This paper presents a search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson into a pair of new pseudoscalar particles, $H\rightarrow aa$, where one pseudoscalar decays into a $b$-quark pair and the other decays into a $\tau$-lepton pair, in the mass range $12\leq m_{a}\leq 60$ GeV. The analysis uses $pp$ collision data at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 ${fb}^{-1}$. No significant excess above the Standard Model (SM) prediction is observed. Assuming the SM Higgs boson production cross-section, the search sets upper limits at 95% confidence level on the branching ratio of Higgs bosons decaying into $b\bar{b}\tau^+\tau^-$, $\mathcal{B}(H \rightarrow aa \rightarrow b\bar{b}\tau^+\tau^-)$, between 2.2% and 3.9% depending on the pseudoscalar mass.
Visible mass $m^{\mathrm{vis}}(\mu\tau_{\mathrm{had}})$ and distribution for signal and the expected background. In order to compare the shapes, the expected signal distribution is shown assuming ten times the production cross section of the Higgs boson and a 100% branching ratio to $b\bar{b}\tau^+\tau^-$. Overflow events are included in the last bins.
Sum of the transverse mass $\Sigma m_T$ distributions for signal and the expected background. Events with high $m^{\mathrm{vis}}(\mu\tau_{\mathrm{had}})$ and high $\Sigma m_T$ are included in the $t\bar{t}$ region. In order to compare the shapes, the expected signal distribution is shown assuming ten times the production cross section of the Higgs boson and a 100% branching ratio to $b\bar{b}\tau^+\tau^-$. Overflow events are included in the last bins.
The pNN input variable visible mass $m^{\mathrm{vis}}(\mu\tau_{\mathrm{had}})$ is shown in the SR with no cut on the pNN discriminant. The signal shape is normalized to the same integral as the total background prediction. Overflow events are included in the last bins.
A search for electroweak production of a single vector-like T quark in association with a bottom (b) quark in the all-hadronic decay channel is presented. This search uses proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC during 2016-2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The T quark is assumed to have charge 2/3 and decay to a top (t) quark and a Higgs (H) or Z boson. Hadronic decays of the t quark and the H or Z boson are reconstructed from the kinematic properties of jets, including those containing b hadrons. No deviation from the standard model prediction is observed in the reconstructed tH and tZ invariant mass distributions. The 95% confidence level upper limits on the product of the production cross section and branching fraction of a T quark produced in association with a b quark and decaying via tH or tZ range from 1260 to 68 fb for T quark masses of 600-1200 GeV.
Five-jet invariant mass distributions in the 2M1L region after the high-mass (green crosses) and low-mass (black circles) selections in 2018 dataset. The low-mass selection results in a mass distribution that is smoothly falling, unlike the high-mass selection. The high-mass selection is more efficient for signal T masses above 700 GeV.
Weights from b tagging efficiency ratios as functions of the five-jet invariant mass in 2018 data for the low-mass selection, connecting the 2M1L and 3M regions. The red line corresponds to the central value of the transfer function and the shaded area represents the 95% confidence level uncertainty band. For the low-mass analysis only signals with mass below 800GeV are tested, so primarily the lower part of the distribution contributes to the final result.
Weights from b tagging efficiency ratios as functions of the five-jet invariant mass in 2018 data for the low-mass selection, connecting the 3M and 3T regions. The red line corresponds to the central value of the transfer function and the shaded area represents the 95% confidence level uncertainty band. For the low-mass analysis only signals with mass below 800GeV are tested, so primarily the lower part of the distribution contributes to the final result.
The first search for the Z boson decay to $\tau\tau\mu\mu$ at the CERN LHC is presented, based on data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The data are compatible with the predicted background. For the first time, an upper limit at the 95% confidence level of 6.9 times the standard model expectation is placed on the ratio of the Z $\to$ $\tau\tau\mu\mu$ to Z $\to$ 4$\mu$ branching fractions. Limits are also placed on the six flavor-conserving four-lepton effective-field-theory operators involving two muons and two tau leptons, for the first time testing all such operators.
Distribution of $m_{4\mu}$ after the maximum likelihood fit of the background-only model (stacked histograms) to the data (black points). The nuisance parameters are set to their post-fit values and the signal (black dotted line) is overlaid, scaled to the upper limit on its cross section of 6.9 times the SM expectation. The gray shaded areas in both panels correspond to the total uncertainty in the background prediction. The black vertical bars indicate the statistical uncertainty in the data.
Observed limits at the 95% CL on $C_{\mathrm{LL}}^{2233}$ vs. $C_{\mathrm{LR}}^{2332}$ (red) showing the full range.
Observed limits at the 95% CL on $C_{\mathrm{LR}}^{2233}$ vs. $C_{\mathrm{LL}}^{2332}$ (orange) showing the full range.
A search is presented for flavour-changing neutral-current interactions involving the top quark, the Higgs boson and an up-type quark ($q=u,c$) with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The analysis considers leptonic decays of the top quark along with Higgs boson decays into two $W$ bosons, two $Z$ bosons or a $\tau^{+}\tau^{-}$ pair. It focuses on final states containing either two leptons (electrons or muons) of the same charge or three leptons. The considered processes are $t\bar{t}$ and $Ht$ production. For the $t\bar{t}$ production, one top quark decays via $t\to Hq$. The proton-proton collision data set analysed amounts to 140 fb$^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV. No significant excess beyond Standard Model expectations is observed and upper limits are set on the $t\to Hq$ branching ratios at 95% confidence level, amounting to observed (expected) limits of $\mathcal{B}(t\to Hu)<2.8\,(3.0) \times 10^{-4}$ and $\mathcal{B}(t\to Hc)<3.3\,(3.8) \times 10^{-4}$. Combining this search with other searches for $tHq$ flavour-changing neutral-current interactions previously conducted by ATLAS, considering $H\to b\bar{b}$ and $H\to\gamma\gamma$ decays, as well as $H\to\tau^{+}\tau^{-}$ decays with one or two hadronically decaying $\tau$-leptons, yields observed (expected) upper limits on the branching ratios of $\mathcal{B}(t\to Hu)<2.6\,(1.8) \times 10^{-4}$ and $\mathcal{B}(t\to Hc)<3.4\,(2.3) \times 10^{-4}$.
Pre-fit background composition of the SR$2\ell$ Dec. The table shows the event yields as opposed to just the percentages of the relevant background processes.
Pre-fit background composition of the SR$2\ell$ Prod. The table shows the event yields as opposed to just the percentages of the relevant background processes.
Pre-fit background composition of the SR$3\ell$ Dec. The table shows the event yields as opposed to just the percentages of the relevant background processes.
A search for charged-lepton-flavour violating $\mu\tau qt$ ($q=u,c$) interactions is presented, considering both top-quark production and decay. The data analysed correspond to 140 $\textrm{fb}^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}= $13 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The analysis targets events containing two muons with the same electric charge, a hadronically decaying $\tau$-lepton and at least one jet, with exactly one $b$-tagged jet, produced by a $\mu\tau qt$ interaction. Agreement with the Standard Model expectation within $1.6\sigma$ is observed, and limits are set at the 95% CL on the charged-lepton-flavour violation branching ratio of $\mathcal{B}(t \to \mu\tau q) < 8.7 \times 10^{-7}$. An Effective Field Theory interpretation is performed yielding 95% CL limits on Wilson coefficients, dependent on the flavour of the associated light quark and the Lorentz structure of the coupling. These range from $|c_{\mathsf{lequ}}^{3(2313)}| / \Lambda^{2} < 0.10\textrm{ TeV}^{-2}$ for $\mu\tau ut$ to $|c_{\mathsf{ lequ}}^{1(2323)}| / \Lambda^{2} < 1.8\textrm{ TeV}^{-2}$ for $\mu\tau ct$. An additional interpretation is performed for scalar leptoquark production inducing charged lepton flavour violation, with fixed inter-generational couplings. Upper limits on leptoquark coupling strengths are set at the 95% CL, ranging from $\lambda^{\textrm{LQ}} = $1.3 to $\lambda^{\textrm{LQ}} = $3.7 for leptoquark masses between 0.5 and 2.0 TeV.
Observed event yields in $\textrm{CR}t\bar{t}\mu$ compared with pre-fit expectations from Monte Carlo simulations, as a function of the scalar sum of lepton and jet transverse momenta, $H_{\mathrm{T}}$. The last bin includes overflow events. `Signal (prod.)' and `Signal (dec.)' refer to the single-top-quark production and top-quark pair decay signal contributions, respectively. The pre-fit signal yield represents all Wilson coefficients set to 0.1 simultaneously for a new physics scale of $\Lambda=1$ TeV.
Observed event yields in $\textrm{CR}t\bar{t}\mu$ compared with post-fit expectations from Monte Carlo simulations, as a function of the scalar sum of lepton and jet transverse momenta, $H_{\mathrm{T}}$. The last bin includes overflow events. `Signal (prod.)' and `Signal (dec.)' refer to the single-top-quark production and top-quark pair decay signal contributions, respectively.
Observed event yields in $\textrm{SR}$ compared with pre-fit expectations from Monte Carlo simulations, as a function of the scalar sum of lepton and jet transverse momenta, $H_{\mathrm{T}}$. The last bin includes overflow events. `Signal (prod.)' and `Signal (dec.)' refer to the single-top-quark production and top-quark pair decay signal contributions, respectively. The pre-fit signal yield represents all Wilson coefficients set to 0.1 simultaneously for a new physics scale of $\Lambda=1$ TeV.
The first search for soft unclustered energy patterns (SUEPs) is performed using an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV collected in 2016-2018 by the CMS detector at the LHC. Such SUEPs are predicted by Hidden Valley models with a new, confining force with a large 't Hooft coupling. In events with boosted topologies, selected by high-threshold hadronic triggers, the multiplicity and sphericity of clustered tracks are used to reject the background from standard model quantum chromodynamics. With no observed excess of events over the standard model expectation, limits are set on the cross section for production via gluon fusion of a scalar mediator with SUEP-like decays.
The number of observed events as a function of the number of tracks in the SUEP candidate, for all CRs (A–H) and the SR, as well as two signal samples. The three figures correspond to contiguous $S_{boosted}^{SUEP}$ ranges. The VR is not used in the fit so the estimation comes from the observed values in the control regions. For all other regions and bins, the post-fit values for a background-only fit are shown.
The number of observed events as a function of the number of tracks in the SUEP candidate, for all CRs (A–H) and the SR, as well as two signal samples. The three figures correspond to contiguous $S_{boosted}^{SUEP}$ ranges. The VR is not used in the fit so the estimation comes from the observed values in the control regions. For all other regions and bins, the post-fit values for a background-only fit are shown.
The observed exclusions for the nominal $\sigma$ cross section in the plane of $m_{\phi}$ and $T_D$, for various $m_S$ values, for the case $m_{A'}=1.0$ GeV ($A' \rightarrow \pi^+\pi^-$ with $\mathcal{BR}=100\%$).
The production of single top quarks and top antiquarks via the $t$-channel exchange of a virtual $W$ boson is measured in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC using $140\,\mathrm{fb^{-1}}$ of ATLAS data. The total cross-sections are determined to be $σ(tq)=137^{+8}_{-8}\,\mathrm{pb}$ and $σ(\bar{t}q)=84^{+6}_{-5}\,\mathrm{pb}$ for top-quark and top-antiquark production, respectively. The combined cross-section is found to be $σ(tq+\bar{t}q)=221^{+13}_{-13}\,\mathrm{pb}$ and the cross-section ratio is $R_{t}=σ(tq)/σ(\bar{t}q)=1.636^{+0.036}_{-0.034}$. The predictions at next-to-next-to-leading-order in quantum chromodynamics are in good agreement with these measurements. The predicted value of $R_{t}$ using different sets of parton distribution functions is compared with the measured value, demonstrating the potential to further constrain the functions when using this result in global fits. The measured cross-sections are interpreted in an effective field theory approach, setting limits at the 95% confidence level on the strength of a four-quark operator and an operator coupling the third quark generation to the Higgs boson doublet: $-0.37 < C_{Qq}^{3,1}/Λ^2 < 0.06$ and $-0.87 < C_{ϕQ}^{3}/Λ^2 < 1.42$. The constraint $|V_{tb}|>0.95$ at the 95% confidence level is derived from the measured value of $σ(tq+\bar{t}q)$. In a more general approach, pairs of CKM matrix elements involving top quarks are simultaneously constrained, leading to confidence contours in the corresponding two-dimensional parameter spaces.
The 17 variables used for the training of the NN ordered by their discriminating power. The jet that is not \(b\)-tagged is referred to as the untagged jet. The charged lepton is denoted \(\ell\). The sphericity tensor \(S^{\alpha\beta}\) used to define the sphericity \(S\) is formed with the three-momenta \(\vec{p}_i\) of the reconstructed objects, namely the jets, the charged lepton and the reconstructed neutrino. The tensor is given by \(S^{\alpha\beta}=\frac{\sum_i p_i^\alpha p_i^\beta}{\sum_i |\vec{p}_i|^2}\) where \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\) correspond to the spatial components $x$, $y$ and $z$.
The impact of different groups of systematic uncertainties on the \(\sigma(tq)\) , \(\sigma(\bar t q)\), \(\sigma(tq + \bar t q)\) and \(R_t\), given in %.
The impact of the eight most important systematic uncertainties on the \(\sigma(tq)\) , \(\sigma(\bar t q)\) and \(\sigma(tq + \bar t q)\), given in %. The sequence of the uncertainties is given by the impact on \(\sigma(tq + \bar t q)\)
This Letter presents the first study of the energy-dependence of diboson polarization fractions in $WZ \rightarrow \ell\nu \ell'\ell'~(\ell, \ell'=e, \mu)$ production. The data set used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector. Two fiducial regions with an enhanced presence of events featuring two longitudinally-polarized bosons are defined. A non-zero fraction of events with two longitudinally-polarized bosons is measured with an observed significance of 5.2 standard deviations in the region with $100<p_T^Z\leq200$ GeV and 1.6 standard deviations in the region with $p_T^Z>200$ GeV, where $p_T^Z$ is the transverse momentum of the $Z$ boson. This Letter also reports the first study of the Radiation Amplitude Zero effect. Events with two transversely-polarized bosons are analyzed for the $\Delta Y(\ell_W Z)$ and $\Delta Y(WZ)$ distributions defined respectively as the rapidity difference between the lepton from the $W$ boson decay and the $Z$ boson and the rapidity difference between the $W$ boson and the $Z$ boson. Significant suppression of events near zero is observed in both distributions. Unfolded $\Delta Y(\ell_W Z)$ and $\Delta Y(WZ)$ distributions are also measured and compared to theoretical predictions.
Polarization fractions in the region with $100<p_T^Z\leq200$ GeV using three unconstrained parameters.
Polarization fractions in the region with $p_T^Z>200$ GeV using three unconstrained parameters.
Fraction of events where both bosons are longitudinally polarized in the region with $100<p_T^Z\leq200$ GeV using two unconstrained parameters.
A search for high-mass resonances decaying into a $\tau$-lepton and a neutrino using proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV is presented. The full Run 2 data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the ATLAS experiment in the years 2015-2018 is analyzed. The $\tau$-lepton is reconstructed in its hadronic decay modes and the total transverse momentum carried out by neutrinos is inferred from the reconstructed missing transverse momentum. The search for new physics is performed on the transverse mass between the $\tau$-lepton and the missing transverse momentum. No excess of events above the Standard Model expectation is observed and upper exclusion limits are set on the $W^\prime\to \tau \nu$ production cross-section. Heavy $W^\prime$ vector bosons with masses up to 5.0 TeV are excluded at 95% confidence level, assuming that they have the same couplings as the Standard Model $W$ boson. For non-universal couplings, $W^\prime$ bosons are excluded for masses less than 3.5-5.0 TeV, depending on the model parameters. In addition, model-independent limits on the visible cross-section times branching ratio are determined as a function of the lower threshold on the transverse mass of the $\tau$-lepton and missing transverse momentum.
Observed and predicted $m_{\rm T}$ distributions including SSM and NU (cot$\theta$ = 5.5) $W^{\prime}$ signals with masses of 4 TeV. Please note that in the paper figure the bin content is divided by the bin width, but this is not done in the HepData table.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on cross section times $\tau\nu$ branching fraction for $W^{\prime}_{\rm SSM}$.
Regions of the non-universal parameter space excluded at 95% CL.
An inclusive search for long-lived exotic particles (LLPs) decaying to final states with a pair of muons is presented. The search uses data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.6 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the CMS experiment from the proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13.6 TeV in 2022, the first year of Run 3 of the CERN LHC. The experimental signature is a pair of oppositely charged muons originating from a common vertex spatially separated from the proton-proton interaction point by distances ranging from several hundred $\mu$m to several meters. The sensitivity of the search benefits from new triggers for displaced dimuons developed for Run 3. The results are interpreted in the framework of the hidden Abelian Higgs model, in which the Higgs boson decays to a pair of long-lived dark photons, and of an $R$-parity violating supersymmetry model, in which long-lived neutralinos decay to a pair of muons and a neutrino. The limits set on these models are the most stringent to date in wide regions of lifetimes for LLPs with masses larger than 10 GeV.
Efficiencies of the Run 2 and Run 3 displaced dimuon triggers as a function of $c\tau$ for the HAHM signal events with $m_{Z_D} = 20\ GeV$. The efficiency is defined as the fraction of simulated events that satisfy the requirements of the following sets of trigger paths: the Run 2 (2018) triggers (dashed black); the Run 3 (2022, L3) triggers (blue); the Run 3 (2022, L2) triggers (red); and the OR of all these triggers (Run 3 (2022), black). The lower panel shows the ratio of the overall Run 3 (2022) efficiency to the Run 2 (2018) efficiency.
Efficiencies of the various displaced dimuon trigger paths and their combination as a function of $c\tau$ for the HAHM signal events with $m(Z_D) = 20\ GeV$. The efficiency is defined as the fraction of simulated events that satisfy the detector acceptance and the requirements of the following sets of trigger paths: the Run 2 (2018) triggers (dashed black); the Run 3 (2022, L3) triggers (blue); the Run 3 (2022, L2) triggers (red); and the OR of all these triggers (Run 3 (2022), black). The lower panel shows the ratio of the overall Run 3 (2022) efficiency to the Run 2 (2018) efficiency.
Efficiencies in the STA-STA (green) and TMS-TMS (red) dimuon categories, as well as their combination (black) as a function of $c\tau$ for the HAHM signal events with $m_{Z_D} = 20\ GeV$. Solid curves show efficiencies achieved with the Run 3 triggers, whereas dashed curves show efficiencies for the subset of events selected by the triggers used in the 2018 Run 2 analysis. The efficiency is defined as the fraction of signal events that satisfy the criteria of the indicated trigger as well as the full set of offline selection criteria. The lower panel shows the relative improvement of the overall signal efficiency brought in by improvements in the trigger.
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