A generic search for resonances is performed with events containing a $Z$ boson with transverse momentum greater than 100 GeV, decaying into $e^+e^-$ or $\mu^+\mu^-$. The analysed data collected with the ATLAS detector in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider correspond to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. Two invariant mass distributions are examined for a localised excess relative to the expected Standard Model background in six independent event categories (and their inclusive sum) to increase the sensitivity. No significant excess is observed. Exclusion limits at 95% confidence level are derived for two cases: a model-independent interpretation of Gaussian-shaped resonances with the mass width between 3% and 10% of the resonance mass, and a specific heavy vector triplet model with the decay mode $W'\to ZW \to \ell\ell qq$.
Results of applying the BH algorithm to the mass spectra in the leading small-R jet category, using the fitted background estimations from the initial step
Results of applying the BH algorithm to the mass spectra in the leading bjet category, using the fitted background estimations from the initial step
Results of applying the BH algorithm to the mass spectra in the leading large-R jet category, using the fitted background estimations from the initial step
A search for W$\gamma$ resonances in the mass range between 0.7 and 6.0 TeV is presented. The W boson is reconstructed via its hadronic decays, with the final-state products forming a single large-radius jet, owing to a high Lorentz boost of the W boson. The search is based on proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$, collected with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2016-2018. The W$\gamma$ mass spectrum is parameterized with a smoothly falling background function and examined for the presence of resonance-like signals. No significant excess above the predicted background is observed. Model-specific upper limits at 95% confidence level on the product of the cross section and branching fraction to the W$\gamma$ channel are set. Limits for narrow resonances and for resonances with an intrinsic width equal to 5% of their mass, for spin-0 and spin-1 hypotheses, range between 0.17 fb at 6.0 TeV and 55 fb at 0.7 TeV. These are the most restrictive limits to date on the existence of such resonances over a large range of probed masses. In specific heavy scalar (vector) triplet benchmark models, narrow resonances with masses between 0.75 (1.15) and 1.40 (1.36) TeV are excluded for a range of model parameters. Model-independent limits on the product of the cross section, signal acceptance, and branching fraction to the W$\gamma$ channel are set for minimum W$\gamma$ mass thresholds between 1.5 and 8.0 TeV.
Fitted 4th order polynomials to the signal acceptance for narrow and broad, scalar and vector Wgamma resonances. This quantity is defined as the ratio between the number of signal events falling within the analysis acceptance at the generator level to the number of signal events generated. The fitting function is $ A = p0 + p1*m + p2*m^2 + p3*m^3 + p4*m^4$, where $ A$ is the acceptance and m is the signal mass.
Fitted 4th order polynomials to the product of the signal efficiency and acceptance for narrow and broad, scalar and vector Wgamma resonances. This quantity is defined as the ratio between the number of signal events passing full analysis cuts to the number of signal events generated. The fitting function is $ A \epsilon = p0 + p1*m + p2*m^2 + p3*m^3 + p4*m^4$, where $ A \epsilon$ is the product of the signal efficiency and acceptance, m is the signal mass.
W tagging efficiency, averaged for different spin and width hypotheses. The Standard deviation shown below is the standard deviation between the W tagging efficiencies for different spin and width hypotheses.