The first observation of coherent $\phi$(1020) meson photoproduction off heavy nuclei is presented using ultraperipheral lead-lead collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 5.36 TeV. The data were collected by the CMS experiment and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 1.68 $\mu$b$^{-1}$. The $\phi$(1020) meson signals are reconstructed via the K$^+$K$^-$ decay channel. The production cross section is presented as a function of the $\phi$(1020) meson rapidity in the range 0.3 $\lt$$\lvert y\rvert$$\lt$ 1.0, probing gluons that carry a fraction of the nucleon momentum ($x$) around $10^{-4}$. The observed cross section exhibits little dependence on rapidity and is significantly suppressed, by a factor of ${\sim}$5, compared to a baseline model that treats a nucleus as a collection of free nucleons. Theoretical models that incorporate either nuclear shadowing or gluon saturation predict suppression of the $\phi$(1020) meson cross section with only a small dependence on rapidity, but the magnitude of the predicted suppression varies greatly. Models considering only nuclear shadowing effects result in the best agreement with the experimental data. This study establishes a powerful new tool for exploring nuclear effects and nuclear gluonic structure in the small-$x$ regime at a unique energy scale bridging the perturbative and nonperturbative quantum chromodynamics domains.
The differential coherent $\phi$ photoproduction cross section and the nuclear suppression factor as a function of rapidity.
Incoherent J/$\psi$ photoproduction in heavy ion ultraperipheral collisions (UPCs), in which the photon interacts with localized, fluctuating gluonic hotspots rather than the entire nucleus, provides a unique probe of those fluctuations. This study presents the first measurement of the dependence of this photoproduction yield on the photon-nucleon center-of-mass energy ($W_\gamma^\mathrm{N}$), using PbPb UPCs at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV. The data corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.52 nb$^{-1}$, recorded by the CMS experiment. The measurement covers a wide $W_\gamma^\mathrm{N}$ range of $\approx$40-400 GeV, probing gluons carrying a fraction of nucleon momentum $x$ in the range between 5.9 $\times$ 10$^{-3}$ and 6.5 $\times$ 10$^{-5}$. The measured incoherent J/$\psi$ photoproduction cross section is suppressed relative to theoretical predictions without nuclear effects. However, the ratio of incoherent to coherent photoproduction remains constant across the probed $W_\gamma^\mathrm{N}$ and $x$ range. Together, these results pose significant challenges to current theoretical models which include gluon saturation or nuclear shadowing effects.
The differential incoherent $\mathrm{J}/\psi$ photoproduction cross section as a function of $|y|$, in different neutron multiplicity classes.
The differential incoherent $\mathrm{J}/\psi$ photoproduction cross section as a function of $y$, in different neutron multiplicity classes.
The incoherent $\mathrm{J}/\psi$ photoproduction cross section as a function of photon-nuclear center-of-mass energy per nucleon $W_{\gamma \mathrm{N}}^{\mathrm{Pb}}$ or Bjorken $x$, measured in PbPb ultra-peripheral collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV. The $W_{\gamma \mathrm{N}}^{\mathrm{Pb}}$ values used correspond to the center of each rapidity range. The theoretical uncertainties is due to the uncertainties in the photon flux.
Bound states of charm and anticharm quarks, known as charmonia, have a rich spectroscopic structure that can be used to probe the dynamics of hadron production in high-energy hadron collisions. Here, the cross section ratio of excited ($\psi$(2S)) and ground state (J/$\psi$) vector mesons is measured as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity in proton-lead (pPb) collisions at a center-of-mass (CM) energy per nucleon pair of 8.16 TeV. The data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 175 nb$^{-1}$ were collected using the CMS detector. The ratio is measured separately for prompt and nonprompt charmonia in the transverse momentum range 6.5 $\lt$$p_\text{T}$$\lt$ 30 GeV and in four rapidity ranges spanning $-$2.865 $\lt$$y_\text{CM}$$\lt$ 1.935. For the first time, a statistically significant multiplicity dependence of the prompt cross section ratio is observed in proton-nucleus collisions. There is no clear rapidity dependence in the ratio. The prompt measurements are compared with a theoretical model which includes interactions with nearby particles during the evolution of the system. These results provide additional constraints on hadronization models of heavy quarks in nuclear collisions.
Normalized $\sigma_{\psi(2S)}/\sigma_{J/\psi}$ in $6.5<p_T<30.0\,GeV$ and $ -2.865 < y_{CM} < -2$ as functions of normalized $\text{N}^{{\text{corr.}}}_{\text{track}}$
Normalized $\sigma_{\psi(2S)}/\sigma_{J/\psi}$ in $6.5<p_T<30.0\,GeV$ and $ -2 < y_{CM} < -1$ as functions of normalized $\text{N}^{{\text{corr.}}}_{\text{track}}$
Normalized $\sigma_{\psi(2S)}/\sigma_{J/\psi}$ in $6.5<p_T<30.0\,GeV$ and $ -1 < y_{CM} < 1$ as functions of normalized $\text{N}^{{\text{corr.}}}_{\text{track}}$
Top-quark pair production is observed in lead-lead (Pb+Pb) collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}=5.02$ TeV at the Large Hadron Collider with the ATLAS detector. The data sample was recorded in 2015 and 2018, amounting to an integrated luminosity of 1.9 nb$^{-1}$. Events with exactly one electron and one muon and at least two jets are selected. Top-quark pair production is measured with an observed (expected) significance of 5.0 (4.1) standard deviations. The measured top-quark pair production cross-section is $\sigma_{t\bar{t}} = 3.6\;^{+1.0}_{-0.9}\;\mathrm{(stat.)}\;^{+0.8}_{-0.5}\;\mathrm{(syst.)} ~\mathrm{\mu b}$, with a total relative uncertainty of 31%, and is consistent with theoretical predictions using a range of different nuclear parton distribution functions. The observation of this process consolidates the evidence of the existence of all quark flavors in the pre-equilibrium stage of the quark-gluon plasma at very high energy densities, similar to the conditions present in the early universe.
The figure shows the post-fit distribution of events as a function of the dilepton invariant mass ($m_{e\mu}$), in lead-lead (Pb+Pb) collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} = 5.02$ TeV, with an integrated luminosity of 1.9 nb$^{-1}$. The data correspond to the SR1 (Signal Region 1 (SR\(_1\)):} Events with exactly one muon and one oppositely charged electron, a dilepton invariant mass \( m_{e\mu} \geq 30 \, \mathrm{GeV} \), at least two jets with \( p_T \geq 35 \, \mathrm{GeV} \), and a dilepton transverse momentum \( p_T^{e\mu} > 40 \, \mathrm{GeV} \). This region is expected to be signal-dominated) channel in a pre-fit configuration. The stacked histograms represent different processes contributing to the event yield.
The figure shows the post-fit distribution of events as a function of the dilepton invariant mass ($m_{e\mu}$), in lead-lead (Pb+Pb) collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} = 5.02$ TeV, with an integrated luminosity of 1.9 nb$^{-1}$. The data correspond to the SR2 (Signal Region 2 (SR\(_2\)):} Events meeting the same criteria as SR\(_1\), but with a dilepton transverse momentum \( p_T^{e\mu} \leq 40 \, \mathrm{GeV} \). This region includes events with a lower \( p_T^{e\mu} \) and has a larger background contribution) channel in a pre-fit configuration. The stacked histograms represent different processes contributing to the event yield.
The impact of systematic uncertainties on the fitted signal-strength parameter $\hat{\mu}$ for the combined fit of all channels. Only the 10 most significant systematic uncertainties are shown and listed in decreasing order of their impact on $\mu$ on the $y$-axis. The empty (filled) blue/cyan boxes correspond to the pre-fit (post-fit) impact on $\mu$, referring to the upper $x$-axis. The impact of each systematic uncertainty, $\Delta \mu$, is calculated by comparing the nominal best-fit value of $\mu$ with the result of the fit when fixing the corresponding nuisance parameter $\theta$ to its best-fit value $\hat{\theta}$ shifted by its pre-fit (post-fit) uncertainties $\hat{\theta} \pm \Delta \theta(\hat{\theta} \pm \Delta \hat{\theta})$. The black points, which refer to the lower $x$-axis, show the pulls of the fitted nuisance parameters, i.e., the deviations of the fitted parameters $\hat{\theta}$ from their nominal values $\theta_0$, normalized to their nominal uncertainties $\Delta \theta$. The black lines show the post-fit uncertainties of the nuisance parameters, relative to their nominal uncertainties, which are indicated by the dashed lines.
A measurement of the top quark pair ($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$) production cross section in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV is presented. The data were collected at the LHC in autumn 2017, in dedicated runs with low-energy and low-intensity conditions with respect to the default configuration, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 302 pb$^{-1}$. The measurement is performed using events with one electron or muon, and multiple jets, at least one of them being identified as b quark (b tagged). Events are classified based on the number of all reconstructed jets and of b-tagged jets. Multivariate analysis techniques are used to enhance the separation between the signal and backgrounds. The measured cross section is 62.5 $\pm$ 1.6 (stat) $^{+2.6}_{-2.5}$ (syst) $\pm$ 1.2 (lumi) pb. A combination with the result in the dilepton channel based on the same data set yields a value of 62.3 $\pm$ 1.5 (stat) $\pm$ 2.4 (syst) $\pm$ 1.2 (lumi) pb, to be compared with the standard model prediction of 69.5$^{+3.5}_{-3.7}$ pb at next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics.
Distributions for data and expected signal and background contributions of the most discriminating input variables (\ensuremath{\Delta R_\mathrm{med}(\mathrm{j,j')}}) used for the random forest training, in the 3j1b category, before the maximum likelihood fit. The vertical error bars represent the statistical uncertainty in the data, and the shaded band the uncertainty in the prediction. All uncertainties considered in the analysis are included in the uncertainty band. The lower panels show the data-to-prediction ratio. The first and last bins in each distribution include underflow and overflow events, respectively.
Distributions for data and expected signal and background contributions of the most discriminating input variables (\ensuremath{\mathit{m}(\mathrm{u},\mathrm{u'})}) used for the random forest training, in the 3j1b category, before the maximum likelihood fit. The vertical error bars represent the statistical uncertainty in the data, and the shaded band the uncertainty in the prediction. All uncertainties considered in the analysis are included in the uncertainty band. The lower panels show the data-to-prediction ratio. The first and last bins in each distribution include underflow and overflow events, respectively.
Distributions for data and expected signal and background contributions of the MVA score for the e + jets channel in the 3j1b category, before the maximum likelihood fit. The vertical error bars represent the statistical uncertainty in the data, and the shaded band the uncertainty in the prediction. All uncertainties considered in the analysis are included in the uncertainty band. The lower panels show the data-to-prediction ratio. The first and last bins in each distribution include underflow and overflow events, respectively.
A search is presented for the pair production of new heavy resonances, each decaying into a top quark (t) or antiquark and a gluon (g). The analysis uses data recorded with the CMS detector from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Events with one muon or electron, multiple jets, and missing transverse momentum are selected. After using a deep neural network to enrich the data sample with signal-like events, distributions in the scalar sum of the transverse momenta of all reconstructed objects are analyzed in the search for a signal. No significant deviations from the standard model prediction are found. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the product of cross section and branching fraction squared for the pair production of excited top quarks in the $\mathrm{t^*}$ $\to$ tg decay channel. The upper limits range from 120 to 0.8 fb for a $\mathrm{t^*}$ with spin-1/2 and from 15 to 1.0 fb for a $\mathrm{t^*}$ with spin-3/2. These correspond to mass exclusion limits up to 1050 and 1700 GeV for spin-1/2 and spin-3/2 $\mathrm{t^*}$ particles, respectively. These are the most stringent limits to date on the existence of $\mathrm{t^*}$ $\to$ tg resonances.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on the product of the $t^{*} \overline{t}^{*}$ production cross section and the branching fraction squared $BR^2(t^{*} \rightarrow tg)$ for a spin-1/2 $t^{*}$ as a function of $m_{t^{*}}$. The inner (green) and outer (yellow) bands give the central probability intervals containing 68 and 95% of the expected upper limits under the background-only hypothesis. The cross section predicted by theory, following an EFT approach, is shown in blue, assuming $BR(t^{*} \rightarrow tg)=1$.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on the product of the $t^{*} \overline{t}^{*}$ production cross section and the branching fraction squared $BR^2(t^{*} \rightarrow tg)$ for a spin-3/2 $t^{*}$ as a function of $m_{t^{*}}$. The inner (green) and outer (yellow) bands give the central probability intervals containing 68 and 95% of the expected upper limits under the background-only hypothesis. The cross section predicted by theory, following an EFT approach, is shown in blue, assuming $BR(t^{*} \rightarrow tg)=1$. The results of the previous CMS analysis, using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 $fb^{-1}$, are shown in red.
Distributions in $S_T$ in the SR for the muon channel, after a background-only fit to the data. The signal distributions are scaled to the cross section predicted by the theory. The hatched bands show the post-fit uncertainty band, combining all sources of uncertainty. The ratio of data to the background predictions is shown in the panels below the distributions.
An analysis of the production of a Higgs boson ($H$) in association with a top quark-antiquark pair ($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}H$) or a single top quark ($tH$) is presented. The Higgs boson decay into a bottom quark-antiquark pair ($H \to\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$) is targeted, and three different final states of the top quark decays are considered, defined by the number of leptons (electrons or muons) in the event. The analysis utilises proton-proton collision data collected at the CERN LHC with the CMS experiment at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV in 2016-2018, which correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The observed $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}H$ production rate relative to the standard model expectation is 0.33 $\pm$ 0.26 = 0.33 $\pm$ 0.17 (stat) $\pm$ 0.21 (syst). Additionally, the $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}H$ production rate is determined in intervals of Higgs boson transverse momentum. An upper limit at 95% confidence level is set on the tH production rate of 14.6 times the standard model prediction, with an expectation of 19.3 $^{+9.2}_{-6.0}$. Finally, constraints are derived on the strength and structure of the coupling between the Higgs boson and the top quark from simultaneous extraction of the $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}H$ and $tH$ production rates, and the results are combined with those obtained in other Higgs boson decay channels.
Best fit results of the ttH signal-strength modifier in each channel, in each year, and in the combination of all channels and years. Uncertainties are correlated between the channels and years.
Likelihood-ratio test statistic as a function of the ttH strength modifiers $\mu_{ttH}$ and the $ttB$ background normalisation. The observed best fit point is $(\mu_{ttH}, ttB) = (0.33, 1.19)$.
Best fit results of the ttH signal-strength modifiers in the different Higgs pT bins of the STXS measurement.
Nuclear medium effects on B$^+$ meson production are studied using the binary-collision scaled cross section ratio between events of different charged-particle multiplicities from proton-lead collisions. Data, collected by the CMS experiment in 2016 at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 175 nb$^{-1}$, were used. The scaling factors in the ratio are determined using a novel approach based on the Z $\to$$\mu^+\mu^-$ cross sections measured in the same events. The scaled ratio for B$^+$ is consistent with unity for all event multiplicities, putting stringent constraints on nuclear modification for heavy flavor.
$\mathrm{B}^+$ differential cross section and FONLL calculations, scaled by the number of binary collisions, vs $p_{\mathrm{T}}$. Global uncertainty (not included in the plot) is 4.7%, which comprises of the uncertainties in the integrated luminosity measurement and the $\mathrm{B}^+$ meson branching fraction.
$\mathrm{B}^+$ differential cross section in $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ bins divided into classes of multiplicity. For better visibility, data points are scaled by a factor of 2 (blue), 4 (magenta), or 8 (red). Vertical bars represent total uncertainties.
The $R_{\mathrm{HL}}$ for $\mathrm{B}^+$ in $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ bins for the highest and lowest multiplicity classes. The error bars correspond to the statistical uncertainty, and the boxes represent the sum in quadrature of systematic uncertainties.
Measurements at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13.6 TeV of the opposite-sign W boson pair production cross section in proton-proton collisions are presented. The data used in this study were collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC in 2022, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 34.8 fb$^{-1}$. Events are selected by requiring one electron and one muon of opposite charge. A maximum likelihood fit is performed on signal- and background-enriched data categories defined by the flavour and charge of the leptons, the number of jets, and number of jets originating from b quarks. An inclusive W$^+$W$^-$ production cross section of 125.7 $\pm$ 5.6 pb is measured, in agreement with standard model predictions. Cross sections are also reported in a fiducial region close to that of the detector acceptance, both inclusively and differentially, as a function of the jet multiplicity in the event. For first time in proton-proton collisions, WW events with at least two reconstructed jets are studied and compared with recent theoretical predictions.
Summary of inclusive cross section.
Summary of inclusive cross section.
Relative systematic uncertainties in the total cross section measurement.
The observation of the production of four top quarks in proton-proton collisions is reported, based on a data sample collected by the CMS experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV in 2016-2018 at the CERN LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Events with two same-sign, three, or four charged leptons (electrons and muons) and additional jets are analyzed. Compared to previous results in these channels, updated identification techniques for charged leptons and jets originating from the hadronization of b quarks, as well as a revised multivariate analysis strategy to distinguish the signal process from the main backgrounds, lead to an improved expected signal significance of 4.9 standard deviations above the background-only hypothesis. Four top quark production is observed with a significance of 5.6 standard deviations, and its cross section is measured to be 17.7 $^{+3.7}_{-3.5}$ (stat) $^{+2.3}_{-1.9}$ (syst) fb, in agreement with the available standard model predictions.
Comparison of fit results in the channels individually and in their combination. The left panel shows the values of the measured cross section relative to the SM prediction from Ref. [6]. The right panel shows the expected and observed significance, with the printed values rounded to the first decimal.
Number of predicted and observed events in the SR-2$\ell$ and SR-3$\ell$ $t\bar{t}t\bar{t}$ classes, both before the fit to the data ("prefit") and with their best fit normalizations ("postfit"). The uncertainties in the predicted number of events include both the statistical and systematic components. The uncertainties in the total number of predicted background and background plus signal events are also given.
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