We present searches for light dark matter (DM) with masses 3-9 GeV/$c^2$ in the presence of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE$ν$NS) from $^{8}$B solar neutrinos with the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment. This analysis uses a 5.7 tonne-year exposure with data collected between March 2023 and April 2025. In an energy range spanning 1-6 keV, we report no significant excess of events attributable to dark matter nuclear recoils, but we observe a significant signal from $^{8}$B CE$ν$NS interactions that is consistent with expectation. We set world-leading limits on spin-independent and spin-dependent-neutron DM-nucleon interactions for masses down to 5 GeV/$c^2$. In the no-dark-matter scenario, we observe a signal consistent with $^{8}$B CE$ν$NS events, corresponding to a $4.5σ$ statistical significance. This is the most significant evidence of $^{8}$B CE$ν$NS interactions and is enabled by robust background modeling and mitigation techniques. This demonstrates LZ's ability to detect rare signals at keV-scale energies.
90% CL WIMP SI cross sections, including sensitivities
90% CL WIMP SDn cross sections, including sensitivities and nuclear structure uncertainties
90% CL WIMP SDp cross sections, including sensitivities and nuclear structure uncertainties
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p> The existence of three distinct neutrino flavours, <jats:italic>ν</jats:italic> <jats:sub>e</jats:sub> , <jats:italic>ν</jats:italic> <jats:sub>μ</jats:sub> and <jats:italic>ν</jats:italic> <jats:sub>τ</jats:sub> , is a central tenet of the Standard Model of particle physics <jats:sup>1,2</jats:sup> . Quantum-mechanical interference can allow a neutrino of one initial flavour to be detected sometime later as a different flavour, a process called neutrino oscillation. Several anomalous observations inconsistent with this three-flavour picture have motivated the hypothesis that an additional neutrino state exists, which does not interact directly with matter, termed as ‘sterile’ neutrino, <jats:italic>ν</jats:italic> <jats:sub>s</jats:sub> (refs. <jats:sup>3–9</jats:sup> ). This includes anomalous observations from the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector (LSND) <jats:sup>3</jats:sup> experiment and Mini-Booster Neutrino Experiment (MiniBooNE) <jats:sup>4,5</jats:sup> , consistent with <jats:italic>ν</jats:italic> <jats:sub>μ</jats:sub> → <jats:italic>ν</jats:italic> <jats:sub>e</jats:sub> transitions at a distance inconsistent with the three-neutrino picture. Here we use data obtained from the MicroBooNE liquid-argon time projection chamber <jats:sup>10</jats:sup> in two accelerator neutrino beams to exclude the single light sterile neutrino interpretation of the LSND and MiniBooNE anomalies at the 95% confidence level (CL). Moreover, we rule out a notable portion of the parameter space that could explain the gallium anomaly <jats:sup>6–8</jats:sup> . This is one of the first measurements to use two accelerator neutrino beams to break a degeneracy between <jats:italic>ν</jats:italic> <jats:sub>e</jats:sub> appearance and disappearance, which would otherwise weaken the sensitivity to the sterile neutrino hypothesis. We find no evidence for either <jats:italic>ν</jats:italic> <jats:sub>μ</jats:sub> → <jats:italic>ν</jats:italic> <jats:sub>e</jats:sub> flavour transitions or <jats:italic>ν</jats:italic> <jats:sub>e</jats:sub> disappearance that would indicate non-standard flavour oscillations. Our results indicate that previous anomalous observations consistent with <jats:italic>ν</jats:italic> <jats:sub>μ</jats:sub> → <jats:italic>ν</jats:italic> <jats:sub>e</jats:sub> transitions cannot be explained by introducing a single sterile neutrino state. </jats:p>
14 observation channels used in this analysis. The first 7 channels correspond to the BNB, while the last 7 channels correspond to the NuMI beam. Each set of seven channels is split by reconstructed event type as well as containment in the detector, fully contained (FC) or partially contained (PC). The seven channels in order are $\nu_e$CC FC, $\nu_e$CC PC, $\nu_\mu$CC FC, $\nu_\mu$CC PC, $\nu_\mu$CC $\pi^0$ FC, $\nu_\mu$CC $\pi^0$ PC, and NC $\pi^0$. Each channel contains 25 bins from 0 to 2500 MeV of reconstructed neutrino energy, with an additional overflow bin.
Four $\nu_e$CC observation channels, after constraints from 10 $\nu_\mu$CC and NC $\pi^0$ channels. The four channels in order are BNB $\nu_e$CC FC, BNB $\nu_e$CC PC, NuMI $\nu_e$CC FC, and NuMI $\nu_e$CC PC. Each channel contains 25 bins from 0 to 2500 MeV of reconstructed neutrino energy, with an additional overflow bin.
14 channel covariance matrix showing uncertainties and correlations between bins due to flux uncertainties, cross-section uncertainties, hadron reinteraction uncertainties, detector systematic uncertainties, Monte-Carlo statistical uncertainties, and dirt (outside cryostat) uncertainties. Data statistical uncertainties have not been included, but they can be calculated with the Combined Neyman-Pearson (CNP) method. Each channel contains 25 bins from 0 to 2500 MeV of reconstructed neutrino energy, with an additional overflow bin.
The GlueX experiment at Jefferson Lab has observed $p\bar{p}$ and, for the first time, $Λ\barΛ$ and $p\barΛ$ photoproduction from a proton target at photon energies up to 11.6 GeV. The angular distributions are forward peaked for all produced pairs, consistent with Regge-like $t$-channel exchange. Asymmetric wide-angle anti-baryon distributions show the presence of additional processes. In a phenomenological model, we find consistency with a double $t$-channel exchange process where anti-baryons are created only at the middle vertex. The model matches all observed distributions with a small number of free parameters. In the hyperon channels, we observe a clear distinction between photoproduction of the $Λ\barΛ$ and $p\barΛ$ systems but general similarity to the $p\bar{p}$ system. We report both total cross sections and cross sections differential with respect to momentum transfer and the invariant masses of the created particle pairs. No narrow resonant structures were found in these reaction channels. The suppression of $s\bar{s}$ quark pairs relative to $d\bar{d}$ quark pairs is similar to what has been seen in other reactions.
Measured $\frac{d\sigma}{dm_{\Lambda\bar{\Lambda}}}~[\mathrm{nb/GeV}]$ for reaction $\gamma p\to \{\Lambda \bar{\Lambda}\} p$ including data of $6.5 \leq E_{\gamma} \leq 11.5$ [GeV], splitted in 10 energy bins (each as a column in the table). The observable $m_{\Lambda\bar{\Lambda}}$ is in unit of $[\mathrm{nb/GeV}]$ and is divided into bins of width 0.05 $[\mathrm{GeV}]$ (each as a row in the table). The global systematic uncertainty is 19% (not included in the table), with contributions of 5% from kinematic fitting, 10% from data selection, 5% from flux normalization, 13% from tracking efficiency, 3% from model dependence, and 6% from run-period variations.
Measured $\frac{d\sigma}{dm_{p\bar{\Lambda}}}~[\mathrm{nb/GeV}]$ for reaction $\gamma p\to \{p \bar{\Lambda}\} \Lambda$ including data of $6.5 \leq E_{\gamma} \leq 11.5$ [GeV], splitted in 10 energy bins (each as a column in the table). The observable $m_{p\bar{\Lambda}}$ is in unit of $[\mathrm{nb/GeV}]$ and is divided into bins of width 0.1 $[\mathrm{GeV}]$ (each as a row in the table). The global systematic uncertainty is 22% (not included in the table), with contributions of 2% from kinematic fitting, 10% from data selection, 5% from flux normalization, 15% from tracking efficiency, 3% from model dependence, and 10% from run-period variations.
Measured $\frac{d\sigma}{dm_{p\bar{p}}}~[\mathrm{nb/GeV}]$ for reaction $\gamma p\to \{p \bar{p}\} p$ including data of $3.5 \leq E_{\gamma} \leq 11.5$ [GeV], splitted in 15 energy bins (each as a column in the table). The observable $m_{p\bar{p}}$ is in unit of $[\mathrm{nb/GeV}]$ and is divided into bins of width 0.044 $[\mathrm{GeV}]$ (each as a row in the table). The global systematic uncertainty is 13% (not included in the table), with contributions of 8% from kinematic fitting, 4% from data selection, 5% from flux normalization, 8% from tracking efficiency, 3% from model dependence, and 1% from run-period variations.
A hot and dense state of nuclear matter, known as the quark-gluon plasma, is created in collisions of ultrarelativistic heavy nuclei. Highly energetic quarks and gluons, collectively referred to as partons, lose energy as they travel through this matter, leading to suppressed production of particles with large transverse momenta ($p_\mathrm{T}$). Conversely, high-$p_\mathrm{T}$ particle suppression has not been seen in proton-lead collisions, raising questions regarding the minimum system size required to observe parton energy loss. Oxygen-oxygen (OO) collisions examine a region of effective system size that lies between these two extreme cases. The CMS detector at the CERN LHC has been used to quantify charged-particle production in inclusive OO collisions for the first time via measurements of the nuclear modification factor ($R_\mathrm{AA}$). The $R_\mathrm{AA}$ is derived by comparing particle production to expectations based on proton-proton (pp) data and has a value of unity in the absence of nuclear effects. The data for OO and pp collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 5.36 TeV correspond to integrated luminosities of 6.1 nb$^{-1}$ and 1.02 pb$^{-1}$, respectively. The $R_\mathrm{AA}$ is below unity with a minimum of 0.69 $\pm$ 0.04 around $p_\mathrm{T}$ = 6 GeV. The data exhibit better agreement with theoretical models incorporating parton energy loss as compared to baseline models without energy loss.
Inclusive charged particle spectra for pp collisions at 5.36 TeV for $3 < p_{T} (GeV) <103.6$. The errors represent statistical, systematics and normalization uncertainties.
Inclusive charged particle spectra for OO collisions at 5.36 TeV for $3 < p_{T} (GeV) <103.6$. The errors represent statistical, systematics and normalization uncertainties.
Inclusive charged particle R_{AA} for 5.36 TeV OO collisions for $3 < p_{T} (GeV) <103.6$. The errors represent statistical, systematics and normalization uncertainties.
The long-range collective flow of particles produced in oxygen-oxygen (OO) and neon-neon (NeNe) collisions is measured with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The data samples were collected at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 5.36 TeV, with integrated luminosities of 7 nb$^{-1}$ and 0.8 nb$^{-1}$ for OO and NeNe collisions, respectively. Two- and four-particle azimuthal correlations are measured over nearly five units of pseudorapidity. Significant elliptic ($v_2$) and triangular ($v_3$) flow harmonics are observed in both systems. The ratios of $v_n$ coefficients between NeNe and OO collisions reveal sensitivity to quadrupole correlations in the nuclear wave functions. Hydrodynamic models with $\textit{ab initio}$ nuclear structure inputs qualitatively reproduce the collision-overlap dependence of both the $v_n$ values and the NeNe to OO ratios. These measurements provide new constraints on hydrodynamic models for small collision systems and offer valuable input on the nuclear structure of $^{16}$O and $^{20}$Ne.
The $v_{2}\{2,\lvert\Delta\eta\rvert>2\}$, $v_{3}\{2,\lvert\Delta\eta\rvert>2\}$ and $v_{2}\{4\}$ values for charged particles as functions of centrality in OO collisions at 5.36 TeV.
The $v_{2}\{2,\lvert\Delta\eta\rvert>2\}$, $v_{3}\{2,\lvert\Delta\eta\rvert>2\}$ and $v_{2}\{4\}$ values for charged particles as functions of centrality in NeNe collisions at 5.36 TeV.
The $v_{2}\{2,\lvert\Delta\eta\rvert>2\}$ and $v_{2}\{4\}$ ratios for charged particles as functions of centrality in NeNe to OO collisions at 5.36 TeV.
This article reports on a search for dijet resonances using $132$ fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data recorded at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The search is performed solely on jets reconstructed within the ATLAS trigger to overcome bandwidth limitations imposed on conventional single-jet triggers, which would otherwise reject data from decays of sub-TeV dijet resonances. Collision events with two jets satisfying transverse momentum thresholds of $p_{\textrm{T}} \ge 85$ GeV and jet rapidity separation of $|y^{*}|<0.6$ are analysed for dijet resonances with invariant masses from $375$ to $1800$ GeV. A data-driven background estimate is used to model the dijet mass distribution from multijet processes. No significant excess above the expected background is observed. Upper limits are set at $95\%$ confidence level on coupling values for a benchmark leptophobic axial-vector $Z^{\prime}$ model and on the production cross-section for a new resonance contributing a Gaussian-distributed line-shape to the dijet mass distribution.
Observed $m_{jj}$ distribution for the J50 signal region, using variable-width bins and the analysis selections. The background estimate corresponds to the ansatz fit, integrated over each bin.
Observed $m_{jj}$ distribution for the J100 signal region, using variable-width bins and the analysis selections. The background estimate corresponds to the ansatz fit, integrated over each bin.
Observed 95% $\text{CL}_\text{S}$ upper limits on the production cross-section times acceptance times branching ratio to jets, $\sigma \cdot A \cdot \text{BR}$, of Gaussian-shaped signals of 5%, 10%, and 15% width relative to their peak mass, $m_G$. Also included are the corresponding expected upper limits predicted for the case the $m_{jj}$ distribution is observed to be identical to the background prediction in each bin and the $1\sigma$ and $2\sigma$ envelopes of outcomes expected for Poisson fluctuations around the background expectation. Limits are derived from the J50 signal region.
A model-agnostic search for Beyond the Standard Model physics is presented, targeting final states with at least four light leptons (electrons or muons). The search regions are separated by event topology and unsupervised machine learning is used to identify anomalous events in the full 140 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector during Run 2. No significant excess above the Standard Model background expectation is observed. Model-agnostic limits are presented in each topology, along with limits on several benchmark models including vector-like leptons, wino-like charginos and neutralinos, or smuons. Limits are set on the flavourful vector-like lepton model for the first time.
Comparison between data and the background prediction for the (a) m<sub>T</sub>(4ℓ, E<sub>T</sub><sup>miss</sup>), (b) m<sup>high</sup>(3ℓ), (c) m(Z), (d) E<sub>T</sub><sup>miss</sup>, (e) p<sub>T</sub>(Z), and (f) N<sub>jets</sub> distribution in the (a, d) 2Z 0b, (b, e) 1Z 1b 2SFOS, and (c, f) 0Z 2SFOS region, after requiring the anomaly score to be below the 90% background rejection point. The background contributions after the likelihood fit to data ('post-fit') for the background-only hypothesis are shown as filled histograms. The 'tt+X' background component includes the tt̄Z, and tt̄H processes. The 'HF ℓ' ('LF ℓ') background component refers to processes containing one non-prompt light lepton from heavy-flavour (light-flavour) hadron decays. The ratio of the data to the background prediction ('Bkg.') is shown in the lower panel. The 'Other' contribution is dominated by the tWZ production. The size of the combined statistical and systematic uncertainty in the background prediction is indicated by the blue hatched band. The upward-pointing blue arrows indicate points for which the data-to-background ('Data/Bkg.’) ratio exceeds the vertical range of the figure. The last bin contains the overflow.
Comparison between data and the background prediction for the (a) m<sub>T</sub>(4ℓ, E<sub>T</sub><sup>miss</sup>), (b) m<sup>high</sup>(3ℓ), (c) m(Z), (d) E<sub>T</sub><sup>miss</sup>, (e) p<sub>T</sub>(Z), and (f) N<sub>jets</sub> distribution in the (a, d) 2Z 0b, (b, e) 1Z 1b 2SFOS, and (c, f) 0Z 2SFOS region, after requiring the anomaly score to be below the 90% background rejection point. The background contributions after the likelihood fit to data ('post-fit') for the background-only hypothesis are shown as filled histograms. The 'tt+X' background component includes the tt̄Z, and tt̄H processes. The 'HF ℓ' ('LF ℓ') background component refers to processes containing one non-prompt light lepton from heavy-flavour (light-flavour) hadron decays. The ratio of the data to the background prediction ('Bkg.') is shown in the lower panel. The 'Other' contribution is dominated by the tWZ production. The size of the combined statistical and systematic uncertainty in the background prediction is indicated by the blue hatched band. The upward-pointing blue arrows indicate points for which the data-to-background ('Data/Bkg.’) ratio exceeds the vertical range of the figure. The last bin contains the overflow.
Comparison between data and the background prediction for the (a) m<sub>T</sub>(4ℓ, E<sub>T</sub><sup>miss</sup>), (b) m<sup>high</sup>(3ℓ), (c) m(Z), (d) E<sub>T</sub><sup>miss</sup>, (e) p<sub>T</sub>(Z), and (f) N<sub>jets</sub> distribution in the (a, d) 2Z 0b, (b, e) 1Z 1b 2SFOS, and (c, f) 0Z 2SFOS region, after requiring the anomaly score to be below the 90% background rejection point. The background contributions after the likelihood fit to data ('post-fit') for the background-only hypothesis are shown as filled histograms. The 'tt+X' background component includes the tt̄Z, and tt̄H processes. The 'HF ℓ' ('LF ℓ') background component refers to processes containing one non-prompt light lepton from heavy-flavour (light-flavour) hadron decays. The ratio of the data to the background prediction ('Bkg.') is shown in the lower panel. The 'Other' contribution is dominated by the tWZ production. The size of the combined statistical and systematic uncertainty in the background prediction is indicated by the blue hatched band. The upward-pointing blue arrows indicate points for which the data-to-background ('Data/Bkg.’) ratio exceeds the vertical range of the figure. The last bin contains the overflow.
Results from the study of the rare decays $K^+\toπ^+ν\barν$, $K^{+}\rightarrowπ^{+}μ^{+}μ^{-}$ and $K^{+}\rightarrowπ^{+}γγ$ at the NA62 experiment at CERN are interpreted in terms of improved limits for $\rm{B}(K^+\toπ^+X)$ and coupling parameters of hidden-sector models, where $X$ is a mediator. World-leading limits are achieved for dark photon, dark scalar and axion-like particle models.
Number of expected and observed events as a function of squared missing mass.
Number of expected and observed events as a function of squared missing mass.
Single Event Sensitivity (SES) for the $K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}X$ search as a function of X mass.
We present the first measurements of the forward and midrapidity $η$-meson cross sections from $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=500$ and $510$~GeV, respectively. We also report the midrapidity $η/π^0$ ratio at 510 GeV. The forward cross section is measured differentially in $η$-meson transverse momentum ($p_T$) from 1.0 to 6.5~GeV/$c$ for pseudorapidity $3.0<|η|<3.8$. The midrapidity cross section is measured from 3.5 to 44 GeV/$c$ for pseudorapidity $|η|<0.35$. Both cross sections serve as critical inputs to an updated global analysis of the $η$-meson fragmentation functions.
The invariant differential cross section of $\eta$ mesons at forward rapidity in pp collisions at center-of-mass energy 500 GeV.
The invariant differential cross section of $\eta$ mesons at central rapidity in pp collisions at center-of-mass energy 510 GeV.
The ratio of $\eta$ to $\pi^0$ cross sections at central rapidity in pp collisions at center-of-mass energy 510 GeV.
The PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider has measured low-mass vector-meson ($ω+ρ$ and $ϕ$) production through the dimuon decay channel at forward rapidity $(1.2<|\mbox{y}|<2.2)$ in $p$$+$$p$ and Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV. The low-mass vector-meson yield and nuclear-modification factor were measured as a function of the average number of participating nucleons, $\langle N_{\rm part}\rangle$, and the transverse momentum $p_T$. These results were compared with those obtained via the kaon decay channel in a similar $p_T$ range at midrapidity. The nuclear-modification factors in both rapidity regions are consistent within the uncertainties. A comparison of the $ω+ρ$ and $J/ψ$ mesons reveals that the light and heavy flavors are consistently suppressed across both $p_T$ and ${\langle}N_{\rm part}\rangle$. In contrast, the $ϕ$ meson displays a nuclear-modification factor consistent with unity, suggesting strangeness enhancement in the medium formed.
The differential cross sections of $\omega+\rho$ mesons as a function of $p_T$ in $p+p$ collisions. The systematic uncertainties of type-A (uncorrelated) are combined with statistical uncertainties in quadrature and are labeled as stat. Type-B (correlated) systematic uncertainties are listed as sys.
The differential cross sections of $\phi$ meson as a function of $p_T$ in $p+p$ collisions. The systematic uncertainties of type-A (uncorrelated) are combined with statistical uncertainties in quadrature and are labeled as stat. Type-B (correlated) systematic uncertainties are listed as sys.
The invariant yields of $\phi$ and $\omega+\rho$ mesons as a function of $p_T$ in Au+Au collisions. The systematic uncertainties of type-A (uncorrelated) are combined with statistical uncertainties in quadrature and are labeled as stat. Type-B (correlated) systematic uncertainties are listed as sys.
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