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.
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.
Searches for invisible decays of the Higgs boson are presented. The data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC correspond to integrated luminosities of 5.1, 19.7, and 2.3 inverse femtobarns at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, respectively. The search channels target Higgs boson production via gluon fusion, vector boson fusion, and in association with a vector boson. Upper limits are placed on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson decay to invisible particles, as a function of the assumed production cross sections. The combination of all channels, assuming standard model production, yields an observed (expected) upper limit on the invisible branching fraction of 0.24 (0.23) at the 95% confidence level. The results are also interpreted in the context of Higgs-portal dark matter models.
Observed and expected 95% CL limits on $\sigma\mathcal{B}(H\rightarrow inv)/\sigma(SM)$ for individual combinations of categories targeting qqH, VH, and ggH production, and the full combination assuming a Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV.
Profile likelihood ratio as a function of $\mathcal{B}(H\rightarrow inv)$ assuming SM production cross sections of a Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV. The solid curves represent the observations in data and the dashed curves represent the expected result assuming no invisible decays of the Higgs boson. The observed and expected likelihood scans for the partial combinations of the qqH tagged, VH tagged, and ggH tagged analyses, and the full combination.
Profile likelihood ratio as a function of $\mathcal{B}(H\rightarrow inv)$ assuming SM production cross sections of a Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV. The solid curves represent the observations in data and the dashed curves represent the expected result assuming no invisible decays of the Higgs boson. The observed and expected likelihood scans for the partial combinations of the 7+8 and 13 TeV analyses, and the full combination.
A search for the dimuon decay of the Higgs boson was performed using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the ATLAS detector in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV at the Large Hadron Collider. No significant excess is observed above the expected background. The observed (expected) upper limit on the cross section times branching ratio is 3.0 (3.1) times the Standard Model prediction at the 95% confidence level for a Higgs boson mass of 125 GeV. When combined with the $pp$ collision data at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV and $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV, the observed (expected) upper limit is 2.8 (2.9) times the Standard Model prediction.
Measurement of signal strength
Event yields for the expected signal (S) and background (B) processes, and numbers of the observed data events in different categories. The full widths at half maximum (FWHM) of the signal $m_{μμ}$ distributions are also shown. In each category, the event yields are counted within an $m_{μμ}$ interval, which is centered at the simulated signal peak and contains 90% of the expected signal events. The expected signal event yields are normalized to $36.1 fb^-1$. The background in each category is normalized to the observed data yield, while the relative fractions between the different processes are fixed to the SM predictions.
The 95% CL upper limit on signal strength
A search for Higgs boson pair production in the $b\bar{b}b\bar{b}$ final state is carried out with up to 36.1 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of LHC proton--proton collision data collected at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector in 2015 and 2016. Three benchmark signals are studied: a spin-2 graviton decaying into a Higgs boson pair, a scalar resonance decaying into a Higgs boson pair, and Standard Model non-resonant Higgs boson pair production. Two analyses are carried out, each implementing a particular technique for the event reconstruction that targets Higgs bosons reconstructed as pairs of jets or single boosted jets. The resonance mass range covered is 260--3000 GeV. The analyses are statistically combined and upper limits on the production cross section of Higgs boson pairs times branching ratio to $b\bar{b}b\bar{b}$ are set in each model. No significant excess is observed; the largest deviation of data over prediction is found at a mass of 280 GeV, corresponding to 2.3 standard deviations globally. The observed 95% confidence level upper limit on the non-resonant production is 13 times the Standard Model prediction.
The observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the production cross section times branching ratio for the narrow-width scalar.
The observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the production cross section times branching ratio for the bulk Randall-Sundrum model with $\frac{k}{\overline{M}_{\mathrm{Pl}}} = 1$.
The observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the production cross section times branching ratio for the bulk Randall-Sundrum model with $\frac{k}{\overline{M}_{\mathrm{Pl}}} = 2$.
A search is presented for additional neutral Higgs bosons in the $\tau\tau$ final state in proton-proton collisions at the LHC. The search is performed in the context of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model (MSSM), using the data collected with the CMS detector in 2016 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. To enhance the sensitivity to neutral MSSM Higgs bosons, the search includes production of the Higgs boson in association with b quarks. No significant deviation above the expected background is observed. Model-independent limits at 95% confidence level (CL) are set on the product of the branching fraction for the decay into $\tau$ leptons and the cross section for the production via gluon fusion or in association with b quarks. These limits range from 18 pb at 90 GeV to 3.5 fb at 3.2 TeV for gluon fusion and from 15 pb (at 90 GeV) to 2.5 fb (at 3.2 TeV) for production in association with b quarks, assuming a narrow width resonance. In the m$_{\text{h}}^{\text{mod+}}$ scenario these limits translate into a 95% CL exclusion of $\tan\beta>$ 6 for neutral Higgs boson masses below 250 GeV, where $\tan\beta$ is the ratio of the vacuum expectation values of the neutral components of the two Higgs doublets. The 95% CL exclusion contour reaches 1.6 TeV for $\tan\beta=$ 60.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits for the production of a single narrow resonance, $\phi$, with a mass between 90 GeV and 3.2 TeV via gluon-gluon fusion. This limit database corresponds to the values shown in Figure 7a of the paper.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits for the production of a single narrow resonance, $\phi$, with a mass between 90 GeV and 3.2 TeV in association with b-quarks. This limit database corresponds to the values shown in Figure 7b of the paper.
Scan of the likelihood function for the search in the $\tau\tau$ final state for a single narrow resonance, $\phi$, produced via gluon fusion ($gg\phi$) or in association with b quarks ($bb\phi$). The scan is performed in 40000 points of the ($\sigma(gg\phi)\cdot B(\phi\rightarrow\tau\tau)$, $\sigma(bb\phi)\cdot B(\phi\rightarrow\tau\tau)$) plane. An asimov dataset constructed from the expectation of all backgrounds and the SM Higgs boson is tested against a background hypothesis including the SM Higgs boson. For further details and instructions, please have a look into the following README file http://cms-results.web.cern.ch/cms-results/public-results/publications/HIG-17-020/2D-likelihood-scans/README.txt. Selected examples of such a likelihood scan are given in Figure 8 of the paper.
Properties of the Higgs boson are measured in the two-photon final state using 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data recorded at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. Cross-section measurements for the production of a Higgs boson through gluon-gluon fusion, vector-boson fusion, and in association with a vector bosonor a top-quark pair are reported. The signal strength, defined as the ratio of the observed to the expected signal yield, is measured for each of these production processes as well as inclusively. The global signal strength measurement of $0.99 \pm 0.14$ improves on the precision of the ATLAS measurement at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ and 8 TeV by a factor of two. Measurements of gluon-gluon fusion and vector-boson fusion productions yield signal strengths compatible with the Standard Model prediction. Measurements of simplified template cross sections, designed to quantify the different Higgs boson production processes in specific regions of phase space, are reported. The cross section for the production of the Higgs boson decaying to two isolated photons in a fiducial region closely matching the experimental selection of the photons is measured to be $55 \pm 10$ fb, which is in good agreement with the Standard Model prediction of $64 \pm 2$ fb. Furthermore, cross sections in fiducial regions enriched in Higgs boson production in vector-boson fusion or in association with large missing transverse momentum, leptons or top-quark pairs are reported. Differential and double-differential measurements are performed for several variables related to the diphoton kinematics as well as the kinematics and multiplicity of the jets produced in association with a Higgs boson. No significant deviations from a wide array of Standard Model predictions are observed.
Measured differential cross section with associated uncertainties as a function of PT(2GAMMA). Each systematic uncertainty sources is fully uncorrelated with the other sources and fully correlated across bins, except for the background modelling systematics for which an uncorrelated treatment across bins is more appropriate.
Measured differential cross section with associated uncertainties as a function of YRAP(2GAMMA). Each systematic uncertainty sources is fully uncorrelated with the other sources and fully correlated across bins, except for the background modelling systematics for which an uncorrelated treatment across bins is more appropriate.
Measured differential cross section with associated uncertainties as a function of PTTHRUST(2GAMMA). Each systematic uncertainty sources is fully uncorrelated with the other sources and fully correlated across bins, except for the background modelling systematics for which an uncorrelated treatment across bins is more appropriate.
A search for pair production of the supersymmetric partners of the Higgs boson (higgsinos $\tilde{H}$) in gauge-mediated scenarios is reported. Each higgsino is assumed to decay to a Higgs boson and a gravitino. Two complementary analyses, targeting high- and low-mass signals, are performed to maximize sensitivity. The two analyses utilize LHC $pp$ collision data at a center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV, the former with an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ and the latter with 24.3 fb$^{-1}$, collected with the ATLAS detector in 2015 and 2016. The search is performed in events containing missing transverse momentum and several energetic jets, at least three of which must be identified as $b$-quark jets. No significant excess is found above the predicted background. Limits on the cross-section are set as a function of the mass of the $\tilde{H}$ in simplified models assuming production via mass-degenerate higgsinos decaying to a Higgs boson and a gravitino. Higgsinos with masses between 130 and 230 GeV and between 290 and 880 GeV are excluded at the 95% confidence level. Interpretations of the limits in terms of the branching ratio of the higgsino to a $Z$ boson or a Higgs boson are also presented, and a 45% branching ratio to a Higgs boson is excluded for $m_{\tilde{H}} \approx 400$ GeV.
Distribution of m(h1) for events passing the preselection criteria of the high-mass analysis.
Distribution of effective mass for events passing the preselection criteria of the high-mass analysis.
Exclusion limits on higgsino pair production. The results of the low-mass analysis are used below m(higgsino) = 300 GeV, while those of the high-mass analysis are used above. The figure shows the observed and expected 95% upper limits on the higgsino pair production cross-section as a function of m(higgsino).
A search for heavy neutral Higgs bosons and $Z^{\prime}$ bosons is performed using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ from proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC during 2015 and 2016. The heavy resonance is assumed to decay to $\tau^+\tau^-$ with at least one tau lepton decaying to final states with hadrons and a neutrino. The search is performed in the mass range of 0.2-2.25 TeV for Higgs bosons and 0.2-4.0 TeV for $Z^{\prime}$ bosons. The data are in good agreement with the background predicted by the Standard Model. The results are interpreted in benchmark scenarios. In the context of the hMSSM scenario, the data exclude $\tan\beta > 1.0$ for $m_A$ = 0.25 TeV and $\tan\beta > 42$ for $m_A$ = 1.5 TeV at the 95% confidence level. For the Sequential Standard Model, $Z^{\prime}_\mathrm{SSM}$ with $m_{Z^{\prime}} < 2.42$ TeV is excluded at 95% confidence level, while $Z^{\prime}_\mathrm{NU}$ with $m_{Z^{\prime}} < 2.25$ TeV is excluded for the non-universal $G(221)$ model that exhibits enhanced couplings to third-generation fermions.
Observed and predicted mTtot distribution in the b-veto category of the 1l1tau_h channel. Despite listing this as an exclusive final state (as there must be no b-jets), there is no explicit selection on the presence of additional light-flavour jets. Please note that the bin content is divided by the bin width in the paper figure, but not in the HepData table. In the paper, the first bin is cut off at 60 GeV for aesthetics but contains underflows down to 50 GeV as in the HepData table. The last bin includes overflows. The combined prediction for A and H bosons with masses of 300, 500 and 800 GeV and $\tan\beta$ = 10 in the hMSSM scenario are also provided.
Observed and predicted mTtot distribution in the b-tag category of the 1l1tau_h channel. Despite listing this as an exclusive final state (as there must be at least one b-jets), there is no explicit selection on the presence of additional light-flavour jets. Please note that the bin content is divided by the bin width in the paper figure, but not in the HepData table. In the paper, the first bin is cut off at 60 GeV for aesthetics but contains underflows down to 50 GeV as in the HepData table. The last bin includes overflows. The combined prediction for A and H bosons with masses of 300, 500 and 800 GeV and $\tan\beta$ = 10 in the hMSSM scenario are also provided.
Observed and predicted mTtot distribution in the b-veto category of the 2tau_h channel. Despite listing this as an exclusive final state (as there must be no b-jets), there is no explicit selection on the presence of additional light-flavour jets. Please note that the bin content is divided by the bin width in the paper figure, but not in the HepData table. The last bin includes overflows. The combined prediction for A and H bosons with masses of 300, 500 and 800 GeV and $\tan\beta$ = 10 in the hMSSM scenario are also provided.
A search for lepton flavour violating decays of the Higgs boson in the $\mu\tau$ and e$\tau$ decay modes is presented. The search is based on a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions collected with the CMS detector in 2016, at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. No significant excess over the standard model expectation is observed. The observed (expected) upper limits on the lepton flavour violating branching fractions of the Higgs boson are $\mathcal{B}$(H$\to\mu\tau$) < 0.25% (0.25%) and $\mathcal{B}$(H$\to$e$\tau$) < 0.61% (0.37%), at 95% confidence level. These results are used to derive upper limits on the off-diagonal $\mu\tau$ and e$\tau$ Yukawa couplings $\sqrt{|{Y_{\mu\tau}}|^{2}+|{Y_{\tau\mu}}|^{2}} < 1.43 \times 10^{-3}$ and $\sqrt{|{Y_{\mathrm{e}\tau}}|^{2}+|{Y_{\tau\mathrm{e}}}|^{2}} < 2.26 \times 10^{-3}$ at 95% confidence level. The limits on the lepton flavour violating branching fractions of the Higgs boson and on the associated Yukawa couplings are the most stringent to date.
Expected and observed 95 percent CL upper limits on BR(H to mu tau) for each individual category and combined from BDT fit analysis
Expected and observed 95 percent CL upper limits on BR(H to mu tau) for each individual category and combined from collinear mass fit analysis
Expected and observed 95 percent CL upper limits on BR(H to e tau) for each individual category and combined from BDT fit analysis
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