A search is presented for long-lived charged particles that decay within the volume of the silicon tracker of the CMS experiment. Such particles can produce events with an isolated track that is missing hits in the outermost layers of the silicon tracker, and is also associated with little energy deposited in the calorimeters and no hits in the muon detectors. The search for events with this "disappearing track" signature is performed in a sample of proton-proton collisions recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC with a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 101 fb$^{-1}$ recorded in 2017 and 2018. The observation of 48 events is consistent with the estimated background of 47.8 $_{-2.3}^{+2.7}$ (stat) $\pm$ 8.1 (syst) events. Upper limits are set on chargino production in the context of an anomaly-mediated supersymmetry breaking model for purely wino and higgsino neutralino scenarios. At 95% confidence level, the first constraint is placed on chargino masses in the higgsino case, excluding below 750 (175) GeV for a lifetime of 3 (0.05) ns. In the wino case, the results of this search are combined with a previous CMS search to produce a result representing the complete LHC data set recorded in 2015-2018, the most stringent constraints to date. At 95% confidence level, chargino masses in the wino case are excluded below 884 (474) GeV for a lifetime of 3 (0.2) ns.
The expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on the product of cross section and branching fraction for direct production of charginos as a function of chargino mass, for a chargino lifetime of 0.3 ns and with a purely wino LSP. The branching fraction for $\widetilde{\chi}^{\pm}_{1} \rightarrow \widetilde{\chi}^{0}_{1} \pi^{\pm}$ is set to 100%. Shown are the full Run 2 results, derived from the results of the search in the 2017 and 2018 data sets combined with those of the previous CMS result obtained in the 2015 and 2016 data sets. The cross section includes both $\widetilde{\chi}^{\pm}_{1} \widetilde{\chi}^{0}_{1}$ and $\widetilde{\chi}^{\pm}_{1}\widetilde{\chi}^{\mp}_{1}$ production in roughly a 2:1 ratio for all chargino masses considered. The dashed line indicates the theoretical prediction.
The expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on the product of cross section and branching fraction for direct production of charginos as a function of chargino mass, for a chargino lifetime of 3.3 ns and with a purely wino LSP. The branching fraction for $\widetilde{\chi}^{\pm}_{1} \rightarrow \widetilde{\chi}^{0}_{1} \pi^{\pm}$ is set to 100%. Shown are the full Run 2 results, derived from the results of the search in the 2017 and 2018 data sets combined with those of the previous CMS result obtained in the 2015 and 2016 data sets. The cross section includes both $\widetilde{\chi}^{\pm}_{1} \widetilde{\chi}^{0}_{1}$ and $\widetilde{\chi}^{\pm}_{1}\widetilde{\chi}^{\mp}_{1}$ production in roughly a 2:1 ratio for all chargino masses considered. The dashed line indicates the theoretical prediction.
The expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on the product of cross section and branching fraction for direct production of charginos as a function of chargino mass, for a chargino lifetime of 33 ns and with a purely wino LSP. The branching fraction for $\widetilde{\chi}^{\pm}_{1} \rightarrow \widetilde{\chi}^{0}_{1} \pi^{\pm}$ is set to 100%. Shown are the full Run 2 results, derived from the results of the search in the 2017 and 2018 data sets combined with those of the previous CMS result obtained in the 2015 and 2016 data sets. The cross section includes both $\widetilde{\chi}^{\pm}_{1} \widetilde{\chi}^{0}_{1}$ and $\widetilde{\chi}^{\pm}_{1}\widetilde{\chi}^{\mp}_{1}$ production in roughly a 2:1 ratio for all chargino masses considered. The dashed line indicates the theoretical prediction.
Measurements of production cross sections of WZ and same-sign WW boson pairs in association with two jets in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV at the LHC are reported. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$, collected with the CMS detector during 2016-2018. The measurements are performed in the leptonic decay modes W$^\pm$Z $\to$ $\ell^\pm\nu\ell'^\pm\ell'^\mp$ and WW $\to$ $\ell^\pm\nu\ell'^\pm\nu$, where $\ell, \ell' = $ e, $\mu$. Differential fiducial cross sections as functions of the invariant masses of the jet and charged lepton pairs, as well as of the leading-lepton transverse momentum, are measured for WW production and are consistent with the standard model predictions. The dependence of differential cross sections on the invariant mass of the jet pair is also measured for WZ production. An observation of electroweak production of WZ boson pairs is reported with an observed (expected) significance of 6.8 (5.3) standard deviations. Constraints are obtained on the structure of quartic vector boson interactions in the framework of effective field theory.
Relative systematic uncertainties in the EW $W^\pm W^\pm$ and WZ cross section measurements in units of percent.
Expected and observed yields from the standard model processeses in the WW signal region. The combination of the statistical and systematic uncertainties are shown. The predicted yields are shown with their best-fit normalizations from the simultaneous fit.
Expected and observed yields from the standard model processeses in the WZ signal region. The combination of the statistical and systematic uncertainties are shown. The predicted yields are shown with their best-fit normalizations from the simultaneous fit.
Using a data sample of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the CMS experiment in 2016-2018, the B$^0_\mathrm{s}$ $\to$ X(3872)$\phi$ decay is observed. Decays into J/$\psi\,\pi^+\pi^-$ and K$^+$K$^-$ are used to reconstruct, respectively, the X(3872) and $\phi$. The ratio of the product of branching fractions $\mathcal{B}($B$^0_\mathrm{s}$ $\to$ X(3872)$\phi)\,\mathcal{B}($X(3872) $\to$ J$/\psi\,\pi^+\pi^-)$ to the product $\mathcal{B}($B$^0_\mathrm{s}$ $\to$ $\psi$(2S)$\phi)\,\mathcal{B}(\psi$(2S) $\to$ J/$\psi\,\pi^+\pi^-)$ is measured to be (2.21 $\pm$ 0.29 (stat) $\pm$ 0.17 (syst))%. The ratio $\mathcal{B}($B$^0_\mathrm{s}$ $\to$ X(3872)$\phi) / \mathcal{B}($B$^{0}$ $\to$ X(3872)K$^0)$ is found to be consistent with one, while the ratio $\mathcal{B}($B$^0_\mathrm{s}$ $\to$ X(3872)$\phi) / \mathcal{B}($B$^+$ $\to$ X(3872)K$^+)$ is two times smaller. This suggests a difference in the production dynamics of the X(3872) in B$^0$ and B$^0_\mathrm{s}$ meson decays compared to B$^+$. The reported observation may shed new light on the nature of the X(3872) particle.
The measured ratio of branching fraction products
A search is conducted for a low-mass charged Higgs boson produced in a top quark decay and subsequently decaying into a charm and a strange quark. The data sample was recorded in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV by the CMS experiment at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The search is performed in the process of top quark pair production, where one top quark decays to a bottom quark and a charged Higgs boson, and the other to a bottom quark and a W boson. With the W boson decaying to a charged lepton (electron or muon) and a neutrino, the final state comprises an isolated lepton, missing transverse momentum, and at least four jets, of which two are tagged as b jets. To enhance the search sensitivity, one of the jets originating from the charged Higgs boson is required to satisfy a charm tagging selection. No significant excess beyond standard model predictions is found in the dijet invariant mass distribution. An upper limit in the range 1.68-0.25% is set on the branching fraction of the top quark decay to the charged Higgs boson and bottom quark for a charged Higgs boson mass between 80 and 160 GeV.
Expected and observed 95% CL exclusion limits in % on BR(t->H+ b) for the muon channel after the individual charm tagging categories have been combined.
Expected and observed 95% CL exclusion limits in % on BR(t->H+ b) for the electron channel after the individual charm tagging categories have been combined.
Expected and observed 95% CL exclusion limits in % on BR(t->H+ b) after the individual charm tagging categories and the muon and electron channels have been combined.
The first observation is reported of the combined production of three massive gauge bosons (VVV with V = W,Z) in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The analysis is based on a data sample recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. The searches for individual WWW, WWZ, WZZ, and ZZZ production are performed in final states with three, four, five, and six leptons (electrons or muons), or with two same-sign leptons plus one or two jets. The observed (expected) significance of the combined VVV production signal is 5.7 (5.9) standard deviations and the corresponding measured cross section relative to the standard model prediction is 1.02 $^{+0.26}_{-0.23}$. The significances of the individual WWW and WWZ production are 3.3 and 3.4 standard deviations, respectively. Measured production cross sections for the individual triboson processes are also reported.
Comparison of the observed numbers of events to the predicted yields after fitting. For the WWW and WWZ channels, the results from the BDT-based selections are used. The VVV signal is shown stacked on top of the total background. The points represent the data and the error bars show the statistical uncertainties.
Comparison of the observed numbers of events to the predicted yields after fitting. For the WWW and WWZ channels, the results from the BDT-based selections are used. The VVV signal is shown stacked on top of the total background. The points represent the data and the error bars show the statistical uncertainties.
Best fit values of the signal strengths for the BDT-based analyses (blue solid circles) and the sequential-cut analyses (black open circles). The error bars represent the total uncertainty. For ZZZ production, a 95% confidence level upper limit is shown. The stated numerical values correspond to the BDT-based analysis.
Ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions recreate in the laboratory the thermodynamical conditions prevailing in the early universe up to 10$^{-6}$ seconds, thereby allowing the study of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP), a state of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) matter with deconfined partons. The top quark, the heaviest elementary particle known, is accessible in nucleus-nucleus collisions at the CERN LHC, and constitutes a novel probe of the QGP. Here, we report the first-ever evidence for the production of top quarks in nucleus-nucleus collisions, using lead-lead collision data at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV recorded by the CMS experiment. Two methods are used to measure the cross section for top quark pair production ($\sigma_\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$) via the decay into charged leptons (electrons or muons) and bottom quarks. One method relies on the leptonic information alone, and the second one exploits, in addition, the presence of bottom quarks. The measured cross sections, $\sigma_\mathrm{t\bar{t}} = $ 2.54 $^{+0.84}_{-0.74}$ and 2.03 $^{+0.71}_{-0.64}$ $\mu$b, respectively, are compatible with expectations from scaled proton-proton data and QCD predictions.
Inclusive $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ cross sections measured with two methods, relying on the leptonic information alone ($2\ell_{\mathrm{OS}}$), and the second one exploits, in addition, the presence of bottom quarks ($2\ell_{\mathrm{OS}}+N_{\mathrm{b-tag}}$), in the combined $\mathrm{e}^+\mathrm{e}^-$, $\mu^+\mu^-$, and $\mathrm{e}^\pm\mu^\mp$ final states in PbPb collisions at 5.02 TeV, and pp results at $\sqrt{\smash[b]{s}}=5.02$ TeV (scaled by $A^2$) from JHEP 03 (2018) 115. The measurements are compared with theoretical predictions at NNLO+NNLL accuracy in QCD. The inner (outer) experimental uncertainty bars include statistical (statistical and systematic, added in quadrature) uncertainties. The inner (outer) theoretical uncertainty bands correspond to nuclear or free-nucleon PDF (PDF and scale, added in quadrature) uncertainties.
Decays of the 125 GeV Higgs boson into a Z boson and a $\rho^0$(770) or $\phi$(1020) meson are searched for using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC at $\sqrt{s} = $ 13 TeV. The analysed data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. Events are selected in which the Z boson decays into a pair of electrons or a pair of muons, and the $\rho$ and $\phi$ mesons decay into pairs of pions and kaons, respectively. No significant excess above the background model is observed. As different polarization states are possible for the decay products of the Z boson and $\rho$ or $\phi$ mesons, affecting the signal acceptance, scenarios in which the decays are longitudinally or transversely polarized are considered. Upper limits at the 95% confidence level on the Higgs boson branching fractions into Z$\rho$ and Z$\phi$ are determined to be 1.04-1.31% and 0.31-0.40%, respectively, where the ranges reflect the considered polarization scenarios; these values are 740-940 and 730-950 times larger than the respective standard model expectations. These results constitute the first experimental limits on the two decay channels.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on B(H $\rightarrow$ Z$\rho$), for different polarizations.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on B(H $\rightarrow$ Z$\phi$), for different polarizations.
A search for new physics in events with two highly Lorentz-boosted Z bosons and large missing transverse momentum is presented. The analyzed proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$, were recorded at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. The search utilizes the substructure of jets with large radius to identify quark pairs from Z boson decays. Backgrounds from standard model processes are suppressed by requirements on the jet mass and the missing transverse momentum. No significant excess in the event yield is observed beyond the number of background events expected from the standard model. For a simplified supersymmetric model in which the Z bosons arise from the decay of gluinos, an exclusion limit of 1920 GeV on the gluino mass is set at 95% confidence level. This is the first search for beyond-standard-model production of pairs of boosted Z bosons plus large missing transverse momentum.
Cross section upper limit vs m(GLUINO) for SMS model T5ZZ.
Cross section upper limit vs m(GLUINO) for SMS model T5ZZ.
Cross section upper limit vs m(GLUINO) for SMS model T5ZZ.
The differential cross section and charge asymmetry for inclusive W boson production at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV is measured for the two transverse polarization states as a function of the W boson absolute rapidity. The measurement uses events in which a W boson decays to a neutrino and either a muon or an electron. The data sample of proton-proton collisions recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2016 corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The differential cross section and its value normalized to the total inclusive W boson production cross section are measured over the rapidity range $|y_\mathrm{W}|$ $\lt$ 2.5. In addition to the total fiducial cross section, the W boson double-differential cross section, d$^2\sigma$/d$p^\ell_\mathrm{T}$d$|\eta|$ and the charge asymmetry are measured as functions of the charged lepton transverse momentum and pseudorapidity. The precision of these measurements is used to constrain the parton distribution functions of the proton using the next-to-leading order NNPDF3.0 set.
Measured cross section from the helicity fit, divided by bin width, for combination of muon and electron channel
Measured cross section from the helicity fit, divided by bin width, for combination of muon and electron channel
Measured cross section from the helicity fit, divided by bin width, for combination of muon and electron channel
Evidence is presented for the electroweak (EW) production of two jets (jj) in association with two Z bosons and constraints on anomalous quartic gauge couplings are set. The analysis is based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = $ 13 TeV collected with the CMS detector in 2016-2018, and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. The search is performed in the fully leptonic final state ZZ $\to$ $\ell\ell\ell'\ell'$, where $\ell,\ell' = $ e, $\mu$. The EW production of two jets in association with two Z bosons is measured with an observed (expected) significance of 4.0 (3.5) standard deviations. The cross sections for the EW production are measured in three fiducial volumes and the result is $\sigma_{\mathrm{EW}}$(pp $\to$ ZZjj $\to$ $\ell\ell\ell'\ell'$jj) = 0.33 $^{+0.11}_{-0.10}$ (stat) $^{+0.04}_{-0.03}$ (syst) fb in the most inclusive volume, in agreement with the standard model prediction of 0.275 $\pm$ 0.021 fb. Measurements of total cross sections for jj production in association with two Z bosons are also reported. Limits on anomalous quartic gauge couplings are derived in terms of the effective field theory operators T0, T1, T2, T8, and T9.
Data from paper Table 3. Measured and expected fiducial cross-sections in the ZZjj inclusive fiducial region.
Data from paper Table 3. Measured and expected fiducial cross-sections in the VBS-enriched loose fiducial region.
Data from paper Table 3. Measured and expected fiducial cross-sections in the VBS-enriched tight fiducial region.