This paper reports searches for heavy resonances decaying into $ZZ$ or $ZW$ using data from proton--proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV. The data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb$^{-1}$, were recorded with the ATLAS detector in 2015 and 2016 at the Large Hadron Collider. The searches are performed in final states in which one $Z$ boson decays into either a pair of light charged leptons (electrons and muons) or a pair of neutrinos, and the associated $W$ boson or the other $Z$ boson decays hadronically. No evidence of the production of heavy resonances is observed. Upper bounds on the production cross sections of heavy resonances times their decay branching ratios to $ZZ$ or $ZW$ are derived in the mass range 300--5000 GeV within the context of Standard Model extensions with additional Higgs bosons, a heavy vector triplet or warped extra dimensions. Production through gluon--gluon fusion, Drell--Yan or vector-boson fusion are considered, depending on the assumed model.
Selection acceptance times efficiency for ggF H -> Z Z -> llqq as a function of the Higgs boson mass, combining the HP and LP signal regions of the ZV -> llJ selection and the b-tagged and untagged regions of the ZV -> lljj selection.
Selection acceptance times efficiency for VBF H -> Z Z -> llqq as a function of the Higgs boson mass, combining the HP and LP signal regions of the ZV -> llJ selection and the b-tagged and untagged regions of the ZV -> lljj selection.
Selection acceptance times efficiency for ggF H -> Z Z -> vvqq as a function of the Higgs boson mass, combining the HP and LP signal regions.
A search for an invisibly decaying Higgs boson or dark matter candidates produced in association with a leptonically decaying $Z$ boson in proton--proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV is presented. This search uses 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ of data collected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. No significant deviation from the expectation of the Standard Model backgrounds is observed. Assuming the Standard Model $ZH$ production cross-section, an observed (expected) upper limit of 67% (39%) at the 95% confidence level is set on the branching ratio of invisible decays of the Higgs boson with mass $m_H = $ 125 GeV. The corresponding limits on the production cross-section of the $ZH$ process with the invisible Higgs boson decays are also presented. Furthermore, exclusion limits on the dark matter candidate and mediator masses are reported in the framework of simplified dark matter models.
Observed E<sub>T</sub><sup>miss</sup> distribution in the ee channel compared to the signal and background predictions. The error band shows the total statistical and systematic uncertainty on the background prediction. The background predictions are presented as they are before being fit to the data. The ratio plot gives the observed data yield over the background prediction (black points) as well as the signal-plus-background contribution divided by the background prediction (blue or purple line) in each E<sub>T</sub><sup>miss</sup> bin. The rightmost bin contains the overflow contributions. The ZH → ℓℓ + inv signal distribution is shown with BR<sub>H → inv</sub> =0.3, which is the value most compatible with data. The simulated DM distribution with m<sub>med</sub> = 500 GeV and m<sub>χ</sub> = 100 GeV is also scaled (with a factor of 0.27) to the best-fit contribution.
Observed E<sub>T</sub><sup>miss</sup> distribution in the μμ channel compared to the signal and background predictions. The error band shows the total statistical and systematic uncertainty on the background prediction. The background predictions are presented as they are before being fit to the data. The ratio plot gives the observed data yield over the background prediction (black points) as well as the signal-plus-background contribution divided by the background prediction (blue or purple line) in each E<sub>T</sub><sup>miss</sup> bin. The rightmost bin contains the overflow contributions. The ZH → ℓℓ + inv signal distribution is shown with BR<sub>H → inv</sub> =0.3, which is the value most compatible with data. The simulated DM distribution with m<sub>med</sub> = 500 GeV and m<sub>χ</sub> = 100 GeV is also scaled (with a factor of 0.27) to the best-fit contribution.
DM exclusion limit in the two-dimensional phase space of WIMP mass m<sub>χ</sub> vs mediator mass m<sub>med</sub> determined using the combined ee+μμ channel. Both the observed and expected limits are presented, and the 1σ uncertainty band for the expected limits is also provided. Regions bounded by the limit curves are excluded at the 95% CL. The grey line labelled with "m<sub>med</sub> = 2m<sub>χ</sub>'' indicates the kinematic threshold where the mediator can decay on-shell into WIMPs, and the other grey line gives the perturbative limit (arXiv 1603.04156). The relic density line (arXiv 1603.04156) illustrates the combination of m<sub>χ</sub> and m<sub>med</sub> that would explain the observed DM relic density.
Fluctuations of conserved quantities such as baryon number, charge, and strangeness are sensitive to the correlation length of the hot and dense matter created in relativistic heavy-ion collisions and can be used to search for the QCD critical point. We report the first measurements of the moments of net-kaon multiplicity distributions in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4, and 200 GeV. The collision centrality and energy dependence of the mean ($M$), variance ($\sigma^2$), skewness ($S$), and kurtosis ($\kappa$) for net-kaon multiplicity distributions as well as the ratio $\sigma^2/M$ and the products $S\sigma$ and $\kappa\sigma^2$ are presented. Comparisons are made with Poisson and negative binomial baseline calculations as well as with UrQMD, a transport model (UrQMD) that does not include effects from the QCD critical point. Within current uncertainties, the net-kaon cumulant ratios appear to be monotonic as a function of collision energy.
Raw $\Delta N_k$ distributions in Au+Au collisions at 7.7 GeV for 0–5%, 30–40%, and 70–80% collision centralities at midrapidity. The distributions are not corrected for the finite centrality bin width effect nor the reconstruction efficiency.
Raw $\Delta N_k$ distributions in Au+Au collisions at 11.5 GeV for 0–5%, 30–40%, and 70–80% collision centralities at midrapidity. The distributions are not corrected for the finite centrality bin width effect nor the reconstruction efficiency.
Raw $\Delta N_k$ distributions in Au+Au collisions at 14.5 GeV for 0–5%, 30–40%, and 70–80% collision centralities at midrapidity. The distributions are not corrected for the finite centrality bin width effect nor the reconstruction efficiency.
The correlations between event-by-event fluctuations of anisotropic flow harmonic amplitudes have been measured in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The results are reported in terms of multiparticle correlation observables dubbed Symmetric Cumulants. These observables are robust against biases originating from nonflow effects. The centrality dependence of correlations between the higher order harmonics (the quadrangular $v_4$ and pentagonal $v_5$ flow) and the lower order harmonics (the elliptic $v_2$ and triangular $v_3$ flow) is presented. The transverse momentum dependence of correlations between $v_3$ and $v_2$ and between $v_4$ and $v_2$ is also reported. The results are compared to calculations from viscous hydrodynamics and A Multi-Phase Transport ({AMPT}) model calculations. The comparisons to viscous hydrodynamic models demonstrate that the different order harmonic correlations respond differently to the initial conditions and the temperature dependence of the ratio of shear viscosity to entropy density ($\eta/s$). A small average value of $\eta/s$ is favored independent of the specific choice of initial conditions in the models. The calculations with the AMPT initial conditions yield results closest to the measurements. Correlations between the magnitudes of $v_2$, $v_3$ and $v_4$ show moderate $p_{\rm T}$ dependence in mid-central collisions. Together with existing measurements of individual flow harmonics, the presented results provide further constraints on the initial conditions and the transport properties of the system produced in heavy-ion collisions.
Centrality dependence of observables SC(5,2) in Pb-Pb collisions at 2.76 TeV.
Centrality dependence of observables SC(5,3) in Pb-Pb collisions at 2.76 TeV.
Centrality dependence of observables SC(4,3) in Pb-Pb collisions at 2.76 TeV.
We present the results of three-dimensional femtoscopic analyses for charged and neutral kaons recorded by ALICE in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 2.76 TeV. Femtoscopy is used to measure the space-time characteristics of particle production from the effects of quantum statistics and final-state interactions in two-particle correlations. Kaon femtoscopy is an important supplement to that of pions because it allows one to distinguish between different model scenarios working equally well for pions. In particular, we compare the measured 3D kaon radii with a purely hydrodynamical calculation and a model where the hydrodynamic phase is followed by a hadronic rescattering stage. The former predicts an approximate transverse mass ($m_{\mathrm{T}}$) scaling of source radii obtained from pion and kaon correlations. This $m_{\mathrm{T}}$ scaling appears to be broken in our data, which indicates the importance of the hadronic rescattering phase at LHC energies. A $k_{\mathrm{T}}$ scaling of pion and kaon source radii is observed instead. The time of maximal emission of the system is estimated using the three-dimensional femtoscopic analysis for kaons. The measured emission time is larger than that of pions. Our observation is well supported by the hydrokinetic model predictions.
Out projection of raw 3D LCMS K+- K+- correlation function for 0.2 < kT < 0.4 GeV/c bin.
Side projection of raw 3D LCMS K+- K+- correlation function for 0.2 < kT < 0.4 GeV/c bin
Long projection of raw 3D LCMS K+- K+- correlation function for 0.2 < kT < 0.4 GeV/c bin
The Transition Radiation Detector (TRD) was designed and built to enhance the capabilities of the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). While aimed at providing electron identification and triggering, the TRD also contributes significantly to the track reconstruction and calibration in the central barrel of ALICE. In this paper the design, construction, operation, and performance of this detector are discussed. A pion rejection factor of up to 410 is achieved at a momentum of 1 GeV/$c$ in p-Pb collisions and the resolution at high transverse momentum improves by about 40% when including the TRD information in track reconstruction. The triggering capability is demonstrated both for jet, light nuclei, and electron selection.
Most probable charge deposit signal normalised to that of minimum ionising particles as a function of $\beta\gamma$ for $\pi$, $\it{e}$ test beam (dE/dx). Statistical uncertainties as vertical error bars.
Most probable charge deposit signal normalised to that of minimum ionising particles as a function of $\beta\gamma$ for $\pi$, $\it{e}$ test beam (dE/dx + TR). Statistical uncertainties as vertical error bars.
Most probable charge deposit signal normalised to that of minimum ionising particles as a function of $\beta\gamma$ for $\pi$, $\it{e}$ and proton in pp collisions ($\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV). Statistical uncertainties as vertical error bars. Uncertainties in momentum and thus $\beta \gamma$ determination are drawn as horizontal error bars.
The modification of the production of $J/\psi$, $\psi(\mathrm{2S})$, and $\mit{\Upsilon}(n\mathrm{S})$ ($n = 1, 2, 3$) in $p$+Pb collisions with respect to their production in $pp$ collisions has been studied. The $p$+Pb and $pp$ datasets used in this paper correspond to integrated luminosities of $28$ $\mathrm{nb}^{-1}$ and $25$ $\mathrm{pb}^{-1}$ respectively, collected in 2013 and 2015 by the ATLAS detector at the LHC, both at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 5.02 TeV. The quarkonium states are reconstructed in the dimuon decay channel. The yields of $J/\psi$ and $\psi(\mathrm{2S})$ are separated into prompt and non-prompt sources. The measured quarkonium differential cross sections are presented as a function of rapidity and transverse momentum, as is the nuclear modification factor, $R_{p\mathrm{Pb}}$ for $J/\psi$ and $\mit{\Upsilon}(\mathrm{1S})$. No significant modification of the $J/\psi$ production is observed while $\mit{\Upsilon}(\mathrm{1S})$ production is found to be suppressed at low transverse momentum in $p$+Pb collisions relative to $pp$ collisions. The production of excited charmonium and bottomonium states is found to be suppressed relative to that of the ground states in central $p$+Pb collisions.
Summary of results for cross-section of non-prompt J/psi decaying to a muon pair in pp collisions at 5.02 TeV in nb/GeV. Uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.
Summary of results for cross-section of non-prompt psi(2S) decaying to a muon pair in pp collisions at 5.02 TeV in nb/GeV. Uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.
Summary of results for cross-section of prompt J/psi decaying to a muon pair in pp collisions at 5.02 TeV in nb/GeV. Uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.
This paper presents a measurement of the polarisation of $\tau$ leptons produced in $Z/\gamma^{*}\rightarrow\tau\tau$ decays which is performed with a dataset of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.2 fb$^{-1}$ recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC in 2012. The $Z/\gamma^{*}\rightarrow\tau\tau$ decays are reconstructed from a hadronically decaying $\tau$ lepton with a single charged particle in the final state, accompanied by a $\tau$ lepton that decays leptonically. The $\tau$ polarisation is inferred from the relative fraction of energy carried by charged and neutral hadrons in the hadronic $\tau$ decays. The polarisation is measured in a fiducial region that corresponds to the kinematic region accessible to this analysis. The $\tau$ polarisation extracted over the full phase space within the $Z/\gamma^{*}$ mass range of 66$ < m_{Z/\gamma^{*}} < $ 116 GeV is found to be $P_{\tau} =-0.14 \pm 0.02 (\text{stat}) \pm 0.04 (\text{syst})$. It is in agreement with the Standard Model prediction of $P_{\tau} =-0.1517 \pm 0.0019$, which is obtained from the ALPGEN event generator interfaced with the PYTHIA 6 parton shower modelling and the TAUOLA $\tau$ decay library.
The measured polarisation values (fiducial and extracted to full phase-space) for electron-hadron and muon-hadron channels as well as combined.
Definition of fiducial region of the analysis. The requirements are applied at stable-particle level.
Impact of individual systematic uncertainties on full and fiducial polarisation.
A search for pair production of a scalar partner of the top quark in events with four or more jets plus missing transverse momentum is presented. An analysis of 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s}$=13 TeV proton-proton collisions collected using the ATLAS detector at the LHC yields no significant excess over the expected Standard Model background. To interpret the results a simplified supersymmetric model is used where the top squark is assumed to decay via $\tilde{t}_1 \rightarrow t^{(*)} \tilde\chi^0_1$ and $\tilde{t}_1\rightarrow b\tilde\chi^\pm_1 \rightarrow b W^{(*)} \tilde\chi^0_1$, where $\tilde\chi^0_1$ ($\chi^\pm_1$) denotes the lightest neutralino (chargino). Exclusion limits are placed in terms of the top-squark and neutralino masses. Assuming a branching ratio of 100% to $t \tilde\chi^0_1$, top-squark masses in the range 450-950 GeV are excluded for $\tilde\chi^0_1$ masses below 160 GeV. In the case where $m_{\tilde{t}_1}\sim m_t+m_{\tilde\chi^0_1}$, top-squark masses in the range 235-590 GeV are excluded.
Distribution of $E_\text{T}^\text{miss}$ for SRA-TT after the likelihood fit. The stacked histograms show the SM expectation and the hatched uncertainty band around the SM expectation shows the MC statistical and detector-related systematic uncertainties. A representative signal point is shown for each distribution.
Distribution of $m_\text{T2}^{\chi^2}$ for SRA-T0 after the likelihood fit. The stacked histograms show the SM expectation and the hatched uncertainty band around the SM expectation shows the MC statistical and detector-related systematic uncertainties. A representative signal point is shown for each distribution.
Distribution of $m_\text{T}^{b,\text{max}}$ for SRB-TW after the likelihood fit. The stacked histograms show the SM expectation and the hatched uncertainty band around the SM expectation shows the MC statistical and detector-related systematic uncertainties. A representative signal point is shown for each distribution.
In ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions, the event-by-event variation of the elliptic flow $v_2$ reflects fluctuations in the shape of the initial state of the system. This allows to select events with the same centrality but different initial geometry. This selection technique, Event Shape Engineering, has been used in the analysis of charge-dependent two- and three-particle correlations in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}} =2.76$ TeV. The two-particle correlator $\langle \cos(\varphi_\alpha - \varphi_\beta) \rangle$, calculated for different combinations of charges $\alpha$ and $\beta$, is almost independent of $v_2$ (for a given centrality), while the three-particle correlator $\langle \cos(\varphi_\alpha + \varphi_\beta - 2\Psi_2) \rangle$ scales almost linearly both with the event $v_2$ and charged-particle pseudorapidity density. The charge dependence of the three-particle correlator is often interpreted as evidence for the Chiral Magnetic Effect (CME), a parity violating effect of the strong interaction. However, its measured dependence on $v_2$ points to a large non-CME contribution to the correlator. Comparing the results with Monte Carlo calculations including a magnetic field due to the spectators, the upper limit of the CME signal contribution to the three-particle correlator in the 10-50% centrality interval is found to be 26-33% at 95% confidence level.
$v_2\{EP\}$ with $|\Delta\eta| > 2.0$ as a function of centrality for unbiased events in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV.
$v_2\{EP\}$ with $|\Delta\eta| > 2.0$ as a function of centrality for shape selected events (0-10% $q_2$) in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV.
$v_2\{EP\}$ with $|\Delta\eta| > 2.0$ as a function of centrality for shape selected events (10-20% $q_2$) in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV.
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