}$.
Expected and observed candidates for $\mathcal{B}($$B^+\to K^+S$$) \times$ $\mathcal{B}($$S\to e^+e^-$) as a function of the reduced mediator candidate mass.
Expected and observed candidates for $\mathcal{B}($$B^+\to K^+S$$) \times$ $\mathcal{B}($$S\to \mu^+\mu^-$) as a function of the reduced mediator candidate mass.
Expected and observed candidates for $\mathcal{B}($$B^+\to K^+S$$) \times$ $\mathcal{B}($$S\to \pi^+\pi^-$) as a function of the reduced mediator candidate mass.
We report a measurement of the $e^+e^- \to \pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ cross section in the energy range from 0.62 to 3.50 GeV using an initial-state radiation technique. We use an $e^+e^-$ data sample corresponding to 191 $\text{fb}^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity, collected at a center-of-mass energy at or near the $\Upsilon{(4S)}$ resonance with the Belle II detector at the SuperKEKB collider. Signal yields are extracted by fitting the two-photon mass distribution in $e^+e^- \to \pi^+\pi^-\pi^0\gamma$ events, which involve a $\pi^0 \to \gamma\gamma$ decay and an energetic photon radiated from the initial state. Signal efficiency corrections with an accuracy of 1.6% are obtained from several control data samples. The uncertainty on the cross section at the $\omega$ and $\phi$ resonances is dominated by the systematic uncertainty of 2.2%. The resulting cross sections in the 0.62-1.80 GeV energy range yield $ a_\mu^{3\pi} = [48.91 \pm 0.23~(\mathrm{stat}) \pm 1.07~(\mathrm{syst})] \times 10^{-10} $ for the leading-order hadronic vacuum polarization contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment. This result differs by $2.5$ standard deviations from the most precise current determination.
Energy bin range ($\sqrt{s'}$), number of events after unfolding ($N_{\mathrm{unf}}$), corrected efficiency ($\varepsilon$), and cross section ($\sigma_{3\pi}$) for $e^{+}e^{-} \to \pi^{+} \pi^{-} \pi^{0}$ in energy range 0.62--1.05~GeV. The two uncertainties in the cross section are the statistical and systematic contributions. The statistical uncertainties for the unfolding and cross section are square roots of the diagonal components of the unfolding covariance matrix. The image shows Figure 23 in the PRD paper, and the points with error bars indicate the cross section in the table.
Energy bin range ($\sqrt{s'}$), number of events after unfolding ($N_{\mathrm{unf}}$), corrected efficiency ($\varepsilon$), and cross section ($\sigma_{3\pi}$) for $e^{+}e^{-} \to \pi^{+} \pi^{-} \pi^{0}$ in energy range 1.05--3.50~GeV. The two uncertainties in the cross section are the statistical and systematic contributions. The statistical uncertainties for the unfolding and cross section are square roots of the diagonal components of the unfolding covariance matrix. The image shows Figure 23 in the PRD paper, and the points with error bars indicate the cross section in the table.
The statistic covariance matrix for the $e^+e^- \to \pi^+ \pi^- \pi^0$ cross section measurement at the Belle II. The 212 x 212 matrix of the energy ranges from 0.62 to 3.50 GeV. This covariance matrix, obtained by propagating the covariance matrix in the unfolding procedure, shows the total statistical uncertainties for the cross section results.
We present the results of a search for the charged-lepton-flavor violating decays $B^0 \rightarrow K^{*0}\tau^\pm \ell^{\mp}$, where $\ell^{\mp}$ is either an electron or a muon. The results are based on 365 fb$^{-1}$ and 711 fb$^{-1}$ datasets collected with the Belle II and Belle detectors, respectively. We use an exclusive hadronic $B$-tagging technique, and search for a signal decay in the system recoiling against a fully reconstructed $B$ meson. We find no evidence for $B^0 \rightarrow K^{*0}\tau^\pm \ell^{\mp}$ decays and set upper limits on the branching fractions in the range of $(2.9-6.4)\times10^{-5}$ at 90% confidence level.
$M_{\tau}$ distribution in signal region, (OS$e$, Belle)
$M_{\tau}$ distribution in signal region, (OS$e$, Belle II)
$M_{\tau}$ distribution in signal region, (OS$\mu$, Belle)
We present a search for the rare flavor-changing neutral-current decay $B^0 \to K^{\ast 0} \tau^+ \tau^-$ with data collected by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider. The analysis uses a 365 fb$^{-1}$ data sample recorded at the center-of-mass energy of the $\Upsilon(4S)$ resonance. One of the $B$ mesons produced in the $\Upsilon(4S)\to B^0 \bar{B}^0$ process is fully reconstructed in a hadronic decay mode, while its companion $B$ meson is required to decay into a $K^{\ast 0}$ and two $\tau$ leptons of opposite charge. The $\tau$ leptons are reconstructed in final states with a single electron, muon, charged pion or charged $\rho$ meson, and additional neutrinos. We set an upper limit on the branching ratio of $BR(B^0 \to K^{\ast 0} \tau^+ \tau^-) < 1.8 \times 10^{-3}$ at the 90% confidence level, which is the most stringent constraint reported to date.
Observed yields and fit results in bins of $\eta(\rm{BDT})$ as obtained by the fit on the four signal categories, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 365 fb$^{-1}$. The yields are shown for $B^0 \rightarrow K^{\ast 0}\tau\tau$ signal and the two background components ($B\bar{B}$ decays and $q\bar{q}$ continuum).
Distribution of the di-tau invariant mass squared $q^2$ assumed for the generated signal $B^0 \rightarrow K^{\ast 0}\tau\tau$ events.
Signal-selection efficiency as a function of the di-tau invariant mass squared $q^2$ for simulated events in the SR. The error bars indicate the statistical uncertainty.
Cross-sections for the production of a $Z$ boson in association with two photons are measured in proton$-$proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data used correspond to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the ATLAS experiment during Run 2 of the LHC. The measurements use the electron and muon decay channels of the $Z$ boson, and a fiducial phase-space region where the photons are not radiated from the leptons. The integrated $Z(\rightarrow\ell\ell)\gamma\gamma$ cross-section is measured with a precision of 12% and differential cross-sections are measured as a function of six kinematic variables of the $Z\gamma\gamma$ system. The data are compared with predictions from MC event generators which are accurate to up to next-to-leading order in QCD. The cross-section measurements are used to set limits on the coupling strengths of dimension-8 operators in the framework of an effective field theory.
Measured fiducial-level integrated cross-section. NLO predictions from Sherpa 2.2.10 and MadGraph5_aMC@NLO 2.7.3 are also shown. The uncertainty in the predictions is divided into statistical and theoretical uncertainties (scale and PDF+$\alpha_{s}$).
Measured unfolded differential cross-section as a function of the leading photon transverse energy $E^{\gamma1}_{\mathrm{T}}$. NLO predictions from Sherpa 2.2.10 and MadGraph5_aMC@NLO 2.7.3 are also shown. The uncertainty in the predictions is divided into statistical and theoretical uncertainties (scale and PDF+$\alpha_{s}$).
Measured unfolded differential cross-section as a function of the subleading photon transverse energy $E^{\gamma2}_{\mathrm{T}}$. NLO predictions from Sherpa 2.2.10 and MadGraph5_aMC@NLO 2.7.3 are also shown. The uncertainty in the predictions is divided into statistical and theoretical uncertainties (scale and PDF+$\alpha_{s}$).
A search for heavy Higgs bosons produced in association with a vector boson and decaying into a pair of vector bosons is performed in final states with two leptons (electrons or muons) of the same electric charge, missing transverse momentum and jets. A data sample of proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider between 2015 and 2018 is used. The data correspond to a total integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. The observed data are in agreement with Standard Model background expectations. The results are interpreted using higher-dimensional operators in an effective field theory. Upper limits on the production cross-section are calculated at 95% confidence level as a function of the heavy Higgs boson's mass and coupling strengths to vector bosons. Limits are set in the Higgs boson mass range from 300 to 1500 GeV, and depend on the assumed couplings. The highest excluded mass for a heavy Higgs boson with the coupling combinations explored is 900 GeV. Limits on coupling strengths are also provided.
Comparison between data and SM predictions for the meff distributions in the boosted SR. The background predictions are obtained through a background-only simultaneous fit and are shown as filled histograms. The entries in overflow are included in the last bin. The size of the combined statistical and systematic uncertainty for the sum of the fitted background is indicated by the hatched band. The ratio of the data to the sum of the fitted background is shown in the lower panel. Two benchmark signal samples, as indicated in the legend, are also shown as unstacked unfilled histograms normalised to the integrated luminosity of the data using the theoretical cross-sections.
Comparison between data and SM predictions for the meff distributions in the resolved SR. The background predictions are obtained through a background-only simultaneous fit and are shown as filled histograms. The entries in overflow are included in the last bin. The size of the combined statistical and systematic uncertainty for the sum of the fitted background is indicated by the hatched band. The ratio of the data to the sum of the fitted background is shown in the lower panel. Two benchmark signal samples, as indicated in the legend, are also shown as unstacked unfilled histograms normalised to the integrated luminosity of the data using the theoretical cross-sections.
Expected 95% CL upper limits on the production of a heavy Higgs boson as functions of fw and fww with mass equal to 300 GeV.
A search for a $WZ$ resonance, in the fully leptonic final state (electrons and muons), is performed using 139 fb$^{-1}$ of data collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The results are interpreted in terms of a singly charged Higgs boson of the Georgi$-$Machacek model, produced by $WZ$ fusion, and of a Heavy Vector Triplet, with the resonance produced by $WZ$ fusion or the Drell$-$Yan process. No significant excess over the Standard Model predictions is observed and limits are set on the production cross-section times branching ratio as a function of the resonance mass for these processes.
Comparisons of the data and the expected background distributions of the WZ invariant mass in the Drell-Yan signal region. The background predictions are obtained through a background-only simultaneous fit to the Drell-Yan signal region and the WZ-QCD Drell-Yan and ZZ Drell-Yan control regions. The yields are normalized to the bin width.
Comparisons of the data and the expected background distributions of the WZ invariant mass in the ANN-based VBF signal region. The background predictions are obtained through a background-only simultaneous fit to the VBF signal region and the WZ-QCD and ZZ VBF control regions. The yields are normalized to the bin width
Comparisons of the observed data and the expected background distributions of the WZ invariant mass using the cut-based VBF selection. The background predictions are obtained through a background-only simultaneous fit to the VBF cut-based signal region and the WZ-QCD and ZZ VBF control regions. The yields are normalized to the bin width.
Jet quenching is the process of color-charged partons losing energy via interactions with quark-gluon plasma droplets created in heavy-ion collisions. The collective expansion of such droplets is well described by viscous hydrodynamics. Similar evidence of collectivity is consistently observed in smaller collision systems, including $pp$ and $p$+Pb collisions. In contrast, while jet quenching is observed in Pb+Pb collisions, no evidence has been found in these small systems to date, raising fundamental questions about the nature of the system created in these collisions. The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider has measured the yield of charged hadrons correlated with reconstructed jets in 0.36 nb$^{-1}$ of $p$+Pb and 3.6 pb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions at 5.02 TeV. The yields of charged hadrons with $p_\mathrm{T}^\mathrm{ch} >0.5$ GeV near and opposite in azimuth to jets with $p_\mathrm{T}^\mathrm{jet} > 30$ or $60$ GeV, and the ratios of these yields between $p$+Pb and $pp$ collisions, $I_{p\mathrm{Pb}}$, are reported. The collision centrality of $p$+Pb events is categorized by the energy deposited by forward neutrons from the struck nucleus. The $I_{p\mathrm{Pb}}$ values are consistent with unity within a few percent for hadrons with $p_\mathrm{T}^\mathrm{ch} >4$ GeV at all centralities. These data provide new, strong constraints which preclude almost any parton energy loss in central $p$+Pb collisions.
The per-jet charged particle yield in pPb and pp collisions for hadrons near a $p_{T}^{\textrm{jet}} > 30~\textrm{GeV}$ jet ($\Delta\phi_{\textrm{ch,jet}} < \pi/8$).
The per-jet charged particle yield in pPb and pp collisions for hadrons opposite to a $p_{T}^{\textrm{jet}} > 30~\textrm{GeV}$ jet ($\Delta\phi_{\textrm{ch,jet}} > 7\pi/8$).
The per-jet charged particle yield in pPb and pp collisions for hadrons near a $p_{T}^{\textrm{jet}} > 60~\textrm{GeV}$ jet ($\Delta\phi_{\textrm{ch,jet}} < \pi/8$).