A search is presented for narrow resonances, with a mass between 0.6 and 1.8 TeV, decaying to pairs of jets, in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV. The search is performed using dijets that are reconstructed, selected, and recorded in a compact form by the high-level trigger in a technique referred to as "data scouting", from data collected in 2016$-$2018 corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 177 fb$^{-1}$. The dijet mass spectra are well described by a smooth parameterization, and no significant evidence for the production of new particles is observed. Model-independent upper limits are presented on the product of the cross section, branching fraction, and acceptance for the individual cases of narrow quark-quark, quark-gluon, and gluon-gluon resonances, and are compared to the predictions from a variety of models of narrow dijet resonance production. The upper limit on the coupling of a dark matter mediator to quarks is presented as a function of the mediator mass. The sensitivity of this search goes beyond what is expected from statistical scaling with the integrated luminosity alone, as a consequence of the use of fewer parameters in the background function within a more robust statistical procedure.
Observed differential dijet spectrum using the 2016 data.
Observed differential dijet spectrum using the 2017 data.
Observed differential dijet spectrum using the 2018 data.
The ratio between the B$_\mathrm{c}^+$$\to$ J/$ψ$$τ^+ν_τ$ and B$_\mathrm{c}^+$$\to$ J/$ψ$$μ^+ν_μ$ branching fractions is measured using a data sample of proton-proton collisions collected by CMS at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV in the years 2016$-$2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The J$/ψ$ meson is identified through its J$/ψ$$\to$$μ^+μ^-$ decay and the tau lepton is reconstructed in the hadronic three-prong final state. The measured ratio of branching fractions in this tau decay mode, $\mathcal{R}^\text{had}_{\mathrm{J}/ψ}$ = 1.04$_{-0.44}^{+0.50}$, is combined with the previous analysis based on the $τ^+$$\to$$μ^+ν_μ\barν_τ$ leptonic decay channel, leading to $\mathcal{R}_{\mathrm{J}/ψ}$ = 0.49 $\pm$ 0.26. As this result is consistent with the standard model prediction of 0.258 $\pm$ 0.004, no evidence of lepton flavor universality violation is found.
Measured R(J/psi) ratio
A measurement is presented of the electroweak vector boson scattering production of ZV (V = W, Z) boson pairs associated with two jets in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$, were collected at the CERN LHC with the CMS detector during the 2016$-$2018 data-taking period. The analysis targets final states with a pair of isolated electrons or muons from Z boson decays and three or four jets, depending on the momentum of the vector boson that decays into quarks. Signal strength is measured for events characterized by a large invariant mass of two forward jets with a wide pseudorapidity gap between them. The electroweak production of ZV in association with two jets is measured with an observed (expected) significance of 1.3 (1.8) standard deviations. A combination of the analyses of ZV channel and the previously published WV channel in the lepton plus jets final state places constraints on effective field theory parameters that describe anomalous electroweak production of WW, WZ, and ZZ boson pairs in association with two jets. Several world best limits are set on anomalous quartic gauge couplings in terms of dimension-8 standard model effective field theory operators.
Distributions of DNN score for the data and post-fit backgrounds (stacked histograms), in the SRs of the ZV channel for the b tag (left) and the b veto (right) channels, for the resolved (merged) category in the first (second) row. The post-fit VBS EW ZV signal is shown overlaid as a red solid line. The overflow is included in the last bin. The lower panels show the ratios of the data to the pre-fit background prediction and post-fit background yield as red open squares and blue points, respectively. The gray band in the lower panels indicates the systematic component of the post-fit background uncertainty. The vertical bars on the data points represent statistical uncertainties. The last bin includes overflow.
Distributions of DNN score for the data and post-fit backgrounds (stacked histograms), in the SRs of the ZV channel for the b tag (left) and the b veto (right) channels, for the resolved (merged) category in the first (second) row. The post-fit VBS EW ZV signal is shown overlaid as a red solid line. The overflow is included in the last bin. The lower panels show the ratios of the data to the pre-fit background prediction and post-fit background yield as red open squares and blue points, respectively. The gray band in the lower panels indicates the systematic component of the post-fit background uncertainty. The vertical bars on the data points represent statistical uncertainties. The last bin includes overflow.
Distributions of DNN score for the data and post-fit backgrounds (stacked histograms), in the SRs of the ZV channel for the b tag (left) and the b veto (right) channels, for the resolved (merged) category in the first (second) row. The post-fit VBS EW ZV signal is shown overlaid as a red solid line. The overflow is included in the last bin. The lower panels show the ratios of the data to the pre-fit background prediction and post-fit background yield as red open squares and blue points, respectively. The gray band in the lower panels indicates the systematic component of the post-fit background uncertainty. The vertical bars on the data points represent statistical uncertainties. The last bin includes overflow.
A search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying to a charm quark-antiquark pair, H $\to$$\mathrm{c\bar{c}}$, produced in association with a top quark-antiquark pair ($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$H) is presented. The search is performed with data from proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Advanced machine learning techniques are employed for jet flavor identification and event classification. The Higgs boson decay to a bottom quark-antiquark pair is measured simultaneously and the observed $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$H bb event rate relative to the standard model expectation is 0.91$\pm^{+0.26}_{-0.22}$. The observed (expected) upper limit on the product of production cross section and branching fraction $σ$($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$H)$\mathcal{B}$(H $\to$$\mathrm{c\bar{c}}$) is 0.11 (0.13$\pm^{+0.06}_{-0.04}$) pb at 95% confidence level, corresponding to 7.8 (8.7$\pm^{+4.0}_{-2.6}$) times the standard model prediction. When combined with the previous search for H $\to$ $\mathrm{c\bar{c}}$ via associated production with a W or Z boson, the observed (expected) 95% confidence interval on the Higgs-charm Yukawa coupling modifier, $κ_\mathrm{c}$, is $\lvert{κ_\mathrm{c}}\rvert$ $\lt$ 3.5 (2.7), the most stringent constraint to date.
Upper limits on the signal strength for $\text{H}\to\text{c}\overline{\text{c}}$ decays with respect to the standard model expectation of unity.
Upper limits on the signal strength for $\text{t}\overline{\text{t}}\text{H}(\text{H}\to\text{c}\overline{\text{c}})$ decays with respect to the standard model expectation of unity.
Signal strength and significance for $\text{t}\overline{\text{t}}\text{H}(\text{H}\to\text{b}\overline{\text{b}})$ decays with respect to the standard model expectation of unity.
This paper presents a search for new physics through the process where a new massive particle, X, decays into a Higgs boson and a second particle, Y. The Higgs boson subsequently decays into a bottom quark-antiquark pair, reconstructed as a single large-radius jet. The decay products of Y are also assumed to produce a single large-radius jet. The identification of the Y particle is enhanced by computing the anomaly score of its candidate jet using an autoencoder, which measures deviations from typical QCD multijet jets. This allows a simultaneous search for multiple Y decay scenarios within a single analysis. In the main benchmark process, Y is a scalar particle that decays into W$^+$W$^-$. Two other benchmark processes are also considered, where Y is a scalar particle decaying into a light quark-antiquark pair, or into a top quark-antiquark pair. The last benchmark considers Y as a hadronically decaying top quark, arising from the decay of a vector-like quark into a top quark and a Higgs boson. Data recorded by the CMS experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV in 2016$-$2018, and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$, are analyzed. No significant excess is observed, and upper limits on the benchmark signal cross section for various masses of X and Y, at 95% confidence level, are placed.
The $m_{jj}$ and $m_{J}$ projections for the number of observed events (black markers) compared with the backgrounds estimated in the fit to the data (filled histograms) in the CR. Pass and Fail categories are shown. The high level of agreement between the model and the data in the Fail region is due to the nature of the background estimate. The lower panels show the ``Pull'' defined as $(\text{observed events}{-}\text{expected events})/\sqrt{\smash[b]{\sigma_\text{obs}^{2} + \sigma_\text{exp}^{2}}}$, where $\sigma_\text{obs}$ and $\sigma_\text{exp}$ are the total uncertainties in the observation and the background estimation, respectively.
The $m_{jj}$ and $m_{J}$ projections for the number of observed events (black markers) compared with the backgrounds estimated in the fit to the data (filled histograms) in the CR. Pass and Fail categories are shown. The high level of agreement between the model and the data in the Fail region is due to the nature of the background estimate. The lower panels show the ``Pull'' defined as $(\text{observed events}{-}\text{expected events})/\sqrt{\smash[b]{\sigma_\text{obs}^{2} + \sigma_\text{exp}^{2}}}$, where $\sigma_\text{obs}$ and $\sigma_\text{exp}$ are the total uncertainties in the observation and the background estimation, respectively.
The $m_{jj}$ and $m_{J}$ projections for the number of observed events (black markers) compared with the backgrounds estimated in the fit to the data (filled histograms) in the CR. Pass and Fail categories are shown. The high level of agreement between the model and the data in the Fail region is due to the nature of the background estimate. The lower panels show the ``Pull'' defined as $(\text{observed events}{-}\text{expected events})/\sqrt{\smash[b]{\sigma_\text{obs}^{2} + \sigma_\text{exp}^{2}}}$, where $\sigma_\text{obs}$ and $\sigma_\text{exp}$ are the total uncertainties in the observation and the background estimation, respectively.
This Letter reports the first measurement of photonuclear D$^0$ meson production in ultraperipheral heavy ion collisions. The study is performed using lead-lead collision data, with an integrated luminosity of 1.38 nb$^{-1}$, collected by the CMS experiment at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 5.36 TeV. Photonuclear events, where one of the colliding nuclei breaks up and the other remains intact, are selected based on breakup neutron emissions and by requiring no particle activity in a large rapidity interval in the direction of the photon-emitting nucleus. The D$^0$ mesons are reconstructed via the D$^0$$\to$ K$^-$$π^+$ decay channel, with the cross section measured as a function of D$^0$ meson transverse momentum and rapidity. The results are compared with next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations that employ recent parametrizations of the lead nuclear parton distribution functions, as well as with predictions based on the color glass condensate framework. This measurement is the first photonuclear collision study characterizing parton distribution functions of lead nuclei for parton fractional momenta $x$ (relative to the nucleon) ranging approximately from a few 10$^{-4}$ to 10$^{-2}$ for different hard energy scale $Q^2$ selections.
The mass distribution of D$^{0}$ decaying to K$^{-}$ and $\pi^{+}$ for $5 < p_{\mathrm{T}} < 8$ GeV and $0.0 < y < 1.0$ in 0nXn ultraperipheral PbPb collisions.
The d$^{2}\sigma$/dydp$_{\mathrm{T}}$ production cross section of D$^{0}$ for $2 < p_{\mathrm{T}} < 5$ GeV in ultraperipheral PbPb collisions.
The d$^{2}\sigma$/dydp$_{\mathrm{T}}$ production cross section of D$^{0}$ for $5 < p_{\mathrm{T}} < 8$ GeV in ultraperipheral PbPb collisions.
A model-independent measurement of the differential production cross section of the Higgs boson decaying into a pair of W bosons, with a final state including two jets produced in association, is presented. In the analysis, events are selected in which the decay products of the two W bosons consist of an electron, a muon, and missing transverse momentum. The model independence of the measurement is maximized by making use of a discriminating variable that is agnostic to the signal hypothesis developed through machine learning. The analysis is based on proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV collected with the CMS detector from 2012$-$2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The production cross section is measured as a function of the difference in azimuthal angle between the two jets. The differential cross section measurements are used to constrain Higgs boson couplings within the standard model effective field theory framework.
Measured fiducial cross section summing VBF and ggF production modes.
Measured fiducial cross section of VBF and ggF production modes.
Measured fiducial cross section of VBF and ggF production modes.
A general search is presented for supersymmetric particles (sparticles) in scenarios featuring compressed mass spectra using proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC. The analyzed data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138\fbinv. A wide range of potential sparticle signatures are targeted, including pair production of electroweakinos, sleptons, and top squarks. The search focuses on events with a high transverse momentum system from initial-state-radiation jets recoiling against a potential sparticle system with significant missing transverse momentum. Events are categorized based on their lepton multiplicity, jet multiplicity, number of b-tagged jets, and kinematic variables sensitive to the sparticle masses and mass splittings. The sensitivity extends to higher parent sparticle masses than previously probed at the LHC for production of pairs of electroweakinos, sleptons, and top squarks with mass spectra featuring small mass splittings (compressed mass spectra). The observed results demonstrate agreement with the predictions of the background-only model. Lower mass limits are set at 95% confidence level on production of pairs of electroweakinos, sleptons, and top squarks that extend to 325, 275, and 780 GeV, respectively, for the most favorable compressed mass regime cases.
Event counts observed in data, $N_{\rm{obs}}$, in each of the model-independent bins, compared with predictions from the control region fit, $N^{\rm{pred}}_{\rm{bkg}}$, their corresponding uncertainties, $\sigma(N^{\rm{pred}}_{\rm{bkg}})$, and the upper limits at 95% CL on the signal strength $(S_{UL}^{95\%})$.
Top squark pair production. Observed upper limits at 95% CL on the product of the cross section and relevant branching fractions, $\sigma (\tilde{\mathrm{t}} \tilde{\mathrm{t}}) \, \mathcal{B}^{2} ( \tilde{\mathrm{t}} \rightarrow \mathrm{t} \tilde{\chi}_1^0 )$, are shown using the color scale where the $\tilde{\mathrm{t}}$ mass is on the $x$-axis and the mass difference between the $\tilde{\mathrm{t}}$ and the LSP is on the $y$-axis
Top squark pair production. Observed upper limits at 95% CL on the product of the cross section and relevant branching fractions, $\sigma (\tilde{\mathrm{t}} \tilde{\mathrm{t}}) \, \mathcal{B}^{2} ( \tilde{\mathrm{t}} \rightarrow \mathrm{t} \tilde{\chi}_1^0 )$, are shown using the color scale where the $\tilde{\mathrm{t}}$ mass is on the $x$-axis and the mass difference between the $\tilde{\mathrm{t}}$ and the LSP is on the $y$-axis
A search is presented for a new scalar resonance, X, decaying to a standard model Higgs boson and another new scalar particle, Y, in the final state where the Higgs boson decays to a $\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$ pair, while the Y particle decays to a pair of photons. The search is performed in the mass range 240$-$100 \GeV for the resonance X, and in the mass range 70$-$800 GeV for the particle Y, using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 132 fb$^{-1}$. In general, the data are found to be compatible with the standard model expectation. Observed (expected) upper limits at 95% confidence level on the product of the production cross section and the relevant branching fraction are extracted for the X $\to$ YH process, and are found to be within the range of 0.05$-$2.69 (0.08$-$1.94) fb, depending on $m_\mathrm{X}$ and $m_\mathrm{Y}$. The most significant deviation from the background-only hypothesis is observed for X and Y masses of 300 and 77 GeV, respectively, with a local (global) significance of 3.33 (0.65) standard deviations.
Distributions of the transformed PNN score for the signal hypotheses of mX=280GeV, mY=125GeV in its corresponding SRs. The bin boundaries correspond to the SR boundaries of each mass point.The distributions are inclusive in the diphoton mass distribution. The gray bands in the lower panels show the statistical uncertainty in the background estimation.
Distributions of the transformed PNN score for the signal hypotheses of mX=600GeV, mY=70GeV in its corresponding SRs. The bin boundaries correspond to the SR boundaries of each mass point. The distributions are inclusive in the diphoton mass distribution. The gray bands in the lower panels show the statistical uncertainty in the background estimation.
Parametric models of the signal process for mX=600GeV, mY=70GeV in their most sensitive SR The histograms are normalized to unity. The acronym 'dof' stands for the numbers of degrees of freedom of the parametric model. The signal is modeled using a double-sided Crystal Ball (DCB) function defined as: DCB$(x)$ = \[ \begin{cases} N \cdot A_1 \cdot (B_1 - x_s)^{-m_1}, & x_s \leq -\beta_1 \\ N \cdot e^{-\frac{1}{2} x_s^2}, & -\beta_1 < x_s < \beta_2 \\ N \cdot A_2 \cdot (B_2 + x_s)^{-m_2}, & x_s \geq \beta_2 \end{cases} \] with \(x_s = \frac{x - \mu}{\sigma}\), and: \[ A_1 = \left( \frac{m_1}{\beta_1} \right)^{m_1} e^{-\frac{1}{2} \beta_1^2}, \quad B_1 = \frac{m_1}{\beta_1} - \beta_1 \] \[ A_2 = \left( \frac{m_2}{\beta_2} \right)^{m_2} e^{-\frac{1}{2} \beta_2^2}, \quad B_2 = \frac{m_2}{\beta_2} - \beta_2 \] The DCB parameters for this signal model are: \[ \begin{aligned} N &= 1.0226, & \mu &= 69.91014, & \sigma &= 0.67412 \\ \beta_1 &= 1.35, & m_1 &= 2.9491, & \beta_2 &= 1.5468, & m_2 &= 12.7113 \end{aligned} \]
A search for flavor violating decays of the Z boson to charged leptons is performed using data from proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV collected with the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Each of the decays Z $\to$ e$μ$, Z $\to$ e$τ$, and Z $\to$$μτ$ is considered. The data are consistent with the backgrounds expected from standard model processes. For the Z $\to$ e$μ$ channel the observed (expected) 95% confidence level upper limit on the branching fraction is 1.9 (2.0) $\times$ 10$^{-7}$, which is the most stringent direct limit to date on this process; the corresponding limits for the Z $\to$ e$τ$ and Z $\to$ $μτ$ channels are 13.8 (11.4) $\times$ 10$^{-6}$ and 12.0 (5.3) $\times$ 10$^{-6}$, respectively. Additionally, the e$μ$ final state is used to search for lepton flavor violating decays of Z' resonances in the mass range from 110 to 500 GeV. No significant excess is observed above the predicted background levels.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on $\mathcal{B}(\mathrm{Z}\rightarrow e\mu)$ for three BDT score bins and their combination, at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV with 138 fb$^{-1}$.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on $\mathcal{B}(\mathrm{Z}\rightarrow e\tau)$ in the hadronic- and leptonic-$\tau$ decay channels, and for their combination ($\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV, 138 fb$^{-1})$.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on $\mathcal{B}(\mathrm{Z}\rightarrow \mu\tau)$ in the hadronic- and leptonic-$\tau$ decay channels, and for their combination ($\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV, 138 fb$^{-1}$).