The production of a $W$ boson in association with a single charm quark is studied using 140 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s} = 13\,\mathrm{TeV}$ proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The charm quark is tagged by a charmed hadron, reconstructed with a secondary-vertex fit. The $W$ boson is reconstructed from an electron/muon decay and the missing transverse momentum. The mesons reconstructed are $D^{\pm} \to K^\mp \pi^\pm \pi^\pm$ and $D^{*\pm} \to D^{0} \pi^\pm \to (K^\mp \pi^\pm) \pi^\pm$, where $p_{\text{T}}(e, \mu) > 30\,\mathrm{GeV}$, $|\eta(e, \mu)| < 2.5$, $p_{\text{T}}(D) > 8\,\mathrm{GeV}$, and $|\eta(D)| < 2.2$. The integrated and normalized differential cross-sections as a function of the pseudorapidity of the lepton from the $W$ boson decay, and of the transverse momentum of the meson, are extracted from the data using a profile likelihood fit. The measured fiducial cross-sections are $\sigma^{\mathrm{OS-SS}}_{\mathrm{fid}}(W^{-}{+}D^{+}) = 50.2\pm0.2\,\mathrm{(stat.)}\,^{+2.4}_{-2.3}\,\mathrm{(syst.)}\,\mathrm{pb}$, $\sigma^{\mathrm{OS-SS}}_{\mathrm{fid}}(W^{+}{+}D^{-}) = 48.5\pm0.2\,\mathrm{(stat.)}\,^{+2.3}_{-2.2}\,\mathrm{(syst.)}\,\mathrm{pb}$, $\sigma^{\mathrm{OS-SS}}_{\mathrm{fid}}(W^{-}{+}D^{*+}) = 51.1\pm0.4\,\mathrm{(stat.)}\,^{+1.9}_{-1.8}\,\mathrm{(syst.)}\,\mathrm{pb}$, and $\sigma^{\mathrm{OS-SS}}_{\mathrm{fid}}(W^{+}{+}D^{*-}) = 50.0\pm0.4\,\mathrm{(stat.)}\,^{+1.9}_{-1.8}\,\mathrm{(syst.)}\,\mathrm{pb}$. Results are compared with the predictions of next-to-leading-order quantum chromodynamics calculations performed using state-of-the-art parton distribution functions. The ratio of charm to anti-charm production cross-sections is studied to probe the $s$-$\bar{s}$ quark asymmetry and is found to be $R_c^\pm = 0.971\pm0.006\,\mathrm{(stat.)}\pm0.011\,\mathrm{(syst.)}$.
Measured $|\eta(\ell)|$ differential fiducial cross-section times the single-lepton-flavor W boson branching ratio in the $W^{+}+D^{*-}$ channel with the full breakdown of uncertainties.
Diboson production in association with jets is studied in the fully leptonic final states, pp $\to$ (Z$\gamma^*$)(Z/$\gamma^*$) + jets $\to$ 2$\ell$2$\ell'$ + jets, ($\ell,\ell'$ = e or $\mu$) in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. Differential distributions and normalized differential cross sections are measured as a function of jet multiplicity, transverse momentum $p_\mathrm{T}$, pseudorapidity $\eta$, invariant mass and $\Delta\eta$ of the highest-$p_\mathrm{T}$ and second-highest-$p_\mathrm{T}$ jets, and as a function of invariant mass of the four-lepton system for events with various jet multiplicities. These differential cross sections are compared with theoretical predictions that mostly agree with the experimental data. However, in a few regions we observe discrepancies between the predicted and measured values. Further improvement of the predictions is required to describe the ZZ + jets production in the whole phase space.
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 $BR(A' \rightarrow \pi\pi) = 0.6$.
A search for charged-lepton flavour violation (CLFV) in top quark (t) production and decay is presented. The search uses proton-proton collision data corresponding to 138 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the CMS experiment at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV. The signal consists of the production of a single top quark via a CLFV interaction or top quark pair production followed by a CLFV decay. The analysis selects events containing a pair of oppositely charged muon and hadronically decaying $\tau$ lepton and at least three jets, where one has been identified to originate from the fragmentation of a bottom quark. Machine learning classification techniques are used to distinguish signal from standard model background events. The results of this search are consistent with the standard model expectations. The upper limits at 95% confidence level on the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}$ for CLFV top quark decays to a muon, a $\tau$ lepton, and an up or a charm quark are set at $\mathcal{B}$(t $\to \mu\tau$u) $\lt$ (0.040, 0.078, and 0.118) $\times$ 10$^{-6}$, and $\mathcal{B}$(t $\to\mu\tau$c) $\lt$ (0.810, 1.710, and 2.052) $\times$ 10$^{-6}$ for scalar, vector, and tensor-like operators, respectively.
The expected and observed upper limits on CLFV Wilson coefficients. The Limits on the Wilson coefficients are extracted from the upper limits on the cross sections.
The expected and observed upper limits on top quark CLFV branching fractions. The Limits on the top quark CLFV branching fractions are extracted from the upper limits on the Wilson coefficients.
The results of a search for the production of two scalar bosons in final states with two photons and two tau leptons are presented. The search considers both nonresonant production of a Higgs boson pair, HH, and resonant production via a new boson X which decays either to HH or to H and a new scalar Y. The analysis uses up to 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data, recorded between 2016 and 2018 by the CMS experiment at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. No evidence for signal is found in the data. For the nonresonant production, the observed (expected) upper limit at 95% confidence level (CL) on the HH production cross section is set at 930 (740) fb, corresponding to 33 (26) times the standard model prediction. At 95% CL, HH production is observed (expected) to be excluded for values of $κ_λ$ outside the range between $-$12 ($-$9.4) and 17 (15). Observed (expected) upper limits at 95% CL for the XHH cross section are found to be within 160 to 2200 (200 to 1800) fb, depending on the mass of X. In the X $\to$ Y($γγ$)H($ττ$) search, the observed (expected) upper limits on the product of the production cross section and decay branching fractions vary between 0.059$-$1.2 fb (0.087$-$0.68 fb). For the X $\to$ Y($γγ$)H($ττ$) search the observed (expected) upper limits on the product of the production cross section and Y $to$ $γγ$ branching fraction vary between 0.69$-$15 fb (0.73$-$8.3 fb) in the low Y mass search, tightening constraints on the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model, and between 0.64$-$10 fb (0.70$-$7.6 fb) in the high Y mass search.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the nonresonant $\mathrm{HH}$ production cross section, $\sigma(\mathrm{pp} \to \mathrm{HH})$, as a function of the Higgs boson self-coupling strength modifier $\kappa_\lambda$. All Higgs boson couplings other than $\lambda$ are assumed to have the values predicted in the SM.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the nonresonant $\mathrm{HH}$ production cross section, $\sigma(\mathrm{pp} \to \mathrm{HH})$, for thirteen different BSM benchmark scenarios from [arXiv:1507.02245, arXiv:1806.05162] which consider different values of the couplings, $\kappa_\lambda$, $\kappa_t$, $c_{2g}$, $c_g$, and $c_2$ (defined in Table 1).
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the cross section for the resonant production of a new spin-0 particle $\mathrm{X}^{(0)}$ which decays to Higgs boson pairs, $\sigma(\mathrm{pp} \to \mathrm{X}^{(0)} \to \mathrm{HH})$, given for different values of $m_\mathrm{X}$ in the range 260-1000 GeV.
Measurements are presented of the W and Z boson production cross sections in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13.6 TeV. Data collected in 2022 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.01 fb$^{-1}$ with one or two identified muons in the final state are analyzed. The results for the products of total inclusive cross sections and branching fractions for muonic decays of W and Z bosons are 11.93 $\pm$ 0.08 (syst) $\pm$ 0.17 (lumi) $^{+0.07}_{-0.07}$ (acc) nb for W$^+$ boson production, 8.86 $\pm$ 0.06 (syst) $\pm$ 0.12 (lumi) $^{+0.05}_{-0.06}$ (acc) nb for W$^-$ boson production, and 2.021 $\pm$ 0.009 (syst) $\pm$ 0.028 (lumi) $^{+0.011}_{-0.013}$ (acc) nb for the Z boson production in the dimuon mass range of 60-120 GeV, all with negligible statistical uncertainties. Furthermore, the corresponding fiducial cross sections, as well as cross section ratios for both fiducial and total phase space, are provided. The ratios include charge-separated results for W boson production (W$^+$ and W$^-$) and the sum of the two contributions (W$^\pm$), each relative to the measured Z boson production cross section. Additionally, the ratio of the measured cross sections for W$^+$ and W$^-$ boson production is reported. All measurements are in agreement with theoretical predictions, calculated at next-to-next-to-leading order accuracy in quantum chromodynamics.
Corrected normalized distribution of the transverse momentum of the leading muon in the Z boson signal region. Simulated contributions from Z boson, electroweak, and ttbar production, as well as their sum, and the data are shown.
Corrected normalized distribution of the transverse momentum of the trailing muon in the Z boson signal region. Simulated contributions from Z boson, electroweak, and ttbar production, as well as their sum, and the data are shown.
Corrected normalized distribution of the missing transverse momentum in the Z boson signal region. Simulated contributions from Z boson, electroweak, and ttbar production, as well as their sum, and the data are shown.
A search for a new neutral gauge boson, Z', produced in association with one or two jets, including at least one b jet, and decaying into a pair of muons is presented. The analysis uses proton-proton collision data collected with the CMS detector at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. No significant deviation from background expectations is observed. Upper limits at 95% confidence level on the product of cross section, branching fraction to dimuons, acceptance, and efficiency, from 0.2 to 2 fb, are set for Z' boson masses between 125 and 350 GeV. Process-dependent products of acceptance and efficiency, and model-independent limits on the signal yield are provided. These are the only results to date in the 125$-$200 GeV mass range and the most stringent for b quark fusion production modes in the 200$-$350 GeV range, complementing inclusive Z' boson searches.
Distributions of $m_{\ell\ell}$ in the $\mathrm{SR_{b}^{mm}}$ SR. Events are divided by the bin width. Simulated signal shapes for $Z'$ boson masses of 125, 200, and 350 GeV are shown. The "Stat + syst" band shows the envelope of the fit variations with statistical uncertainties. The ratio of the nominal MC background values (dashed line) and data to the ABCD prediction is shown as a dashed line in the ratio plot. The MC background uncertainties are not shown for visual clarity.
Distributions of $m_{\ell\ell}$ in the $\mathrm{SR_{b+\textrm{j}/b}^{mm}}$ SR. Events are divided by the bin width. Simulated signal shapes for $Z'$ boson masses of 125, 200, and 350 GeV are shown. The "Stat + syst" band shows the envelope of the fit variations with statistical uncertainties. The ratio of the nominal MC background values (dashed line) and data to the ABCD prediction is shown as a dashed line in the ratio plot. The MC background uncertainties are not shown for visual clarity.
Data vs. the ABCD method background prediction for 2016 in $\mathrm{SR_{b}^{mm}}$. Events are divided by the bin width, hence fractional data counts. Error bars show statistical uncertainties of data. The blue band shows the propagated uncertainty of all individual fit variations in a given bin, which we consider to be uncorrelated. The lower panels show the ratio of the observed data to the background estimation.
This Letter describes a model-independent search for the production of new resonances in photon + jet events using 20 inverse fb of proton--proton LHC data recorded with the ATLAS detector at a centre-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 8 TeV. The photon + jet mass distribution is compared to a background model fit from data; no significant deviation from the background-only hypothesis is found. Limits are set at 95% credibility level on generic Gaussian-shaped signals and two benchmark phenomena beyond the Standard Model: non-thermal quantum black holes and excited quarks. Non-thermal quantum black holes are excluded below masses of 4.6 TeV and excited quarks are excluded below masses of 3.5 TeV.
This Letter presents a constraint on the total width of the Higgs boson ($\Gamma_H$) using a combined measurement of on-shell Higgs boson production and the production of four top quarks, which involves contributions from off-shell Higgs boson-mediated processes. This method relies on the assumption that the tree-level Higgs-top Yukawa coupling strength is the same for on-shell and off-shell Higgs boson production processes, thereby avoiding any assumptions about the relationship between on-shell and off-shell gluon fusion Higgs production rates, which were central to previous measurements. The result is based on up to 140 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 observed (expected) 95% confidence level upper limit on $\Gamma_H$ is 450 MeV (75 MeV). Additionally, considering the constraint on the Higgs-top Yukawa coupling from loop-induced Higgs boson production and decay processes further yields an observed (expected) upper limit of 160 MeV (55 MeV).
The production of a $W$ boson decaying to $e\nu$ or $\mu\nu$ in association with a $W$ or $Z$ boson decaying to two jets is studied using $4.6 \mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of proton--proton collision data at $\sqrt{\rm{s}} = 7$ TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The combined $WW+WZ$ cross section is measured with a significance of 3.4$\sigma$ and is found to be $68 \pm 7 \ \mathrm{(stat.)} \pm 19 \ \mathrm{(syst.)} \ pb$, in agreement with the Standard Model expectation of $61.1 \pm 2.2 \ \mathrm{pb}$. The distribution of the transverse momentum of the dijet system is used to set limits on anomalous contributions to the triple gauge coupling vertices and on parameters of an effective-field-theory model.
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