The exclusive production of pion pairs in the process $pp\to pp\pi^+\pi^-$ has been measured at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC, using 80 $\mu$b$^{-1}$ of low-luminosity data. The pion pairs were detected in the ATLAS central detector while outgoing protons were measured in the forward ATLAS ALFA detector system. This represents the first use of proton tagging to measure an exclusive hadronic final state at the LHC. A cross-section measurement is performed in two kinematic regions defined by the proton momenta, the pion rapidities and transverse momenta, and the pion-pion invariant mass. Cross section values of $4.8 \pm 1.0 \text{(stat.)} + {}^{+0.3}_{-0.2} \text{(syst.)}\mu$b and $9 \pm 6 \text{(stat.)} + {}^{+2}_{-2}\text{(syst.)}\mu$b are obtained in the two regions; they are compared with theoretical models and provide a demonstration of the feasibility of measurements of this type.
The measured fiducial cross sections. The first systematic uncertainty is the combined systematic uncertainty excluding luminosity, the second is the luminosity
Ratios of top-quark pair to $Z$-boson cross sections measured from proton--proton collisions at the LHC centre-of-mass energies of $\sqrt s=13$TeV, 8TeV, and 7TeV are presented by the ATLAS Collaboration. Single ratios, at a given $\sqrt s$ for the two processes and at different $\sqrt s$ for each process, as well as double ratios of the two processes at different $\sqrt s$, are evaluated. The ratios are constructed using previously published ATLAS measurements of the $t\overline{t}$ and $Z$-boson production cross sections, corrected to a common phase space where required, and a new analysis of $Z \rightarrow \ell^+ \ell^-$ where $\ell=e,\mu$ at $\sqrt s=13$TeV performed with data collected in 2015 with an integrated luminosity of $3.2$fb$^{-1}$. Correlations of systematic uncertainties are taken into account when evaluating the uncertainties in the ratios. The correlation model is also used to evaluate the combined cross section of the $Z\rightarrow e^+e^-$ and the $Z\rightarrow \mu^+ \mu^-$ channels for each $\sqrt s$ value. The results are compared to calculations performed at next-to-next-to-leading-order accuracy using recent sets of parton distribution functions. The data demonstrate significant power to constrain the gluon distribution function for the Bjorken-$x$ values near 0.1 and the light-quark sea for $x<0.02$.
Measured fiducial cross section times leptonic branching ratio for Z/gamma* production in the Z/gamma* -> e+e- final state at 13TeV.
Measured fiducial cross section times leptonic branching ratio for Z/gamma* production in the Z/gamma* -> mu+ mu- final state at 13TeV.
Breakdown of systematic uncertainties in percent for the measured fiducial cross section times leptonic branching ratio for Z/gamma* production in the Z/gamma* -> e+e- final state at 13TeV.
High-precision measurements by the ATLAS Collaboration are presented of inclusive $W^+\to\ell^+\nu$, $W^-\to\ell^-\bar{\nu}$ and $Z/\gamma^*\to\ell\ell$ ($\ell=e,\mu$) Drell-Yan production cross sections at the LHC. The data were collected in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV with an integrated luminosity of 4.6 fb$^{-1}$. Differential $W^+$ and $W^-$ cross sections are measured in a lepton pseudorapidity range $|\eta_{\ell}| = 2.5$. Differential $Z/\gamma^*$ cross sections are measured as a function of the absolute dilepton rapidity, for $|y_{\ell\ell}| < 3.6$, for three intervals of dilepton mass, $m_{\ell\ell}$, extending from 46 to 150 GeV. The integrated and differential electron- and muon-channel cross sections are combined and compared to theoretical predictions using recent sets of parton distribution functions. The data, together with the final inclusive $e^{\pm}p$ scattering cross-section data from H1 and ZEUS, are interpreted in a next-to-next-to-leading-order QCD analysis, and a new set of parton distribution functions, ATLAS-epWZ16, is obtained. The ratio of strange-to-light sea-quark densities in the proton is determined more accurately than in previous determinations based on collider data only, and is established to be close to unity in the sensitivity range of the data. A new measurement of the CKM matrix element $|V_{cs}|$ is also provided.
Fiducial cross sections times branching ratios for $W^+$, $W^-$, central and forward $Z/\gamma^*$ ($m_{ee} = 66-116$ GeV) production in the electron decay channels. The fiducial regions used for the measurement are those defined for the combined fiducial regions, except that the central electron pseudorapidity is restricted to be $|\eta|<2.47$ and excludes $1.37<|\eta|<1.52$, and the forward electron pseudorapidity excludes the region $3.16<|\eta|<3.35$. The uncertainties denote the statistical (stat), the systematic (syst) and the luminosity (lumi) uncertainties.
Fiducial cross sections times branching ratios for $W^+$, $W^-$ and $Z/\gamma^*$ ($m_{\mu\mu} = 66-116$ GeV) production in the muon decay channels. The fiducial regions used for the measurement are those defined for the combined fiducial regions, except that the muon pseudorapidity is restricted to be $|\eta|<2.4$. The uncertainties denote the statistical (stat), the systematic (syst) and the luminosity (lumi) uncertainties.
Integrated fiducial cross sections times leptonic branching ratios in the electron and muon channels and their combination with statistical and systematic uncertainties, for $W^+$, $W^-$, their sum and the $Z/\gamma^*$ process measured at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV. The $Z/\gamma^*$ cross section is defined for the dilepton mass window $m_{\ell\ell} = 66 - 116$ GeV. The common fiducial regions are defined in Section 2.3. The uncertainties denote the statistical (stat), the experimental systematic (syst), and the luminosity (lumi) contributions.
The production of $D^{*\pm}$, $D^\pm$ and $D_s^\pm$ charmed mesons has been measured with the ATLAS detector in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV at the LHC, using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $280\,$nb$^{-1}$. The charmed mesons have been reconstructed in the range of transverse momentum $3.5<p_{\rm T}(D)<100$ GeV and pseudorapidity $|\eta(D)|<2.1$. The differential cross sections as a function of transverse momentum and pseudorapidity were measured for $D^{*\pm}$ and $D^\pm$ production. The next-to-leading-order QCD predictions are consistent with the data in the visible kinematic region within the large theoretical uncertainties. Using the visible $D$ cross sections and an extrapolation to the full kinematic phase space, the strangeness-suppression factor in charm fragmentation, the fraction of charged non-strange $D$ mesons produced in a vector state, and the total cross section of charm production at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV were derived.
The visible low-$p_T$, $3.5<p_T(D)<20\rm{\ GeV}$, and high-$p_T$, $20<p_T(D)<100\rm{\ GeV}$, cross sections of $D^{*\pm}$, $D^\pm$ and $D^\pm_s$ production with $|\eta|<2.1$. The data uncertainties are the total uncertainties obtained as sums in quadrature of the statistical, systematic, luminosity and branching-fraction uncertainties.
The measured differential cross sections $\rm{d}\sigma/\rm{d}p_T$ of $D^{*\pm}$ and $D^\pm$ production with $|\eta|<2.1$. The first and second errors are the statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively. The systematic uncertainties corresponding to the tracking ($\delta_2$) uncertainties (Table 2 of the paper) are strongly correlated. The fully correlated uncertainties linked with the luminosity measurement ($3.5\%$) and branching fractions ($1.5\%$ and $2.1\%$ for $D^{*\pm}$ and $D^\pm$, respectively) are not shown.
The measured differential cross sections $\rm{d}\sigma/\rm{d}|\eta|$ of $D^{*\pm}$ and $D^\pm$ production with $3.5<p_T<20\,$GeV. The first and second errors are the statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively. The systematic uncertainty fractions corresponding to the tracking ($\delta_2$) uncertainties (Table 2 of the paper) are strongly correlated. The fully correlated uncertainties linked with the luminosity measurement ($3.5\%$) and branching fractions ($1.5\%$ and $2.1\%$ for $D^{*\pm}$ and $D^\pm$, respectively) are not shown.
The paper presents studies of Bose-Einstein Correlations (BEC) for pairs of like-sign charged particles measured in the kinematic range $p_{\rm T}>$ 100 MeV and $|\eta|<$ 2.5 in proton--proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 0.9 and 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The integrated luminosities are approximately 7 $\mu$b$^{-1}$, 190 $\mu$b$^{-1}$ and 12.4 nb$^{-1}$ for 0.9 TeV, 7 TeV minimum-bias and 7 TeV high-multiplicity data samples, respectively. The multiplicity dependence of the BEC parameters characterizing the correlation strength and the correlation source size are investigated for charged-particle multiplicities of up to 240. A saturation effect in the multiplicity dependence of the correlation source size is observed using the high-multiplicity 7 TeV data sample. The dependence of the BEC parameters on the average transverse momentum of the particle pair is also investigated.
Systematic uncertainties on $\lambda$ and $R$ for the exponential fit of the two-particle double-ratio correlation function $R_{2}(Q)$ in the full kinematic region at $\sqrt{s} = 0.9$ and $7\ TeV$ for minimum-bias and high-multiplicity (HM) events, $n_{ch} \ge 2$ and $n_{ch} \ge 150$, respectively.
Results of fitting the multiplicity, $n_{ch}$, dependence of the BEC parameters $R$ and $\lambda$ with different functional forms for $\sqrt{s} = 0.9$ and $7\ TeV$. The $n_{ch}$ fit of $R(n_{ch})$ is applied to $7\ TeV$ minimum-bias events at $n_{ch} \le 55$ and to $0.9\ TeV$ minimum-bias events. The constant fit of $R(n_{ch} )$ is applied to $7\ TeV$ minimum-bias events for $n_{ch} > 55$ and to $7\ TeV$ high-multiplicity events. The exponential fit of $\lambda(n_{ch})$ is applied to $7\ TeV$ minimum-bias and high-multiplicity events.The error represent the quadratic sum of the statistical and systematic uncertainties.
Results of fitting the transverse momentum of the pair, $k_{T}$, dependence of the BEC parameters $R$ and $\lambda$ with the exponential fitting function for $\sqrt{s} = 0.9$ and $7\ TeV$. The error represent the quadratic sum of the statistical and systematic uncertainties.
A measurement of the production processes of the recently discovered Higgs boson is performed in the two-photon final state using 5.4 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions data at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV and 20.3 fb$^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The number of observed Higgs boson decays to diphotons divided by the corresponding Standard Model prediction, called the signal strength, is found to be $\mu = 1.17 \pm 0.27$ at the value of the Higgs boson mass measured by ATLAS, $m_{H}$ = 125.4 GeV. The analysis is optimized to measure the signal strengths for individual Higgs boson production processes at this value of $m_{H}$. They are found to be $\mu_{\mathrm{ggF}} = 1.32 \pm 0.38$, $\mu_{\mathrm{VBF}} = 0.8 \pm 0.7$, $\mu_{{WH}} = 1.0 \pm 1.6 $, $\mu_{{ZH}} = 0.1 ^{+3.7}_{-0.1} $, $\mu_{{t\bar{t}H}} = 1.6 ^{+2.7}_{-1.8} $, for Higgs boson production through gluon fusion, vector-boson fusion, and in association with a $W$ or $Z$ boson or a top-quark pair, respectively. Compared with the previously published ATLAS analysis, the results reported here also benefit from a new energy calibration procedure for photons and the subsequent reduction of the systematic uncertainty on the diphoton mass resolution. No significant deviations from the predictions of the Standard Model are found.
The signal strength for a Higgs boson of mass mH = 125.4 GeV decaying via H->gammagamma as measured in the individual analysis categories, and the combined signal strength, for the combination of the 7 TeV and 8 TeV data. The VH dilepton category is not shown because with only two events in the combined sample, the fit results are not meaningful.
The signal strength for a Higgs boson of mass mH = 125.4 GeV decaying via H->gammagamma as measured in groups of categories sensitive to individual production modes, and the combined signal strength, for the combination of the 7 TeV and 8 TeV data.
Measured signal strengths, for a Higgs boson of mass mH = 125.4 GeV decaying via H->gammagamma, of the different Higgs boson production modes and the combined signal strength mu obtained with the combination of the 7 TeV and 8 TeV data.
The prompt and non-prompt production cross-sections for $\psi(2S)$ mesons are measured using 2.1 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. The measurement exploits the $\psi(2S)\to J/\psi(\to\mu^+\mu^-)\pi^+\pi^-$ decay mode, and probes $\psi(2S)$ mesons with transverse momenta in the range $10\leq p_T<100$ GeV and rapidity $|y|<2.0$. The results are compared to other measurements of $\psi(2S)$ production at the LHC and to various theoretical models for prompt and non-prompt quarkonium production.
Non-prompt $\psi(2\mathrm{S})$ production fraction as a function of $\psi(2\mathrm{S})$ $p_{\rm T}$ for $\psi(2\mathrm{S})$ rapidity interval of $0\leq |y| < 0.75$. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic. Spin-alignment uncertainties are not included.
Non-prompt $\psi(2\mathrm{S})$ production fraction as a function of $\psi(2\mathrm{S})$ $p_{\rm T}$ for $\psi(2\mathrm{S})$ rapidity interval of $0.75\leq |y| < 1.5$. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic. Spin-alignment uncertainties are not included.
Non-prompt $\psi(2\mathrm{S})$ production fraction as a function of $\psi(2\mathrm{S})$ $p_{\rm T}$ for $\psi(2\mathrm{S})$ rapidity interval of $1.5\leq |y| < 2$. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic. Spin-alignment uncertainties are not included.
Measurements of differential production cross-sections of a $Z$ boson in association with $b$-jets in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV are reported. The data analysed correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 fb$^{-1}$ recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Particle-level cross-sections are determined for events with a $Z$ boson decaying into an electron or muon pair, and containing $b$-jets. For events with at least one $b$-jet, the cross-section is presented as a function of the $Z$ boson transverse momentum and rapidity, together with the inclusive $b$-jet cross-section as a function of $b$-jet transverse momentum, rapidity and angular separations between the $b$-jet and the $Z$ boson. For events with at least two $b$-jets, the cross-section is determined as a function of the invariant mass and angular separation of the two highest transverse momentum $b$-jets, and as a function of the $Z$ boson transverse momentum and rapidity. Results are compared to leading-order and next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations.
Integrated $Z+\ge 1$ $b$-jet cross-section and the integrated inclusive $b$-jet cross-sections.
Breakdown of systematic uncertainties (in %) for the integrated $Z+\ge 1$ $b$-jet cross-section and the integrated inclusive $b$-jet cross-sections.
The inclusive $b$-jet cross-section $\sigma(Zb)\times N_{b\text{-jet}}$ as a function of $b$-jet $p_T$ together with the corresponding non-perturbative corrections.
Simultaneous measurements of the $t\bar{t}$, $W^+W^-$, and $Z/\gamma^{*}\rightarrow\tau\tau$ production cross-sections using an integrated luminosity of $4.6\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7\,\mathrm{TeV}$ collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC are presented. Events are selected with two high transverse momentum leptons consisting of an oppositely charged electron and muon pair. The three processes are separated using the distributions of the missing transverse momentum of events with zero and greater than zero jet multiplicities. Measurements of the fiducial cross-section are presented along with results that quantify for the first time the underlying correlations in the predicted and measured cross-sections due to proton parton distribution functions. These results indicate that the correlated NLO predictions for $t\bar{t}$ and $Z/\gamma^{*}\rightarrow\tau\tau$ underestimate the data, while those at NNLO generally describe the data well. The full cross-sections are measured to be $\sigma(t\bar{t}) = 181.2 \pm 2.8^{+9.7}_{-9.5} \pm 3.3 \pm 3.3\,\mathrm{pb}$, $\sigma(W^+W^-) = 53.3 \pm 2.7^{+7.3}_{-8.0} \pm 1.0 \pm 0.5\,\mathrm{pb}$, and $\sigma(Z/\gamma^{*}\rightarrow\tau\tau) = 1174 \pm 24^{+72}_{-87} \pm 21 \pm 9\,\mathrm{pb}$, where the cited uncertainties are due to statistics, systematic effects, luminosity and the LHC beam energy measurement, respectively. The $W^+W^-$ measurement includes the small contribution from Higgs boson decays, $H\rightarrow W^+W^-$.
Total $t\bar{t}$, $WW$, and $Z/\gamma^* \rightarrow \tau\tau$ cross-sections as measured simultaneously in this analysis with symmetrized uncertainties.
This article presents measurements of the $t$-channel single top-quark ($t$) and top-antiquark ($\bar{t}$) total production cross sections $\sigma(tq)$ and $\sigma(\bar{t}q)$, their ratio $R_{t}=\sigma(tq)/\sigma(\bar{t}q)$, and a measurement of the inclusive production cross section $\sigma(tq + \bar{t}q)$ in proton--proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV at the LHC. Differential cross sections for the $tq$ and $\bar{t}q$ processes are measured as a function of the transverse momentum and the absolute value of the rapidity of $t$ and $\bar{t}$, respectively. The analyzed data set was recorded with the ATLAS detector and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 4.59 fb$^{-1}$. Selected events contain one charged lepton, large missing transverse momentum, and two or three jets. The cross sections are measured by performing a binned maximum-likelihood fit to the output distributions of neural networks. The resulting measurements are $\sigma(tq)= 46\pm 6\; \mathrm{pb}$, $\sigma(\bar{t}q)= 23 \pm 4\; \mathrm{pb}$, $R_{t}=2.04\pm 0.18$, and $\sigma(tq + \bar{t}q)= 68 \pm 8\; \mathrm{pb}$, consistent with the Standard Model expectation. The uncertainty on the measured cross sections is dominated by systematic uncertainties, while the uncertainty on $R_{t}$ is mainly statistical. Using the ratio of $\sigma(tq + \bar{t}q)$ to its theoretical prediction, and assuming that the top-quark-related CKM matrix elements obey the relation $|V_{tb}|\gg |V_{ts}|, |V_{td}|$, we determine $|V_{tb}|=1.02 \pm 0.07$.
Differential t-channel top-quark production cross sections and normalized differential t-channel top-quark production cross sections as functions of PT(TOP).
Predicted and observed events yields for the 2-jet and 3-jet channels considered in this measurement. The multijet background is estimated using data-driven techniques (see Sec. VB); an uncertainty of $50\%$ is applied. All the other expectations are derived using theoretical cross sections and their uncertainties (see Secs. VA and VC in the paper).
Differential t-channel top-quark production cross sections and normalized differential t-channel top-quark production cross sections as functions of PT(TOPBAR).
Forum