A study is presented of anomalous HVV interactions of the Higgs boson, including its $CP$ properties. The study uses Higgs boson candidates produced mainly in vector boson fusion and gluon fusion that subsequently decay to a pair of $\tau$ leptons. The data were recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. A matrix element technique is employed for the analysis of anomalous interactions. The results are combined with those from the H $\to 4\ell$ decay channel presented earlier, yielding the most stringent constraints on anomalous Higgs boson couplings to electroweak vector bosons expressed as effective cross section fractions and phases: the $CP$-violating parameter $f_{a3}\cos(\phi_{a3})$ $=$ $(0.00 \pm 0.27) \times 10^{-3}$ and the $CP$-conserving parameters $f_{a2}\cos(\phi_{a2})$ $=$ $(0.08 ^{+1.04}_{-0.21}) \times 10^{-3}$, $f_{\Lambda1}\cos(\phi_{\Lambda1})$ $=$ $(0.00 ^{+0.53}_{-0.09}) \times 10^{-3}$, and $f_{\Lambda1}^{\mathrm{Z}\gamma}\cos(\phi_{\Lambda1}^{\mathrm{Z}\gamma})$ $=$ $(0.0 ^{+1.1}_{-1.3}) \times 10^{-3}$. The current dataset does not allow for precise constraints on $CP$ properties in the gluon fusion process. The results are consistent with standard model expectations.
Observed and expected likelihood scans of $f_{a3}\cos\phi_{a3}$. See Section 4 of the paper for more details.
Observed and expected likelihood scans of $f_{a2}\cos\phi_{a2}$. See Section 4 of the paper for more details.
Observed and expected likelihood scans of $f_{\Lambda1}\cos\phi_{\Lambda1}$. See Section 4 of the paper for more details.
This Letter describes a search for Higgs boson pair production using the combined results from four final states: bb$\gamma\gamma$, bb$\tau\tau$, bbbb, and bbVV, where V represents a W or Z boson. The search is performed using data collected in 2016 by the CMS experiment from LHC proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. Limits are set on the Higgs boson pair production cross section. A 95% confidence level observed (expected) upper limit on the nonresonant production cross section is set at 22.2 (12.8) times the standard model value. A search for narrow resonances decaying to Higgs boson pairs is also performed in the mass range 250-3000 GeV. No evidence for a signal is observed, and upper limits are set on the resonance production cross section.
Expected and observed 95\% \CL exclusion limits on the HH production signal strength for the different channels and their combination.
Expected and observed 95\% \CL exclusion limits on the HH production cross section as a function of the k_lambda parameter.
Expected and observed 95\% \CL exclusion limits on the production of a narrow, spin zero resonance (X) decaying into a pair of Higgs bosons.
A study of the associated production of a Z boson and a charm quark jet (Z + c), and a comparison to production with a b quark jet (Z + b), in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV are presented. The analysis uses a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb$^{-1}$, collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The Z boson candidates are identified through their decays into pairs of electrons or muons. Jets originating from heavy flavour quarks are identified using semileptonic decays of c or b flavoured hadrons and hadronic decays of charm hadrons. The measurements are performed in the kinematic region with two leptons with $p_{\rm T}^{\ell} > $ 20 GeV, ${|\eta^{\ell}|} < $ 2.1, 71 $ < m_{\ell\ell} < $ 111 GeV, and heavy flavour jets with $p_{\rm T}^{{\rm jet}} > $ 25 GeV and ${|\eta^{{\rm jet}}|} < $ 2.5. The Z + c production cross section is measured to be $\sigma({\mathrm{p}}{\mathrm{p}} \rightarrow \mathrm{Z} + \mathrm{c} + \mathrm{X}) {\cal B}(\mathrm{Z} \rightarrow \ell^+\ell^-) = $ 8.8 $ \pm $ 0.5 (stat) $ \pm $ 0.6 (syst) pb. The ratio of the Z + c and Z + b production cross sections is measured to be $\sigma({\mathrm{p}}{\mathrm{p}} \rightarrow \mathrm{Z} + \mathrm{c} + \mathrm{X}) / \sigma({\mathrm{p}}{\mathrm{p}} \rightarrow \mathrm{Z} + \mathrm{b} + \mathrm{X}) = $ 2.0 $ \pm $ 0.2 (stat) $ \pm $ 0.2 (syst). The Z + c production cross section and the cross section ratio are also measured as a function of the transverse momentum of the Z boson and of the heavy flavour jet. The measurements are compared with theoretical predictions.
Signal yields N(Z+c) and N(Z+b), efficiency*acceptance correction factors C(Z+c) and C(Z+b), cross section sigma(Z+c)B and cross section ratios sigma(Z+c)/sigma(Z+b) in the three categories (semileptonic, D+-, D*) and in the two Z boson decay channels (e+e-, mu+mu-). The factors that correct the acceptance and selection inefficiencies are also given. They include the relevant branching fraction for the corresponding channel. All uncertainties quoted in the table are statistical, except for those of the measured cross sections and cross section ratios where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is the estimated systematic uncertainty
Z+c and Z+b signal yields, differential cross section dsigma(Z+c)/dpTZ times branching ratio and differential cross sections ratio dsigma(Z+c)/dpTZ / dsigma(Z+b)/dpTZ for three ranges of the transverse momentum of the Z boson in the semileptonic mode
Z+c and Z+b signal yields, differential cross section dsigma(Z+c)/dpTZ times branching ratio and differential cross sections ratio dsigma(Z+c)/dpTZ / dsigma(Z+b)/dpTZ for three ranges of the transverse momentum of the jet in the semileptonic mode
A search is performed for anomalous interactions of the recently discovered Higgs boson using matrix element techniques with the information from its decay to four leptons and from associated Higgs boson production with two quark jets in either vector boson fusion or associated production with a vector boson. The data were recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 38.6 inverse femtobarns. These data are combined with the data collected at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 5.1 and 19.7 inverse femtobarns, respectively. All observations are consistent with the expectations for the standard model Higgs boson.
Observed and expected likelihood scans $f_{a3}\cos\phi_{a3}$. See Section 2 of the paper for more details.
Observed and expected likelihood scans $f_{a2}\cos\phi_{a2}$. See Section 2 of the paper for more details.
Observed and expected likelihood scans $f_{\Lambda1}\cos\phi_{\Lambda1}$. See Section 2 of the paper for more details.
Four-lepton production in proton-proton collisions, pp to (Z/gamma*)(Z/gamma*) to l+l-l'+l'-, where l, l' = e or mu, is studied at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 2.6 inverse femtobarns. The ZZ production cross section, sigma(pp to ZZ) = 14.6 +1.9/-1.8 (stat) +0.5/-0.3 (syst) +/- 0.2 (theo) +/- 0.4 (lumi) pb, is measured for events with two opposite-sign, same-flavor lepton pairs produced in the mass region 60 < m[l+l-], m[l'+l'-] < 120 GeV. The Z boson branching fraction to four leptons is measured to be B(Z to l+l-l'+l'-) = 4.9 +0.8/-0.7 (stat) +0.3/-0.2 (syst) +0.2/-0.1 (theo) +/- 0.1 (lumi) x E-6 for the four-lepton invariant mass in the range 80 < m[l+l-l'+l'-] < 100 GeV and dilepton mass m[l+l-] > 4 GeV for all opposite-sign, same-flavor lepton pairs. The results are in agreement with standard model predictions.
The (P P to Z Z to l+l-l'+l'-) fiducial cross section. The first systematic uncertainty is detector systematics, the second is luminosity uncertainty. The theoretical prediction is POWHEG generated at NLO plus the gluon-gluon initial state contribution from MCFM, using NNPDF3.0 PDFs and scales mu_F = mu_R = 0.5m[l+l-l'+l'-].
The (P P to Z to l+l-l'+l'-) fiducial cross section. The first systematic uncertainty is detector systematics, the second is luminosity uncertainty. The theoretical prediction is POWHEG generated at NLO using NNPDF3.0 PDFs and scales mu_F = mu_R = m[l+l-l'+l'-].
The total (P P to Z) cross section times the (Z to l+l-l'+l'-) branching ratio. The first systematic uncertainty is detector systematics, the second is theoretical uncertainty, and the third is luminosity uncertainty.
The ratio of the production cross sections times branching fractions (sigma(Bc+) B(Bc+ to J/psi pi+))/ (sigma(B+) B(B+ to J/psi K+)) is studied in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC. The kinematic region investigated requires Bc+/- and B+/- mesons with transverse momentum pt > 15 GeV and rapidity abs(y) < 1.6. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.1 inverse femtobarns. The ratio is determined to be [0.48 +/- 0.05 (stat) +/- 0.03 (syst) +/- 0.05 (tau_{Bc})]% The J/psi pi+/- pi+/- pi-/+ decay mode is also observed in the same data sample. Using a model-independent method developed to measure the efficiency given the presence of resonant behaviour in the three-pion system, the ratio of the branching fractions B(Bc+/- to J/psi pi+/- pi+/- pi-/+) / B(Bc+/- to J/psi pi+/-) is measured to be 2.55 +/- 0.80 (stat) +/- 0.33 (syst) +0.04/-0.01 (tau[Bc+]), consistent with the previous LHCb result.
The ratio of the production cross sections times branching fractions of $B_c^\pm\to J/\psi\pi^\pm$ and $B^\pm\to J/\psi K^\pm$ is measured in the kinematic region $p_T$> 15 GeV and |y| < 1.6. Beside the statistical and systematic errors, an uncertainty associated to the $B_c^{\pm}$ lifetime is quoted as a separate third error. The $B_c^\pm\to J/\psi\pi^\pm$ reconstruction efficiency has a dependence on the $B_c^\pm$ lifetime. Recently LHCb published a more precise $B_c^\pm$ lifetime measurement, which is significantly higher than the previous world average (PDG 2012). To determine the systematic uncertainty associated with the uncertainty in the $B_c^\pm$ lifetime, the efficiency is evaluated while changing the $B_c^\pm$ lifetime in the simulation to cover the range from the world average minus its one standard deviation uncertainty, to the new LHCb measurement. The resulting variation in the ratio is quoted separately as a lifetime systematic uncertainty ($\tau_{Bc}$). Charge conjugation is implied in the table.
To determine the systematic uncertainty in the ratio of branching fractions associated with the uncertainty in the $B_c^\pm$ lifetime, the efficiency is evaluated while changing the $B_c^\pm$ lifetime in the simulation to cover the range from the world average minus its one standard deviation uncertainty, to the new LHCb measurement. The resulting variation in the ratio is quoted separately as a lifetime systematic uncertainty ($\tau_{Bc}$). Charge conjugation is implied in the table.
A search for invisible decays of Higgs bosons is performed using the vector boson fusion and associated ZH production modes. In the ZH mode, the Z boson is required to decay to a pair of charged leptons or a $b\bar{b}$ quark pair. The searches use the 8 TeV pp collision dataset collected by the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of up to 19.7 inverse femtobarns. Certain channels include data from 7 TeV collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.9 inverse femtobarns. The searches are sensitive to non-standard-model invisible decays of the recently observed Higgs boson, as well as additional Higgs bosons with similar production modes and large invisible branching fractions. In all channels, the observed data are consistent with the expected standard model backgrounds. Limits are set on the production cross section times invisible branching fraction, as a function of the Higgs boson mass, for the vector boson fusion and ZH production modes. By combining all channels, and assuming standard model Higgs boson cross sections and acceptances, the observed (expected) upper limit on the invisible branching fraction at $m_H$=125 GeV is found to be 0.58 (0.44) at 95% confidence level. We interpret this limit in terms of a Higgs-portal model of dark matter interactions.
Summary of 95% CL upper limits on SIG*BR(HIGGS --> INVISIBLE)/SIG(SM) obtained from the VBF search, the combined ZH searches, and the combination of all three searches.
Measurements are presented of the t-channel single-top-quark production cross section in proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV. The results are based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 inverse femtobarns recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC. The cross section is measured inclusively, as well as separately for top (t) and antitop (t-bar), in final states with a muon or an electron. The measured inclusive t-channel cross section is sigma[t-ch] = 83.6 +/- 2.3 (stat.) +/- 7.4 (syst.) pb. The single t and t-bar cross sections are measured to be sigma[t-ch,t] = 53.8 +/- 1.5 (stat.) +/- 4.4 (syst.) pb and sigma[t-ch,t-bar] = 27.6 +/- 1.3 (stat.) +/- 3.7 (syst.) pb, respectively. The measured ratio of cross sections is R[t-ch] = sigma[t-ch,t]/sigma[t-ch,t-bar] = 1.95 +/- 0.10 (stat.) +/- 0.19 (syst.), in agreement with the standard model prediction. The modulus of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element Vtb is extracted and, in combination with a previous CMS result at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV, a value abs(Vtb) = 0.998 +/- 0.038 (exp.) +/- 0.016 (theo.) is obtained.
The measured inclusive single-top-quark production cross section and the separate single top-quark and top-antiquark production cross sections in the t-channel.
The ratio of the inclusive single-top-quark production cross section in the t-channel at 8 TeV to the cross section at 7 TeV.
The ratio of the top-quark production cross section in the t-channel to the top-antiquark production cross section in the t-channel.
The production of a Z boson, decaying into two leptons and produced in association with one or more b jets, is studied using proton-proton collisions delivered by the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. The data were recorded in 2011 with the CMS detector and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 5 inverse femtobarns. The Z(ll) + b-jets cross sections (where ll = mu mu or ee) are measured separately for a Z boson produced with exactly one b jet and with at least two b jets. In addition, a cross section ratio is extracted for a Z boson produced with at least one b jet, relative to a Z boson produced with at least one jet. The measured cross sections are compared to various theoretical predictions, and the data favour the predictions in the five-flavour scheme, where b quarks are assumed massless. The kinematic properties of the reconstructed particles are compared with the predictions from the MADGRAPH event generator using the PYTHIA parton shower simulation.
The cross section at the particle level for the production of a Z boson with exactly one b-jet.
The cross section at the particle level for the production of a Z boson with at least two b-jets.
The cross section at the particle level for the production of a Z boson with at least one b-jet.
Measurements are presented of the associated production of a W boson and a charm-quark jet (W + c) in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. The analysis is conducted with a data sample corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 5 inverse femtobarns, collected by the CMS detector at the LHC. W boson candidates are identified by their decay into a charged lepton (muon or electron) and a neutrino. The W + c measurements are performed for charm-quark jets in the kinematic region $p_T^{jet} \gt$ 25 GeV, $|\eta^{jet}| \lt$ 2.5, for two different thresholds for the transverse momentum of the lepton from the W-boson decay, and in the pseudorapidity range $|\eta^{\ell}| \lt$ 2.1. Hadronic and inclusive semileptonic decays of charm hadrons are used to measure the following total cross sections: $\sigma(pp \to W + c + X) \times B(W \to \ell \nu)$ = 107.7 +/- 3.3 (stat.) +/- 6.9 (syst.) pb ($p_T^{\ell} \gt$ 25 GeV) and $\sigma(pp \to W + c + X) \times B(W \to \ell \nu)$ = 84.1 +/- 2.0 (stat.) +/- 4.9 (syst.) pb ($p_T^{\ell} \gt$ 35 GeV), and the cross section ratios $\sigma(pp \to W^+ + \bar{c} + X)/\sigma(pp \to W^- + c + X)$ = 0.954 +/- 0.025 (stat.) +/- 0.004 (syst.) ($p_T^{\ell} \gt$ 25 GeV) and $\sigma(pp \to W^+ + \bar{c} + X)\sigma(pp \to W^- + c + X)$ = 0.938 +/- 0.019 (stat.) +/- 0.006 (syst.) ($p_T^{\ell} \gt$ 35 GeV). Cross sections and cross section ratios are also measured differentially with respect to the absolute value of the pseudorapidity of the lepton from the W-boson decay. These are the first measurements from the LHC directly sensitive to the strange quark and antiquark content of the proton. Results are compared with theoretical predictions and are consistent with the predictions based on global fits of parton distribution functions.
The cross section, sigma(pp->W+c+X) x BR(W->lepton neutrino), for pT(lepton) > 25 GeV and > 35 GeV.
The normalized differential cross section as a function of the absolute value of the lepton pseudorapidity from the W-boson decay, 1/sigma(pp->W+c+X) dsigma(W+c+X)/d|eta|, for pT(lepton) > 25 GeV and > 35 GeV.
Correlation matrix for the normalized differential cross section as a function of the absolute value of the lepton pseudorapidity from the W-boson decay, 1/sigma(pp->W+c+X) dsigma(W+c+X)/d|eta|, for pT(lepton) > 25 GeV.
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