The associated production of Higgs and $W$ bosons via vector-boson fusion (VBF) is highly sensitive to the relative sign of the Higgs boson couplings to $W$ and $Z$ bosons. In this Letter, two searches for this process are presented, using 140 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The first search targets scenarios with opposite-sign couplings of the $W$ and $Z$ bosons to the Higgs boson, while the second targets Standard Model-like scenarios with same-sign couplings. Both analyses consider Higgs decays into a pair of $b$-quarks and $W$ decays with an electron or muon. The opposite-sign coupling hypothesis is excluded with significance much greater than $5\sigma$, and the observed (expected) upper limit set on the cross-section for VBF $WH$ production is 9.0 (8.7) times the Standard Model value.
Data compared to the background prediction in each region of the negative $\lambda_{WZ}$ analysis, before the fit to data. The signal prediction with $\kappa_{W} = +1$, $\kappa_{Z} = -1$ is shown overlaid. The predicted signal yield with $\kappa_{W} = +1$, $\kappa_{Z} = +1$ in SR$^{-}$ is 2.93 events, which is not shown in the figure. The shaded bands represent the total pre-fit uncertainty on the prediction. The uncertainty does not include the normalization of the main backgrounds, which is unconstrained in the fit.
Data compared to the background prediction in each region of the negative $\lambda_{WZ}$ analysis, after the fit to data. The fitted signal strength is $\hat{\mu} = -0.027$, corresponding to $-8$ events. This contribution is not shown in the figure. The predicted signal yield with $\kappa_{W} = +1$, $\kappa_{Z} = +1$ in SR$^{-}$ is 2.93 events, which is also not shown in the figure. The shaded bands represent the total post-fit uncertainty on the prediction.
Data compared to the SM prediction in each region of the positive \lam{} analysis, before the fit to data. The shaded bands represent the total pre-fit uncertainty on the prediction. The uncertainty does not include the normalization of the main backgrounds, which is unconstrained in the fit.
This paper presents a search for pair production of higgsinos, the supersymmetric partners of the Higgs bosons, in scenarios with gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking. Each higgsino is assumed to decay into a Higgs boson and a nearly massless gravitino. The search targets events where each Higgs boson decays into $b\bar{b}$, leading to a reconstructed final state with at least three energetic $b$-jets and This paper presents a search for pair production of higgsinos, the supersymmetric partners of the Higgs bosons, in scenarios with gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking. Each higgsino is assumed to decay into a Higgs boson and a nearly massless gravitino. The search targets events where each Higgs boson decays into $b\bar{b}$, leading to a reconstructed final state with at least three energetic $b$-jets and missing transverse momentum. Two complementary analysis channels are used, with each channel specifically targeting either low or high values of the higgsino mass. The low-mass (high-mass) channel exploits 126 (139) fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV data collected by the ATLAS detector during Run 2 of the Large Hadron Collider. No significant excess above the Standard Model prediction is found. At 95% confidence level, masses between 130 GeV and 940 GeV are excluded for higgsinos decaying exclusively into Higgs bosons and gravitinos. Exclusion limits as a function of the higgsino decay branching ratio to a Higgs boson are also reported.
Post-fit SR yields of the high-mass channel. The upper panel shows the observed number of events, as well the post-fit background predictions in each region. The bottom panel shows the ratio of the observed data and the total background prediction. The shaded areas correspond to the total statistical and systematic uncertainties obtained after the fit and described in Section 6.
Post-fit SR yields of the high-mass channel. The upper panel shows the observed number of events, as well the post-fit background predictions in each region. The bottom panel shows the ratio of the observed data and the total background prediction. The shaded areas correspond to the total statistical and systematic uncertainties obtained after the fit and described in Section 6.
Post-fit SR yields of the high-mass channel. The upper panel shows the observed number of events, as well the post-fit background predictions in each region. The bottom panel shows the ratio of the observed data and the total background prediction. The shaded areas correspond to the total statistical and systematic uncertainties obtained after the fit and described in Section 6.
Higgsinos with masses near the electroweak scale can solve the hierarchy problem and provide a dark matter candidate, while detecting them at the LHC remains challenging if their mass splitting is $\mathcal{O}(1 \text{GeV})$. This Letter presents a novel search for nearly mass-degenerate Higgsinos in events with an energetic jet, missing transverse momentum, and a low-momentum track with a significant transverse impact parameter using 140 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV collected by the ATLAS experiment. For the first time since LEP, a range of mass splittings between the lightest charged and neutral Higgsinos from $0.3$ GeV to $0.9$ GeV is excluded at 95$\%$ confidence level, with a maximum reach of approximately $170$ GeV in the Higgsino mass.
Number of expected and observed data events in the SR (top), and the model-independent upper limits obtained from their consistency (bottom). The symbol $\tau_{\ell}$ ($\tau_{h}$) refers to fully-leptonic (hadron-involved) tau decays. The Others category includes contributions from minor background processes including $t\bar{t}$, single-top and diboson. The individual uncertainties can be correlated and do not necessarily sum up in quadrature to the total uncertainty. The bottom section shows the observed 95% CL upper limits on the visible cross-section ($\langle\epsilon\sigma\rangle_{\mathrm{obs}}^{95}$), on the number of generic signal events ($S_{\mathrm{obs}}^{95}$) as well as the expected limit ($S_{\mathrm{exp}}^{95}$) given the expected number (and $\pm 1\sigma$ deviations from the expectation) of background events.
Number of expected and observed data events in the SR (top), and the model-independent upper limits obtained from their consistency (bottom). The symbol $\tau_{\ell}$ ($\tau_{h}$) refers to fully-leptonic (hadron-involved) tau decays. The Others category includes contributions from minor background processes including $t\bar{t}$, single-top and diboson. The individual uncertainties can be correlated and do not necessarily sum up in quadrature to the total uncertainty. The bottom section shows the observed 95% CL upper limits on the visible cross-section ($\langle\epsilon\sigma\rangle_{\mathrm{obs}}^{95}$), on the number of generic signal events ($S_{\mathrm{obs}}^{95}$) as well as the expected limit ($S_{\mathrm{exp}}^{95}$) given the expected number (and $\pm 1\sigma$ deviations from the expectation) of background events.
Expected (dashed black line) and observed (solid red line) 95% CL exclusion limits on the higgsino simplified model being considered. These are shown with $\pm 1\sigma_{\mathrm{exp}}$ (yellow band) from experimental systematic and statistical uncertainties, and with $\pm 1\sigma_{\mathrm{theory}}^{\mathrm{SUSY}}$ (red dotted lines) from signal cross-section uncertainties, respectively. The limits set by the latest ATLAS searches using the soft lepton and disappearing track signatures are illustrated by the blue and green regions, respectively, while the limit imposed by the LEP experiments is shown in gray. The dot-dashed gray line indicates the predicted mass-splitting for the pure higgsino scenario.
Measurements of the substructure of top-quark jets are presented, using 140 fb$^{-1}$ of 13 TeV $pp$ collision data recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Top-quark jets reconstructed with the anti-$k_{t}$ algorithm with a radius parameter $R=1.0$ are selected in top-quark pair ($t\bar{t}$) events where one top quark decays semileptonically and the other hadronically, or where both top quarks decay hadronically. The top-quark jets are required to have transverse momentum $p_\mathrm{T} > 350$ GeV, yielding large samples of data events with jet $p_\mathrm{T}$ values between 350 and 600 GeV. One- and two-dimensional differential cross-sections for eight substructure variables, defined using only the charged components of the jets, are measured in a particle-level phase space by correcting for the smearing and acceptance effects induced by the detector. The differential cross-sections are compared with the predictions of several Monte Carlo simulations in which top-quark pair-production quantum chromodynamic matrix-element calculations at next-to-leading-order precision in the strong coupling constant $\alpha_\mathrm{S}$ are passed to leading-order parton shower and hadronization generators. The Monte Carlo predictions for measures of the broadness, and also the two-body structure, of the top-quark jets are found to be in good agreement with the measurements, while variables sensitive to the three-body structure of the top-quark jets exhibit some tension with the measured distributions.
Absolute differential cross-section as a function of RC large-R jet $\tau_{32}$ at particle level in the $\ell$+jets channel. The measured differential cross-section is compared with the prediction obtained with the Powheg+Pythia8 Monte Carlo generator.
Covariance matrix of the Absolute differential cross-section as function of RC large-R jet $\tau_{32}$ at particle level in the $\ell$+jets channel, accounting for the statistical uncertainty.
Relative differential cross-section as a function of RC large-R jet $\tau_{32}$ at particle level in the $\ell$+jets channel. The measured differential cross-section is compared with the prediction obtained with the Powheg+Pythia8 Monte Carlo generator.
Presented is the search for anomalous Higgs boson decays into two axion-like particles (ALPs) using the full Run 2 data set of 140 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV recorded by the ATLAS experiment. The ALPs are assumed to decay into two photons, providing sensitivity to recently proposed models that could explain the $(g-2)_\mu$ discrepancy. This analysis covers an ALP mass range from 100 MeV to 62 GeV and ALP-photon couplings in the range $10^{-5}\, \text{TeV}^{-1}<C_{a\gamma\gamma}/\Lambda<1\, \text{TeV}^{-1}$, and therefore includes signatures with significantly displaced vertices and highly collinear photons. No significant excess of events above the Standard Model background is observed. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are placed on the branching ratio of the Higgs boson to two ALPs in the four-photon final state, and are in the range of $ 10^{-5}$ to $3\times 10^{-2}$, depending on the hypothesized ALP mass and ALP-photon coupling strength.
Cut-flow and number of events in a region with $110 \text{ GeV} <m_{aa}<130 \text{ GeV}$ for selected signal samples
Overview of relative systematic uncertainties on the signal normalization for selected couplings and mass points in the dominant categories. All photon related uncertainties are summarized under "standard photon", while all customised photon related uncertainties (e.g. displaced photons, NN-based photon IDs) are summarized under "custom photon".
Upper limits on $\mathcal{B}(H\rightarrow aa\rightarrow 4\gamma)$ at 95% CL as a function of the axion mass and for ALP-photon coupling $C_{a\gamma\gamma}=1$.
A search is reported for long-lived dark photons with masses between 0.1 GeV and 15 GeV, from exotic decays of Higgs bosons produced via vector-boson-fusion. Events that contain displaced collimated Standard Model fermions reconstructed in the calorimeter or muon spectrometer are probed. This search uses the full LHC Run 2 (2015-2018) data sample collected in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 $fb^{-1}$. Dominant backgrounds from Standard Model processes and non-collision sources are estimated by using data-driven techniques. The observed event yields in the signal regions are consistent with the expected background. Upper limits on the Higgs boson to dark photon branching fraction are reported as a function of the dark-photon mean proper decay length or of the dark-photon mass and the coupling between the Standard Model and the potential dark sector. This search is combined with previous ATLAS searches obtained in the gluon-gluon fusion and \textit{WH} production modes. A branching fraction above 10% is excluded at 95% CL for a 125 GeV Higgs boson decaying into two dark photons for dark-photon mean proper decay lengths between 173 and 1296 mm and mass of 10 GeV.
Observed 95% CL upper limits on B(H→ 2γ<sub>d</sub>+X) for different γ<sub>d</sub> masses and a 125 GeV Higgs boson, as a function of the dark-photon mean proper decay length cτ. The limits are shown for the SR<sub>μ</sub> search channel, assuming an FRVZ signal model. The hatched band denotes the region in which the branching ratio is larger than unity.
Observed 95% CL upper limits on B(H→ 2γ<sub>d</sub>+X) for different γ<sub>d</sub> masses and a 125 GeV Higgs boson, as a function of the dark-photon mean proper decay length cτ. The limits are shown for the SR<sub>c</sub><sup>L</sup> search channel, assuming an FRVZ signal model. The hatched band denotes the region in which the branching ratio is larger than unity.
Observed 95% CL upper limits on B(H→ 2γ<sub>d</sub>+X) for different γ<sub>d</sub> masses and a 125 GeV Higgs boson, as a function of the dark-photon mean proper decay length cτ. The limits are shown for the SR<sub>c</sub><sup>H</sup> search channel, assuming an FRVZ signal model. The hatched band denotes the region in which the branching ratio is larger than unity.
A combination of searches for a new resonance decaying into a Higgs boson pair is presented, using up to 139 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The combination includes searches performed in three decay channels: $b\bar{b}b\bar{b}$, $b\bar{b}\tau^+\tau^-$ and $b\bar{b}\gamma\gamma$. No excess above the expected Standard Model background is observed and upper limits are set at the 95% confidence level on the production cross section of Higgs boson pairs originating from the decay of a narrow scalar resonance with mass in the range 251 GeV-5 TeV. The observed (expected) limits are in the range 0.96-600 fb (1.2-390 fb). The limits are interpreted in the Type-I Two-Higgs-Doublet Model and the Minimimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, and constrain parameter space not previously excluded by other searches.
Local p-value as a function of the resonance mass $m_{X}$. Some table entries are empty because resonance masses from 251 GeV to 5 TeV are considered, whereas some channels only use masses in a certain, more restricted, range.
Observed significance as a function of the resonance $m_{X}$. Some table entries are empty because resonance masses from 251 GeV to 5 TeV are considered, whereas some channels only use masses in a certain, more restricted, range.
Observed and expected upper limits at the 95% CL on the resonant Higgs boson pair production cross section as a function of the resonance mass $m_{X}$. Some table entries are empty because resonance masses from 251 GeV to 5 TeV are considered, whereas some channels only use masses in a certain, more restricted, range.
This paper presents a study of $Z \to ll\gamma~$decays with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The analysis uses a proton-proton data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.2 fb$^{-1}$ collected at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}$ = 8 TeV. Integrated fiducial cross-sections together with normalised differential fiducial cross-sections, sensitive to the kinematics of final-state QED radiation, are obtained. The results are found to be in agreement with state-of-the-art predictions for final-state QED radiation. First measurements of $Z \to ll\gamma\gamma$ decays are also reported.
Unfolded $M(l^{+}\gamma)$ distribution for $Z \to ee\gamma$ process with dressed leptons and bkg subtraction. $M_{ll}>20$ GeV. Nexp.un f. = 63717.4 $\pm$ 252.4, NPowHeg truth =338714.
Unfolded $M(l^{-}\gamma)$ distribution for $Z \to ee\gamma$ process with dressed leptons and bkg subtraction. $M_{ll}>20$ GeV. Nexp.un f. = 63855.8 $\pm$ 252.7 , NPowHeg truth =338708.
Unfolded $M(l^{+}\gamma)$ distribution for $Z \to \mu\mu\gamma$ process with dressed leptons and bkg subtraction. $M_{ll}>20$ GeV. Nexp.un f. = 64809.8 $\pm$ 254.6, NPowHeg truth =634285.
Measurements of the differential production cross-sections of prompt and non-prompt $J/\psi$ and $\psi(2$S$)$ mesons with transverse momenta between 8 and 360 GeV and rapidity in the range $|y|<2$ are reported. Furthermore, measurements of the non-prompt fractions of $J/\psi$ and $\psi(2$S$)$, and the prompt and non-prompt $\psi(2$S$)$-to-$J/\psi$ production ratios, are presented. The analysis is performed using 140 fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV $pp$ collision data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC during the years 2015-2018.
Summary of results for cross-section of prompt $J/\psi$ decaying to a muon pair for 13 TeV data in fb/GeV. Uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.
Summary of results for cross-section of non-prompt $J/\psi$ decaying to a muon pair for 13 TeV data in fb/GeV. Uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.
Summary of results for cross-section of prompt $\psi(2S)$ decaying to a muon pair for 13 TeV data in fb/GeV. Uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.
This paper presents for the first time a precise measurement of the production properties of the Z boson in the full phase space of the decay leptons. This is in contrast to the many previous precise unfolded measurements performed in the fiducial phase space of the decay leptons. The measurement is obtained from proton-proton collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment in 2012 at $\sqrt s$ = 8 TeV at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.2 fb$^{-1}$. The results, based on a total of 15.3 million Z-boson decays to electron and muon pairs, extend and improve a previous measurement of the full set of angular coefficients describing Z-boson decay. The double-differential cross-section distributions in Z-boson transverse momentum p$_T$ and rapidity y are measured in the pole region, defined as 80 $<$ m $<$ 100 GeV, over the range $|y| <$ 3.6. The total uncertainty of the normalised cross-section measurements in the peak region of the p$_T$ distribution is dominated by statistical uncertainties over the full range and increases as a function of rapidity from 0.5-1.0% for $|y| <$ 2.0 to 2-7% at higher rapidities. The results for the rapidity-dependent transverse momentum distributions are compared to state-of-the-art QCD predictions, which combine in the best cases approximate N$^4$LL resummation with N$^3$LO fixed-order perturbative calculations. The differential rapidity distributions integrated over p$_T$ are even more precise, with accuracies from 0.2-0.3% for $|y| <$ 2.0 to 0.4-0.9% at higher rapidities, and are compared to fixed-order QCD predictions using the most recent parton distribution functions. The agreement between data and predictions is quite good in most cases.
Measured $p_T$ cross sections in full-lepton phase space for |y| < 0.4.
Measured $p_T$ cross sections in full-lepton phase space for 0.4 < |y| < 0.8.
Measured $p_T$ cross sections in full-lepton phase space for 0.8 < |y| < 1.2.