The results of a search for Higgs boson pair (HH) production in the WW*WW*, WW*$\tau\tau$, and $\tau\tau\tau\tau$ decay modes are presented. The search uses 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV from 2016 to 2018. Analyzed events contain two, three, or four reconstructed leptons, including electrons, muons, and hadronically decaying tau leptons. No evidence for a signal is found in the data. Upper limits are set on the cross section for nonresonant HH production, as well as resonant production in which a new heavy particle decays to a pair of Higgs bosons. For nonresonant production, the observed (expected) upper limit on the cross section at 95% confidence level (CL) is 21.3 (19.4) times the standard model (SM) prediction. The observed (expected) ratio of the trilinear Higgs boson self-coupling to its value in the SM is constrained to be within the interval $-$6.9 to 11.1 ($-$6.9 to 11.7) at 95% CL, and limits are set on a variety of new-physics models using an effective field theory approach. The observed (expected) limits on the cross section for resonant HH production range from 0.18 to 0.90 (0.08 to 1.06) pb at 95% CL for new heavy-particle masses in the range 250-1000 GeV.
Distribution of an input to the BDT classifier in the $2\ell$(ss) category: The scalar $p_{T}$ sum, denoted as $H_{T}$, of the two reconstructed $\ell$ and all small-radius jets.
Distribution of an input to the BDT classifier in the $2\ell$(ss) category: The angular separation $\Delta R$ between the two $\ell$.
Distribution of an input to the BDT classifier in the $3\ell$ category: The angular separation between $\ell_{3}$ and the nearest small-radius jet (j). The $\ell_{3}$ in is defined as the $\ell$ that is not part of the opposite-sign $\ell\ell$ pair of lowest mass.
An inclusive search for long-lived exotic particles decaying to a pair of muons is presented. The search uses data collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV in 2016 and 2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 97.6 fb$^{-1}$. The experimental signature is a pair of oppositely charged muons originating from a common secondary vertex spatially separated from the pp interaction point by distances ranging from several hundred $\mu$m to several meters. The results are interpreted in the frameworks of the hidden Abelian Higgs model, in which the Higgs boson decays to a pair of long-lived dark photons Z$_\mathrm{D}$, and of a simplified model, in which long-lived particles are produced in decays of an exotic heavy neutral scalar boson. For the hidden Abelian Higgs model with $m_\mathrm{Z_D}$ greater than 20 GeV and less than half the mass of the Higgs boson, they provide the best limits to date on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson to dark photons for $c\tau$(Z$_\mathrm{D}$) (varying with $m_\mathrm{Z_D}$) between 0.03 and ${\approx}$ 0.5 mm, and above ${\approx}$ 0.5 m. Our results also yield the best constraints on long-lived particles with masses larger than 10 GeV produced in decays of an exotic scalar boson heavier than the Higgs boson and decaying to a pair of muons.
Level-1 muon trigger efficiency in cosmic-ray muon data (blue) and signal simulation (red) as a function of $d_0$, for the Level-1 trigger $p_T$ threshold used in the 2016 analysis triggers. The denominator in the efficiency calculation is the number of STA muons with $|\eta| < 1.2$ and $p_T > 33$ GeV.
Level-1 muon trigger efficiency in cosmic-ray muon data (blue) and signal simulation (red) as a function of $d_0$, for the Level-1 trigger $p_T$ threshold used in the 2016 analysis triggers. The denominator in the efficiency calculation is the number of STA muons with $|\eta| < 1.2$ and $p_T > 33$ GeV.
Level-1 muon trigger efficiency in cosmic-ray muon data (blue) and signal simulation (red) as a function of $d_0$, for the Level-1 trigger $p_T$ threshold used in the 2018 analysis triggers. The denominator in the efficiency calculation is the number of STA muons with $|\eta| < 1.2$ and $p_T > 28$ GeV.
A search is reported for heavy resonances and quantum black holes decaying into e$\mu$, e$\tau$, and $\mu\tau$ final states in proton-proton collision data recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC during 2016-2018 at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The e$\mu$, e$\tau$, and $\mu\tau$ invariant mass spectra are reconstructed, and no evidence is found for physics beyond the standard model. Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level on the product of the cross section and branching fraction for lepton flavor violating signals. Three benchmark signals are studied: resonant $\tau$ sneutrino production in $R$ parity violating supersymmetric models, heavy Z' gauge bosons with lepton flavor violating decays, and nonresonant quantum black hole production in models with extra spatial dimensions. Resonant $\tau$ sneutrinos are excluded for masses up to 4.2 TeV in the e$\mu$ channel, 3.7 TeV in the e$\tau$ channel, and 3.6 TeV in the $\mu\tau$ channel. A Z' boson with lepton flavor violating couplings is excluded up to a mass of 5.0 TeV in the e$\mu$ channel, up to 4.3 TeV in the e$\tau$ channel, and up to 4.1 TeV in the $\mu\tau$ channel. Quantum black holes in the benchmark model are excluded up to the threshold mass of 5.6 TeV in the e$\mu$ channel, 5.2 TeV in the e$\tau$ channel, and 5.0 TeV in the $\mu\tau$ channel. In addition, model-independent limits are extracted to allow comparisons with other models for the same final states and similar event selection requirements. The results of these searches provide the most stringent limits available from collider experiments for heavy particles that undergo lepton flavor violating decays.
Mass distributions for the e$\mu$ channel. In addition to the observed data (black points) and SM prediction (filled histograms), expected signal distributions for three models are shown: the RPV SUSY model with $\lambda = \lambda' = 0.01$ and $\tau$ sneutrino mass of 1.6 TeV, a Z′ boson ($\mathcal{B}=0.1$) with a mass of 1.6 TeV , and the QBH signal expectation for $n=4$ and a threshold mass of 1.6 TeV. The bin width gradually increases with mass.
Mass distributions for the e$\tau$ channel. In addition to the observed data (black points) and SM prediction (filled histograms), expected signal distributions for three models are shown: the RPV SUSY model with $\lambda = \lambda' = 0.01$ and $\tau$ sneutrino mass of 1.6 TeV, a Z′ boson ($\mathcal{B}=0.1$) with a mass of 1.6 TeV , and the QBH signal expectation for $n=4$ and a threshold mass of 1.6 TeV. The bin width gradually increases with mass.
Mass distributions for the $\mu\tau$ channel. In addition to the observed data (black points) and SM prediction (filled histograms), expected signal distributions for three models are shown: the RPV SUSY model with $\lambda = \lambda' = 0.01$ and $\tau$ sneutrino mass of 1.6 TeV, a Z′ boson ($\mathcal{B}=0.1$) with a mass of 1.6 TeV , and the QBH signal expectation for $n=4$ and a threshold mass of 1.6 TeV. The bin width gradually increases with mass.
Results are presented from a search for the Higgs boson decay H $\to$ Z$\gamma$, where Z $\to$$\ell^+\ell^-$ with $\ell$ = e or $\mu$. The search is performed using a sample of proton-proton (pp) collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Events are assigned to mutually exclusive categories, which exploit differences in both event topology and kinematics of distinct Higgs production mechanisms to enhance signal sensitivity. The signal strength $\mu$, defined as the product of the cross section and the branching fraction [$\sigma($pp $\to$ H$)\mathcal{B}($H $\to$ Z$\gamma)$] relative to the standard model prediction, is extracted from a simultaneous fit to the $\ell^+\ell^-\gamma$ invariant mass distributions in all categories and is found to be $\mu$ = 2.4 $\pm$ 0.9 for a Higgs boson mass of 125.38 GeV. The statistical significance of the observed excess of events is 2.7 standard deviations. This measurement corresponds to $\sigma($pp $\to$ H$)\mathcal{B}($H $\to$ Z$\gamma)$ = 0.21 $\pm$ 0.08 pb. The observed (expected) upper limit at 95% confidence level on $\mu$ is 4.1 (1.8). The ratio of branching fractions $\mathcal{B}($H $\to$ Z$\gamma) / \mathcal{B}($H $\to$ $\gamma\gamma)$ is measured to be 1.5 $^{+0.7}_{-0.6}$, which agrees with the standard model prediction of 0.69 $\pm$ 0.04 at the 1.5 standard deviation level.
The $\mathcal{D}_{\mathrm{VBF}}$ distributions for signal, simulated background, and data. The $\mathcal{D}_{\mathrm{VBF}}$ distribution includes only dijet-tagged events. The sum of contributions from all signal production mechanisms is shown by the blue line, while the contribution from only the VBF mechanism is shown by the red line. The uncertainty band incorporates all statistical and systematic uncertainties in the expected background. The dashed lines indicate the boundaries for dijet-tagged categories.
The $\mathcal{D}_{\mathrm{kin}}$ distributions for signal, simulated background, and data. The $\mathcal{D}_{\mathrm{kin}}$ distribution includes only untagged events. The sum of contributions from all signal production mechanisms is shown by the blue line. The uncertainty band incorporates all statistical and systematic uncertainties in the expected background. The dashed lines indicate the boundaries for untagged categories. The gray shaded region in the $\mathcal{D}_{\mathrm{kin}}$ distribution is excluded from the analysis.
Fits to the $m_{\ell^+\ell^-\gamma}$ data distribution in the lepton-tagged categories. In the upper panel, the red solid line shows the result of a signal-plus-background fit to the given category. The red dashed line shows the background component of the fit. The green and yellow bands represent the 68 and 95% CL uncertainties in the fit. Also plotted is the expected SM signal, scaled by a factor of 10. In the lower panel, the data minus the background component of the fit is shown.
A search for an extended Higgs sector, characterized by a massive resonance X decaying to a pair of spin-0 bosons $\phi$ that themselves decay to pairs of bottom quarks, is presented. The analysis is restricted to the mass ranges $m_\phi$ from 25 to 100 GeV and $m_\mathrm{X}$ from 1 to 3 TeV. For these mass ranges, the decay products of each $\phi$ boson are expected to merge into a single large-radius jet. Jet substructure and flavor identification techniques are used to identify these jets. The search is based on CERN LHC proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV, collected with the CMS detector in 2016-2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Model-specific limits are set on the product of the production cross section and branching fraction for X $\to$$\phi\phi$$\to$$(\mathrm{b\bar{b}})(\mathrm{b\bar{b}})$ as a function of mass, where both the X $\to$$\phi\phi$ and $\phi$$\to$$\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$ branching fractions are assumed to be 100%. These limits are the first of their kind on this process, ranging between 30 and 1 fb at 95% confidence level for the considered mass ranges.
The observed 95% CL upper limits on the product of the cross section, and branching fraction for the production of X$\to\phi\phi\to$4b, with $m_\phi$ = 25 GeV. The corresponding expected limits and their variations at the 1 and 2 standard deviation levels are also shown. Limits are compared to various extended higgs sector model cross sections as a function of the parameter $m_XN/f$.
The observed 95% CL upper limits on the product of the cross section, and branching fraction for the production of X$\to\phi\phi\to$4b, with $m_\phi$ = 30 GeV. The corresponding expected limits and their variations at the 1 and 2 standard deviation levels are also shown. Limits are compared to various extended higgs sector model cross sections as a function of the parameter $m_XN/f$.
The observed 95% CL upper limits on the product of the cross section, and branching fraction for the production of X$\to\phi\phi\to$4b, with $m_\phi$ = 35 GeV. The corresponding expected limits and their variations at the 1 and 2 standard deviation levels are also shown. Limits are compared to various extended higgs sector model cross sections as a function of the parameter $m_XN/f$.
A search is presented for a heavy W' boson resonance decaying to a B or T vector-like quark and a t or a b quark, respectively. The analysis is performed using proton-proton collisions collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. Both decay channels result in a signature with a t quark, a Higgs or Z boson, and a b quark, each produced with a significant Lorentz boost. The all-hadronic decays of the Higgs or Z boson and of the t quark are selected using jet substructure techniques to reduce standard model backgrounds, resulting in a distinct three-jet W' boson decay signature. No significant deviation in data with respect to the standard model background prediction is observed. Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level on the product of the W' boson cross section and the final state branching fraction. A W' boson with a mass below 3.1 TeV is excluded, given the benchmark model assumption of democratic branching fractions. In addition, limits are set based on generalizations of these assumptions. These are the most sensitive limits to date for this final state.
Reconstructed W′ boson mass distributions in the tHb signal region.
Reconstructed W′ boson mass distributions in the tZb signal region.
The W' boson 95% CL limits on the product of cross section and branching fraction. The expected and observed limits are shown for the center VLQ mass range.
A search for resonances decaying into a W boson and a radion, where the radion decays into two W bosons, is presented. The data analyzed correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ recorded in proton-proton collisions with the CMS detector at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV. One isolated charged lepton is required, together with missing transverse momentum and one or two massive large-radius jets, containing the decay products of either two or one W bosons, respectively. No excess over the background estimation is observed. The results are combined with those from a complementary channel with an all-hadronic final state, described in an accompanying paper. Limits are set on parameters of an extended warped extra-dimensional model. These searches are the first of their kind at the LHC.
Post-fit distributions of the reconstructed $\ell\nu$+jets system ($m_{\mathrm{j}\ell\nu}$, $m_{\mathrm{jj}\ell\nu}$) in data and simulation for SR4.
Observed upper limits at 95\% \CL on the signal cross section $\times$ branching fraction as functions of the $m_{\mathrm{W}_{\mathrm{KK}}}$ and $m_{\mathrm{R}}$ resonance masses after combinign with an analysis of the all-hadronic final state.
Expected median lower limit contour on the $m_{\mathrm{W}_{\mathrm{KK}}}$ and $m_{\mathrm{R}}$ plane after combinign with an analysis of the all-hadronic final state.
The production cross section of a top quark pair in association with a photon is measured in proton-proton collisions in the decay channel with two oppositely charged leptons (e$^\pm\mu^\mp$, e$^+$e$^-$, or $\mu^+\mu^-$). The measurement is performed using 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data recorded by the CMS experiment at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV during the 2016-2018 data-taking period of the CERN LHC. A fiducial phase space is defined such that photons radiated by initial-state particles, top quarks, or any of their decay products are included. An inclusive cross section of 175.2 $\pm$ 2.5 (stat) $\pm$ 6.3 (syst) fb is measured in a signal region with at least one jet coming from the hadronization of a bottom quark and exactly one photon with transverse momentum above 20 GeV. Differential cross sections are measured as functions of several kinematic observables of the photon, leptons, and jets, and compared to standard model predictions. The measurements are also interpreted in the standard model effective field theory framework, and limits are found on the relevant Wilson coefficients from these results alone and in combination with a previous CMS measurement of the $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}\gamma$ production process using the lepton+jets final state.
Observed and predicted event yields as a function of $p_{T}(\gamma)$ in the $e\mu$ channel, after the fit to the data.
Observed and predicted event yields as a function of $p_{T}(\gamma)$ in the $ee$ channel, after the fit to the data.
Observed and predicted event yields as a function of $p_{T}(\gamma)$ in the $\mu\mu$ channel, after the fit to the data.
A search for heavy neutral leptons (HNLs), the right-handed Dirac or Majorana neutrinos, is performed in final states with three charged leptons (electrons or muons) using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV at the CERN LHC. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The HNLs could be produced through mixing with standard model neutrinos $\nu$. For small values of the HNL mass ($\lt$ 20 GeV) and the square of the HNL-$\nu$ mixing parameter (10$^{-7}$-10$^{-2}$), the decay length of these particles can be large enough so that the secondary vertex of the HNL decay can be resolved with the CMS silicon tracker. The selected final state consists of one lepton emerging from the primary proton-proton collision vertex, and two leptons forming a displaced, secondary vertex. No significant deviations from the standard model expectations are observed, and constraints are obtained on the HNL mass and coupling strength parameters, excluding previously unexplored regions of parameter space in the mass range 1-20 GeV and squared mixing parameter values as low as 10$^{-7}$.
Number of predicted and observed events in the $eeX$ final states. The quoted uncertainties include statistical and systematic uncertainties.
Number of predicted and observed events in the $\mu\mu X$ final states. The quoted uncertainties include statistical and systematic uncertainties.
Number of predicted signal events in the $eeX$ final states, for several benchmark signal hypotheses for Majorana HNL. The quoted uncertainties include statistical and systematic uncertainties.
A search is presented for single production of a vector-like T quark with charge 2/3 $e$, in the decay channel featuring a top quark and a Z boson, with the top quark decaying hadronically and the Z boson decaying to neutrinos. The search uses data collected by the CMS experiment in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$ recorded at the CERN LHC in 2016-2018. The search is sensitive to a T quark mass between 0.6 and 1.8 TeV with decay widths ranging from negligibly small up to 30% of the T quark mass. Reconstruction strategies for the top quark are based on the degree of Lorentz boosting of its final state. At 95% confidence level, the upper limit on the product of the cross section and branching fraction for a T quark of small decay width varies between 15 and 602 fb, depending on its mass. For a T quark with decay widths between 10 and 30% of its mass, this upper limit ranges between 16 and 836 fb. For most of the studied range, the results provide the best limits to date. This is the first search for single T quark production based on the full Run 2 data set of the LHC.
Product of efficiency and acceptance of the event selection for T signal events as a function of the particle mass $m_\mathrm{T}$ and width $\Gamma$ for the different hypotheses considered.
Product of efficiency and acceptance of the event selection for T signal events as a function of the particle mass $m_\mathrm{T}$ and width $\Gamma$ for the different hypotheses considered.
Product of efficiency and acceptance of the event selection for T signal events as a function of the particle mass $m_\mathrm{T}$ and width $\Gamma$ for the different hypotheses considered.
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