A search for long-lived particles originating from the decay of b hadrons produced in proton-proton collisions with a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC is presented. The analysis is performed on a data set recorded in 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 41.6 fb$^{-1}$. Interactions of the long-lived particles in the CMS endcap muon system would create hadronic or electromagnetic showers, producing clusters of detector hits. Selected events contain at least one such high-multiplicity cluster in the muon endcaps and require the presence of a displaced muon. The most stringent upper limits to date on the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}$(B $\to$ K$Φ$), where the long-lived particle $Φ$ decays to a pair of hadrons, are obtained for $Φ$ masses of 0.3$-$3.0 GeV and $Φ$ mean proper decay lengths in the range of 1$-$500 cm.
Distributions of the CSC cluster time shown for signal samples with m = 0.3 GeV, c$\tau_{\Phi}$ = 100 mm, m = 1.0 GeV, c$\tau_{\Phi}$ = 300 mm, m = 2.0 GeV, c$\tau_{\Phi}$ = 1000 mm and the background-enriched data.
Distributions of the CSC cluster size $N_{hits}$ shown for signal samples with m = 0.3 GeV, c$\tau_{\Phi}$ = 100 mm, m = 1.0 GeV, c$\tau_{\Phi}$ = 300 mm, m = 2.0 GeV, c$\tau_{\Phi}$ = 1000 mm and the background-enriched data.
Distributions of the $\Delta\Phi$ between the CSC cluster and the trigger muon, shown for signal samples with m = 0.3 GeV c$\tau_{\Phi}$ = 100 mm, m = 1.0 GeV c$\tau_{\Phi}$ = 300 mm, m = 2.0 GeV c$\tau_{\Phi}$ = 1000 mm and the background-enriched data.
A reinterpretation of a prior narrow-resonance search is performed to investigate the resonant production of pairs of dijet resonances via broad mediators. This analysis targets events with four resolved jets, requiring dijet invariant masses greater than 0.2 TeV and four-jet invariant masses greater than 1.6 TeV. The search uses a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the CMS experiment in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV. The reinterpretation considers the production of new heavy four-jet resonances, with widths ranging from 1.5 to 10% of their mass, which decay to a pair of dijet resonances. This analysis probes resonant production in the four-jet and dijet mass distributions. Upper limits at 95% confidence level and significances are reported on the production cross section of new resonances as functions of their widths and masses, between 2 and 10 TeV. In particular, at a four-jet resonance mass of 8.6 TeV, the local (global) significance ranges from 3.9 (1.6) to 3.6 (1.4) standard deviations (s.d.) as the resonance width is increased from 1.5 to 10%. This relative insensitivity to the choice of width indicates that a broad resonance is an equally valid interpretation of this excess. The broad resonance hypothesis at a resonance mass of 8.6 TeV is supported by the presence of an event with a four-jet mass of 5.8 TeV and an average dijet mass of 2.0 TeV. Also, we report the reinterpretation of a second effect, at a four-jet resonance mass of 3.6 TeV, which has a local (global) significance of up to 3.9 (2.2) s.d.
Observed number of events within bins of the four-jet mass and the average mass of the two dijets.
Observed number of events within bins of the four-jet mass and the ratio $\alpha$, which is the average dijet mass divided by the four-jet mass.
Predictions of a leading order (LO) QCD simulation, normalized to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The number of events are examined within bins of the four-jet mass and the average mass of the two dijets.
A search for nonresonant new physics phenomena in high-mass dilepton events produced in association with b-tagged jets is performed using proton-proton collision data collected in 2016$-$2018 by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC, at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The analysis considers two effective field theory models with dimension-six operators; involving four-fermion contact interactions between two leptons ($\ell\ell$, electrons or muons) and b or s quarks (bb$\ell\ell$ and bs$\ell\ell$). Two lepton flavor combinations (ee and $μμ$) are required and events are classified as having 0, 1, and $\geq$2 b-tagged jets in the final state. No significant excess is observed over the standard model backgrounds. Upper limits are set on the production cross section of the new physics signals. These translate into lower limits on the energy scale $Λ$ of 6.9 to 9.0 TeV in the bb$\ell\ell$ model, depending on model parameters, and on the ratio of energy scale and effective coupling, $Λ/g_*$, of 2.0 to 2.6 TeV in the bs$\ell\ell$ model. The latter represent the most stringent limits on this model to date. Lepton flavor universality is also tested by comparing the dielectron and dimuon mass spectra for different b-tagged jet multiplicities. No significant deviation from the standard model expectation of unity is observed.
Signal efficiencies with Full Run 2 dimuon channel for different bbll signal scenarios
Signal efficiencies with Full Run 2 dimuon channel for different bbll (destructive interference) signal scenarios
Signal efficiencies with Full Run 2 dimuon channel in 1b final state for different bbll signal scenarios
A first search is presented for vector-like leptons (VLLs) decaying into a light long-lived pseudoscalar boson and a standard model $τ$ lepton. The pseudoscalar boson is assumed to have a mass below the $τ^+τ^-$ threshold, so that it decays exclusively into two photons. It is identified using the CMS muon system. The analysis is carried out using a data set of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment in 2016-2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Selected events contain at least one pseudoscalar boson decaying electromagnetically in the muon system and at least one hadronically decaying $τ$ lepton. No significant excess of data events is observed compared to the background expectation. Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level on the vector-like lepton production cross section as a function of the VLL mass and the pseudoscalar boson mean proper decay length. The observed and expected exclusion ranges of the VLL mass extend up to 700 and 670 GeV, respectively, depending on the pseudoscalar boson lifetime.
Distributions of the number of hits in the cluster (Nhits) for the DT category in the signal region (SR). The last histogram bin contains all overflow events.
The cluster reconstruction efficiency, including both DT and CSC clusters, as a function of the simulated r and |z| decay positions of the pseudoscalar into photons in events with MET > 200 GeV, for a VLL mass of 700 GeV and a pseudoscalar mass of 2 GeV, and a range of ctau values uniformly distributed between 0.01 and 0.1 m.
Distributions of the number of hits in the cluster (Nhits) for the CSC category in the signal region (SR). The last histogram bin contains all overflow events.
A search for beyond-the-standard-model neutral Higgs bosons decaying to a pair of bottom quarks, and produced in association with at least one additional bottom quark, is performed with the CMS detector. The data were recorded in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the CERN LHC, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 36.7-126.9 fb$^{-1}$ depending on the probed mass range. No signal above the standard model background expectation is observed. Upper limits on the production cross section times branching fraction are set for Higgs bosons in the mass range of 125-1800 GeV. The results are interpreted in benchmark scenarios of the minimal supersymmetric standard model, as well as suitable classes of two-Higgs-doublet models.
Signal efficiency as a function of the mass $m_\phi$ after triple b tag selection for 2017 SL (squares), 2017 FH (triangles), and 2018 FH (circles) channels.
Expected and observed upper limits for the b-quark-associated Higgs boson production cross section times branching fraction of the decay into a b quark pair at 95% CL as functions of $m_\phi$ for the 2017 SL category. The vertical dashed lines indicate the boundaries of usage of the different fit ranges, as reflected in the rightmost column of Table 2.
Expected and observed upper limits for the b-quark-associated Higgs boson production cross section times branching fraction of the decay into a b quark pair at 95% CL as functions of $m_\phi$ for the 2017 FH category. The vertical dashed lines indicate the boundaries of usage of the different fit ranges, as reflected in the rightmost column of Table 2.
The first search for a heavy neutral spin-1 gauge boson (Z') with nonuniversal fermion couplings produced via vector boson fusion processes and decaying to tau leptons or W bosons is presented. The analysis is performed using LHC data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, collected from 2016 to 2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The data are consistent with the standard model predictions. Upper limits are set on the product of the cross section for production of the Z' boson and its branching fraction to $ττ$ or WW. The presence of a Z' boson decaying to $τ^+τ^-$ (W$^+$W$^-$) is excluded for masses up to 2.45 (1.60) TeV, depending on the Z' boson coupling to SM weak bosons, and assuming a Z' $\to$$τ^+τ^-$ (W$^+$W$^-$) branching fraction of 50%.
Cutflow for VBF Z' to tautau in ditau 2016 channel for different signal scenarios
Cutflow for VBF Z' to tautau in ditau 2017 channel for different signal scenarios
Cutflow for VBF Z' to tautau in ditau 2018 channel for different signal scenarios
A search for heavy neutral gauge bosons (Z') decaying into a pair of tau leptons is performed in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV at the CERN LHC. The data were collected with the CMS detector and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The observations are found to be in agreement with the expectation from standard model processes. Limits at 95% confidence level are set on the product of the Z' production cross section and its branching fraction to tau lepton pairs for a range of Z' boson masses. For a narrow resonance in the sequential standard model scenario, a Z' boson with a mass below 3.5 TeV is excluded. This is the most stringent limit to date from this type of search.
Cutflow for signal samples in the hadronic di-tau channel for 2016 signal samples. Each entry other than the total is the relative efficiency with respect to the previous selection.
Cutflow for signal samples in the hadronic di-tau channel for 2017 signal samples. Each entry other than the total is the relative efficiency with respect to the previous selection.
Cutflow for signal samples in the hadronic di-tau channel for 2018 signal samples. Each entry other than the total is the relative efficiency with respect to the previous selection.
A search is presented for a heavy resonance decaying into a Z boson and a Higgs (H) boson. The analysis is based on data from proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$, recorded with the CMS experiment in the years 2016-2018. Resonance masses between 1.4 and 5 TeV are considered, resulting in large transverse momenta of the Z and H bosons. Final states that result from Z boson decays to pairs of electrons, muons, or neutrinos are considered. The H boson is reconstructed as a single large-radius jet, recoiling against the Z boson. Machine-learning flavour-tagging techniques are employed to identify decays of a Lorentz-boosted H boson into pairs of charm or bottom quarks, or into four quarks via the intermediate H $\to$ WW* and ZZ* decays. The analysis targets H boson decays that were not generally included in previous searches using the H $\to$$\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$ channel. Compared with previous analyses, the sensitivity for high resonance masses is improved significantly in the channel where at most one b quark is tagged.
The product of signal acceptance and efficiency for signal events as a function of $m_{Z'}$ for the charged-lepton and neutrino channels in the SR. The efficiency is calculated with respect to Z boson decays to charged leptons and neutrinos for the charged-lepton and neutrino channels, respectively. For comparison, the results from the $\leq$ 1 b category of the previous CMS search in the ZH channel are shown as dashed lines.
The product of signal acceptance and efficiency for signal events as a function of $m_{Z'}$ for the charged-lepton and neutrino channels in the SR. The efficiency is calculated with respect to Z boson decays to charged leptons and neutrinos for the charged-lepton and neutrino channels, respectively. For comparison, the results from the $\leq$ 1 b category of the previous CMS search in the ZH channel are shown as dashed lines.
Distributions in $m_{Z'}^{rec}$ for data in the SRs, together with fits of the background functions under the background-only hypothesis for the muon channel. The number of observed events in each bin is divided by the bin width. The signal predictions are shown for different Z' boson masses, normalized to an arbitrary cross section of 1 fb. In the panels below the distributions, the ratios of data to the background function are displayed. The shaded green areas represent the statistical uncertainty from the fit. The $\chi^2$ values per number of degrees of freedom ($\chi^2$/n.d.f.) and the corresponding $p$-values are provided for each fit.
A search for a light charged Higgs boson produced in decays of the top quark, $t \to H^\pm b$ with $H^\pm \to cs$, is presented. This search targets the production of top-quark pairs $t\bar{t} \to Wb H^\pm b$, with $W \to \ell\nu$ ($\ell = e, \mu$), resulting in a lepton-plus-jets final state characterised by an isolated electron or muon and at least four jets. The search exploits $b$-quark and $c$-quark identification techniques as well as multivariate methods to suppress the dominant $t\bar{t}$ background. The data analysed correspond to 140 $\text{fb}^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC between 2015 and 2018. Observed (expected) 95% confidence-level upper limits on the branching fraction $\mathscr{B}(t\to H^\pm b)$, assuming $\mathscr{B}(t\to Wb) + \mathscr{B}(t \to H^\pm (\to cs)b)=1.0$, are set between 0.066% (0.077%) and 3.6% (2.3%) for a charged Higgs boson with a mass between 60 GeV and 168 GeV.
Distributions of the dijet mass. The processes $t\bar{t}$(allHad), $tW$, Single top, $t\bar{t}H$, Other top, $W$ + jets, $Z$ + jets, and $VV$ listed are combined with the multijet background in the ‘Other’ category. The uncertainty band represents the combined statistical and systematic uncertainty of the prediction. Overlaid are the shapes for the $H^{\pm}_{80}$ and $H^{\pm}_{150}$ signal samples normalised to the total background prediction.
Data and background yields after the background-only fit of the BDT-score distribution for the $130\,$GeV signal mass BDT training. For comparison, the expected signal yield for $\mathscr{B}_{H^{\pm}}=1.0\%$ is added.
Observed (solid line) and expected (dotted line) upper limits on $\mathscr{B}_{H^{\pm}}$ for charged Higgs boson with masses between $60\,$GeV and $168\,$GeV, assuming $\mathscr{B}(t \to H^{\pm}(\to cs) b) = 1.0$. The $\pm 1 \sigma$ and $\pm 2 \sigma$ variations around the expected upper limit are indicated by the green and yellow bands, respectively.
A search is presented for the pair production of higgsinos $\tilde{\chi}$ in gauge-mediated supersymmetry models, where the lightest neutralinos $\tilde{\chi}_1^0$ decay into a light gravitino $\tilde{G}$ in association with either a Higgs $h$ or a $Z$ boson. The search is performed with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider using 139 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV. It targets final states in which a Higgs boson decays into a photon pair, while the other Higgs or $Z$ boson decays into a $b\bar{b}$ pair, with missing transverse momentum associated with the two gravitinos. Search regions dependent on the amount of missing transverse momentum are defined by the requirements that the diphoton mass should be consistent with the mass of the Higgs boson, and the $b\bar{b}$ mass with the mass of the Higgs or $Z$ boson. The main backgrounds are estimated with data-driven methods using the sidebands of the diphoton mass distribution. No excesses beyond Standard Model expectations are observed and higgsinos with masses up to 320 GeV are excluded, assuming a branching fraction of 100% for $\tilde{\chi}_1^0\rightarrow h\tilde{G}$. This analysis excludes higgsinos with masses of 130 GeV for branching fractions to $h\tilde{G}$ as low as 36%, thus providing complementarity to previous ATLAS searches in final states with multiple leptons or multiple $b$-jets, targeting different decays of the electroweak bosons.
<b>- - - - - - - - Overview of HEPData Record - - - - - - - -</b> <b>Histograms:</b><ul> <li><a href=?table=Distribution1>Figure 3a: $m_{\gamma\gamma}$ Distribution in VR1</a> <li><a href=?table=Distribution2>Figure 3b: $E_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{miss}}$ Distribution in VR1</a> <li><a href=?table=Distribution3>Figure 3c: $m_{\gamma\gamma}$ Distribution in VR2</a> <li><a href=?table=Distribution4>Figure 3d: $E_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{miss}}$ Distribution in VR2</a> <li><a href=?table=Distribution5>Figure 4a: N-1 $m_{\gamma\gamma}$ Distribution for SR1h</a> <li><a href=?table=Distribution6>Figure 4b: N-1 $m_{\gamma\gamma}$ Distribution for SR1Z</a> <li><a href=?table=Distribution7>Figure 4c: N-1 $m_{\gamma\gamma}$ Distribution for SR2</a> <li><a href=?table=Distribution8>Auxiliary Figure 1: Signal and Validation Region Yields</a> </ul> <b>Tables:</b><ul> <li><a href=?table=YieldsTable1>Table 3: Signal Region Yields & Model-independent Limits</a> <li><a href=?table=Cutflow1>Auxiliary Table 1: Benchmark Signal Cutflows</a> </ul> <b>Cross section limits:</b><ul> <li><a href=?table=X-sectionU.L.1>Figure 5: 1D Cross-section Limits</a> <li><a href=?table=X-sectionU.L.2>Auxiliary Figure 3: 2D Cross-section Limits</a> </ul> <b>2D CL limits:</b><ul> <li><a href=?table=Exclusioncontour1>Figure 6: Expected Limit on $\mathrm{BF}(\tilde{\chi}_1^0\rightarrow h\tilde{G})$</a> <li><a href=?table=Exclusioncontour2>Figure 6: $+1\sigma$ Variation for Expected Limit on $\mathrm{BF}(\tilde{\chi}_1^0\rightarrow h\tilde{G})$</a> <li><a href=?table=Exclusioncontour3>Figure 6: $-1\sigma$ Variation for Expected Limit on $\mathrm{BF}(\tilde{\chi}_1^0\rightarrow h\tilde{G})$</a> <li><a href=?table=Exclusioncontour4>Figure 6: Observed Limit on $\mathrm{BF}(\tilde{\chi}_1^0\rightarrow h\tilde{G})$</a> <li><a href=?table=Exclusioncontour5>Figure 6: $+1\sigma$ Variation for Observed Limit on $\mathrm{BF}(\tilde{\chi}_1^0\rightarrow h\tilde{G})$</a> <li><a href=?table=Exclusioncontour6>Figure 6: $-1\sigma$ Variation for Observed Limit on $\mathrm{BF}(\tilde{\chi}_1^0\rightarrow h\tilde{G})$</a> </ul> <b>2D Acceptance and Efficiency maps:</b><ul> <li><a href=?table=Acceptance1>Auxiliary Figure 4a: Acceptances SR1h</a> <li><a href=?table=Acceptance2>Auxiliary Figure 4b: Acceptances SR1Z</a> <li><a href=?table=Acceptance3>Auxiliary Figure 4c: Acceptances SR2</a> <li><a href=?table=Efficiency1>Auxiliary Figure 5a: Efficiencies SR1h</a> <li><a href=?table=Efficiency2>Auxiliary Figure 5b: Efficiencies SR1Z</a> <li><a href=?table=Efficiency3>Auxiliary Figure 5c: Efficiencies SR2</a> </ul>
Distribution of the diphoton invariant mass in validation region VR1. The solid histograms are stacked to show the SM expectations after the 2×2D background estimation technique is applied. Background and signal predictions are normalised to the luminosity. The background category "h (other)" includes events originating from VBF, Vh, ggF, thq, thW and bb̄h, all subdominant in this signature. Statistical and systematic uncertainties are indicated by the shaded area. The lower panel of each plot shows the ratio of the data to the SM prediction for the respective bin. The first and last bins include the underflows and overflows respectively.
Distribution of the missing transverse momentum in validation region VR1. The solid histograms are stacked to show the SM expectations after the 2×2D background estimation technique is applied. Background and signal predictions are normalised to the luminosity. The background category "h (other)" includes events originating from VBF, Vh, ggF, thq, thW and bb̄h, all subdominant in this signature. Statistical and systematic uncertainties are indicated by the shaded area. The lower panel of each plot shows the ratio of the data to the SM prediction for the respective bin. The first and last bins include the underflows and overflows respectively.