The production of single top quarks and top antiquarks via the $t$-channel exchange of a virtual $W$ boson is measured in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC using $140\,\mathrm{fb^{-1}}$ of ATLAS data. The total cross-sections are determined to be $σ(tq)=137^{+8}_{-8}\,\mathrm{pb}$ and $σ(\bar{t}q)=84^{+6}_{-5}\,\mathrm{pb}$ for top-quark and top-antiquark production, respectively. The combined cross-section is found to be $σ(tq+\bar{t}q)=221^{+13}_{-13}\,\mathrm{pb}$ and the cross-section ratio is $R_{t}=σ(tq)/σ(\bar{t}q)=1.636^{+0.036}_{-0.034}$. The predictions at next-to-next-to-leading-order in quantum chromodynamics are in good agreement with these measurements. The predicted value of $R_{t}$ using different sets of parton distribution functions is compared with the measured value, demonstrating the potential to further constrain the functions when using this result in global fits. The measured cross-sections are interpreted in an effective field theory approach, setting limits at the 95% confidence level on the strength of a four-quark operator and an operator coupling the third quark generation to the Higgs boson doublet: $-0.37 < C_{Qq}^{3,1}/Λ^2 < 0.06$ and $-0.87 < C_{ϕQ}^{3}/Λ^2 < 1.42$. The constraint $|V_{tb}|>0.95$ at the 95% confidence level is derived from the measured value of $σ(tq+\bar{t}q)$. In a more general approach, pairs of CKM matrix elements involving top quarks are simultaneously constrained, leading to confidence contours in the corresponding two-dimensional parameter spaces.
The 17 variables used for the training of the NN ordered by their discriminating power. The jet that is not \(b\)-tagged is referred to as the untagged jet. The charged lepton is denoted \(\ell\). The sphericity tensor \(S^{\alpha\beta}\) used to define the sphericity \(S\) is formed with the three-momenta \(\vec{p}_i\) of the reconstructed objects, namely the jets, the charged lepton and the reconstructed neutrino. The tensor is given by \(S^{\alpha\beta}=\frac{\sum_i p_i^\alpha p_i^\beta}{\sum_i |\vec{p}_i|^2}\) where \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\) correspond to the spatial components $x$, $y$ and $z$.
The impact of different groups of systematic uncertainties on the \(\sigma(tq)\) , \(\sigma(\bar t q)\), \(\sigma(tq + \bar t q)\) and \(R_t\), given in %.
The impact of the eight most important systematic uncertainties on the \(\sigma(tq)\) , \(\sigma(\bar t q)\) and \(\sigma(tq + \bar t q)\), given in %. The sequence of the uncertainties is given by the impact on \(\sigma(tq + \bar t q)\)
A measurement of the production of $W$ bosons with opposite electric charges in association with two jets is presented based on 140 fb$^{-1}$ of data collected by the ATLAS detector in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV. The analysis is sensitive to the scattering of $W$ bosons, which is of particular interest in the ATLAS physics programme as it can be used to probe the electroweak symmetry breaking mechanism of the Standard Model. This signal is observed with a significance of 7.1 standard deviations above the background expectation, while 6.2 standard deviations were expected. The measured cross-section is determined in a signal-enriched fiducial volume and is found to be $2.7\pm0.5$ fb, which is consistent with the theoretical prediction of $2.20^{+0.14}_{-0.13}$ fb.
Measurement of the signal strength $\mu=\mu(EWK\;W^+ W^- jj)$ from the likelihood fit described in Section 8 together with the normalisations of the backgrounds originating from the top quark and strong $W^+ W^- jj$ events.
Measurement of the measured and predicted signal cross-section.
The mass of the top quark is measured using top-antitop-quark pair events with high transverse momentum top quarks. The dataset, collected with the ATLAS detector in proton--proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV delivered by the Large Hadron Collider, corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb$^{-1}$. The analysis targets events in the lepton-plus-jets decay channel, with an electron or muon from a semi-leptonically decaying top quark and a hadronically decaying top quark that is sufficiently energetic to be reconstructed as a single large-radius jet. The mean of the invariant mass of the reconstructed large-radius jet provides the sensitivity to the top quark mass and is simultaneously fitted with two additional observables to reduce the impact of the systematic uncertainties. The top quark mass is measured to be $m_t = 172.95 \pm 0.53$ GeV, which is the most precise ATLAS measurement from a single channel.
Values and uncertainties for the parameters of interest in the profile likelihood fit to $\overline{m_J}$, $m_{jj}$, and $m_{tj}$ using data. The parameters of interest are the top quark mass, $m_t$, and the ratio of the measured cross-section to the Standard Model expectation of the $t\bar{t}$ cross-section, $\mu$.
Post-fit central values and uncertaintes for the nuisance parameters (including MC stat uncertainty terms) used in the profile likelihood fit to $\overline{m_J}$, $m_{jj}$, and $m_{tj}$ using data.
Covariance matrix for the profile likelihood fit to $\overline{m_J}$, $m_{jj}$, and $m_{tj}$ using data.
A measurement of the WZ$γ$ triboson production cross section is presented. The analysis is based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The analysis focuses on the final state with three charged leptons, $\ell^\pmν\ell^+\ell^-$, where $\ell$ = e or $μ$, accompanied by an additional photon. The observed (expected) significance of the WZ$γ$ signal is 5.4 (3.8) standard deviations. The cross section is measured in a fiducial region, where events with an $\ell$ originating from a tau lepton decay are excluded, to be 5.48 $\pm$ 1.11 fb, which is compatible with the prediction of 3.69 $\pm$ 0.24 fb at next-to-leading order in quantum chromodynamics. Exclusion limits are set on anomalous quartic gauge couplings and on the production cross sections of massive axion-like particles.
The distributions of the variables used in the simultaneous fit for the nonprompt $l$ CR. The black points with error bars represent the data and their statistical uncertainties, whereas the shaded band represents the predicted uncertainties. The bottom panel in each figure shows the ratio of the number of events observed in data to that of the total SM prediction. The last bin of each plot has been extended to include the overflow contribution.
The distributions of the variables used in the simultaneous fit for the nonprompt $\gamma$ CR. The black points with error bars represent the data and their statistical uncertainties, whereas the shaded band represents the predicted uncertainties. The bottom panel in each figure shows the ratio of the number of events observed in data to that of the total SM prediction. The last bin of each plot has been extended to include the overflow contribution.
The distributions of the variables used in the simultaneous fit for the ZZ CR. The black points with error bars represent the data and their statistical uncertainties, whereas the shaded band represents the predicted uncertainties. The bottom panel in each figure shows the ratio of the number of events observed in data to that of the total SM prediction. The last bin of each plot has been extended to include the overflow contribution.
Measurements of $W^+W^-\rightarrow e^\pm νμ^\mp ν$ production cross-sections are presented, providing a test of the predictions of perturbative quantum chromodynamics and the electroweak theory. The measurements are based on data from $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in 2015-2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb$^{-1}$. The number of events due to top-quark pair production, the largest background, is reduced by rejecting events containing jets with $b$-hadron decays. An improved methodology for estimating the remaining top-quark background enables a precise measurement of $W^+W^-$ cross-sections with no additional requirements on jets. The fiducial $W^+W^-$ cross-section is determined in a maximum-likelihood fit with an uncertainty of 3.1%. The measurement is extrapolated to the full phase space, resulting in a total $W^+W^-$ cross-section of $127\pm4$ pb. Differential cross-sections are measured as a function of twelve observables that comprehensively describe the kinematics of $W^+W^-$ events. The measurements are compared with state-of-the-art theory calculations and excellent agreement with predictions is observed. A charge asymmetry in the lepton rapidity is observed as a function of the dilepton invariant mass, in agreement with the Standard Model expectation. A CP-odd observable is measured to be consistent with no CP violation. Limits on Standard Model effective field theory Wilson coefficients in the Warsaw basis are obtained from the differential cross-sections.
Measured fiducial cross-section compared with theoretical predictions from MiNNLO+Pythia8, Geneva+Pythia8, Sherpa2.2.12, and MATRIX2.1. The predictions are based on the NNPDF3.0 (red squares) and NNPDF3.1 luxQED (blue dots) PDF sets. The nNNLO predictions include photon-induced contributions (always using NNPDF3.1 luxQED) and NLO QCD corrections to the gluon-gluon initial state. The $q\bar{q}\rightarrow WW$ predictions from MiNNLO, Geneva, and Sherpa2.2.12 are combined with a Sherpa2.2.2 prediction of gluon-induced production, scaled by an inclusive NLO K-factor of 1.7. Inner (outer) error bars on the theory predictions correspond to PDF (the combination of scale and PDF) uncertainties. The MATRIX nNNLO QCD $\otimes$ NLO EW prediction using NNPDF3.1 luxQED, the best available prediction of the integrated fiducial cross-section, is in good agreement with the measurement.
Fiducial differential cross-sections as a function of $p_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{lead.\,lep.}}$. The measured cross-section values are shown as points with error bars giving the statistical uncertainty and solid bands indicating the size of the total uncertainty. The right-hand-side axis indicates the integrated cross-section of the rightmost bin. The results are compared to fixed-order nNNLO QCD + NLO EW predictions of Matrix 2.1, with the NNLO + PS predictions from Powheg MiNNLO + Pythia8 and Geneva + Pythia8, as well as Sherpa2.2.12 NLO + PS predictions. The last three predictions are combined with Sherpa 2.2.2 for the $gg$ initial state and Sherpa 2.2.12 for electroweak $WWjj$ production. These contributions are modelled at LO but a NLO QCD $k$-factor of 1.7 is applied for gluon induced production. Theoretical predictions are indicated as markers with vertical lines denoting PDF, scale and parton shower uncertainties. Markers are staggered for better visibility.
Correlation matrix of the statistical uncertainties in the measured fiducial cross section for the observable $p_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{lead.\,lep.}}$.
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