A linearly polarized photon can be quantized from the Lorentz-boosted electromagnetic field of a nucleus traveling at ultra-relativistic speed. When two relativistic heavy nuclei pass one another at a distance of a few nuclear radii, the photon from one nucleus may interact through a virtual quark-antiquark pair with gluons from the other nucleus forming a short-lived vector meson (e.g. ${\rho^0}$). In this experiment, the polarization was utilized in diffractive photoproduction to observe a unique spin interference pattern in the angular distribution of ${\rho^0\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-}$ decays. The observed interference is a result of an overlap of two wave functions at a distance an order of magnitude larger than the ${\rho^0}$ travel distance within its lifetime. The strong-interaction nuclear radii were extracted from these diffractive interactions, and found to be $6.53\pm 0.06$ fm ($^{197} {\rm Au }$) and $7.29\pm 0.08$ fm ($^{238} {\rm U}$), larger than the nuclear charge radii. The observable is demonstrated to be sensitive to the nuclear geometry and quantum interference of non-identical particles.
The invariant mass distribution of pi+pi- pairs collected from Au+Au and U+U collisions.
Two-dimensional $\rho^0$ momentum distribution from Au+Au collisions.
Two-dimensional $\rho^0$ momentum distribution from Au+Au collisions.
Two-particle correlation measurements projected onto two-dimensional, transverse rapidity coordinates ($y_{T1},y_{T2}$), allow access to dynamical properties of the QCD medium produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions that angular correlation measurements are not sensitive to. We report non-identified charged-particle correlations for Au + Au minimum-bias collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 200 GeV taken by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC). Correlations are presented as 2D functions of transverse rapidity for like-sign, unlike-sign and all charged-particle pairs, as well as for particle pairs whose relative azimuthal angles lie on the near-side, the away-side, or at all relative azimuth. The correlations are constructed using charged particles with transverse momentum $p_T \geq 0.15$ GeV/$c$, pseudorapidity from $-$1 to 1, and azimuthal angles from $-\pi$ to $\pi$. The significant correlation structures that are observed evolve smoothly with collision centrality. The major correlation features include a saddle shape plus a broad peak with maximum near $y_T \approx 3$, corresponding to $p_T \approx$ 1.5 GeV/$c$. The broad peak is observed in both like- and unlike-sign charge combinations and in near- and away-side relative azimuthal angles. The all-charge, all-azimuth correlation measurements are compared with the theoretical predictions of {\sc hijing} and {\sc epos}. The results indicate that the correlations for peripheral to mid-central collisions can be approximately described as a superposition of nucleon + nucleon collisions with minimal effects from the QCD medium. Strong medium effects are indicated in mid- to most-central collisions.
Two-dimensional correlations of charged-hadrons, all-CI, projected onto (y_t1, y_t2), in centrality bin 84-93%.
Two-dimensional correlations of charged-hadrons, all-CI, projected onto (y_t1, y_t2), in centrality bin 74-84%.
Two-dimensional correlations of charged-hadrons, all-CI, projected onto (y_t1, y_t2), in centrality bin 64-74%.
We search for new massive scalar particles X and Y through the resonant process X $\to$ YH $\to$$\mathrm{b\bar{b}b\bar{b}}$, where H is the standard model Higgs boson. Data from CERN LHC proton-proton collisions are used, collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV in 2016-2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The search is performed in mass ranges of 0.9-4 TeV for X and 60-600 GeV for Y, where both Y and H are reconstructed as Lorentz-boosted single large-area jets. The results are interpreted in the context of the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model and also in an extension of the standard model with two additional singlet scalar fields. The 95% confidence level upper limits for the production cross section vary between 0.1 and 150 fb depending on the X and Y masses, and represent a significant improvement over results from previous searches.
The $M_J^Y$ distribution for the number of observed events (black markers) compared with the estimated backgrounds (filled histograms) and their uncertainties (hatched areas) in the SR1. The distributions expected from the signal under three $M_X$ and $M_Y$ hypotheses and assuming a cross section of 1 fb are also shown. The lower panels show the ''Pulls'' defined as (observed events - expected events)/$\sqrt{\smash[b]{\sigma_{obs}^{2} - \sigma_{exp}^{2}}}$, where $\sigma_{obs}$ and $\sigma_{exp}$ are the statistical and total uncertainties in the observation and the background estimation, respectively. The minus sign accounts for the correlation between data and the data-driven estimation.
The $M_{JJ}$ distribution for the number of observed events (black markers) compared with the estimated backgrounds (filled histograms) and their uncertainties (hatched areas) in the SR1. The distributions expected from the signal under three $M_X$ and $M_Y$ hypotheses and assuming a cross section of 1 fb are also shown. The lower panels show the ''Pulls'' defined as (observed events - expected events)/$\sqrt{\smash[b]{\sigma_{obs}^{2} - \sigma_{exp}^{2}}}$, where $\sigma_{obs}$ and $\sigma_{exp}$ are the statistical and total uncertainties in the observation and the background estimation, respectively. The minus sign accounts for the correlation between data and the data-driven estimation.
The soft-drop mass distribution of the top quark candidate jets in the 2018 jets+lepton category, in the tight ParticleNet region, after the joint fit in all-jets and jets+lepton categories. Observed data (black markers) and the postfit estimate (filled histograms) are shown for the three jet categories. The lower panel shows the ''Pulls'' defined as (observed events - expected events)/$\sqrt{\smash[b]{\sigma_{obs}^{2} + \sigma_{exp}^{2}}}$, where $\sigma_{obs}$ and $\sigma_{exp}$ are the statistical and total uncertainties in the observation and the background estimation, respectively.
Measurements of Higgs boson production, where the Higgs boson decays into a pair of $\tau$ leptons, are presented, using a sample of proton-proton collisions collected with the CMS experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Three analyses are presented. Two are targeting Higgs boson production via gluon fusion and vector boson fusion: a neural network based analysis and an analysis based on an event categorization optimized on the ratio of signal over background events. These are complemented by an analysis targeting vector boson associated Higgs boson production. Results are presented in the form of signal strengths relative to the standard model predictions and products of cross sections and branching fraction to $\tau$ leptons, in up to 16 different kinematic regions. For the simultaneous measurements of the neural network based analysis and the analysis targeting vector boson associated Higgs boson production signal strengths are found to be 0.82 $\pm$ 0.11 for inclusive Higgs boson production, 0.67 $\pm$ 0.19 (0.81 $\pm$ 0.17) for the production mainly via gluon fusion (vector boson fusion), and 1.79 $\pm$ 0.45 for vector boson associated Higgs boson production.
Measurements of the signal strengths for inclusive H production ($\mu_{\text{incl}}$) and the ggH ($\mu_{\text{ggH}}$), qqH ($\mu_{\text{qqH}}$), and VH ($\mu_{\text{VH}}$) STXS stage-0 processes, for the combination of the NN- and VH-analyses. Central values maximizing the likelihood and a split of uncertainties are provided with each result.
Measurements of the signal strengths for inclusive H production ($\mu_{\text{incl}}$) and the ggH ($\mu_{\text{ggH}}$), qqH ($\mu_{\text{qqH}}$), and VH ($\mu_{\text{VH}}$) STXS stage-0 processes, for the combination of the CB- and VH-analyses. Central values maximizing the likelihood and a split of uncertainties are provided with each result.
Measurements of the signal strengths $\mu_{\text{s}}$ in the STXS stage-1.2 bins for the ggH, qqH, and VH processes, for the combination of the NN- and VH-analyses. Central values and a split of uncertainties are also provided with each result.
Results are presented from a search for the Higgs boson decay H $\to$ Z$\gamma$, where Z $\to$$\ell^+\ell^-$ with $\ell$ = e or $\mu$. The search is performed using a sample of proton-proton (pp) collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Events are assigned to mutually exclusive categories, which exploit differences in both event topology and kinematics of distinct Higgs production mechanisms to enhance signal sensitivity. The signal strength $\mu$, defined as the product of the cross section and the branching fraction [$\sigma($pp $\to$ H$)\mathcal{B}($H $\to$ Z$\gamma)$] relative to the standard model prediction, is extracted from a simultaneous fit to the $\ell^+\ell^-\gamma$ invariant mass distributions in all categories and is found to be $\mu$ = 2.4 $\pm$ 0.9 for a Higgs boson mass of 125.38 GeV. The statistical significance of the observed excess of events is 2.7 standard deviations. This measurement corresponds to $\sigma($pp $\to$ H$)\mathcal{B}($H $\to$ Z$\gamma)$ = 0.21 $\pm$ 0.08 pb. The observed (expected) upper limit at 95% confidence level on $\mu$ is 4.1 (1.8). The ratio of branching fractions $\mathcal{B}($H $\to$ Z$\gamma) / \mathcal{B}($H $\to$ $\gamma\gamma)$ is measured to be 1.5 $^{+0.7}_{-0.6}$, which agrees with the standard model prediction of 0.69 $\pm$ 0.04 at the 1.5 standard deviation level.
The $\mathcal{D}_{\mathrm{VBF}}$ distributions for signal, simulated background, and data. The $\mathcal{D}_{\mathrm{VBF}}$ distribution includes only dijet-tagged events. The sum of contributions from all signal production mechanisms is shown by the blue line, while the contribution from only the VBF mechanism is shown by the red line. The uncertainty band incorporates all statistical and systematic uncertainties in the expected background. The dashed lines indicate the boundaries for dijet-tagged categories.
The $\mathcal{D}_{\mathrm{kin}}$ distributions for signal, simulated background, and data. The $\mathcal{D}_{\mathrm{kin}}$ distribution includes only untagged events. The sum of contributions from all signal production mechanisms is shown by the blue line. The uncertainty band incorporates all statistical and systematic uncertainties in the expected background. The dashed lines indicate the boundaries for untagged categories. The gray shaded region in the $\mathcal{D}_{\mathrm{kin}}$ distribution is excluded from the analysis.
Fits to the $m_{\ell^+\ell^-\gamma}$ data distribution in the lepton-tagged categories. In the upper panel, the red solid line shows the result of a signal-plus-background fit to the given category. The red dashed line shows the background component of the fit. The green and yellow bands represent the 68 and 95% CL uncertainties in the fit. Also plotted is the expected SM signal, scaled by a factor of 10. In the lower panel, the data minus the background component of the fit is shown.
The first measurements of the Fourier coefficients ($V_{n\Delta}$) of the azimuthal distributions of charged hadrons emitted from photon-proton ($\gamma$p) interactions at the LHC are presented. The data are extracted from 68.8 nb$^{-1}$ of ultra-peripheral proton-lead (pPb) collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV using the CMS detector. The high energy lead ions produce a flux of photons that can interact with the oncoming proton. This $\gamma$p system provides a set of unique initial conditions with multiplicity lower than in photon-lead collisions but comparable to recent electron-positron and electron-proton data. The $V_{n\Delta}$ coefficients are presented in ranges of event multiplicity and transverse momentum ($p_\mathrm{T}$) and are compared to corresponding hadronic minimum bias pPb results. For a given multiplicity range, the mean $p_\mathrm{T}$ of charged particles is smaller in $\gamma$p than in pPb collisions. For both the $\gamma$p and pPb samples, $V_{1\Delta}$ is negative, $V_{2\Delta}$ is positive, and $V_{3\Delta}$ consistent with 0. For each multiplicity and $p_\mathrm{T}$ range, $V_{2\Delta}$ is larger for $\gamma$p events. The $\gamma$p data are consistent with model predictions that have no collective effects.
$V_{n\Delta}$ coefficients for $\gamma$p events as a function of N$_{\text{trk}}$ for $ 0.3 < p_\mathrm{T} < 3.0 GeV$ in pPb collisions at 8.16 TeV.
$V_{n\Delta}$ coefficients for minimum bias events as a function of N$_{\text{trk}}$ for $ 0.3 < p_\mathrm{T} < 3.0 GeV$ in pPb collisions at 8.16 TeV.
$V_{n\Delta}$ coefficients for $\gamma$p events as a function of N$_{\text{trk}}$ for $ 1.0 < p_\mathrm{T} < 3.0 GeV$ in pPb collisions at 8.16 TeV.
A search is reported for pairs of light Higgs bosons (H$_1$) produced in supersymmetric cascade decays in final states with small missing transverse momentum. A data set of LHC pp collisions collected with the CMS detector at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ is used. The search targets events where both H$_1$ bosons decay into $\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$ pairs that are reconstructed as large-radius jets using substructure techniques. No evidence is found for an excess of events beyond the background expectations of the standard model (SM). Results from the search are interpreted in the next-to-minimal supersymmetric extension of the SM, where a "singlino" of small mass leads to squark and gluino cascade decays that can predominantly end in a highly Lorentz-boosted singlet-like H$_1$ and a singlino-like neutralino of small transverse momentum. Upper limits are set on the product of the squark or gluino pair production cross section and the square of the $\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$ branching fraction of the H$_1$ in a benchmark model containing almost mass-degenerate gluinos and light-flavour squarks. Under the assumption of an SM-like H$_1$$\to$$\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$ branching fraction, H$_1$ bosons with masses in the range 40-120 GeV arising from the decays of squarks or gluinos with a mass of 1200 to 2500 GeV are excluded at 95% confidence level.
Reference acceptance times efficiency values for the kinematic selection and $H_T>3500\;\mathrm{GeV}$ requirements ($A_{\mathrm{kin}}$) for the benchmark signal model with different values of $m_{\mathrm{SUSY}}$. These values are independent of $m_{\mathrm{H_1}}$ within 2% in the range $30 \le m_{\mathrm{H_1}} \le 125\;\mathrm{GeV}$.
Upper limits at 95% CL on $\sigma\times\mathcal{B}^2(\mathrm{H}_1\rightarrow b\bar{b}) \times A_{\mathrm{kin}}$ as a function of $m_{\mathrm{H_1}}$. The results are independent of $m_{\mathrm{SUSY}}$ within 10% in the range $1600<m_{\mathrm{SUSY}}<2800\;\mathrm{GeV}$.
Upper limits at 95% CL on $\sigma\times\mathcal{B}^2(\mathrm{H}_1\rightarrow b\bar{b})$ as a function of $m_{\mathrm{H_1}}$ for $m_{\mathrm{SUSY}}=1200\;\mathrm{GeV}$.
The structure of nucleons is multidimensional and depends on the transverse momenta, spatial geometry, and polarization of the constituent partons. Such a structure can be studied using high-energy photons produced in ultraperipheral heavy-ion collisions. The first measurement of the azimuthal angular correlations of exclusively produced events with two jets in photon-lead interactions at large momentum transfer is presented, a process that is considered to be sensitive to the underlying nuclear gluon polarization. This study uses a data sample of ultraperipheral lead-lead collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.38 nb$^{-1}$, collected with the CMS experiment at the LHC. The measured second harmonic of the correlation between the sum and difference of the two jet momenta is found to be positive, and rising, as the dijet momentum increases. A well-tuned model that has been successful at describing a wide range of proton scattering data from the HERA experiments fails to describe the observed correlations, suggesting the presence of gluon polarization effects.
The unfolded 1/${N_{\mathrm{events}}} dN/d\Phi$ distribution
The unfolded $<\cos(2\Phi)>$ distribution as a function of $Q_{\mathrm{T}}$
The collective behavior of K$^0_\mathrm{S}$ and $\Lambda/\bar{\Lambda}$ strange hadrons is studied by measuring the elliptic azimuthal anisotropy ($v_2$) using the scalar-product and multiparticle correlation methods. Proton-lead (pPb) collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV and lead-lead (PbPb) collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC are investigated. Nonflow effects in the pPb collisions are studied by using a subevent cumulant analysis and by excluding events where a jet with transverse momentum greater than 20\GeV is present. The strange hadron $v_2$ values extracted in \pPb collisions via the four- and six-particle correlation method are found to be nearly identical, suggesting the collective behavior. Comparisons of the pPb and PbPb results for both strange hadrons and charged particles illustrate how event-by-event flow fluctuations depend on the system size.
The elliptic flow $v_2\{4\}$ for charged hadron as a function of $p_T$ in PbPb collision at 5.02 TeV.
The elliptic flow $v_2\{6\}$ for charged hadron as a function of $p_T$ in PbPb collision at 5.02 TeV.
The elliptic flow $v_2\{8\}$ for charged hadron as a function of $p_T$ in PbPb collision at 5.02 TeV.
Results are presented on a search for CP violation in the production and decay of top quark-antiquark pairs in the lepton+jets channel. The search is based on data from proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV, collected with the CMS detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Possible CP violation effects are evaluated by measuring uncorrected asymmetries in observables constructed from linearly independent four-momentum vectors of the final-state particles. The dimensionless chromoelectric dipole moment of the top quark obtained from the observed asymmetries is measured to be 0.04 $\pm$ 0.10 (stat) $\pm$ 0.07 (syst), and the asymmetries exhibit no evidence for CP-violating effects, consistent with expectations from the standard model.
Results for the measurement of the effective asymmetries for each observable for the separate electron and muon channels, as well as for the combined lepton+jets channel.
Results for the measurement of the dimensionless CEDM for each observable and the combined lepton+jets channel.
Results for the measurement of the CP-violating asymmetries for each observable for the combined lepton+jets channel.