A measurement of single top-quark production in the s-channel is performed in proton$-$proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. The analysis is performed on events with an electron or muon, missing transverse momentum and exactly two $b$-tagged jets in the final state. A discriminant based on matrix element calculations is used to separate single-top-quark s-channel events from the main background contributions, which are top-quark pair production and $W$-boson production in association with jets. The observed (expected) signal significance over the background-only hypothesis is 3.3 (3.9) standard deviations, and the measured cross-section is $\sigma=8.2^{+3.5}_{-2.9}$ pb, consistent with the Standard Model prediction of $\sigma^{\mathrm{SM}}=10.32^{+0.40}_{-0.36}$ pb.
Result of the s-channel single-top cross-section measurement, in pb. The statistical and systematic uncertainties are given, as well as the total uncertainty. The normalisation factors for the $t\bar{t}$ and $W$+jets backgrounds are also shown, with their total uncertainties.
Distribution of ${E}_{T}^{miss}$ after the fit of the multijet backgrounds, in the electron channel, in the signal region, without applying the cut on ${E}_{T}^{miss}$. Simulated events are normalised to the expected number of events given the integrated luminosity, after applying the normalisation factors obtained in the multijet fit. The last bin includes the overflow. The uncertainty band indicates the simulation's statistical uncertainty, the normalisation uncertainties for different processes ($40$ % for $W$+jets production, $30$ % for multijet background and $6$ % for top-quark processes) and the multijet background shape uncertainty in each bin, summed in quadrature. The lower panel of the figure shows the ratio of the data to the prediction.
Distribution of ${E}_{T}^{miss}$ after the fit of the multijet backgrounds, in the electron channel, in the $W$+jets VR, without applying the cut on ${E}_{T}^{miss}$. Simulated events are normalised to the expected number of events given the integrated luminosity, after applying the normalisation factors obtained in the multijet fit. The last bin includes the overflow. The uncertainty band indicates the simulation's statistical uncertainty, the normalisation uncertainties for different processes ($40$ % for $W$+jets production, $30$ % for multijet background and $6$ % for top-quark processes) and the multijet background shape uncertainty in each bin, summed in quadrature. The lower panel of the figure shows the ratio of the data to the prediction.
This paper presents a measurement of fiducial and differential cross-sections for $W^{+}W^{-}$ production in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. Events with exactly one electron, one muon and no hadronic jets are studied. The fiducial region in which the measurements are performed is inspired by searches for the electroweak production of supersymmetric charginos decaying to two-lepton final states. The selected events have moderate values of missing transverse momentum and the `stransverse mass' variable $m_{\textrm{T2}}$, which is widely used in searches for supersymmetry at the LHC. The ranges of these variables are chosen so that the acceptance is enhanced for direct $W^{+}W^{-}$ production and suppressed for production via top quarks, which is treated as a background. The fiducial cross-section and particle-level differential cross-sections for six variables are measured and compared with two theoretical SM predictions from perturbative QCD calculations.
Signal region detector-level distribution for the observable $|y_{e\mu}|$.
Signal region detector-level distribution for the observable $|\Delta \phi(e \mu)|$.
Signal region detector-level distribution for the observable $ \cos\theta^{\ast}$.
The first experimental information on the strong interaction between $\Lambda$ and $\Xi^-$ strange baryons is presented in this Letter. The correlation function of $\Lambda-\Xi^-$ and $\overline{\Lambda}-\overline{\Xi}^{+}$ pairs produced in high-multiplicity proton-proton (pp) collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV at the LHC is measured as a function of the relative momentum of the pair. The femtoscopy method is used to calculate the correlation function, which is then compared with theoretical expectations obtained using a meson exchange model, chiral effective field theory, and Lattice QCD calculations close to the physical point. Data support predictions of small scattering parameters while discarding versions with large ones, thus suggesting a weak $\Lambda-\Xi^{-}$ interaction. The limited statistical significance of the data does not yet allow one to constrain the effects of coupled channels like $\Sigma-\Xi$ and N$-\Omega$.
The $\Lambda$--$\Xi^{-}$ $\oplus$ $\overline{\Lambda}$--$\overline{\Xi}^{+}$ correlation function and the $\lambda$ parameters with the parametrization of the background contribution $C_\mathrm{mis.}(k^*)$
Angular correlations of heavy-flavour and charged particles in high-energy proton-proton collisions are sensitive to the production mechanisms of heavy quarks and to their fragmentation as well as hadronisation processes. The measurement of the azimuthal-correlation function of prompt D mesons with charged particles in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with the ALICE detector is reported, considering D$^{0}$, D$^{+}$, and D$^{*+}$ mesons in the transverse-momentum interval $3 < p_{\rm T} < 36$ GeV/$c$ at midrapidity ($|y| < 0.5$), and charged particles with $p_{\rm T} > 0.3$ GeV/$c$ and pseudorapidity $|\eta| < 0.8$. This measurement has an improved precision and provides an extended transverse-momentum coverage compared to previous ALICE measurements at lower energies. The study is also performed as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity, showing no modifications of the correlation function with multiplicity within uncertainties. The properties and the transverse-momentum evolution of the near- and away-side correlation peaks are studied and compared with predictions from various Monte Carlo event generators. Among those considered, PYTHIA8 and POWHEG+PYTHIA8 provide the best description of the measured observables. The obtained results can provide guidance on tuning the generators.
Comparison of the azimuthal-correlation distributions of D mesons (average of D$^{0}$, D$^{+}$, and D$^{*+}$) with $3 < p_{\rm T} < 5$ GeV/$c$ and charged particles with $0.3 < p_{\rm T} < 1$ GeV/$c$, in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = $5, 7, and 13 TeV, after baseline subtraction. Rapidity range for the D mesons is $|y^{\rm D}_{\rm cms}| < 0.5$. Correlations are integrated for $|\Delta\eta|=|\eta_{\rm ch}-\eta_{\rm D}| < 1$. The azimuthal-correlation distributions are reported in the range $0 < \Delta\varphi < \pi$.
Comparison of the azimuthal-correlation distributions of D mesons (average of D$^{0}$, D$^{+}$, and D$^{*+}$) with $8 < p_{\rm T} < 16$ GeV/$c$ and charged particles with $0.3 < p_{\rm T} < 1$ GeV/$c$, in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = $5, 7, and 13 TeV, after baseline subtraction. Rapidity range for the D mesons is $|y^{\rm D}_{\rm cms}| < 0.5$. Correlations are integrated for $|\Delta\eta|=|\eta_{\rm ch}-\eta_{\rm D}| < 1$. The azimuthal-correlation distributions are reported in the range $0 < \Delta\varphi < \pi$.
Comparison of the azimuthal-correlation distributions of D mesons (average of D$^{0}$, D$^{+}$, and D$^{*+}$) with $16 < p_{\rm T} < 24$ GeV/$c$ and charged particles with $0.3 < p_{\rm T} < 1$ GeV/$c$, in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = $5, 7, and 13 TeV, after baseline subtraction. Rapidity range for the D mesons is $|y^{\rm D}_{\rm cms}| < 0.5$. Correlations are integrated for $|\Delta\eta|=|\eta_{\rm ch}-\eta_{\rm D}| < 1$. The azimuthal-correlation distributions are reported in the range $0 < \Delta\varphi < \pi$.
First measurements of balance functions (BFs) of all combinations of identified charged hadron $(\pi,\rm K,\rm p)$ pairs in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV recorded by the ALICE detector are presented. The BF measurements are carried out as two-dimensional differential correlators versus the relative rapidity ($\Delta y$) and azimuthal angle ($\Delta\varphi$) of hadron pairs, and studied as a function of collision centrality. The $\Delta\varphi$ dependence of BFs is expected to be sensitive to the light quark diffusivity in the quark$-$gluon plasma. While the BF azimuthal widths of all pairs substantially decrease from peripheral to central collisions, the longitudinal widths exhibit mixed behaviors: BFs of $\pi\pi$ and cross-species pairs narrow significantly in more central collisions, whereas those of $\rm KK$ and $\rm pp$ are found to be independent of collision centrality. This dichotomy is qualitatively consistent with the presence of strong radial flow effects and the existence of two stages of quark production in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Finally, the first measurements of the collision centrality evolution of BF integrals are presented, with the observation that charge balancing fractions are nearly independent of collision centrality in Pb$-$Pb collisions. Overall, the results presented provide new and challenging constraints for theoretical models of hadron production and transport in relativistic heavy-ion collisions.
Balance function $B^{\pi\pi}$ measured in semicentral Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76\;\text{TeV}$ ($\pi,{\rm K}: 0.2 \leq p_{\rm T} \leq 2.0\;{\rm GeV}/c$; ${\rm p}: 0.5 \leq p_{\rm T} \leq 2.5\;{\rm GeV}/c$).
Balance function $B^{{\rm KK}}$ measured in semicentral Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76\;\text{TeV}$ ($\pi,{\rm K}: 0.2 \leq p_{\rm T} \leq 2.0\;{\rm GeV}/c$; ${\rm p}: 0.5 \leq p_{\rm T} \leq 2.5\;{\rm GeV}/c$).
Balance function $B^{{\rm p\bar{p}}}$ measured in semicentral Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76\;\text{TeV}$ ($\pi,{\rm K}: 0.2 \leq p_{\rm T} \leq 2.0\;{\rm GeV}/c$; ${\rm p}: 0.5 \leq p_{\rm T} \leq 2.5\;{\rm GeV}/c$).
This Letter presents the first experimental evidence of the attractive strong interaction between a proton and a $\phi$ meson. The result is obtained from two-particle correlations of combined p-$\phi \oplus \overline{\rm {p}}$-$\phi$ pairs measured in high-multiplicity pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}~=~13$ TeV by the ALICE collaboration. The spin-averaged scattering length and effective range of the p-$\phi$ interaction are extracted from the fully corrected correlation function employing the Lednický-Lyuboshits approach. In particular, the imaginary part of the scattering length vanishes within uncertainties, indicating that inelastic processes do not play a prominent role for the p-$\phi$ interaction. These data demonstrate that the interaction is dominated by elastic p-$\phi$ scattering. Furthermore, an analysis employing phenomenological Gaussian- and Yukawa-type potentials is conducted. Under the assumption of the latter, the N-$\phi$ coupling constant is found to be $g_{\rm{N}-\phi} = 0.14\pm 0.03\,(\mathrm{stat.})\pm 0.02\,(\mathrm{syst.})$. This work provides valuable experimental input to accomplish a self-consistent description of the N-$\phi$ interaction, which is particularly relevant for the more fundamental studies on partial restoration of chiral symmetry in nuclear medium.
Measured $\mathrm{p}-\phi$ $\oplus$ $\overline{\mathrm{p}}-\phi$ correlation function.
Genuine $\mathrm{p}-\phi$ $\oplus$ $\overline{\mathrm{p}}-\phi$ correlation function.
In quantum scattering processes between two particles, aspects characterizing the strong and Coulomb forces can be observed in kinematic distributions of the particle pairs. The sensitivity to the interaction potential reaches a maximum at low relative momentum and vanishing distance between the two particles. Ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions at the LHC provide an abundant source of many hadron species and can be employed as a measurement method of scattering parameters that is complementary to scattering experiments. This study confirms that momentum correlations of particles produced in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC provide an accurate measurement of kaon-proton scattering parameters at low relative momentum, allowing precise access to the $ {K}^{-} p\rightarrow {K}^{-} p$ process. This work also validates the femtoscopic measurement in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions as an alternative to scattering experiments and a complementary tool to the study of exotic atoms with comparable precision. In this work, the first femtoscopic measurement of momentum correlations of ${K}^{-} p\ ({K}^{+}\overline{p})$ and ${K}^{+}p ({K}^{-}\overline{p})$ pairs in Pb-Pb collisions at centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV registered by the ALICE experiment is reported. The components of the ${K}^{-} p$ complex scattering length are extracted and found to be $\Re f_0=-0.91\pm~{0.03}$(stat)$^{+0.17}_{-0.03}$(syst) and $\Im f_0 = 0.92\pm~{0.05}$(stat)$^{+0.12}_{-0.33}$(syst). The results are compared with chiral effective field theory predictions as well as with existing data from dedicated scattering and exotic kaonic atom experiments.
K p (opposite charge) correlation function for centrality 0-5% from Pb-Pb collisions at 5020 GeV
K p (same charge) correlation function for centrality 0-5% from Pb-Pb collisions at 5020 GeV
K p (opposite charge) correlation function for centrality 5-10% from Pb-Pb collisions at 5020 GeV
The interaction of $\Lambda$ and $\Sigma$ hyperons (Y) with nucleons (N) is strongly influenced by the coupled-channel dynamics. Due to the small mass difference of the $\rm N \Lambda$ and $\rm N \Sigma$ systems, the sizeable coupling strength of the $\rm N \Sigma\leftrightarrow N \Lambda$ processes constitutes a crucial element in the determination of the N$\Lambda$ interaction. In this letter we present the most precise measurements on the interaction of p$\Lambda$ pairs, from zero relative momentum up to the opening of the $\rm N \Sigma$ channel. The correlation function in the relative momentum space for $\mathrm{p}\Lambda\oplus\overline{\mathrm{p}}\overline{\Lambda}$ pairs measured in high-multiplicity triggered pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}~=~13$ TeV at the LHC is reported. The opening of the inelastic N$\Sigma$ channels is visible in the extracted correlation function as a cusp-like structure occurring at relative momentum $k^{*}$ = 289 MeV/$c$. This represents the first direct experimental observation of the $\rm N \Sigma\rightarrow N \Lambda$ coupled channel in the p$\Lambda$ system. The correlation function is compared with recent chiral effective field theory calculations, based on different strengths of the $\rm N \Sigma\leftrightarrow N \Lambda$ transition potential. A weaker coupling, as possibly supported by the present measurement, would require a more repulsive three-body NN$\Lambda$ interaction for a proper description of the $\Lambda$ in-medium properties, which has implications on the nuclear equation of state and for the presence of hyperons inside neutron stars.
p-$\Lambda$ correlation function in high-multiplicity pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV.
Measurements of both the inclusive and differential production cross sections of a top-quark-antiquark pair in association with a $Z$ boson ($t\bar{t}Z$) are presented. The measurements are performed by targeting final states with three or four isolated leptons (electrons or muons) and are based on $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV proton-proton collision data with an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$, recorded from 2015 to 2018 with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The inclusive cross section is measured to be $\sigma_{t\bar{t}Z} = 0.99 \pm 0.05$ (stat.) $\pm 0.08$ (syst.) pb, in agreement with the most precise theoretical predictions. The differential measurements are presented as a function of a number of kinematic variables which probe the kinematics of the $t\bar{t}Z$ system. Both absolute and normalised differential cross-section measurements are performed at particle and parton levels for specific fiducial volumes and are compared with theoretical predictions at different levels of precision, based on a $\chi^{2}/$ndf and $p$-value computation. Overall, good agreement is observed between the unfolded data and the predictions.
The measured $t\bar{t}\text{Z}$ cross-section value and its uncertainty based on the fit results from the combined trilepton and tetralepton channels. The value corresponds to the phase-space region where the difermion mass from the Z boson decay lies in the range $70 < m_{f\bar{f}} < 110$ GeV.
List of relative uncertainties of the measured inclusive $t\bar{t}\text{Z}$ cross section from the combined fit. The uncertainties are symmetrised for presentation and grouped into the categories described in the text. The quadratic sum of the individual uncertainties is not equal to the total uncertainty due to correlations introduced by the fit.
The definitions of the trilepton signal regions: for the inclusive measurement, a combination of the regions with pseudo-continuous $b$-tagging 3$\ell$-Z-1$b$4$j$-PCBT and 3$\ell$-Z-2$b$3$j$-PCBT is used, whereas for the differential measurement, only the region 3$\ell$-Z-2$b$3$j$, with a fixed $b$-tagging WP is employed.
The associated production of a Higgs boson with a $W$ or $Z$ boson decaying into leptons and where the Higgs boson decays to a $b\bar{b}$ pair is measured in the high vector-boson transverse momentum regime, above 250 GeV, with the ATLAS detector. The analysed data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$, were collected in proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider between 2015 and 2018 at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV. The measured signal strength, defined as the ratio of the measured signal yield to that predicted by the Standard Model, is $0.72 ^{+0.39}_{-0.36}$ corresponding to an observed (expected) significance of 2.1 (2.7) standard deviations. Cross-sections of associated production of a Higgs boson decaying into $b$ quark pairs with a $W$ or $Z$ gauge boson, decaying into leptons, are measured in two exclusive vector boson transverse momentum regions, 250-400 GeV and above 400 GeV, and interpreted as constraints on anomalous couplings in the framework of a Standard Model effective field theory.
Observed correlations between the measured reduced stage-1.2 simplified template VH, V->leptons and H->bb cross sections, including both the statistical and systematic uncertainties.
Measured and predicted VH, V->leptons reduced stage-1.2 simplified template cross sections times the H->bb and V->leptons branching fractions with corresponding uncertainties. All possible Z decays into neutral and charged leptons are considered.
Linear combinations of Wilson coefficients corresponding to the principal component decomposition eigenvectors. The corresponding eigenvalues, representing in the gaussian approximation the inverse uncertainty square of the measured eigenvector, is also indicated.
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