The first observation of single top quark production in association with a W and a Z boson in proton-proton collisions is reported. The analysis uses data at center-of-mass energies of 13 and 13.6 TeV recorded with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 200 fb$^{-1}$. Events with three or four charged leptons, which can be electrons or muons, are selected. Advanced machine-learning algorithms and improved reconstruction methods, compared to an earlier analysis, result in an unprecedented sensitivity to tWZ production. The measured cross sections for tWZ production are 248 $\pm$ 52 fb and 244 $\pm$ 74 fb for $\sqrt{s}$ =13 and 13.6 TeV, respectively. The signal is established with a statistical significance of 5.8 standard deviations, with 3.5 expected, compared to the background-only hypothesis.
Distributions in the ML output scores for the tWZ output node in the 3l SR after a fit to the data.
Distributions in the ML output scores for the ttZ output node in the 3l SR after a fit to the data.
Distributions in the ML output scores for the tWZ output node in the 4l SR after a fit to the data.
A hot and dense state of nuclear matter, known as the quark-gluon plasma, is created in collisions of ultrarelativistic heavy nuclei. Highly energetic quarks and gluons, collectively referred to as partons, lose energy as they travel through this matter, leading to suppressed production of particles with large transverse momenta ($p_\mathrm{T}$). Conversely, high-$p_\mathrm{T}$ particle suppression has not been seen in proton-lead collisions, raising questions regarding the minimum system size required to observe parton energy loss. Oxygen-oxygen (OO) collisions examine a region of effective system size that lies between these two extreme cases. The CMS detector at the CERN LHC has been used to quantify charged-particle production in inclusive OO collisions for the first time via measurements of the nuclear modification factor ($R_\mathrm{AA}$). The $R_\mathrm{AA}$ is derived by comparing particle production to expectations based on proton-proton (pp) data and has a value of unity in the absence of nuclear effects. The data for OO and pp collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 5.36 TeV correspond to integrated luminosities of 6.1 nb$^{-1}$ and 1.02 pb$^{-1}$, respectively. The $R_\mathrm{AA}$ is below unity with a minimum of 0.69 $\pm$ 0.04 around $p_\mathrm{T}$ = 6 GeV. The data exhibit better agreement with theoretical models incorporating parton energy loss as compared to baseline models without energy loss.
Inclusive charged particle spectra for pp collisions at 5.36 TeV for $3 < p_{T} (GeV) <103.6$. The errors represent statistical, systematics and normalization uncertainties.
Inclusive charged particle spectra for OO collisions at 5.36 TeV for $3 < p_{T} (GeV) <103.6$. The errors represent statistical, systematics and normalization uncertainties.
Inclusive charged particle R_{AA} for 5.36 TeV OO collisions for $3 < p_{T} (GeV) <103.6$. The errors represent statistical, systematics and normalization uncertainties.
This paper presents a combination of searches for the nonresonant production of Higgs boson pairs (HH) in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data set was collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC from 2016 to 2018 and corresponds to a total integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The observed (expected) upper limit on the inclusive HH production cross section relative to the standard model (SM) prediction is found to be 3.5 (2.5). Assuming all other Higgs boson couplings are equal to their SM values, the Higgs boson trilinear self-coupling modifier $κ_λ=λ_3/λ_{3}^\text{SM}$ is constrained in the range $-$1.35 $\leq$$κ_λ$$\leq$ 6.37 at 95% confidence level. Similarly, for the coupling modifier $κ_{2\mathrm{V}}$, which governs the interaction between two vector bosons and two Higgs bosons, we have excluded $κ_{2\mathrm{V}}$ = 0 at more than 5 standard deviations for all values of $κ_λ$. At 95% confidence level assuming other couplings are equal to their SM values, $κ_{2\mathrm{V}}$ is constrained in the range 0.64 $\leq$ $κ_{2\mathrm{V}}$ $\leq$ 1.40. This work also studies HH production in several new physics scenarios, using the Higgs effective field theory (HEFT) framework. The HEFT framework is further exploited to study various ultraviolet complete models with an extended Higgs sector and set constraints on specific parameters. An extrapolation of the results to the integrated luminosity expected after the high-luminosity upgrade of the LHC is reported as well.
Values of the effective Lagrangian couplings for the Higgs Effective field theory benchmarks proposed in Ref. [33].
Values of the effective Lagrangian couplings for the Higgs Effective field theory benchmarks proposed in Ref. [34].
Summary of results for the HH analyses included in this combination. The second column is the observed (expected) 95$\%$ CL upper limit on the inclusive signal strength $r$. The third (fourth) column is the allowed 68$\%$ CL interval for the coupling modifier $\kappa_\lambda$ ($\kappa _{2V}$). The last column indicates whether the analysis is included in the results using the HEFT parametrisation.
The long-range collective flow of particles produced in oxygen-oxygen (OO) and neon-neon (NeNe) collisions is measured with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The data samples were collected at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 5.36 TeV, with integrated luminosities of 7 nb$^{-1}$ and 0.8 nb$^{-1}$ for OO and NeNe collisions, respectively. Two- and four-particle azimuthal correlations are measured over nearly five units of pseudorapidity. Significant elliptic ($v_2$) and triangular ($v_3$) flow harmonics are observed in both systems. The ratios of $v_n$ coefficients between NeNe and OO collisions reveal sensitivity to quadrupole correlations in the nuclear wave functions. Hydrodynamic models with $\textit{ab initio}$ nuclear structure inputs qualitatively reproduce the collision-overlap dependence of both the $v_n$ values and the NeNe to OO ratios. These measurements provide new constraints on hydrodynamic models for small collision systems and offer valuable input on the nuclear structure of $^{16}$O and $^{20}$Ne.
The $v_{2}\{2,\lvert\Delta\eta\rvert>2\}$, $v_{3}\{2,\lvert\Delta\eta\rvert>2\}$ and $v_{2}\{4\}$ values for charged particles as functions of centrality in OO collisions at 5.36 TeV.
The $v_{2}\{2,\lvert\Delta\eta\rvert>2\}$, $v_{3}\{2,\lvert\Delta\eta\rvert>2\}$ and $v_{2}\{4\}$ values for charged particles as functions of centrality in NeNe collisions at 5.36 TeV.
The $v_{2}\{2,\lvert\Delta\eta\rvert>2\}$ and $v_{2}\{4\}$ ratios for charged particles as functions of centrality in NeNe to OO collisions at 5.36 TeV.
A search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying to a charm quark-antiquark pair, H $\to$$\mathrm{c\bar{c}}$, produced in association with a top quark-antiquark pair ($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$H) is presented. The search is performed with data from proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Advanced machine learning techniques are employed for jet flavor identification and event classification. The Higgs boson decay to a bottom quark-antiquark pair is measured simultaneously and the observed $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$H (H $\to$$\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$) event rate relative to the standard model expectation is 0.91 $^{+0.26}_{-0.22}$. The observed (expected) upper limit on the product of production cross section and branching fraction $σ$($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$H) $\mathcal{B}$(H $\to$$\mathrm{c\bar{c}}$) is 0.11 (0.13) pb at 95% confidence level, corresponding to 7.8 (8.7) times the standard model prediction. When combined with the previous search for H $\to$ $\mathrm{c\bar{c}}$ via associated production with a W or Z boson, the observed (expected) 95% confidence interval on the Higgs-charm Yukawa coupling modifier, $κ_\mathrm{c}$, is $\lvert{κ_\mathrm{c}}\rvert$ $\lt$ 3.5 (2.7), the most stringent constraint to date.
Upper limits on the signal strength for $\text{H}\to\text{c}\overline{\text{c}}$ decays with respect to the standard model expectation of unity.
Upper limits on the signal strength for $\text{t}\overline{\text{t}}\text{H}(\text{H}\to\text{c}\overline{\text{c}})$ decays with respect to the standard model expectation of unity.
Signal strength and significance for $\text{t}\overline{\text{t}}\text{H}(\text{H}\to\text{b}\overline{\text{b}})$ decays with respect to the standard model expectation of unity.
The $pp \to W^{\pm} (\to μ^{\pm} ν_μ) X$ cross-sections are measured at a proton-proton centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 100 pb$^{-1}$ recorded by the LHCb experiment. Considering muons in the pseudorapidity range $2.2 < η< 4.4$, the cross-sections are measured differentially in twelve intervals of muon transverse momentum between $28 < p_\mathrm{T} < 52$ GeV. Integrated over $p_\mathrm{T}$, the measured cross-sections are \begin{align*} σ_{W^+ \to μ^+ ν_μ} &= 300.9 \pm 2.4 \pm 3.8 \pm 6.0~\text{pb}, \\ σ_{W^- \to μ^- \barν_μ} &= 236.9 \pm 2.1 \pm 2.7 \pm 4.7~\text{pb}, \end{align*} where the first uncertainties are statistical, the second are systematic, and the third are associated with the luminosity calibration. These integrated results are consistent with theoretical predictions. This analysis introduces a new method to determine the $W$-boson mass using the measured differential cross-sections corrected for detector effects. The measurement is performed on this statistically limited dataset as a proof of principle and yields \begin{align*} m_W = 80369 \pm 130 \pm 33~\text{MeV}, \end{align*} where the first uncertainty is experimental and the second is theoretical.
The measured differential cross sections ($d\sigma/dp_T$) for $W^+$. The first systematic uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic.
The measured differential cross sections ($d\sigma/dp_T$) for $W^-$. The first systematic uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic.
The correlation matrix corresponding to the statistical uncertainties on the differential cross-section ($d\sigma/dp_T$) fit results for $W^+$. To combine with $W^-$, use the rows and columns ordered as $W^+$ and then $W^-$. Assume no correlation in the statistical uncertainties between $W^+$ and $W^-$ (zero entries in the off-diagonal blocks).
This paper presents a search for new physics through the process where a new massive particle, X, decays into a Higgs boson and a second particle, Y. The Higgs boson subsequently decays into a bottom quark-antiquark pair, reconstructed as a single large-radius jet. The decay products of Y are also assumed to produce a single large-radius jet. The identification of the Y particle is enhanced by computing the anomaly score of its candidate jet using an autoencoder, which measures deviations from typical QCD multijet jets. This allows a simultaneous search for multiple Y decay scenarios within a single analysis. In the main benchmark process, Y is a scalar particle that decays into W$^+$W$^-$. Two other benchmark processes are also considered, where Y is a scalar particle decaying into a light quark-antiquark pair, or into a top quark-antiquark pair. The last benchmark considers Y as a hadronically decaying top quark, arising from the decay of a vector-like quark into a top quark and a Higgs boson. Data recorded by the CMS experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV in 2016$-$2018, and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$, are analyzed. No significant excess is observed, and upper limits on the benchmark signal cross section for various masses of X and Y, at 95% confidence level, are placed.
The $m_{jj}$ and $m_{J}$ projections for the number of observed events (black markers) compared with the backgrounds estimated in the fit to the data (filled histograms) in the CR. Pass and Fail categories are shown. The high level of agreement between the model and the data in the Fail region is due to the nature of the background estimate. The lower panels show the ``Pull'' defined as $(\text{observed events}{-}\text{expected events})/\sqrt{\smash[b]{\sigma_\text{obs}^{2} + \sigma_\text{exp}^{2}}}$, where $\sigma_\text{obs}$ and $\sigma_\text{exp}$ are the total uncertainties in the observation and the background estimation, respectively.
The $m_{jj}$ and $m_{J}$ projections for the number of observed events (black markers) compared with the backgrounds estimated in the fit to the data (filled histograms) in the CR. Pass and Fail categories are shown. The high level of agreement between the model and the data in the Fail region is due to the nature of the background estimate. The lower panels show the ``Pull'' defined as $(\text{observed events}{-}\text{expected events})/\sqrt{\smash[b]{\sigma_\text{obs}^{2} + \sigma_\text{exp}^{2}}}$, where $\sigma_\text{obs}$ and $\sigma_\text{exp}$ are the total uncertainties in the observation and the background estimation, respectively.
The $m_{jj}$ and $m_{J}$ projections for the number of observed events (black markers) compared with the backgrounds estimated in the fit to the data (filled histograms) in the CR. Pass and Fail categories are shown. The high level of agreement between the model and the data in the Fail region is due to the nature of the background estimate. The lower panels show the ``Pull'' defined as $(\text{observed events}{-}\text{expected events})/\sqrt{\smash[b]{\sigma_\text{obs}^{2} + \sigma_\text{exp}^{2}}}$, where $\sigma_\text{obs}$ and $\sigma_\text{exp}$ are the total uncertainties in the observation and the background estimation, respectively.
Utilizing the 2012 transversely polarized proton data from the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory, the forward $η$-meson transverse single-spin asymmetry ($A_N$) was measured for $p^{\uparrow}+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV as a function of Feynman-x ($x_F$) for $0.2<|x_F|<0.8$ and transverse momentum ($p_T$) for $1.0<p_T<5.0$ GeV/$c$. Large asymmetries at positive $x_F$ are observed ($\left<A_N\right>=0.086 \pm 0.019$), agreeing well with previous measurements of $π^{0}$ and $η$$A_N$, but with reach to higher $x_F$ and $p_T$. The contribution of initial-state spin-momentum correlations to the asymmetry, as calculated in the collinear twist-3 framework, appears insufficient to describe the data and suggests a significant impact on the asymmetry from fragmentation.
The $\eta$ meson transverse single-spin asymmetry vs. Feynman-x at forward rapidity in pp collisions at center-of-mass energy 200 GeV.
The $\eta$ meson transverse single-spin asymmetry vs. $\eta$ meson $p_T$ at forward rapidity in pp collisions at center-of-mass energy 200 GeV.
At hadron colliders, the net transverse momentum of particles that do not interact with the detector (missing transverse momentum, $\vec{p}_\mathrm{T}^\text{miss}$) is a crucial observable in many analyses. In the standard model, $\vec{p}_\mathrm{T}^\text{miss}$ originates from neutrinos. Many beyond-the-standard-model particles, such as dark matter candidates, are also expected to leave the experimental apparatus undetected. This paper presents a novel $\vec{p}_\mathrm{T}^\text{miss}$ estimator, DeepMET, which is based on deep neural networks that were developed by the CMS Collaboration at the LHC. The DeepMET algorithm produces a weight for each reconstructed particle based on its properties. The estimator is based on the negative vector sum of the weighted transverse momenta of all reconstructed particles in an event. Compared with other estimators currently employed by CMS, DeepMET improves the $\vec{p}_\mathrm{T}^\text{miss}$ resolution by 10$-$30%, shows improvement for a wide range of final states, is easier to train, and is more resilient against the effects of additional proton-proton interactions accompanying the collision of interest.
Recoil responses of different $\vec{p}^\mathrm{miss}_\mathrm{T}$ estimators in data and MC simulations after the $Z\to\mu\mu$ selections, as a function of $q_T$.
Response-corrected resolutions of $u_{\parallel}$ vs $q_T$ of different $\vec{p_{T}^{miss}}$ estimators in data after the $Z\to\mu\mu$ selections, as a function of $q_T$.
Response-corrected resolutions of $u_{\perp}$ vs $q_T$ of different $\vec{p_{T}^{miss}}$ estimators in data after the $Z\to\mu\mu$ selections, as a function of $q_T$.
A model-independent measurement of the differential production cross section of the Higgs boson decaying into a pair of W bosons, with a final state including two jets produced in association, is presented. In the analysis, events are selected in which the decay products of the two W bosons consist of an electron, a muon, and missing transverse momentum. The model independence of the measurement is maximized by making use of a discriminating variable that is agnostic to the signal hypothesis developed through machine learning. The analysis is based on proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV collected with the CMS detector from 2012$-$2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The production cross section is measured as a function of the difference in azimuthal angle between the two jets. The differential cross section measurements are used to constrain Higgs boson couplings within the standard model effective field theory framework.
Measured fiducial cross section summing VBF and ggF production modes.
Measured fiducial cross section of VBF and ggF production modes.
Measured fiducial cross section of VBF and ggF production modes.