Inclusive and differential cross section measurements of top quark pair ($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$) production in association with a photon ($γ$) are performed as a function of lepton, photon, top quark, and $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ kinematic observables, using data from proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Events containing two leptons (electrons or muons) and a photon in the final state are considered. The fiducial cross section of $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}γ$ is measured to be 137 $\pm$ 8 fb, in a phase space including events with a high momentum, isolated photon. The fiducial cross section of $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}γ$ is also measured to be 56 $\pm$ 5 fb when considering only events where the photon is emitted in the production part of the process. Both measurements are in agreement with the theoretical predictions, of 126 $\pm$ 19 fb and 57 $\pm$ 5 fb, respectively. Differential measurements are performed at the particle and parton levels. Additionally, inclusive and differential ratios between the cross sections of $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}γ$ and $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ production are measured. The inclusive ratio is found to be 0.0133 $\pm$ 0.0005, in agreement with the standard model prediction of 0.0127 $\pm$ 0.0008. The top quark charge asymmetry in $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}γ$ production is also measured to be $-$0.012 $\pm$ 0.042, compatible with both the standard model prediction and with no asymmetry.
Absolute differential distributions of the leading top quark $p_{\mathrm{T}}$. The nominal MC prediction used to compare the experimental results to is obtained with Madgraph5 at NLO in QCD for photons from the production part of the process and Madgraph5 at LO in QCD for photons from the decay part of the process. The alternative prediction is obtained with Madgraph5 at NLO in QCD for photons from the production part of the process and a POWHEG+Pythia $\mathrm{tt}$ simulation at NLO in QCD for photons from the decay part of the process.
Normalized differential distributions of the leading top quark $p_{\mathrm{T}}$. The nominal MC prediction used to compare the experimental results to is obtained with Madgraph5 at NLO in QCD for photons from the production part of the process and Madgraph5 at LO in QCD for photons from the decay part of the process. The alternative prediction is obtained with Madgraph5 at NLO in QCD for photons from the production part of the process and a POWHEG+Pythia $\mathrm{tt}$ simulation at NLO in QCD for photons from the decay part of the process.
Absolute differential distributions of the $\Delta R (\gamma,\mathrm{tt})$. The nominal MC prediction used to compare the experimental results to is obtained with Madgraph5 at NLO in QCD for photons from the production part of the process and Madgraph5 at LO in QCD for photons from the decay part of the process. The alternative prediction is obtained with Madgraph5 at NLO in QCD for photons from the production part of the process and a POWHEG+Pythia $\mathrm{tt}$ simulation at NLO in QCD for photons from the decay part of the process.
For the first time, correlations among mixed-order moments of two or three flow harmonics $-$($v_{n}^{k},v_{m}^{l}$) and ($v_{n}^{k},v_{m}^{l}, v_{p}^{q}$), with $k$, $l$, and $q$ denoting the respective orders$-$are measured in xenon-xenon (XeXe) collisions and compared with lead-lead (PbPb) results, providing a novel probe of collective behavior in heavy ion collisions. These measurements compare a nearly spherical, doubly-magic ${}^{208}$Pb nucleus to a triaxially deformed ${}^{129}$Xe nucleus, emphasizing the sensitivity to dynamic nuclear deformation. The dependence of these results ($v_{n}$, $n$ = 2, 3, 4) on the shape and size of the nuclear overlap region is studied. Comparisons between $v_{2}$, $v_{3}$, and $v_{4}$ demonstrate the importance of $v_{3}$ and $v_{4}$ in exploring the nonlinear hydrodynamic response of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) to the initial spatial anisotropy. The results constrain initial-state model parameters that influence the evolution of the QGP. The CMS detector was used to collect XeXe and PbPb data at nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energies of $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 5.44 and 5.36 TeV, respectively. Correlations are extracted using multiparticle mixed-harmonic cumulants (up to eight-particle cumulants) with charged particles in the pseudorapidity range $\lvertη\rvert$$\lt$ 2.4 and transverse momentum range 0.5 $\lt$$p_\mathrm{T}$$\lt$ 3 GeV/$c$.
Two-particle correlations v_{2}{2} as a function of centrality in XeXe and PbPb collisions and ratios of XeXe/PbPb.
Two-particle correlations v_{3}{2} as a function of centrality in XeXe and PbPb collisions and ratios of XeXe/PbPb.
v_{2}{4}/v_{2}{2} as a function of centrality in XeXe and PbPb collisions and ratios of XeXe/PbPb.
A search is presented for narrow resonances, with a mass between 0.6 and 1.8 TeV, decaying to pairs of jets, in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV. The search is performed using dijets that are reconstructed, selected, and recorded in a compact form by the high-level trigger in a technique referred to as "data scouting", from data collected in 2016$-$2018 corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 177 fb$^{-1}$. The dijet mass spectra are well described by a smooth parameterization, and no significant evidence for the production of new particles is observed. Model-independent upper limits are presented on the product of the cross section, branching fraction, and acceptance for the individual cases of narrow quark-quark, quark-gluon, and gluon-gluon resonances, and are compared to the predictions from a variety of models of narrow dijet resonance production. The upper limit on the coupling of a dark matter mediator to quarks is presented as a function of the mediator mass. The sensitivity of this search goes beyond what is expected from statistical scaling with the integrated luminosity alone, as a consequence of the use of fewer parameters in the background function within a more robust statistical procedure.
Observed differential dijet spectrum using the 2016 data.
Observed differential dijet spectrum using the 2017 data.
Observed differential dijet spectrum using the 2018 data.
The ratio between the B$_\mathrm{c}^+$$\to$ J/$ψ$$τ^+ν_τ$ and B$_\mathrm{c}^+$$\to$ J/$ψ$$μ^+ν_μ$ branching fractions is measured using a data sample of proton-proton collisions collected by CMS at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV in the years 2016$-$2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The J$/ψ$ meson is identified through its J$/ψ$$\to$$μ^+μ^-$ decay and the tau lepton is reconstructed in the hadronic three-prong final state. The measured ratio of branching fractions in this tau decay mode, $\mathcal{R}^\text{had}_{\mathrm{J}/ψ}$ = 1.04$_{-0.44}^{+0.50}$, is combined with the previous analysis based on the $τ^+$$\to$$μ^+ν_μ\barν_τ$ leptonic decay channel, leading to $\mathcal{R}_{\mathrm{J}/ψ}$ = 0.49 $\pm$ 0.26. As this result is consistent with the standard model prediction of 0.258 $\pm$ 0.004, no evidence of lepton flavor universality violation is found.
Measured R(J/psi) ratio
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.
This paper presents a combination of searches for the nonresonant production of Higgs boson pairs (HH) in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data set was collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC from 2016 to 2018 and corresponds to a total integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The observed (expected) upper limit on the inclusive HH production cross section relative to the standard model (SM) prediction is found to be 3.5 (2.5). Assuming all other Higgs boson couplings are equal to their SM values, the Higgs boson trilinear self-coupling modifier $κ_λ=λ_3/λ_{3}^\text{SM}$ is constrained in the range $-$1.35 $\leq$$κ_λ$$\leq$ 6.37 at 95% confidence level. Similarly, for the coupling modifier $κ_{2\mathrm{V}}$, which governs the interaction between two vector bosons and two Higgs bosons, we have excluded $κ_{2\mathrm{V}}$ = 0 at more than 5 standard deviations for all values of $κ_λ$. At 95% confidence level assuming other couplings are equal to their SM values, $κ_{2\mathrm{V}}$ is constrained in the range 0.64 $\leq$ $κ_{2\mathrm{V}}$ $\leq$ 1.40. This work also studies HH production in several new physics scenarios, using the Higgs effective field theory (HEFT) framework. The HEFT framework is further exploited to study various ultraviolet complete models with an extended Higgs sector and set constraints on specific parameters. An extrapolation of the results to the integrated luminosity expected after the high-luminosity upgrade of the LHC is reported as well.
Values of the effective Lagrangian couplings for the Higgs Effective field theory benchmarks proposed in Ref. [33].
Values of the effective Lagrangian couplings for the Higgs Effective field theory benchmarks proposed in Ref. [34].
Summary of results for the HH analyses included in this combination. The second column is the observed (expected) 95$\%$ CL upper limit on the inclusive signal strength $r$. The third (fourth) column is the allowed 68$\%$ CL interval for the coupling modifier $\kappa_\lambda$ ($\kappa _{2V}$). The last column indicates whether the analysis is included in the results using the HEFT parametrisation.
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.
A measurement is presented of the electroweak vector boson scattering production of ZV (V = W, Z) boson pairs associated with two jets in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$, were collected at the CERN LHC with the CMS detector during the 2016$-$2018 data-taking period. The analysis targets final states with a pair of isolated electrons or muons from Z boson decays and three or four jets, depending on the momentum of the vector boson that decays into quarks. Signal strength is measured for events characterized by a large invariant mass of two forward jets with a wide pseudorapidity gap between them. The electroweak production of ZV in association with two jets is measured with an observed (expected) significance of 1.3 (1.8) standard deviations. A combination of the analyses of ZV channel and the previously published WV channel in the lepton plus jets final state places constraints on effective field theory parameters that describe anomalous electroweak production of WW, WZ, and ZZ boson pairs in association with two jets. Several world best limits are set on anomalous quartic gauge couplings in terms of dimension-8 standard model effective field theory operators.
Distributions of DNN score for the data and post-fit backgrounds (stacked histograms), in the SRs of the ZV channel for the b tag (left) and the b veto (right) channels, for the resolved (merged) category in the first (second) row. The post-fit VBS EW ZV signal is shown overlaid as a red solid line. The overflow is included in the last bin. The lower panels show the ratios of the data to the pre-fit background prediction and post-fit background yield as red open squares and blue points, respectively. The gray band in the lower panels indicates the systematic component of the post-fit background uncertainty. The vertical bars on the data points represent statistical uncertainties. The last bin includes overflow.
Distributions of DNN score for the data and post-fit backgrounds (stacked histograms), in the SRs of the ZV channel for the b tag (left) and the b veto (right) channels, for the resolved (merged) category in the first (second) row. The post-fit VBS EW ZV signal is shown overlaid as a red solid line. The overflow is included in the last bin. The lower panels show the ratios of the data to the pre-fit background prediction and post-fit background yield as red open squares and blue points, respectively. The gray band in the lower panels indicates the systematic component of the post-fit background uncertainty. The vertical bars on the data points represent statistical uncertainties. The last bin includes overflow.
Distributions of DNN score for the data and post-fit backgrounds (stacked histograms), in the SRs of the ZV channel for the b tag (left) and the b veto (right) channels, for the resolved (merged) category in the first (second) row. The post-fit VBS EW ZV signal is shown overlaid as a red solid line. The overflow is included in the last bin. The lower panels show the ratios of the data to the pre-fit background prediction and post-fit background yield as red open squares and blue points, respectively. The gray band in the lower panels indicates the systematic component of the post-fit background uncertainty. The vertical bars on the data points represent statistical uncertainties. The last bin includes overflow.
A search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying to a charm quark-antiquark pair, H $\to$$\mathrm{c\bar{c}}$, produced in association with a top quark-antiquark pair ($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$H) is presented. The search is performed with data from proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Advanced machine learning techniques are employed for jet flavor identification and event classification. The Higgs boson decay to a bottom quark-antiquark pair is measured simultaneously and the observed $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$H bb event rate relative to the standard model expectation is 0.91$\pm^{+0.26}_{-0.22}$. The observed (expected) upper limit on the product of production cross section and branching fraction $σ$($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$H)$\mathcal{B}$(H $\to$$\mathrm{c\bar{c}}$) is 0.11 (0.13$\pm^{+0.06}_{-0.04}$) pb at 95% confidence level, corresponding to 7.8 (8.7$\pm^{+4.0}_{-2.6}$) times the standard model prediction. When combined with the previous search for H $\to$ $\mathrm{c\bar{c}}$ via associated production with a W or Z boson, the observed (expected) 95% confidence interval on the Higgs-charm Yukawa coupling modifier, $κ_\mathrm{c}$, is $\lvert{κ_\mathrm{c}}\rvert$ $\lt$ 3.5 (2.7), the most stringent constraint to date.
Upper limits on the signal strength for $\text{H}\to\text{c}\overline{\text{c}}$ decays with respect to the standard model expectation of unity.
Upper limits on the signal strength for $\text{t}\overline{\text{t}}\text{H}(\text{H}\to\text{c}\overline{\text{c}})$ decays with respect to the standard model expectation of unity.
Signal strength and significance for $\text{t}\overline{\text{t}}\text{H}(\text{H}\to\text{b}\overline{\text{b}})$ decays with respect to the standard model expectation of unity.
This paper presents a search for new physics through the process where a new massive particle, X, decays into a Higgs boson and a second particle, Y. The Higgs boson subsequently decays into a bottom quark-antiquark pair, reconstructed as a single large-radius jet. The decay products of Y are also assumed to produce a single large-radius jet. The identification of the Y particle is enhanced by computing the anomaly score of its candidate jet using an autoencoder, which measures deviations from typical QCD multijet jets. This allows a simultaneous search for multiple Y decay scenarios within a single analysis. In the main benchmark process, Y is a scalar particle that decays into W$^+$W$^-$. Two other benchmark processes are also considered, where Y is a scalar particle decaying into a light quark-antiquark pair, or into a top quark-antiquark pair. The last benchmark considers Y as a hadronically decaying top quark, arising from the decay of a vector-like quark into a top quark and a Higgs boson. Data recorded by the CMS experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV in 2016$-$2018, and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$, are analyzed. No significant excess is observed, and upper limits on the benchmark signal cross section for various masses of X and Y, at 95% confidence level, are placed.
The $m_{jj}$ and $m_{J}$ projections for the number of observed events (black markers) compared with the backgrounds estimated in the fit to the data (filled histograms) in the CR. Pass and Fail categories are shown. The high level of agreement between the model and the data in the Fail region is due to the nature of the background estimate. The lower panels show the ``Pull'' defined as $(\text{observed events}{-}\text{expected events})/\sqrt{\smash[b]{\sigma_\text{obs}^{2} + \sigma_\text{exp}^{2}}}$, where $\sigma_\text{obs}$ and $\sigma_\text{exp}$ are the total uncertainties in the observation and the background estimation, respectively.
The $m_{jj}$ and $m_{J}$ projections for the number of observed events (black markers) compared with the backgrounds estimated in the fit to the data (filled histograms) in the CR. Pass and Fail categories are shown. The high level of agreement between the model and the data in the Fail region is due to the nature of the background estimate. The lower panels show the ``Pull'' defined as $(\text{observed events}{-}\text{expected events})/\sqrt{\smash[b]{\sigma_\text{obs}^{2} + \sigma_\text{exp}^{2}}}$, where $\sigma_\text{obs}$ and $\sigma_\text{exp}$ are the total uncertainties in the observation and the background estimation, respectively.
The $m_{jj}$ and $m_{J}$ projections for the number of observed events (black markers) compared with the backgrounds estimated in the fit to the data (filled histograms) in the CR. Pass and Fail categories are shown. The high level of agreement between the model and the data in the Fail region is due to the nature of the background estimate. The lower panels show the ``Pull'' defined as $(\text{observed events}{-}\text{expected events})/\sqrt{\smash[b]{\sigma_\text{obs}^{2} + \sigma_\text{exp}^{2}}}$, where $\sigma_\text{obs}$ and $\sigma_\text{exp}$ are the total uncertainties in the observation and the background estimation, respectively.
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