Density fluctuations near the QCD critical point can be probed via an intermittency analysis in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. We report the first measurement of intermittency in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{_{NN}}}$ = 7.7-200 GeV measured by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The scaled factorial moments of identified charged hadrons are analyzed at mid-rapidity and within the transverse momentum phase space. We observe a power-law behavior of scaled factorial moments in Au$+$Au collisions and a decrease in the extracted scaling exponent ($\nu$) from peripheral to central collisions. The $\nu$ is consistent with a constant for different collisions energies in the mid-central (10-40%) collisions. Moreover, the $\nu$ in the 0-5% most central Au$+$Au collisions exhibits a non-monotonic energy dependence that reaches a possible minimum around $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{_{NN}}}$ = 27 GeV. The physics implications on the QCD phase structure are discussed.
The scaled factorial moments, $F_{q}(M)$($q=$ 2-6), of identified charged hadrons ($h^{\pm}$) multiplicity in the most central (0-5\%) Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{_{NN}}}$ = 7.7 GeV.
The scaled factorial moments, $F_{q}(M)$($q=$ 2-6), of identified charged hadrons ($h^{\pm}$) multiplicity in the most central (0-5\%) Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{_{NN}}}$ = 19.6 GeV.
The scaled factorial moments, $F_{q}(M)$($q=$ 2-6), of identified charged hadrons ($h^{\pm}$) multiplicity in the most central (0-5\%) Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{_{NN}}}$ = 39 GeV.
Searches for the exclusive decays of the Higgs boson to an $\omega$ meson and a photon or a $K^{*}$ meson and a photon can probe flavour-conserving and flavour-violating Higgs boson couplings to light quarks, respectively. Searches for these decays, along with the analogous $Z$ boson decay to an $\omega$ meson and a photon, are performed with a $pp$ collision data sample corresponding to integrated luminosities of up to 134 fb$^{-1}$ collected at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The obtained 95% confidence-level upper limits on the respective branching fractions are ${\cal B}(H\rightarrow\omega\gamma)< 5.5\times 10^{-4}$, ${\cal B}(H\rightarrow K^{*}\gamma)< 2.2\times10^{-4}$ and ${\cal B}(Z\rightarrow \omega\gamma)<3.9\times 10^{-6}$. The limits for $H\rightarrow \omega\gamma$ and $Z\rightarrow \omega\gamma$ are 370 times and 140 times the Standard Model expected values, respectively. The result for $Z\rightarrow \omega\gamma$ corresponds to a two-orders-of-magnitude improvement over the limit obtained by the DELPHI experiment at LEP.
Numbers of observed and expected background events for the $m_{\mathcal{M}\gamma}$ ranges of interest. Each expected background and the corresponding uncertainty of its mean is obtained from a background-only fit to the data; the uncertainty does not take into account statistical fluctuations in each mass range. Expected $Z$ and Higgs boson signal contributions, with their corresponding total systematic uncertainty, are shown for reference branching fractions of $10^{-6}$ and $10^{-4}$, respectively.
Expected and observed branching fraction limits at the 95% CL for $H/Z\rightarrow \omega\gamma$ and $H\rightarrow K^{*}\gamma$.
This paper presents a search for a new Z' vector gauge boson with the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider using pp collision data collected at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. The new gauge boson Z' is predicted by $L_{\mu}-L_{\tau}$ models to address observed phenomena that can not be explained by the Standard Model. The search examines the four-muon (4$\mu$) final state, using a deep learning neural network classifier to separate the Z' signal from the Standard Model background events. The di-muon invariant masses in the $4\mu$ events are used to extract the Z' resonance signature. No significant excess of events is observed over the predicted background. Upper limits at a 95% confidence level on the Z' production cross-section times the decay branching fraction of $pp \rightarrow Z'\mu\mu \rightarrow 4\mu$ are set from 0.31 to 4.3 fb for the Z' mass ranging from 5 to 81 GeV. The corresponding common coupling strengths, $g_{Z'}$, of the Z' boson to the second and third generation leptons above 0.003 - 0.2 have been excluded.
Summary of the chosen $Z'$ hypotheses and corresponding coupling, width, and cross-section (calculated at LO accuracy in QCD) at each mass point.
The $Z'$ signal event selection efficiencies compared to the events passing the previous cut level for several representative mass points. The overall signal efficiencies are the products of the 4$\mu$ MC filter and the combined event selection efficiencies.
The selected 4$\mu$ events in data and the estimated backgrounds and their combined statistical and systematic uncertainties.
Measurements of transverse energy$-$energy correlations and their associated azimuthal asymmetries in multijet events are presented. The analysis is performed using a data sample corresponding to 139 $\mbox{fb\(^{-1}\)}$ of proton$-$proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV, collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The measurements are presented in bins of the scalar sum of the transverse momenta of the two leading jets and unfolded to particle level. They are then compared to next-to-next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations for the first time, which feature a significant reduction in the theoretical uncertainties estimated using variations of the renormalisation and factorisation scales. The agreement between data and theory is good, thus providing a precision test of QCD at large momentum transfers $Q$. The strong coupling constant $\alpha_s$ is extracted differentially as a function of $Q$, showing a good agreement with the renormalisation group equation and with previous analyses. A simultaneous fit to all transverse energy$-$energy correlation distributions across different kinematic regions yields a value of $\alpha_\mathrm{s}(m_Z) = 0.1175 \pm 0.0006 \mbox{ (exp.)} ^{+0.0034}_{-0.0017} \mbox{ (theo.)}$, while the global fit to the asymmetry distributions yields $\alpha_{\mathrm{s}}(m_Z) = 0.1185 \pm 0.0009 \mbox{ (exp.)} ^{+0.0025}_{-0.0012} \mbox{ (theo.)}$.
Particle-level TEEC results
Particle-level TEEC results for the first HT2 bin
Particle-level TEEC results for the second HT2 bin
Higgs boson production via gluon-gluon fusion is measured in the $WW^{\ast} \to e\nu\mu\nu$ decay channel. The dataset utilized corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the ATLAS detector from $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV proton-proton collisions delivered by the Large Hadron Collider between 2015 and 2018. Differential cross sections are measured in a fiducial phase space restricted to the production of at most one additional jet. The results are consistent with Standard Model expectations, derived using different Monte Carlo generators.
Measured differential fiducial cross section for $p_{T}^{H}$ in the 0+1-jet fiducial region using the regularized in-likelihood unfolding method. The quoted uncertainties include statistical and systematic uncertainties from experimental and theory sources as well as background normalization effects and shape effects from background and signal.
Measured differential fiducial cross section for $m_{\ell\ell}$ in the 0+1-jet fiducial region using the regularized in-likelihood unfolding method. The quoted uncertainties include statistical and systematic uncertainties from experimental and theory sources as well as background normalization effects and shape effects from background and signal.
Measured differential fiducial cross section for $Y_{\ell\ell}$ in the 0+1-jet fiducial region using the regularized in-likelihood unfolding method. The quoted uncertainties include statistical and systematic uncertainties from experimental and theory sources as well as background normalization effects and shape effects from background and signal.
A search for the leptonic charge asymmetry ($A_\text{c}^{\ell}$) of top-quark$-$antiquark pair production in association with a $W$ boson ($t\bar{t}W$) is presented. The search is performed using final states with exactly three charged light leptons (electrons or muons) and is based on $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV proton$-$proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN during the years 2015$-$2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. A profile-likelihood fit to the event yields in multiple regions corresponding to positive and negative differences between the pseudorapidities of the charged leptons from top-quark and top-antiquark decays is used to extract the charge asymmetry. At reconstruction level, the asymmetry is found to be $-0.123 \pm 0.136$ (stat.) $\pm \, 0.051$ (syst.). An unfolding procedure is applied to convert the result at reconstruction level into a charge-asymmetry value in a fiducial volume at particle level with the result of $-0.112 \pm 0.170$ (stat.) $\pm \, 0.054$ (syst.). The Standard Model expectations for these two observables are calculated using Monte Carlo simulations with next-to-leading-order plus parton shower precision in quantum chromodynamics and including next-to-leading-order electroweak corrections. They are $-0.084 \, ^{+0.005}_{-0.003}$ (scale) $\pm\, 0.006$ (MC stat.) and $-0.063 \, ^{+0.007}_{-0.004}$ (scale) $\pm\, 0.004$ (MC stat.) respectively, and in agreement with the measurements.
Measured values of the leptonic charge asymmetry ($A_c^{\ell}$) in ttW production in the three lepton channel. Results are given at reconstruction level and at particle level. Expected values are obtained using the Sherpa MC generator.
Definition of the fiducial phase space at particle level with the light lepton candidates $(\ell=e,\mu)$, jets ($j$) and invariant mass of the opposite sign same flavour lepton pair ($m_{OSSF}^{ll}$).
Correlation matrix between the Normalisation Factors and the Nuisance Parameters (NP) in the fit using using both statistical and systematic uncertainties to data in all analysis regions.
A search for flavour-changing neutral-current decays of a top quark into an up-type quark (either up or charm) and a light scalar particle $X$ decaying into a bottom anti-bottom quark pair is presented. The search focuses on top-quark pair production where one top quark decays to $qX$, with $X \rightarrow b\bar{b}$, and the other top quark decays according to the Standard Model, with the $W$ boson decaying leptonically. The final state is thus characterised by an isolated electron or muon and at least four jets. Events are categorised according to the multiplicity of jets and jets tagged as originating from $b$-quarks, and a neural network is used to discriminate between signal and background processes. The data analysed correspond to 139 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The 95% confidence-level upper limits between 0.019% and 0.062% are derived for the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}$($t \rightarrow uX$) and between 0.018% and 0.078% for the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}$($t \rightarrow cX$), for masses of the scalar particle $X$ between 20 and 160 GeV.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits for $\mathcal{B}$($t \rightarrow uX$) $\times$ $\mathcal{B}$($X \rightarrow b\bar{b}$). The bands surrounding the expected limits show the 68% and 95% confidence intervals, respectively.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits for $\mathcal{B}$($t \rightarrow cX$) $\times$ $\mathcal{B}$($X \rightarrow b\bar{b}$). The bands surrounding the expected limits show the 68% and 95% confidence intervals, respectively.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits for $\mathcal{B}$($t \rightarrow uH$) $\times$ $\mathcal{B}$($X \rightarrow b\bar{b}$) and $\mathcal{B}$($t \rightarrow cH$) $\times$ $\mathcal{B}$($X \rightarrow b\bar{b}$).
A search for nonresonant Higgs boson pair production in the $b\bar{b}b\bar{b}$ final state is presented. The analysis uses 126 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data at $\sqrt{s}={13}$ TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider, and targets both the gluon-gluon fusion and vector-boson fusion production modes. No evidence of the signal is found and the observed (expected) upper limit on the cross-section for nonresonant Higgs boson pair production is determined to be 5.4 (8.1) times the Standard Model predicted cross-section at 95% confidence level. Constraints are placed on modifiers to the $HHH$ and $HHVV$ couplings. The observed (expected) $2\sigma$ constraints on the $HHH$ coupling modifier, $\kappa_\lambda$, are determined to be $[-3.5, 11.3]$ ($[-5.4, 11.4]$), while the corresponding constraints for the $HHVV$ coupling modifier, $\kappa_{2V}$, are $[-0.0, 2.1]$ ($[-0.1, 2.1]$). In addition, constraints on relevant coefficients are derived in the context of the Standard Model effective field theory and Higgs effective field theory, and upper limits on the $HH$ production cross-section are placed in seven Higgs effective field theory benchmark scenarios.
Distributions of the reconstructed m<sub>HH</sub> in data (shown by the black points), the estimated background (shown by the yellow histograms) in the VBF signal region with |Δη<sub>HH</sub>| < 1.5. The hatching shows the total uncertainty of the background estimate. The distribution of the expected background is obtained using the best-fit values of the nuisance parameters in the fit to the data with the background-only hypothesis. Distributions for three choices of couplings are shown: the SM, κ<sub>λ</sub>= 6, and κ<sub>2V</sub> = 0 (with all other couplings set to their SM values in the last two models), scaled so as to be visible on the plot. The lower panels show the ratio of the observed data yield to the predicted background in each bin. Events in the overflow bins are counted in the yields of the final bins. In the HEPData entry, the raw value per histogram bin is provided, while in the published paper the values in the histogram are scaled by the bin width.
Distributions of the reconstructed m<sub>HH</sub> in data (shown by the black points), the estimated background (shown by the yellow histograms) in the VBF signal region with |Δη<sub>HH</sub>| > 1.5. The hatching shows the total uncertainty of the background estimate. The distribution of the expected background is obtained using the best-fit values of the nuisance parameters in the fit to the data with the background-only hypothesis. Distributions for three choices of couplings are shown: the SM, κ<sub>λ</sub>= 6, and κ<sub>2V</sub> = 0 (with all other couplings set to their SM values in the last two models), scaled so as to be visible on the plot. The lower panels show the ratio of the observed data yield to the predicted background in each bin. Events in the overflow bins are counted in the yields of the final bins. In the HEPData entry, the raw value per histogram bin is provided, while in the published paper the values in the histogram are scaled by the bin width.
The observed 95% CL exclusion limits as a function of κ<sub>λ</sub> (obtained using the signal strength μ<sub>ggF+VBF</sub> as the POI) from the combined ggF and VBF signal regions, as shown by the solid black line. The value of κ<sub>2V</sub> is fixed to 1. The blue and yellow bands show respectively the 1σ and 2σ bands around the expected exclusion limits, which are shown by the dashed black line. The expected exclusion limits are obtained using a fit to the data with the background-only hypothesis. The dark red line shows the predicted combined ggF and VBF HH cross-section as a function of κ<sub>λ</sub>.
A search for physics beyond the standard model (SM) in the final state with a hadron- ically decaying tau lepton and a neutrino is presented. This analysis is based on data recorded by the CMS experiment from proton-proton collisions at a center-of- mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. The transverse mass spectrum is analyzed for the presence of new physics. No significant deviation from the SM prediction is observed. Limits are set on the production cross section of a W′ boson decaying into a tau lepton and a neutrino. Lower limits are set on the mass of the sequential SM-like heavy charged vector bo- son and the mass of a quantum black hole. Upper limits are placed on the couplings of a new boson to the SM fermions. Constraints are put on a nonuniversal gauge interaction model and an effective field theory model. For the first time, upper lim- its on the cross section of t-channel leptoquark (LQ) exchange are presented. These limits are translated into exclusion limits on the LQ mass and on its coupling in the t-channel. The sensitivity of this analysis extends into the parameter space of LQ models that attempt to explain the anomalies observed in B meson decays. The limits presented for the various interpretations are the most stringent to date. Additionally, a model-independent limit is provided.
The transverse mass distribution of $ au$ leptons and missing transverse momentum observed in the Run-2 data (black dots with statistical uncertainty) as well as the expectation from SM processes (stacked histograms). Different signal hypotheses normalized to 10 fb$^{-1}$ are illustrated as dashed lines for exemplary SSM W$\prime$ boson, QBH and EFT signal hypotheses. The ratios of the background-subtracted data yields to the expected background yields are presented in the lower panel. The combined statistical and systematic uncertainties in the background are represented by the grey shaded band in the ratio panel.
Bayesian upper exclusion limits at 95% CL on the product of the cross section and branching fraction of a W$\prime$ boson decaying to a $\tau$ lepton and a neutrino in the SSM model. For this model, W$\prime$ boson masses of up to 4.8 TeV can be excluded. The limit is given by the intersection of the observed (solid) limit and the theoretical cross section (blue dotted curve). The 68 and 95% quantiles of the limits are represented by the green and yellow bands, respectively. The $\sigma \mathcal{B}$ for an SSM W' boson, along with its associated uncertainty, calculated at NNLO precision in QCD is shown.
Bayesian 95% CL model-independent upper limit on the product of signal cross sections and branching fraction for the $\tau+\nu$ decay for a back-to-back $\tau$ lepton plus $p_{T}^{miss}$ topology. To calculate this limit, all events for signal, background, and data are summed starting from a minimum $m_{T}$ threshold and then divided by the total number of events. No assumption on signal shape is included in this limit. The expected (dashed line) and observed (solid line) limits are shown as well as the 68% and 95% CL uncertainty bands (green and yellow, respectively).
A measurement of the charge asymmetry in top-quark pair ($t\bar{t}$) production in association with a photon is presented. The measurement is performed in the single-lepton $t\bar{t}$ decay channel using proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN at a centre-of-mass-energy of 13 TeV during the years 2015-2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. The charge asymmetry is obtained from the distribution of the difference of the absolute rapidities of the top quark and antiquark using a profile likelihood unfolding approach. It is measured to be $A_\text{C}=-0.003 \pm 0.029$ in agreement with the Standard Model expectation.
The measured asymmetry of top quark pairs in $t\bar{t}\gamma$ production in a fiducial region at particle level.
Normalised differential cross section as a function of $|y(t)| - |y(\bar{t})|$. The observed data is compared with the SM expectation using aMC@NLO+Pythia8 at NLO QCD precision. The value of the charge asymmetry corresponds to the difference between the two bins. Underflow and overflow events are included in corresponding bins of the distribution.
Definition of the fiducial phase space at particle level. where, $\gamma$: photon $\ell$: lepton j: jet
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