In July 2012, the ATLAS and CMS Collaborations at the CERN Large Hadron Collider announced the observation of a Higgs boson at a mass of around 125 GeV. Ten years later, and with the data corresponding to the production of 30 times larger number of Higgs bosons, we have learnt much more about the properties of the Higgs boson. The CMS experiment has observed the Higgs boson in numerous fermionic and bosonic decay channels, established its spin-parity quantum numbers, determined its mass and measured its production cross sections in various modes. Here the CMS Collaboration reports the most up-to-date combination of results on the properties of the Higgs boson, including the most stringent limit on the cross section for the production of a pair of Higgs bosons, on the basis of data from proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. Within the uncertainties, all these observations are compatible with the predictions of the standard model of elementary particle physics. Much evidence points to the fact that the standard model is a low-energy approximation of a more comprehensive theory. Several of the standard model issues originate in the sector of Higgs boson physics. An order of magnitude larger number of Higgs bosons, expected to be examined over the next fifteen years, will help deepen our understanding of this crucial sector.
Inclusive signal strength modifiers $\mu$.
Signal strength modifiers per production mode $\mu_i$.
Signal strength modifiers per decay mode $\mu^f$.
A search for pairs of dijet resonances with the same mass is conducted in final states with at least four jets. Results are presented separately for the case where the four jet production proceeds via an intermediate resonant state and for nonresonant production. The search uses a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the CMS detector in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV. Model-independent limits, at 95% confidence level, are reported on the production cross section of four-jet and dijet resonances. These first LHC limits on resonant pair production of dijet resonances via high mass intermediate states are applied to a signal model of diquarks that decay into pairs of vector-like quarks, excluding diquark masses below 7.6 TeV for a particular model scenario. There are two events in the tails of the distributions, each with a four-jet mass of 8 TeV and an average dijet mass of 2 TeV, resulting in local and global significances of 3.9 and 1.6 standard deviations, respectively, if interpreted as a signal. The nonresonant search excludes pair production of top squarks with masses between 0.50 TeV to 0.77 TeV, with the exception of a small interval between 0.52 and 0.58 TeV, for supersymmetric $R$-parity-violating decays to quark pairs, significantly extending previous limits. Here, the most significant excess above the predicted background occurs at an average dijet mass of 0.95 TeV, for which the local and global significances are 3.6 and 2.5 standard deviations, respectively.
The observed 95% CL upper limits on the product of the cross section, branching fraction, and acceptance for resonant production of paired dijet resonances decaying to a quark-gluon pair, with $M(X)/M(Y) = 0.11$. The corresponding expected limits and their variations at the 1 and 2 standard deviation levels are also shown. Limits are compared to predictions for a scalar diquark with couplings to pairs of up quarks, $y_{uu}$ = 0.4, and to pairs of vector-like quarks, $y_{χ}$ = 0.6.
The observed 95% CL upper limits on the product of the cross section, branching fraction, and acceptance for resonant production of paired dijet resonances decaying to a quark-gluon pair, with $M(X)/M(Y) = 0.13$. The corresponding expected limits and their variations at the 1 and 2 standard deviation levels are also shown. Limits are compared to predictions for a scalar diquark with couplings to pairs of up quarks, $y_{uu}$ = 0.4, and to pairs of vector-like quarks, $y_{χ}$ = 0.6.
The observed 95% CL upper limits on the product of the cross section, branching fraction, and acceptance for resonant production of paired dijet resonances decaying to a quark-gluon pair, with $M(X)/M(Y) = 0.15$. The corresponding expected limits and their variations at the 1 and 2 standard deviation levels are also shown. Limits are compared to predictions for a scalar diquark with couplings to pairs of up quarks, $y_{uu}$ = 0.4, and to pairs of vector-like quarks, $y_{χ}$ = 0.6.
A search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying to a charm quark-antiquark pair, H $\to$$\mathrm{c\bar{c}}$, produced in association with a leptonically decaying V (W or Z) boson is presented. The search is performed with proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Novel charm jet identification and analysis methods using machine learning techniques are employed. The analysis is validated by searching for Z $\to$$\mathrm{c\bar{c}}$ in VZ events, leading to its first observation at a hadron collider with a significance of 5.7 standard deviations. The observed (expected) upper limit on $\sigma$(VH)$ \mathcal{B}$(H $\to$$\mathrm{c\bar{c}}$) is 0.94 (0.50 $^{+0.22}_{-0.15}$) pb at 95% confidence level (CL), corresponding to 14 (7.6 $^{+3.4}_{-2.3}$) times the standard model prediction. For the Higgs-charm Yukawa coupling modifier, $\kappa_\mathrm{c}$, the observed (expected) 95% CL interval is 1.1 $\lt$ $\vert\kappa_\mathrm{C}\vert$ $\lt$ 5.5 ($\vert\kappa_\mathrm{c}\vert$ $\lt$ 3.4), the most stringent constraint to date.
Signal strength modifier $\mu_{VZ(Z\to c \bar{c})}$, where V = W or Z.
Signal strength modifiers $\mu_{VH(H\to c \bar{c})}$, where V = W or Z.
Upper limits at 95% CL on the signal strength modifier $\mu_{VH(H\to c \bar{c})}$, per analysis channel and combined.
The first search exploiting the vector boson fusion process to probe heavy Majorana neutrinos and the Weinberg operator at the LHC is presented. The search is performed in the same-sign dimuon final state using a proton-proton collision data set recorded at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, collected with the CMS detector and corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The results are found to agree with the predictions of the standard model. For heavy Majorana neutrinos, constraints on the squared mixing element between the muon and the heavy neutrino are derived in the heavy neutrino mass range 50 GeV-25 TeV; for masses above 650 GeV these are the most stringent constraints from searches at the LHC to date. A first test of the Weinberg operator at colliders provides an observed upper limit at 95% confidence level on the effective $\mu\mu$ Majorana neutrino mass of 10.8 GeV.
Distribution of $H_T / p_{T}^{\mu_{1}}$ for signals, backgrounds and data. The bins are used in the simultaneous fit. The bins 1-4 show the events in the high-$\Delta\Phi_{ll}$ signal region (SR), the bins 5-7 show the events in the low-$\Delta\Phi_{ll}$ SR, the bins 8-11 show the events in the low-$p_T^{miss}$ SR, the bins 12-15 show the events in the high-$p_T^{miss}$ SR, the bins 16-19 show the events in the b-tagged control region (CR), the bins 20-23 show the events in the high-$\Delta\Phi_{ll}$ and $p_T^{miss}$ CR, and the bins 24-26 show the events in the WZ CR, and the bins 31-33 show the events in the WZb CR. The predicted background yields are shown with their best fit normalizations from the simultaneous fit for the signal+background hypothesis. The signal yields are their expected yields from simulation, which are scaled by the some fators as from the plots. Vertical bars on data points represent the statistical uncertainty in the data. Vertical bars on total backgrounds represent the statistical+systematic uncertainties. Vertical bars on the signals represent the statistical+systematic uncertainties. The histograms for TVX backgrounds include the contributions from ttV and tZq processes. The histograms for other backgrounds include the contributions from double parton scattering, VVV. The overflow is included in the last bin in each corresponding region.
Exclusion limits on the squared mixing element between the muon and the heavy Majorana neutrino, as a function of the mass of the heavy Majorana neutrino.
Distribution of $H_T / p_{T}^{\mu_{1}}$ for signals, backgrounds and data. The bins are used in the simultaneous fit. The bins 1-4 show the events in the high-$\Delta\Phi_{ll}$ signal region (SR), the bins 5-7 show the events in the low-$\Delta\Phi_{ll}$ SR, the bins 8-11 show the events in the low-$p_T^{miss}$ SR, the bins 12-15 show the events in the high-$p_T^{miss}$ SR, the bins 16-19 show the events in the b-tagged control region (CR), the bins 20-23 show the events in the high-$\Delta\Phi_{ll}$ and $p_T^{miss}$ CR, and the bins 24-26 show the events in the WZ CR, and the bins 31-33 show the events in the WZb CR. The predicted background yields are the expected yields. The signal yields are their expected yields from simulation, which are scaled by the some fators as from the plots. Vertical bars on data points represent the statistical uncertainty in the data. Vertical bars on total backgrounds represent the statistical+systematic uncertainties. Vertical bars on the signals represent the statistical+systematic uncertainties. The histograms for TVX backgrounds include the contributions from ttV and tZq processes. The histograms for other backgrounds include the contributions from double parton scattering, VVV. The overflow is included in the last bin in each corresponding region.
Production cross sections of the standard model Higgs boson decaying to a pair of W bosons are measured in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The analysis targets Higgs bosons produced via gluon fusion, vector boson fusion, and in association with a W or Z boson. Candidate events are required to have at least two charged leptons and moderate missing transverse momentum, targeting events with at least one leptonically decaying W boson originating from the Higgs boson. Results are presented in the form of inclusive and differential cross sections in the simplified template cross section framework, as well as couplings of the Higgs boson to vector bosons and fermions. The data set collected by the CMS detector during 2016-2018 is used, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The signal strength modifier $\mu$, defined as the ratio of the observed production rate in a given decay channel to the standard model expectation, is measured to be $\mu$ = 0.95 $^{+0.10}_{-0.09}$. All results are found to be compatible with the standard model within the uncertainties.
Results of likelihood scans for the signal strength modifiers corresponding to the four main SM H boson production mechanisms. The uncertainties, corresponding to one standard deviation confidence intervals, include both statistical and systematic sources. The additional breakdown of the uncertainties into their separate statistical and systematic contributions is also shown
Correlation matrix of the signal strength modifiers corresponding to the four main SM H boson production mechanisms.
Profile likelihood as a function of the overall HWW signal strength modifier, considering all uncertainties
A search for the nonresonant production of Higgs boson pairs (HH) via gluon-gluon and vector boson fusion processes in final states with two bottom quarks and two tau leptons is presented. The search uses data from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Events in which at least one tau lepton decays hadronically are considered and multiple machine learning techniques are used to identify and extract the signal. The data are found to be consistent, within uncertainties, with the standard model (SM) predictions. Upper limits on the HH production cross section are set to constrain the parameter space for anomalous Higgs boson couplings. The observed (expected) upper limit at 95% confidence level corresponds to 3.3 (5.2) times the SM prediction for the inclusive HH cross section and to 124 (154) times the SM prediction for the vector boson fusion HH cross section. At 95% confidence level, the Higgs field self-coupling is constrained to be within -1.7 and 8.7 times the SM expectation, and the coupling of two Higgs bosons to two vector bosons is constrained to be within -0.4 and 2.6 times the SM expectation.
Exclusion limits on the product of the production cross section and the branching fraction for non resonant SM-like HH decaying to 4lbb, as a function of the klamda hypothesis. The green and yellow bands represent, respectively, the one and two standard deviation (s.d.) quantiles around the expected limit.
Upper limit on the signal strength at 95% CL for each year and for their combination. The green and yellow bands represent, respectively, the one and two standard deviation (s.d.) quantiles around the expected limit.
The first observation of the production of W$^\pm$W$^\pm$ bosons from double parton scattering processes using same-sign electron-muon and dimuon events in proton-proton collisions is reported. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV using the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. Multivariate discriminants are used to distinguish the signal process from the main backgrounds. A binned maximum likelihood fit is performed to extract the signal cross section. The measured cross section for production of same-sign W bosons decaying leptonically is 80.7 $\pm$ 11.2 (stat) $^{+9.5}_{-8.6}$ (syst) $\pm$ 12.1 (model) fb, whereas the measured fiducial cross section is 6.28 $\pm$ 0.81 (stat) $\pm$ 0.69 (syst) $\pm$ 0.37 (model) fb. The observed significance of the signal is 6.2 standard deviations above the background-only hypothesis.
Measured values of inclusive and fiducial cross section for same-sign WW bosons via DPS
Effective DPS cross section paramater
A precise measurement of the invisible width of the Z boson produced in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV is presented using data recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.3 fb$^{-1}$. The result is obtained from a simultaneous fit to kinematic distributions for two data samples of Z boson plus jets: one dominated by Z boson decays to invisible particles and the other by Z boson decays to muon and electron pairs. The invisible width is measured to be 523 $\pm$ 3 (stat) $\pm$ 16 (syst) MeV. This result is the first precise measurement of the invisible width of the Z boson at a hadron collider, and is the single most precise direct measurement to date, competitive with the combined result of the direct measurements from the LEP experiments.
Measured Z invisible width.
Systematic uncertainties on Z invisible width.
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 $m_{\mathrm{SUSY}}=1200\;\mathrm{GeV}$.
A search for exclusive two-photon production via photon exchange in proton-proton collisions, pp $\to$ p$\gamma\gamma$p with intact protons, is presented. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 9.4 fb$^{-1}$ collected in 2016 using the CMS and TOTEM detectors at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC. Events are selected with a diphoton invariant mass above 350 GeV and with both protons intact in the final state, to reduce backgrounds from strong interactions. The events of interest are those where the invariant mass and rapidity calculated from the momentum losses of the forward-moving protons matches the mass and rapidity of the central, two-photon system. No events are found that satisfy this condition. Interpreting this result in an effective dimension-8 extension of the standard model, the first limits are set on the two anomalous four-photon coupling parameters. If the other parameter is constrained to its standard model value, the limits at 95% CL are $\lvert\zeta_1\rvert$ $\lt$ 2.9 $\times$ 10$^{-13}$ GeV$^{-4}$ and $\lvert\zeta_2\rvert$ $\lt$ 6.0 $\times$ 10$^{-13}$ GeV$^{-4}$.
Cut flow for the diphoton selection stages defined in the text (signal contribution is magnified by a factor 5000).
Cut flow for the diphoton selection stages defined in the text (signal contribution is magnified by a factor 5000).
Invariant mass distribution of the diphoton pairs for the elastic selection region with events satisfying a < 0.005 (signal contribution is magnified by a factor 5000).
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