$Z$ boson events at the Large Hadron Collider can be selected with high purity and are sensitive to a diverse range of QCD phenomena. As a result, these events are often used to probe the nature of the strong force, improve Monte Carlo event generators, and search for deviations from Standard Model predictions. All previous measurements of $Z$ boson production characterize the event properties using a small number of observables and present the results as differential cross sections in predetermined bins. In this analysis, a machine learning method called OmniFold is used to produce a simultaneous measurement of twenty-four $Z$+jets observables using $139$ fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV collected with the ATLAS detector. Unlike any previous fiducial differential cross-section measurement, this result is presented unbinned as a dataset of particle-level events, allowing for flexible re-use in a variety of contexts and for new observables to be constructed from the twenty-four measured observables.
Differential cross-section in bins of dimuon $p_\text{T}$. The actual measurement is unbinned and available with examples at <a href="https://gitlab.cern.ch/atlas-physics/public/sm-z-jets-omnifold-2024">gitlab.cern.ch/atlas-physics/public/sm-z-jets-omnifold-2024</a>
Differential cross-section in bins of dimuon rapidity. The actual measurement is unbinned and available with examples at <a href="https://gitlab.cern.ch/atlas-physics/public/sm-z-jets-omnifold-2024">gitlab.cern.ch/atlas-physics/public/sm-z-jets-omnifold-2024</a>
Differential cross-section in bins of leading muon $p_\mathrm{T]$. The actual measurement is unbinned and available with examples at <a href="https://gitlab.cern.ch/atlas-physics/public/sm-z-jets-omnifold-2024">gitlab.cern.ch/atlas-physics/public/sm-z-jets-omnifold-2024</a>
This paper presents a measurement of the production cross-section of a $Z$ boson in association with $b$- or $c$-jets, in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb$^{-1}$. Inclusive and differential cross-sections are measured for events containing a $Z$ boson decaying into electrons or muons and produced in association with at least one $b$-jet, at least one $c$-jet, or at least two $b$-jets with transverse momentum $p_\textrm{T} > 20$ GeV and rapidity $|y| < 2.5$. Predictions from several Monte Carlo generators based on next-to-leading-order matrix elements interfaced with a parton-shower simulation, with different choices of flavour schemes for initial-state partons, are compared with the measured cross-sections. The results are also compared with novel predictions, based on infrared and collinear safe jet flavour dressing algorithms. Selected $Z + \ge 1 c$-jet observables, optimized for sensitivity to intrinsic-charm, are compared with benchmark models with different intrinsic-charm fractions.
Figure 6(left) of the article. Measured fiducial cross sections for events with $Z (\rightarrow ll) \ge 1 $ b-jets. The thin inner band corresponds to the statistical uncertainty of the data, and the outer band to statistical and systematic uncertainties of the data, added in quadrature.
Figure 6(right) of the article. Measured fiducial cross sections for events with $Z (\rightarrow ll) \ge 2 $ b-jets. The thin inner band corresponds to the statistical uncertainty of the data, and the outer band to statistical and systematic uncertainties of the data, added in quadrature.
Figure 7 of the article. Measured fiducial cross sections for events with $Z (\rightarrow ll) \ge 1 $ c-jets. The thin inner band corresponds to the statistical uncertainty of the data, and the outer band to statistical and systematic uncertainties of the data, added in quadrature.
Cross-sections for the production of a $Z$ boson in association with two photons are measured in proton$-$proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data used correspond to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the ATLAS experiment during Run 2 of the LHC. The measurements use the electron and muon decay channels of the $Z$ boson, and a fiducial phase-space region where the photons are not radiated from the leptons. The integrated $Z(\rightarrow\ell\ell)\gamma\gamma$ cross-section is measured with a precision of 12% and differential cross-sections are measured as a function of six kinematic variables of the $Z\gamma\gamma$ system. The data are compared with predictions from MC event generators which are accurate to up to next-to-leading order in QCD. The cross-section measurements are used to set limits on the coupling strengths of dimension-8 operators in the framework of an effective field theory.
Measured fiducial-level integrated cross-section. NLO predictions from Sherpa 2.2.10 and MadGraph5_aMC@NLO 2.7.3 are also shown. The uncertainty in the predictions is divided into statistical and theoretical uncertainties (scale and PDF+$\alpha_{s}$).
Measured unfolded differential cross-section as a function of the leading photon transverse energy $E^{\gamma1}_{\mathrm{T}}$. NLO predictions from Sherpa 2.2.10 and MadGraph5_aMC@NLO 2.7.3 are also shown. The uncertainty in the predictions is divided into statistical and theoretical uncertainties (scale and PDF+$\alpha_{s}$).
Measured unfolded differential cross-section as a function of the subleading photon transverse energy $E^{\gamma2}_{\mathrm{T}}$. NLO predictions from Sherpa 2.2.10 and MadGraph5_aMC@NLO 2.7.3 are also shown. The uncertainty in the predictions is divided into statistical and theoretical uncertainties (scale and PDF+$\alpha_{s}$).
Measurements of normalized differential cross-sections of top quark pair ($t\bar t$) production are presented as a function of the mass, the transverse momentum and the rapidity of the $t\bar t$ system in proton-proton collisions at center-of-mass energies of $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV and 8 TeV. The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 fb$^{-1}$ at 7 TeV and 20.2 fb$^{-1}$ at 8 TeV, recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Events with top quark pair signatures are selected in the dilepton final state, requiring exactly two charged leptons and at least two jets with at least one of the jets identified as likely to contain a $b$-hadron. The measured distributions are corrected for detector effects and selection efficiency to cross-sections at the parton level. The differential cross-sections are compared with different Monte Carlo generators and theoretical calculations of $t\bar t$ production. The results are consistent with the majority of predictions in a wide kinematic range.
Parton-level normalized $t\bar t$ differential cross-sections for $t\bar t$ system mass $m_{t\bar t}$ at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV. The cross-sections in the last bins include events (if any) beyond of the bin edges. The uncertainties quoted in the second column represent the statistical and systematic uncertainties added in quadrature.
Parton-level normalized $t\bar t$ differential cross-sections for the $t\bar t$ system transverse momentum $p_{T, t\bar t}$ at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV. The cross-sections in the last bins include events (if any) beyond of the bin edges. The uncertainties quoted in the second column represent the statistical and systematic uncertainties added in quadrature.
Parton-level normalized $t\bar t$ differential cross-sections for the $t\bar t$ system absolute rapidity $|y_{t\bar t}|$ at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV. The cross-sections in the last bins include events (if any) beyond of the bin edges. The uncertainties quoted in the second column represent the statistical and systematic uncertainties added in quadrature.
This paper presents a measurement of the double-differential cross section for the Drell-Yan $Z/\gamma^{*} \rightarrow \ell^{+} \ell^{-}$ and photon-induced $\gamma\gamma \rightarrow \ell^{+} \ell^{-}$ processes where $\ell$ is an electron or muon. The measurement is performed for invariant masses of the lepton pairs, $m_{\ell\ell}$, between 116 GeV and 1500 GeV, using a sample of 20.3 fb$^{-1}$ of pp collisions data at centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 8 TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC in 2012. The data are presented double differentially in invariant mass and absolute dilepton rapidity as well as in invariant mass and absolute pseudorapidity separation of the lepton pair. The single-differential cross section as a function of $m_{\ell\ell}$ is also reported. The electron and muon channel measurements are combined and a total experimental precision of better than 1% is achieved at low $m_{\ell\ell}$. A comparison to next-to-next-to-leading order perturbative QCD predictions using several recent parton distribution functions and including next-to-leading order electroweak effects indicates the potential of the data to constrain parton distribution functions. In particular, a large impact of the data on the photon PDF is demonstrated.
The combined Born-level single-differential cross section as a function of invariant mass. The measurements are listed together with the statistical and systematic uncertainties. The systematic uncertainties are separated into one uncorrelated, 35 correlated sources and the luminosity uncertainty. The sign of the uncertainty corresponds to a one standard deviation upward shift of the uncertainty source, where +/- means "+" and -/+ means "-".
The combined Born-level double-differential cross section as a function of invariant mass and absolute rapidity. The measurements are listed together with the statistical and systematic uncertainties. The systematic uncertainties are separated into one uncorrelated, 35 correlated sources and the luminosity uncertainty. The sign of the uncertainty corresponds to a one standard deviation upward shift of the uncertainty source, where +/- means "+" and -/+ means "-".
The combined Born-level double-differential cross section as a function of invariant mass and absolute pseudorapidity separation of the leptons. The measurements are listed together with the statistical and systematic uncertainties. The systematic uncertainties are separated into one uncorrelated, 35 correlated sources and the luminosity uncertainty. The sign of the uncertainty corresponds to a one standard deviation upward shift of the uncertainty source, where +/- means "+" and -/+ means "-".
The production of $Z$ bosons with one or two isolated high-energy photons is studied using $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 8 TeV. The analyses use a data sample with an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the ATLAS detector during the 2012 LHC data taking. The $Z\gamma$ and $Z\gamma\gamma$ production cross sections are measured with leptonic ($e^{+}e^{-}$, $\mu^{+}\mu^{-}$, $\nu\bar{\nu}$) decays of the $Z$ boson, in extended fiducial regions defined in terms of the lepton and photon acceptance. They are then compared to cross-section predictions from the Standard Model, where the sources of the photons are radiation off initial-state quarks and radiative $Z$-boson decay to charged leptons, and from fragmentation of final-state quarks and gluons into photons. The yields of events with photon transverse energy $E_T >$ 250 GeV from $\ell^{+}\ell^{-}\gamma$ events and with $E_T >$ 400 GeV from $\nu\bar{\nu}\gamma$ events are used to search for anomalous triple gauge-boson couplings $ZZ\gamma$ and $Z\gamma\gamma$. The yields of events with diphoton invariant mass $m_{\gamma\gamma} >$ 200 GeV from $\ell^{+}\ell^{-}\gamma\gamma$ events and with $m_{\gamma\gamma} > $ 300 GeV from $\nu\bar{\nu}\gamma\gamma$ events are used to search for anomalous quartic gauge-boson couplings $ZZ\gamma\gamma$ and $Z\gamma\gamma\gamma$. No deviations from Standard Model predictions are observed and limits are placed on parameters used to describe anomalous triple and quartic gauge-boson couplings.
Measured integrated cross sections for the $Z\gamma$ process for charged lepton final states at $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV in the extended fiducial regions defined in the paper, table 5. The parton-to-particle correction factors are also shown, which are defined as the ratio of the cross sections at parton-level to the cross sections at particle-level.
Measured integrated cross sections for the $Z\gamma$ process for neutrino final states at $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV in the extended fiducial regions defined in the paper, table 5. The parton-to-particle correction factors are also shown, which are defined as the ratio of the cross sections at parton-level to the cross sections at particle-level.
Measured integrated cross sections for the $Z\gamma\gamma$ process for charged lepton final states at $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV in the extended fiducial regions defined in the paper, table 5. The parton-to-particle correction factors are also shown, which are defined as the ratio of the cross sections at parton-level to the cross sections at particle-level.
The four-lepton ($4\ell$, $\ell = e, \mu$) production cross section is measured in the mass range from 80 to 1000 GeV using 20.3 fb$^{-1}$ of data in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The $4\ell$ events are produced in the decays of resonant $Z$ and Higgs bosons and the non-resonant $ZZ$ continuum originating from $q\bar q$, $gg$, and $qg$ initial states. A total of 476 signal candidate events are observed with a background expectation of $26.2 \pm 3.6$ events, enabling the measurement of the integrated cross section and the differential cross section as a function of the invariant mass and transverse momentum of the four-lepton system. In the mass range above $180$ GeV, assuming the theoretical constraint on the $q\bar q$ production cross section calculated with perturbative NNLO QCD and NLO electroweak corrections, the signal strength of the gluon-fusion component relative to its leading-order prediction is determined to be $\mu_{gg}=2.4 \pm 1.0 (stat.) \pm 0.5 (syst.)\pm 0.8 (theory)$.
The measured differential cross-section distributions in unit of fb/TeV of $m_{4\ell}$ unfolded into the fiducial phase space, and compared to theory predictions. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic uncertainties.
The measured differential cross-section distributions in unit of fb/TeV of $p_{T}^{4\ell}$ unfolded into the fiducial phase space, and compared to theory predictions. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic uncertainties.
Measured cross sections in the fiducial phase space ($\sigma^\mathrm{fid}$) and extended phase space ($\sigma^\mathrm{ext}$), compared to their SM predictions. One should note that the non-resonant $gg$-induced signal cross section is only calculated at LO approximation.
Differential cross sections for the production of at least four jets have been measured in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV at the Large Hadron Collider using the ATLAS detector. Events are selected if the four anti-$k_{t}$ R=0.4 jets with the largest transverse momentum ($p_{T}$) within the rapidity range $|y|<2.8$ are well separated ($dR^{\rm min}_{4j}>0.65$), all have $p_{T}>64$ GeV, and include at least one jet with $p_{T} >100$ GeV. The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 $fb^{-1}$. The cross sections, corrected for detector effects, are compared to leading-order and next-to-leading-order calculations as a function of the jet momenta, invariant masses, minimum and maximum opening angles and other kinematic variables.
Measured differential four-jet cross section for R=0.4 jets, in bins of pT1, along with the uncertainties in the measurement. The events are selected using the inclusive analysis cuts. All uncertainties are given in %. The first uncertainty quoted is due to the number of data events. DSYS:mcstat is the statistical uncertainty due to the number of MC simulation events. The other columns, denoted with DSYS, correspond to the experimental systematic uncertainties arising from JES, JER, unfolding and luminosity, respectively.
Measured differential four-jet cross section for R=0.4 jets, in bins of pT2, along with the uncertainties in the measurement. The events are selected using the inclusive analysis cuts. All other details are as for pT1.
Measured differential four-jet cross section for R=0.4 jets, in bins of pT3, along with the uncertainties in the measurement. The events are selected using the inclusive analysis cuts. All other details are as for pT1.
Measurements of fiducial and differential cross sections are presented for Higgs boson production in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV. The analysis is performed in the $H \rightarrow \gamma\gamma$ decay channel using 20.3 fb$^{-1}$ of data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The signal is extracted using a fit to the diphoton invariant mass spectrum assuming that the width of the resonance is much smaller than the experimental resolution. The signal yields are corrected for the effects of detector inefficiency and resolution. The $pp\rightarrow H \rightarrow \gamma\gamma$ fiducial cross section is measured to be $43.2 \pm 9.4 (stat) {}^{+3.2}_{-2.9} (syst) \pm 1.2 (lumi)$ fb for a Higgs boson of mass 125.4 GeV decaying to two isolated photons that have transverse momentum greater than 35% and 25% of the diphoton invariant mass and each with absolute pseudorapidity less than 2.37. Four additional fiducial cross sections and two cross-section limits are presented in phase space regions that test the theoretical modelling of different Higgs boson production mechanisms, or are sensitive to physics beyond the Standard Model. Differential cross sections are also presented, as a function of variables related to the diphoton kinematics and the jet activity produced in the Higgs boson events. The observed spectra are statistically limited but broadly in line with the theoretical expectations.
Measured differential cross section with associated uncertainties as a function of transverse momentum of diphoton system. Each systematic uncertainty sources is fully uncorrelated with the other sources and fully correlated across bins, except for the background modelling systematics for which an uncorrelated treatment across bins is more appropriate.
Measured differential cross section with associated uncertainties as a function of absolute rapidity of diphoton system. Each systematic uncertainty sources is fully uncorrelated with the other sources and fully correlated across bins, except for the background modelling systematics for which an uncorrelated treatment across bins is more appropriate.
Measured differential cross section with associated uncertainties as a function of multiplicity of jets with transverse momentum pT(jet) > 30 GeV. Each systematic uncertainty sources is fully uncorrelated with the other sources and fully correlated across bins, except for the background modelling systematics for which an uncorrelated treatment across bins is more appropriate.
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.