Strong interactions preserve an approximate isospin symmetry between up ($u$) and down ($d$) quarks, part of the more general flavor symmetry. In the case of $K$ meson production, if this isospin symmetry were exact, it would result in equal numbers of charged ($K^+$ and $K^-$) and neutral ($K^0$ and $\overline K^{\,0}$) mesons in the final state. Here, we report results on the relative abundance of charged over neutral $K$ meson production in argon and scandium nuclei collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 11.9 GeV per nucleon pair. We find that the production of $K^+$ and $K^-$ mesons at mid-rapidity is $(18.4\pm 6.1)\%$ higher than that of the neutral $K$ mesons. Although with large uncertainties, earlier data on nucleus-nucleus collisions in the collision center-of-mass energy range $2.6 < \sqrt{s_{NN}} < 200$~\GeV are consistent with the present result. Using well-established models for hadron production, we demonstrate that known isospin-symmetry breaking effects and the initial nuclei containing more neutrons than protons lead only to a small (few percent) deviation of the charged-to-neutral kaon ratio from unity at high energies. Thus, they cannot explain the measurements. The significance of the flavor-symmetry violation beyond the known effects is 4.7$\sigma$ when the compilation of world data with uncertainties quoted by the experiments is used. New systematic, high-precision measurements and theoretical efforts are needed to establish the origin of the observed large isospin-symmetry breaking.
Numerical data for $K^0_S$ from Figure 1.
Numerical data for $K^0_S$ from Figure 1.
Numerical data for $(K^+ + K^-)/2$ from Figure 1.
Measurements of both the inclusive and differential production cross sections of a top-quark-top-antiquark pair in association with a $Z$ boson ($t\bar{t}Z$) are presented. Final states with two, three or four isolated leptons (electrons or muons) are targeted. The measurements use the data recorded by the ATLAS detector in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV at the Large Hadron Collider during the years 2015-2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $140$ fb$^{-1}$. The inclusive cross section is measured to be $\sigma_{t\bar{t}Z}= 0.86 \pm 0.04~\mathrm{(stat.)} \pm 0.04~\mathrm{(syst.)}~$pb and found to be in agreement with the most advanced Standard Model predictions. The differential measurements are presented as a function of a number of observables that probe the kinematics of the $t\bar{t}Z$ system. Both the absolute and normalised differential cross-section measurements are performed at particle level and parton level for specific fiducial volumes, and are compared with NLO+NNLL theoretical predictions. The results are interpreted in the framework of Standard Model effective field theory and used to set limits on a large number of dimension-6 operators involving the top quark. The first measurement of spin correlations in $t\bar{t}Z$ events is presented: the results are in agreement with the Standard Model expectations, and the null hypothesis of no spin correlations is disfavoured with a significance of $1.8$ standard deviations.
All the entries of this HEP data record are listed. Figure and Table numbers are the same as in the paper.
Definition of the dilepton signal regions.
Definition of the trilepton signal regions.
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}
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 measurement of the invisible width of the $Z$ boson using events with jets and missing transverse momentum is presented using 37 $\mbox{fb\(^{-1}\)}$ of 13 TeV proton-proton data collected by the ATLAS detector in 2015 and 2016. The ratio of $Z\rightarrow \textrm{inv}$ to $Z\rightarrow\ell\ell$ events, where inv refers to non-detected particles and $\ell$ is either an electron or a muon, is measured and corrected for detector effects. Events with at least one energetic central jet with $p_{\textrm{T}} \geq 110$ GeV are selected for both the $Z\rightarrow \textrm{inv}$ and $Z\rightarrow\ell\ell$ final states to obtain a similar phase space in the ratio. The invisible width is measured to be $506\pm2 \textrm{ (stat.)} \pm12 \textrm{ (syst.)}$ MeV and is the single most precise recoil-based measurement. The result is in agreement with the most precise determination from LEP and the Standard Model prediction based on three neutrino generations.
Measured invisible width of the $Z$ boson, $\Gamma(Z\rightarrow \textrm{inv})$.
Measured $\mathrm{R}^{\mathrm{miss}}_{ee}$.
Measured $\mathrm{R}^{\mathrm{miss}}_{\mu\mu}$.
A search for the decay of the Higgs boson to a $Z$ boson and a light, pseudoscalar particle, $a$, decaying respectively to two leptons and to two photons is reported. The search uses the full LHC Run 2 proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV, corresponding to 139 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the ATLAS detector. This is one of the first searches for this specific decay mode of the Higgs boson, and it probes unexplored parameter space in models with axion-like particles (ALPs) and extended scalar sectors. The mass of the $a$ particle is assumed to be in the range 0.1-33 GeV. The data are analysed in two categories: a merged category where the photons from the $a$ decay are reconstructed in the ATLAS calorimeter as a single cluster, and a resolved category in which two separate photons are detected. The main background processes are from Standard Model $Z$ boson production in association with photons or jets. The data are in agreement with the background predictions, and upper limits on the branching ratio of the Higgs boson decay to $Za$ times the branching ratio $a\to\gamma\gamma$ are derived at the 95% confidence level and they range from 0.08% to 2% depending on the mass of the $a$ particle. The results are also interpreted in the context of ALP models.
Post-fit distribution for $m_{\gamma\gamma}$ for the resolved category in number of events per 0.2 GeV for data. The figure uses $pp$ collision data at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV corresponding to 139 fb$^{-1}$.
Post-fit distribution for $m_{\gamma\gamma}$ for the resolved category in number of events per 0.2 GeV for a signal distribution for $m_a = 9$ GeV, and the signal plus background fit with its background component. The branching ratio of the Higgs boson decay to $Za$ times the branching ratio $a $->$ \gamma \gamma$ is assumed to be 50%. The figure uses $pp$ collision data at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV corresponding to 139 fb$^{-1}$.
Post-fit final discriminating variable $\Delta R_{Z\gamma}$ in the signal region of the merged category. Signal distributions for $m_a$ values used in this category are overlayed for comparison, assuming a branching ratio of the Higgs boson decay to $Za$ times the branching ratio $a $->$ \gamma \gamma$ of 100%. The signal yields have been multiplied by 10 for better visibility. The figure uses $pp$ collision data at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV corresponding to 139 fb$^{-1}$.
A measurement of the Standard Model Higgs boson produced in association with a $W$ or $Z$ boson and decaying into a pair of $\tau$-leptons is presented. This search is based on proton-proton collision data collected at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb$^{-1}$. For the Higgs boson candidate, only final states with at least one $\tau$-lepton decaying hadronically ($\tau\rightarrow \mathrm{hadrons} + \nu_\tau$) are considered. For the vector bosons, only leptonic decay channels are considered: $Z \rightarrow \ell\ell$ and $W\rightarrow \ell\nu_\ell$, with $\ell=e,\mu$. An excess of events over the expected background is found with an observed (expected) significance of 4.2 (3.6) standard deviations, providing evidence of the Higgs boson produced in association with a vector boson and decaying into a pair of $\tau$-leptons. The ratio of the measured cross-section to the Standard Model prediction is $\mu_{\text{VH}}^{\tau\tau} = 1.28\ ^{+0.30}_{-0.29}\ (\mathrm{stat.})\ ^{+0.25}_{-0.21}\ (\mathrm{syst.})$. This result represents the most accurate measurement of the \vh process achieved to date.
Distributions of representative kinematic variables in the misidentified background-enriched same-sign region: (a) the Higgs boson transverse momentum (${p_\text{T}}^H$) in the $WH(\tau_{\mathrm{had}}\tau_{\mathrm{had}})$ category, (b) the missing transverse momentum (${E_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{miss}}}$) in the $WH(\tau_{\mathrm{lep}}\tau_{\mathrm{had}})$ category, (c) the radial distance (dR$(\ell,\ell)$) between the two light leptons associated to the $Z\to\ell{}\ell$ decay process in the $ZH(\tau_{\mathrm{had}}\tau_{\mathrm{had}})$ category, and (d) the invariant mass ($m_{\ell\ell}$) of the two light leptons associated to the $Z\to\ell{}\ell$ decay in the $ZH(\tau_{\mathrm{lep}}\tau_{\mathrm{had}})$ category. The hatched band represents the pre-fit statistical, experimental and theoretical uncertainties. The signal contributions are considered as part of the predictions and are normalized as predicted by the Standard Model.
Distributions of representative kinematic variables in the misidentified background-enriched same-sign region: (a) the Higgs boson transverse momentum (${p_\text{T}}^H$) in the $WH(\tau_{\mathrm{had}}\tau_{\mathrm{had}})$ category, (b) the missing transverse momentum (${E_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{miss}}}$) in the $WH(\tau_{\mathrm{lep}}\tau_{\mathrm{had}})$ category, (c) the radial distance (dR$(\ell,\ell)$) between the two light leptons associated to the $Z\to\ell{}\ell$ decay process in the $ZH(\tau_{\mathrm{had}}\tau_{\mathrm{had}})$ category, and (d) the invariant mass ($m_{\ell\ell}$) of the two light leptons associated to the $Z\to\ell{}\ell$ decay in the $ZH(\tau_{\mathrm{lep}}\tau_{\mathrm{had}})$ category. The hatched band represents the pre-fit statistical, experimental and theoretical uncertainties. The signal contributions are considered as part of the predictions and are normalized as predicted by the Standard Model.
Distributions of representative kinematic variables in the misidentified background-enriched same-sign region: (a) the Higgs boson transverse momentum (${p_\text{T}}^H$) in the $WH(\tau_{\mathrm{had}}\tau_{\mathrm{had}})$ category, (b) the missing transverse momentum (${E_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{miss}}}$) in the $WH(\tau_{\mathrm{lep}}\tau_{\mathrm{had}})$ category, (c) the radial distance (dR$(\ell,\ell)$) between the two light leptons associated to the $Z\to\ell{}\ell$ decay process in the $ZH(\tau_{\mathrm{had}}\tau_{\mathrm{had}})$ category, and (d) the invariant mass ($m_{\ell\ell}$) of the two light leptons associated to the {Z\to\ell{}\ell}\xspace{} decay in the $ZH(\tau_{\mathrm{lep}}\tau_{\mathrm{had}})$ category. The hatched band represents the pre-fit statistical, experimental and theoretical uncertainties. The signal contributions are considered as part of the predictions and are normalized as predicted by the Standard Model.
This paper presents the measurement of fiducial and differential cross sections for both the inclusive and electroweak production of a same-sign $W$-boson pair in association with two jets ($W^\pm W^\pm jj$) using 139 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data recorded at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The analysis is performed by selecting two same-charge leptons, electron or muon, and at least two jets with large invariant mass and a large rapidity difference. The measured fiducial cross sections for electroweak and inclusive $W^\pm W^\pm jj$ production are $2.92 \pm 0.22\, \text{(stat.)} \pm 0.19\, \text{(syst.)}$ fb and $3.38 \pm 0.22\, \text{(stat.)} \pm 0.19\, \text{(syst.)}$ fb, respectively, in agreement with Standard Model predictions. The measurements are used to constrain anomalous quartic gauge couplings by extracting 95% confidence level intervals on dimension-8 operators. A search for doubly charged Higgs bosons $H^{\pm\pm}$ that are produced in vector-boson fusion processes and decay into a same-sign $W$ boson pair is performed. The largest deviation from the Standard Model occurs for an $H^{\pm\pm}$ mass near 450 GeV, with a global significance of 2.5 standard deviations.
Fiducial differential cross section of the electroweak $W^\pm W^\pm jj$ production as a function of $m_{\ell\ell}$. The correlation of uncertainties of the measured cross section across bins is presented in Table 11.
Fiducial differential cross section of the electroweak $W^\pm W^\pm jj$ production as a function of $m_{\mathrm{T}}$. The correlation of uncertainties of the measured cross section across bins is presented in Table 12.
Fiducial differential cross section of the electroweak $W^\pm W^\pm jj$ production as a function of $m_{\mathrm{jj}}$. The correlation of uncertainties of the measured cross section across bins is presented in Table 13.
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.