A search for heavy resonances decaying to a pair of Z bosons is performed using data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. Events are selected by requiring two oppositely charged leptons (electrons or muons), consistent with the decay of a Z boson, and large missing transverse momentum, which is interpreted as arising from the decay of a second Z boson to two neutrinos. The analysis uses data from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The hypothesis of a spin-2 bulk graviton (X) decaying to a pair of Z bosons is examined for 600 $\le m_\mathrm{X} \le$ 2500 GeV and upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the product of the production cross section and branching fraction of X $\to$ ZZ ranging from 100 to 4 fb. For bulk graviton models characterized by a curvature scale parameter $\tilde{k} =$ 0.5 in the extra dimension, the region $m_\mathrm{X} < $ 800 GeV is excluded, providing the most stringent limit reported to date. Variations of the model considering the possibility of a wide resonance produced exclusively via gluon-gluon fusion or $\mathrm{q}\overline{\mathrm{q}}$ annihilation are also examined.
The $p_T^Z$ distributions for electron channel comparing the data and background model with systematic uncertainty.
The $p_T^Z$ distributions for muon channel comparing the data and background model with systematic uncertainty.
The $p_T ^{miss}$ distributions for electron channel comparing the data and background model with systematic uncertainty.
A measurement of the electroweak (EW) production of two jets in association with a Z boson in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = $ 13 TeV is presented, based on data recorded in 2016 by the CMS experiment at the LHC corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The measurement is performed in the $\ell\ell\mathrm{jj}$ final state with $\ell$ including electrons and muons, and the jets j corresponding to the quarks produced in the hard interaction. The measured cross section in a kinematic region defined by invariant masses $m_{\ell\ell} > $ 50 GeV, $m_{\mathrm{jj}} > $ 120 GeV, and transverse momenta $p_{\mathrm{T j}} > $ 25 GeV is $\sigma_\mathrm{EW}(\ell\ell\mathrm{jj})= $ 552 $\pm$ 19 (stat) $\pm$ 55 (syst) fb, in agreement with leading-order standard model predictions. The final state is also used to perform a search for anomalous trilinear gauge couplings. No evidence is found and limits on anomalous trilinear gauge couplings associated with dimension-six operators are given in the framework of an effective field theory. The corresponding 95% confidence level intervals are $-2.6 < c_{WWW}/\Lambda^2 < 2.6 $ TeV$^{-2}$ and $-8.4 < c_{W}/\Lambda^2 < 10.1 $ TeV$^{-2}$. The additional jet activity of events in a signal-enriched region is also studied, and the measurements are in agreement with predictions.
One-dimensional limits on the ATGC EFT parameters at 95% CL
One-dimensional limits on the ATGC effective Lagrangian (LEP parametrization) parameters at 95% CL
The best fit signal strength for dielectron, dimuon and combined dilepton channels. The measurement is performed in a kinematic region defined by invariant masses $m_{ll}~>~50$ GeV, $m_{jj}~>~120$ GeV, and transverse momenta $p_{Tj}~>~25$ GeV, where $l$ denotes electrons and muons, and $j$ - quarks produced in the hard interaction.
A search is presented for the associated production of a Higgs boson with a top quark pair in the all-jet final state. Events containing seven or more jets are selected from a sample of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV collected with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2016, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. To separate the $\mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}$H signal from the irreducible $\mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}+\mathrm{b}\overline{\mathrm{b}}$ background, the analysis assigns leading order matrix element signal and background probability densities to each event. A likelihood-ratio statistic based on these probability densities is used to extract the signal. The results are provided in terms of an observed $\mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}$H signal strength relative to the standard model production cross section $\mu=\sigma/\sigma_\mathrm{SM}$, assuming a Higgs boson mass of 125 GeV. The best fit value is $\hat{\mu} =$ 0.9 $\pm$ 0.7 (stat) $\pm$ 1.3 (syst) = 0.9 $\pm$ 1.5 (tot), and the observed and expected upper limits are, respectively, $\mu <$ 3.8 and $<$ 3.1 at 95% confidence levels.
Best fit values in the signal strength modifiers (mu), and their 68% CL intervals as split into the statistical and systematic components for each category and combinations of categories.
Values of log10(S/B), where S and B indicate the respective bin-by-bin yields of the signal and background expected in the MEM discriminant distributions, obtained from a combined fit with the constraint in the cross section of mu = 1.
The angular distribution of the flavor-changing neutral current decay B$^+$$\to$ K$^+\mu^+\mu^-$ is studied in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. The analysis is based on data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.5 fb$^{-1}$. The forward-backward asymmetry $A_{\mathrm{FB}}$ of the dimuon system and the contribution $F_{\mathrm{H}}$ from the pseudoscalar, scalar, and tensor amplitudes to the decay width are measured as a function of the dimuon mass squared. The measurements are consistent with the standard model expectations.
Figure 5a. Results of the $A_{FB}$ measurements in ranges of q2. 0 ≤ $F_{H}$ ≤ 3 and |$A_{FB}$| ≤ min(1, $F_{H}$/2).
Figure 5b. Results of the $F_{H}$ measurements in ranges of q2. 0 ≤ $F_{H}$ ≤ 3 and |$A_{FB}$| ≤ min(1, $F_{H}$/2).
Table 2. Results of the fit for each q2 range, together with several SM predictions. The inclusive $q^{2}$ = 1.00–22.00 $GeV^{2}$ range in the bottom line does not include events from the J/ψ and ψ(2S) resonance regions.
A search for a Higgs boson decaying into a pair of electrons or muons and a photon is described. Higgs boson decays to a Z boson and a photon (H $\to$ Z$\gamma\to\ell\ell\gamma$, $\ell =$ e or $\mu$), or to two photons, one of which has an internal conversion into a muon pair (H $\to\gamma^{*}\gamma\to\mu\mu\gamma$) were considered. The analysis is performed using a data set recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. No significant excess above the background prediction has been found. Limits are set on the cross section for a standard model Higgs boson decaying to opposite-sign electron or muon pairs and a photon. The observed limits on cross section times the corresponding branching fractions vary between 1.4 and 4.0 (6.1 and 11.4) times the standard model cross section for H $\to\gamma^{*}\gamma\to\mu\mu\gamma$ (H $\to$ Z$\gamma\to\ell\ell\gamma$) in the 120-130 GeV mass range of the $\ell\ell\gamma$ system. The H $\to\gamma^*\gamma\to\mu\mu\gamma$ and H $\to$ Z$\gamma\to\ell\ell\gamma$ analyses are combined for $m_\mathrm{H} =$ 125 GeV, obtaining an observed (expected) 95% confidence level upper limit of 3.9 (2.0) times the standard model cross section.
Exclusion limit, at 95% CL, on the cross section of the $H \rightarrow \gamma^{*}\gamma \rightarrow \mu\mu\gamma$ process relative to the SM prediction, as a function of the Higgs boson mass.
Exclusion limit, at 95% CL, on the cross section of the $H \rightarrow Z\gamma \rightarrow ll\gamma$ process relative to the SM prediction, as a function of the Higgs boson mass.
Exclusion limit, at 95% CL, on the cross section of the $H \rightarrow ll\gamma$ relative to the SM prediction, for an SM Higgs boson of $m_{H} = 125$ GeV. The upper limits of each analysis category, as well as their combinations, are shown.
A search for a heavy resonance decaying into a top quark and antiquark ($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$) pair is performed using proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV. The search uses the data set collected with the CMS detector in 2016, which corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The analysis considers three exclusive final states and uses reconstruction techniques that are optimized for top quarks with high Lorentz boosts, which requires the use of nonisolated leptons and jet substructure techniques. No significant excess of events relative to the expected yield from standard model processes is observed. Upper limits on the production cross section of heavy resonances decaying to a $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ pair are calculated. Limits are derived for a leptophobic topcolor Z' resonance with widths of 1, 10, and 30%, relative to the mass of the resonance, and exclude masses up to 3.80, 5.25, and 6.65 TeV, respectively. Kaluza-Klein excitations of the gluon in the Randall-Sundrum model are excluded up to 4.55 TeV. To date, these are the most stringent limits on $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ resonances.
Distributions of $\Delta R_{sum}$ in $\mu\mu$, $ee$, and $e\mu$ events. The contribution expected from a 4 TeV $Z^{\prime}$ boson, with a relative width of $1\%$, is shown normalized to a cross section of 25 pb.
Distributions of $\Delta R_{sum}$ in $\mu\mu$, $ee$, and $e\mu$ events. The contribution expected from a 4 TeV $Z^{\prime}$ boson, with a relative width of $1\%$, is shown normalized to a cross section of 25 pb.
Distributions of $\Delta R_{sum}$ in $\mu\mu$, $ee$, and $e\mu$ events. The contribution expected from a 4 TeV $Z^{\prime}$ boson, with a relative width of $1\%$, is shown normalized to a cross section of 25 pb.
A search is presented for decays of Z and Higgs bosons to a J$/\psi$ meson and a photon, with the subsequent decay of the J$/\psi$ to $\mu^+\mu^-$. The analysis uses data from proton-proton collisions with an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. The observed limit on the Z $\to$ J$/\psi \gamma$ decay branching fraction, assuming that the J$/\psi$ meson is produced unpolarized, is 1.4 $\times$ 10$^{-6}$ at 95% confidence level, which corresponds to a rate higher than expected in the standard model by a factor of 15. For extreme-polarization scenarios, the observed limit changes from -13.6 to +8.6% with respect to the unpolarized scenario. The observed upper limit on the branching fraction for H $\to$ J$/\psi \gamma$ where the J$/\psi$ meson is assumed to be transversely polarized is 7.6 $\times$ 10$^{-4}$, a factor of 260 larger than the standard model prediction. The results for the Higgs boson are combined with previous data from proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 8 TeV to produce an observed upper limit on the branching fraction for H $\to$ J$/\psi \gamma$ that is a factor of 220 larger than the standard model value.
Upper observed and expected limits on branching fraction of $Z (H)\rightarrow J/\psi\gamma$ decay of the $Z (H)$ boson.
A search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson to a pair of light pseudoscalar particles a$_1$ is performed under the hypothesis that one of the pseudoscalars decays to a pair of opposite sign muons and the other decays to b$\overline{\mathrm{b}}$. Such signatures are predicted in a number of extensions of the standard model (SM), including next-to-minimal supersymmetry and two-Higgs-doublet models with an additional scalar singlet. The results are based on a data set of proton-proton collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$, accumulated with the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC in 2016 at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. No statistically significant excess is observed with respect to the SM backgrounds in the search region for pseudoscalar masses from 20 GeV to half of the Higgs boson mass. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the product of the production cross section and branching fraction, $\sigma_{\mathrm{h}}\mathcal{B}$(h $\to$ a$_1$ a$_1$ $\to$ $\mu^+\mu^-\mathrm{b}\bar{\mathrm{b}}$), ranging from 5 to 33 fb, depending on the pseudoscalar mass. Corresponding limits on the branching fraction, assuming the SM prediction for $\sigma_{\mathrm{h}}$, are (1$-$7)$\times$ 10$^{-4}$.
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on the product of the Higgs boson production cross section and B(h->aa->mumubb)
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on the branching fraction of (h->aa->mumubb)
Differential Higgs boson (H) production cross sections are sensitive probes for physics beyond the standard model. New physics may contribute in the gluon-gluon fusion loop, the dominant Higgs boson production mechanism at the LHC, and manifest itself through deviations from the distributions predicted by the standard model. Combined spectra for the H $\to$ $\gamma\gamma$, H $\to$ ZZ, and H $\to$ $\mathrm{b\overline{b}}$ decay channels and the inclusive Higgs boson production cross section are presented, based on proton-proton collision data recorded with the CMS detector at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The transverse momentum spectrum is used to place limits on the Higgs boson couplings to the top, bottom, and charm quarks, as well as its direct coupling to the gluon field. No significant deviations from the standard model are observed in any differential distribution. The measured total cross section is 61.1 $\pm$ 6.0 (stat) $\pm$ 3.7 (syst) pb, and the precision of the measurement of the differential cross section of the Higgs boson transverse momentum is improved by about 15% with respect to the H $\to$ $\gamma\gamma$ channel alone.
Combined Higgs boson transverse momentum spectrum
Higgs boson transverse momentum spectrum, $H\rightarrow\gamma\gamma$
Higgs boson transverse momentum spectrum, $H\rightarrow ZZ$
A measurement is presented of electroweak (EW) production of a W boson in association with two jets in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV. The data sample was recorded by the CMS Collaboration at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The measurement is performed for the $\ell\nu$jj final state (with $\ell\nu$ indicating a lepton-neutrino pair, and j representing the quarks produced in the hard interaction) in a kinematic region defined by invariant mass $m_\mathrm{jj}$ $>$ 120 GeV and transverse momenta $p_\mathrm{T j}$ $>$ 25 GeV. The cross section of the process is measured in the electron and muon channels yielding $\sigma_\mathrm{EW}$(Wjj) = 6.23 $\pm$ 0.12 (stat) $\pm$ 0.61 (syst) pb per channel, in agreement with leading-order standard model predictions. The additional hadronic activity of events in a signal-enriched region is studied, and the measurements are compared with predictions. The final state is also used to perform a search for anomalous trilinear gauge couplings. Limits on anomalous trilinear gauge couplings associated with dimension-six operators are given in the framework of an effective field theory. The corresponding 95% confidence level intervals are $-$2.3 $<$ $c_{\mathrm{WWW}}/\Lambda^2$ $<$ 2.5 TeV$^{-2}$, $-$8.8 $<$ $c_{\mathrm{W}}/\Lambda^2$ $<$ 16 TeV$^{-2}$, and $-$45 $<$ $c_{\mathrm{B}}/\Lambda^2$ $<$ 46 TeV$^{-2}$. These results are combined with the CMS EW Zjj analysis, yielding the constraint on the $c_{\mathrm{WWW}}$ coupling: $-$1.8 $<$ $c_{\mathrm{WWW}}/\Lambda^2$ $<$ 2.0 TeV$^{-2}$.
Transformed BDT output distribution after the event preselection, in the muon channel.
Transformed BDT output distribution after the event preselection, in the electron channel.
Muon pT in data and SM backgrounds, and various aTGC scenarios after the event preselection, in the muon channel.
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