Combined ATLAS and CMS measurements of the Higgs boson production and decay rates, as well as constraints on its couplings to vector bosons and fermions, are presented. The combination is based on the analysis of five production processes, namely gluon fusion, vector boson fusion, and associated production with a $W$ or a $Z$ boson or a pair of top quarks, and of the six decay modes $H \to ZZ, WW$, $\gamma\gamma, \tau\tau, bb$, and $\mu\mu$. All results are reported assuming a value of 125.09 GeV for the Higgs boson mass, the result of the combined measurement by the ATLAS and CMS experiments. The analysis uses the CERN LHC proton--proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS and CMS experiments in 2011 and 2012, corresponding to integrated luminosities per experiment of approximately 5 fb$^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV and 20 fb$^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV. The Higgs boson production and decay rates measured by the two experiments are combined within the context of three generic parameterisations: two based on cross sections and branching fractions, and one on ratios of coupling modifiers. Several interpretations of the measurements with more model-dependent parameterisations are also given. The combined signal yield relative to the Standard Model prediction is measured to be 1.09 $\pm$ 0.11. The combined measurements lead to observed significances for the vector boson fusion production process and for the $H \to \tau\tau$ decay of $5.4$ and $5.5$ standard deviations, respectively. The data are consistent with the Standard Model predictions for all parameterisations considered.
Best fit values of $\sigma_i \cdot \mathrm{B}^f$ for each specific channel $i \to H\to f$, as obtained from the generic parameterisation with 23 parameters for the combination of the ATLAS and CMS measurements, using the $\sqrt{s}$=7 and 8 TeV data. The cross sections are given for $\sqrt{s}$=8 TeV, assuming the SM values for $\sigma_i(7 \mathrm{TeV})/\sigma_i(8 \mathrm{TeV})$. The results are shown together with their total uncertainties and their breakdown into statistical and systematic components. The missing values are either not measured with a meaningful precision and therefore not quoted, in the case of the $H\to ZZ$ decay channel for the $WH$, $ZH$, and $ttH$ production processes, or not measured at all and therefore fixed to their corresponding SM predictions, in the case of the $H\to bb$ decay mode for the $gg\mathrm{F}$ and VBF production processes.
Best fit values of $\sigma_i \cdot \mathrm{B}^f$ relative to their SM prediction for each specific channel $i \to H\to f$, as obtained from the generic parameterisation with 23 parameters for the combination of the ATLAS and CMS measurements, using the $\sqrt{s}$=7 and 8 TeV data. The results are shown together with their total uncertainties and their breakdown into statistical and systematic components. The missing values are either not measured with a meaningful precision and therefore not quoted, in the case of the $H\to ZZ$ decay channel for the $WH$, $ZH$, and $ttH$ production processes, or not measured at all and therefore fixed to their corresponding SM predictions, in the case of the $H\to bb$ decay mode for the $gg\mathrm{F}$ and VBF production processes.
Best fit values of $\sigma(gg\to H\to ZZ)$, $\sigma_i/\sigma_{gg\mathrm{F}}$, and $\mathrm{B}^f/\mathrm{B}^{ZZ}$ from the combined analysis of the $\sqrt{s}$=7 and 8 TeV data. The values involving cross sections are given for $\sqrt{s}$=8 TeV, assuming the SM values for $\sigma_i(7 \mathrm{TeV})/\sigma_i(8 \mathrm{TeV})$. The results are shown for the combination of ATLAS and CMS, and also separately for each experiment, together with their total uncertainties and their breakdown into the four components described in the text. The expected uncertainties in the measurements are also shown.
The first evidence for the Higgs boson decay to a $Z$ boson and a photon is presented, with a statistical significance of 3.4 standard deviations. The result is derived from a combined analysis of the searches performed by the ATLAS and CMS Collaborations with proton-proton collision data sets collected at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) from 2015 to 2018. These correspond to integrated luminosities of around 140 fb$^{-1}$ for each experiment, at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The measured signal yield is $2.2\pm0.7$ times the Standard Model prediction, and agrees with the theoretical expectation within 1.9 standard deviations.
The negative profile log-likelihood test statistic, where $\Lambda$ represents the likelihood ratio, as a function of the signal strength $\mu$ derived from the ATLAS data, the CMS data, and the combined result.
A combination of measurements of the inclusive top-quark pair production cross-section performed by ATLAS and CMS in proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV at the LHC is presented. The cross-sections are obtained using top-quark pair decays with an opposite-charge electron-muon pair in the final state and with data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 5 fb$^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV and about 20 fb$^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV for each experiment. The combined cross-sections are determined to be $178.5 \pm 4.7$ pb at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV and $243.3^{+6.0}_{-5.9}$ pb at $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV with a correlation of 0.41, using a reference top-quark mass value of 172.5 GeV. The ratio of the combined cross-sections is determined to be $R_{8/7}= 1.363\pm 0.032$. The combined measured cross-sections and their ratio agree well with theory calculations using several parton distribution function (PDF) sets. The values of the top-quark pole mass (with the strong coupling fixed at 0.118) and the strong coupling (with the top-quark pole mass fixed at 172.5 GeV) are extracted from the combined results by fitting a next-to-next-to-leading-order plus next-to-next-to-leading-log QCD prediction to the measurements. Using a version of the NNPDF3.1 PDF set containing no top-quark measurements, the results obtained are $m_t^\text{pole} = 173.4^{+1.8}_{-2.0}$ GeV and $\alpha_\text{s}(m_Z)= 0.1170^{+ 0.0021}_{-0.0018}$.
Full covariance matrix including all systematic uncertainties expressed as nuisance parameters. With the exception of the cross section parameters, all parameters were normalised to 1 before the fit. Therefore, the diagonal elements represent the constraint in quadrature.
Full covariance matrix including all systematic uncertainties expressed as nuisance parameters. With the exception of the cross section parameters, all parameters were normalised to 1 before the fit. Therefore, the diagonal elements represent the constraint in quadrature.
A search for the lepton-flavor violating decay of the Higgs boson and potential additional Higgs bosons with a mass in the range 110-160 GeV to an e$^{\pm}\mu^{\mp}$ pair is presented. The search is performed with a proton-proton collision dataset at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. No excess is observed for the Higgs boson. The observed (expected) upper limit on the e$^{\pm}\mu^{\mp}$ branching fraction for it is determined to be 4.4 (4.7) $\times$ 10$^{-5}$ at 95% confidence level, the most stringent limit set thus far from direct searches. The largest excess of events over the expected background in the full mass range of the search is observed at an e$^{\pm}\mu^{\mp}$ invariant mass of approximately 146 GeV with a local (global) significance of 3.8 (2.8) standard deviations.
Observed (expected) 95% confidence level upper limits on $\mathcal{B}(H \to e \mu)$ for each individual analysis category (as shown in the left axis label) and for the combination of all analysis categories.
Observed (expected) 95% confidence level upper limits on $\sigma(p p \to X \to e \mu)$ as functions of the hypothesised $m_{X}$ assuming the relative SM-like production cross sections of the ggH and VBF production modes.
Observed local $\textit{p}$-values against the background-only hypothesis are shown as a function of the hypothesised $m_{X}$.
The observation of the production of four top quarks in proton-proton collisions is reported, based on a data sample collected by the CMS experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV in 2016-2018 at the CERN LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Events with two same-sign, three, or four charged leptons (electrons and muons) and additional jets are analyzed. Compared to previous results in these channels, updated identification techniques for charged leptons and jets originating from the hadronization of b quarks, as well as a revised multivariate analysis strategy to distinguish the signal process from the main backgrounds, lead to an improved expected signal significance of 4.9 standard deviations above the background-only hypothesis. Four top quark production is observed with a significance of 5.6 standard deviations, and its cross section is measured to be 17.7 $^{+3.7}_{-3.5}$ (stat) $^{+2.3}_{-1.9}$ (syst) fb, in agreement with the available standard model predictions.
Comparison of fit results in the channels individually and in their combination. The left panel shows the values of the measured cross section relative to the SM prediction from Ref. [6]. The right panel shows the expected and observed significance, with the printed values rounded to the first decimal.
Number of predicted and observed events in the SR-2$\ell$ and SR-3$\ell$ $t\bar{t}t\bar{t}$ classes, both before the fit to the data ("prefit") and with their best fit normalizations ("postfit"). The uncertainties in the predicted number of events include both the statistical and systematic components. The uncertainties in the total number of predicted background and background plus signal events are also given.
A search for decays to invisible particles of Higgs bosons produced in association with a top-antitop quark pair or a vector boson, which both decay to a fully hadronic final state, has been performed using proton-proton collision data collected at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The 95% confidence level upper limit set on the branching fraction of the 125 GeV Higgs boson to invisible particles, $\mathcal{B}$(H $\to$ inv), is 0.54 (0.39 expected), assuming standard model production cross sections. The results of this analysis are combined with previous $\mathcal{B}$(H $\to$ inv) searches carried out at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7, 8, and 13 TeV in complementary production modes. The combined upper limit at 95% confidence level on $\mathcal{B}$(H $\to$ inv) is 0.15 (0.08 expected).
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on ${{(\sigma_{\text{H}}/\sigma_{\text{H}}^{\mathrm{SM}}) \times {{\mathcal{B}(\text{H} \to \text{inv})}}}}$ for hadronic final states of ttH and resolved VH channels, and their combination, using data from 2016--2018 and assuming a SM Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on ${{(\sigma_{\text{H}}/\sigma_{\text{H}}^{\mathrm{SM}}) \times {{\mathcal{B}(\text{H} \to \text{inv})}}}}$ for the VBF, ttH, VH and ggH channels using all available CMS data, and their combination, assuming a SM Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on ${{(\sigma_{\text{H}}/\sigma_{\text{H}}^{\mathrm{SM}}) \times {{\mathcal{B}(\text{H} \to \text{inv})}}}}$ for the VBF, ttH, VH and ggH channels using Run2 CMS data, and their combination, assuming a SM Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV.
The dependence of the ratio between the B$_\mathrm{s}^0$ and B$^+$ hadron production fractions, $f_\mathrm{s} / f_\mathrm{u}$, on the transverse momentum ($p_\mathrm{T}$) and rapidity of the B mesons is studied using the decay channels B$_\mathrm{s}^0$$\to$ J$/\psi\,\phi$ and B$^+$$\to$ J$/\psi$ K$^+$. The analysis uses a data sample of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected by the CMS experiment in 2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 61.6 fb$^{-1}$. The $f_\mathrm{s} / f_\mathrm{u}$ ratio is observed to depend on the B $p_\mathrm{T}$ and to be consistent with becoming asymptotically constant at large $p_\mathrm{T}$. No rapidity dependence is observed. The ratio of the B$^0$ to B$^+$ hadron production fractions, $f_\mathrm{d} / f_\mathrm{u}$, measured using the B$^0$$\to$ J$/\psi$ K$^{*0}$ decay channel, is found to be consistent with unity and independent of $p_\mathrm{T}$ and rapidity, as expected from isospin invariance.
The $\mathrm{J/\psi \phi}$, $\mathrm{J/\psi K}$, and $\mathrm{J/\psi} \mathrm{K}^{*0}$ invariant mass distributions, for $\mathrm{B}$ meson candidates with $20 < p_T < 23$ GeV, and asociated fits as described in the text.
The $\mathrm{J/\psi \phi}$, $\mathrm{J/\psi K}$, and $\mathrm{J/\psi} \mathrm{K}^{*0}$ invariant mass distributions, for $\mathrm{B}$ meson candidates with $20 < p_T < 23$ GeV, and asociated fits as described in the text.
The $\mathrm{J/\psi \phi}$, $\mathrm{J/\psi K}$, and $\mathrm{J/\psi} \mathrm{K}^{*0}$ invariant mass distributions, for $\mathrm{B}$ meson candidates with $20 < p_T < 23$ GeV, and asociated fits as described in the text.
A search for long-lived particles decaying in the outer regions of the CMS silicon tracker or in the calorimeters is presented. The search is based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2016-2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. A novel technique, using trackless and out-of-time jet information combined in a deep neural network discriminator, is employed to identify decays of long-lived particles. The results are interpreted in a simplified model of chargino-neutralino production, where the neutralino is the next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle, is long-lived, and decays to a gravitino and either a Higgs or Z boson. This search is most sensitive to neutralino proper decay lengths of approximately 0.5 m, for which masses up to 1.18 TeV are excluded at 95% confidence level. The current search is the best result to date in the mass range from the kinematic limit imposed by the Higgs mass up to 1.8 TeV.
Summary of combined statistical and systematic uncertainties, the size of their effect, and whether it applies to the signal or background yield predictions. Ranges for signal systematic uncertainties reflect their impact on different signal parameter space points.
Summary of combined statistical and systematic uncertainties, the size of their effect, and whether it applies to the signal or background yield predictions. Ranges for signal systematic uncertainties reflect their impact on different signal parameter space points.
Feynman diagrams of the effective neutralino pair production in the GMSB simplified model in which the two neutralinos decay into two gravitinos ($\tilde{G}$) and two $Z$ bosons (left), a $Z$ and a Higgs boson ($H$) (center), or two Higgs bosons (right).
The production of four top quarks ($\mathrm{t\bar{t}t\bar{t}}$) is studied with LHC proton-proton collision data samples collected by the CMS experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, and corresponding to integrated luminosities of up to 138 fb$^{-1}$. Events that have no leptons (all-hadronic), one lepton, or two opposite-sign leptons (where lepton refers only to prompt electrons or prompt muons) are considered. This is the first $\mathrm{t\bar{t}t\bar{t}}$ measurement that includes the all-hadronic final state. The observed significance of the $\mathrm{t\bar{t}t\bar{t}}$ signal in these final states of 3.9 standard deviations (1.5 expected) provides evidence for $\mathrm{t\bar{t}t\bar{t}}$ production, with a measured cross section of 36 $^{+12}_{-11}$ fb. Combined with earlier CMS results in other final states, the signal significance is 4.0 standard deviations (3.2 expected). The combination returns an observed cross section of 17 $\pm$ 4 (stat) $\pm$ 3 (syst) fb, which is consistent with the standard model prediction.
The jet multiplicity for $N_\textrm{b} \ge 4$ in the opposite-sign dilepton channel for the combined 2017--2018 dataset with dilepton decay categories combined. Here, $\textrm{t}\bar{\textrm{t}} + \geq 1 \textrm{b}$ refers to $\textrm{t}\bar{\textrm{t}}$ events with at least one additional b jet, $\textrm{t}\bar{\textrm{t}} + 0 \textrm{b}$ includes all other $\textrm{t}\bar{\textrm{t}}$ events not produced in association with a boson, and EW refers to events that contain W and Z bosons but no top quarks.
Expected and observed significance (in standard deviations) for $\textrm{t}\bar{\textrm{t}}\textrm{t}\bar{\textrm{t}}$ production from each final state and the combination with previous CMS results (EPJC 80 (2020) 75 and JHEP 11 (2019) 082). The same-sign dilepton and multilepton (SSDL\&ML) final state results are from EPJC 80 (2020) 75.
The jet multiplicity for $N_\textrm{b} \geq 4$ in the opposite-sign dilepton channel for the combined 2017--2018 dataset with dilepton decay categories combined. Here, $\textrm{t}\bar{\textrm{t}} + \geq 1 \textrm{b}$ refers to $\textrm{t}\bar{\textrm{t}}$ events with at least one additional b jet, $\textrm{t}\bar{\textrm{t}} + 0 \textrm{b}$ includes all other $\textrm{t}\bar{\textrm{t}}$ events not produced in association with a boson, and EW refers to events that contain W and Z bosons but no top quarks. The backgrounds and $\textrm{t}\bar{\textrm{t}}\textrm{t}\bar{\textrm{t}}$ signal (derived from the fit) are shown as a stacked histogram. The hatched bands correspond to the estimated total uncertainty after the fit.
The first search for narrow resonances decaying to three well-separated hadronic jets is presented. The search uses proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, collected at the CERN LHC. No significant deviations from the background predictions are observed between 1.75-9.00 TeV. The results provide the first mass limits on a right-handed boson Z$_{\mathrm{R}}$ decaying to three gluons, an excited quark decaying via a vector boson to three quarks, as well as updated limits on a Kaluza-Klein gluon decaying via a radion to three gluons.
Observed and expected (background-only fitted) invariant mass spectra of trijet events. Data spectra from three years are fitted separately and the sum is shown in the figure. The fitting function used is ${ d N}/{ d m} = p_{0}(1-x)^{p_{1}}/x^{\sum_{i=2}^{3} p_{i}\log^{i-2}(x)}$. The fitted parameters are $p_{1} = 7.350, p_{2} = 6.926, p_{3} = 0.388$ for 2016, $p_{1} = 8.308, p_{2} = 5.931, p_{3} = 0.167$ for 2017 and $p_{1} = 8.770, p_{2} = 5.617, p_{3} = 0.106$ for 2018. $p_{0}$ is the normalization parameter and its exact value is irrelevant.
Expected and observed limits at 95% CL on $\sigma \mathcal{B} (X \to ggg) \mathcal{A}$ for a 3-body decay trijet resonance with $\Gamma_{X}\sim 3\% m_{X}$. The acceptance $\mathcal{A}$ is defined as $\mathcal{A} = N$(events with $m_{X}^{GEN} > 85\% m_{X}^{input}$) / $N$(events generated in the full phase space defined by the CMS default generator settings). Only 2016 data are used to derive limits below 2.0 TeV because of higher trigger thresholds in 2017 and 2018. Theoretical predictions assuming SM-like couplings are depicted with the red curve.
Expected and observed limits at 95% CL on $\sigma \mathcal{B} (X \to ggg) \mathcal{A}$ for a 3-body decay trijet resonance with $\Gamma_{X}\sim 0.01\% m_{X}$. The acceptance $\mathcal{A}$ is defined as $\mathcal{A} = N$(events with $m_{X}^{GEN} > 85\% m_{X}^{input}$) / $N$(events generated in the full phase space defined by the CMS default generator settings). Only 2016 data are used to derive limits below 2.0 TeV because of higher trigger thresholds in 2017 and 2018. Theoretical predictions are depicted with the red curve.
A search for W' bosons decaying to a top and a bottom quark in final states including an electron or a muon is performed with the CMS detector at the LHC. The analyzed data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 Tev. Good agreement with the standard model expectation is observed and no evidence for the existence of the W' boson is found over the mass range examined. The largest observed deviation from the standard model expectation is found for a W' boson mass ($m_\mathrm{W'}$) hypothesis of 3.8 TeV with a relative decay width of 1%, with a local (global) significance of 2.6 (2.0) standard deviations. Upper limits on the production cross sections of W' bosons decaying to a top and a bottom quark are set. Left- and right-handed W' bosons with $m_\mathrm{W'}$ below 3.9 and 4.3 TeV, respectively, are excluded at the 95% confidence level, under the assumption that the new particle has a narrow decay width. Limits are also set for relative decay widths up to 30%. These are the most stringent limits to date on this W' boson decay channel.
Post-fit distributions of $M_{\ell v jj}$ in the $R0_A$ control subregion for muons. The lower panel reports the data minus the expected number of events normalized to the statistical uncertainty of the data. The orange band represents the systematic uncertainties also normalized to the statistical uncertainty of the data.
Post-fit distributions of $M_{\ell v jj}$ in the $R0_A$ control subregion for electrons. The lower panel reports the data minus the expected number of events normalized to the statistical uncertainty of the data. The orange band represents the systematic uncertainties also normalized to the statistical uncertainty of the data.
Post-fit distributions of $M_{\ell v jj}$ in the $R2B_A$ subregion for muons. All process yields and nuisance parameters are set to the values obtained from the background plus signal fit. The signal considered for the fit corresponds to the purely right-handed production of a W' with $m_{W'}$ of 3.6 TeV and a relative width of 1$\%$ of the $m_{W'}$, and is represented by the solid red line. The lower panels show the data minus the expected number of events, normalized to the statistical uncertainty of the data. The orange band represents the systematic uncertainties, also normalized to the statistical uncertainty of the data.
A search for a new boson X is presented using CERN LHC proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV in 2016-2018, and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The resonance X decays into either a pair of Higgs bosons HH of mass 125 GeV or an H and a new spin-0 boson Y. One H subsequently decays to a pair of photons, and the second H or Y, to a pair of bottom quarks. The explored mass ranges of X are 260-1000 GeV and 300-1000 GeV, for decays to HH and to HY, respectively, with the Y mass range being 90-800 GeV. For a spin-0 X hypothesis, the 95% confidence level upper limit on the product of its production cross section and decay branching fraction is observed to be within 0.90-0.04 fb, depending on the masses of X and Y. The largest deviation from the background-only hypothesis with a local (global) significance of 3.8 (2.8) standard deviations is observed for X and Y masses of 650 and 90 GeV, respectively. The limits are interpreted using several models of new physics.
Expected and observed 95% upper limits on the product of the production cross section and the branching fraction for a spin-0 resonance $X\rightarrow HH\rightarrow \gamma\gamma bb$, as a function of X mass hypothesis. The $\pm1$ and $\pm2$ $\sigma$ uncertainty bands are given in addition to the expected median value. Numerical values provided in this table correspond to Figure 6 (upper) of the publication.
Expected and observed 95% upper limits on the product of the production cross section and the branching fraction for a spin-2 resonance $X\rightarrow HH\rightarrow \gamma\gamma bb$, as a function of X mass hypothesis. The $\pm1$ and $\pm2$ $\sigma$ uncertainty bands are given in addition to the expected median value. Numerical values provided in this table correspond to Figure 6 (lower) of the publication.
Expected and observed 95% upper limits on the product of the production cross section and the branching fraction for a spin-0 resonance $X\rightarrow HY\rightarrow \gamma\gamma bb$, as a function of Y mass, for X mass = 300 GeV. The $\pm1$ and $\pm2$ $\sigma$ uncertainty bands are given in addition to the expected median value. Numerical values provided in this table correspond to Figure 7 of the publication.
A search for the rare $\eta$$\to$$\mu^+\mu^-\mu^+\mu^-$ double-Dalitz decay is performed using a sample of proton-proton collisions, collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC with high-rate muon triggers in 2017-2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 101 fb$^{-1}$. A signal having a statistical significance well in excess of 5 standard deviations is observed. Using the $\eta$$\to$$\mu^+ \mu^-$ decay as normalization, the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}(\eta$$\to$$\mu^+\mu^-\mu^+\mu^-)$ = [5.0 $\pm$ 0.8 (stat) $\pm$ 0.7 (syst) $\pm$ 0.7 ($\mathcal{B}_{2\mu}$)] $\times$ 10$^{-9}$ is measured, where the last term is the uncertainty in the normalization channel branching fraction. This work achieves an improved precision of over five orders of magnitude compared to previous results, leading to the first measurement of this branching fraction, which is found to agree with theoretical predictions.
The total efficiencies for the four-muon ($A_{4\mu}^{i,j}$, red and blue points) and two-muon ($A_{2\mu}^{i,j}$, orange and green points) decay channels, as functions of the generated meson's $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ and $y$, evaluated through MC simulation.
The total efficiencies for the four-muon ($A_{4\mu}^{i,j}$, red and blue points) and two-muon ($A_{2\mu}^{i,j}$, orange and green points) decay channels, as functions of the generated meson's $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ and $y$, evaluated through MC simulation.
Measured ratio of $\mathcal{B}_{4\mu}/\mathcal{B}_{2\mu}$
A search is performed for charged-lepton flavor violating processes in top quark (t) production and decay. The data were collected by the CMS experiment from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The selected events are required to contain one opposite-sign electron-muon pair, a third charged lepton (electron or muon), and at least one jet of which no more than one is associated with a bottom quark. Boosted decision trees are used to distinguish signal from background, exploiting differences in the kinematics of the final states particles. The data are consistent with the standard model expectation. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are placed in the context of effective field theory on the Wilson coefficients, which range between 0.024-0.424 TeV$^{-2}$ depending on the flavor of the associated light quark and the Lorentz structure of the interaction. These limits are converted to upper limits on branching fractions involving up (charm) quarks, t$\to$e$\mu$u (t$\to$e$\mu$c), of 0.032 (0.498)$\times$10$^{-6}$, 0.022 (0.369)$\times$10$^{-6}$, and 0.012 (0.216)$\times$10$^{-6}$ for tensor-like, vector-like, and scalar-like interactions, respectively.
The expected and observed upper limits on CLFV Wilson coefficients. The Limits on the Wilson coefficients are extracted from the upper limits on the cross sections.
The expected and observed upper limits on top quark CLFV branching fractions. The Limits on the top quark CLFV branching fractions are extracted from the upper limits on the Wilson coefficients.
The inclusive jet cross section is measured as a function of jet transverse momentum $p_\mathrm{T}$ and rapidity $y$. The measurement is performed using proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 TeV, recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 27.4 pb$^{-1}$. The jets are reconstructed with the anti-$k_\mathrm{T}$ algorithm using a distance parameter of $R$ = 0.4, within the rapidity interval $\lvert y\rvert$$\lt$ 2, and across the kinematic range 0.06 $\lt$$p_\mathrm{T}$$\lt$ 1 TeV. The jet cross section is unfolded from detector to particle level using the determined jet response and resolution. The results are compared to predictions of perturbative quantum chromodynamics, calculated at both next-to-leading order and next-to-next-to-leading order. The predictions are corrected for nonperturbative effects, and presented for a variety of parton distribution functions and choices of the renormalization/factorization scales and the strong coupling $\alpha_\mathrm{S}$.
The JEC, JER, and total systematic uncertainties in unfolded cross sections as functions of transverse momentum, for |y|<0.5. The total systematic uncertainty includes also the luminosity, jet identification and trigger efficiency uncertainties.
The JEC, JER, and total systematic uncertainties in unfolded cross sections as functions of transverse momentum, for 0.5<|y|<1. The total systematic uncertainty includes also the luminosity, jet identification and trigger efficiency uncertainties.
The JEC, JER, and total systematic uncertainties in unfolded cross sections as functions of transverse momentum, for 1<|y|<1.5. The total systematic uncertainty includes also the luminosity, jet identification and trigger efficiency uncertainties.
A search for direct production of low-mass dimuon resonances is performed using $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment during the 2017-2018 operation of the CERN LHC with an integrated luminosity of 96.6 fb$^{-1}$. The search exploits a dedicated high-rate trigger stream that records events with two muons with transverse momenta as low as 3 GeV but does not include the full event information. The search is performed by looking for narrow peaks in the dimuon mass spectrum in the ranges of 1.1-2.6 GeV and 4.2-7.9 GeV. No significant excess of events above the expectation from the standard model background is observed. Model-independent limits on production rates of dimuon resonances within the experimental fiducial acceptance are set. Competitive or world's best limits are set at 90% confidence level for a minimal dark photon model and for a scenario with two Higgs doublets and an extra complex scalar singlet (2HDM+S). Values of the squared kinetic mixing coefficient $\varepsilon^2$ in the dark photon model above 10$^{-6}$ are excluded over most of the mass range of the search. In the 2HDM+S, values of the mixing angle $\sin(\theta_\text{H})$ above 0.08 are excluded over most of the mass range of the search with a fixed ratio of the Higgs doublets vacuum expectation $\tan\beta$ = 0.5.
The signal acceptance and reconstruction efficiency are extracted from DY and pseudoscalar simulations. The acceptance of DY simulation is the fraction of signal events where a muon pair is present, and each muon has ${p}_{\mathrm{T}} >4$ GeV and $|\eta|<1.9$. The acceptance of pseudoscalar simulation is the fraction of signal events where a muon pair is present, each muon has ${p}_{\mathrm{T}} >5$ GeV and $|\eta|<1.9$, and the muon pair have ${p}_{\mathrm{T}}>20~(35)$ GeV for $m_{\mu\mu}>4.2$ GeV ($<2.6$ GeV). The reconstruction efficiency is the efficiency of signal events satisfying the trigger requirements, the muon identification, and vertex selection.
Expected and observed model independent upper limits at 95% CL on the product of the signal cross section, the branching fraction to a pair of muons for the inclusive dimuon selection, and fiducial acceptance.
Expected and observed model independent upper limits at 95% CL on the product of the signal cross section, the branching fraction to a pair of muons for the boosted dimuon selection, and fiducial acceptance.
A test of lepton flavor universality in B$^{\pm}$$\to$ K$^{\pm}\mu^+\mu^-$ and B$^{\pm}$$\to$ K$^{\pm}$e$^+$e$^-$ decays, as well as a measurement of differential and integrated branching fractions of a nonresonant B$^{\pm}$$\to$ K$^{\pm}\mu^+\mu^-$ decay are presented. The analysis is made possible by a dedicated data set of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV recorded in 2018, by the CMS experiment at the LHC, using a special high-rate data stream designed for collecting about 10 billion unbiased b hadron decays. The ratio of the branching fractions $\mathcal{B}$(B$^{\pm}$$\to$ K$^{\pm}\mu^+\mu^-$) to $\mathcal{B}$(B$^{\pm}$$\to$ K$^{\pm}$e$^+$e$^-$) is determined from the measured double ratio $R$(K) of these decays to the respective branching fractions of the B$^\pm$$\to$ J/$\psi$K$^\pm$ with J/$\psi$$\to$$\mu^+\mu^-$ and e$^+$e$^-$ decays, which allow for significant cancellation of systematic uncertainties. The ratio $R$(K) is measured in the range 1.1 $\lt q^2 \lt$ 6.0 GeV$^2$, where $q$ is the invariant mass of the lepton pair, and is found to be $R$(K) = 0.78$^{+0.47}_{-0.23}$, in agreement with the standard model expectation $R$(K) $\approx$ 1. This measurement is limited by the statistical precision of the electron channel. The integrated branching fraction in the same $q^2$ range, $\mathcal{B}$(B$^{\pm}$$\to$ K$^{\pm}\mu^+\mu^-$) = (12.42 $\pm$ 0.68) $\times$ 10$^{-8}$, is consistent with the present world-average value and has a comparable precision.
The differential $\text{B}^+ \to \text{K}^+\mu^+\mu^-$ branching fraction measured in the individual $q^2$ bins. The uncertainties in the yields are statistical uncertainties from the fit, while the branching fraction uncertainties include both the statistical and systematic components.
Differential branching fraction $d\mathcal{B}/dq^2$, with theoretical predictions obtained with the HEPFiT, SuperIso, Flavio, and EOS packages. The HEPFiT predictions are available only for $q^2 < 8\ \mathrm{GeV}^2$.
Relative uncertainties in the differential branching fraction measurement of $\mathrm{B}^+\to\mathrm{K}^+\mu^+\mu^-$ per $q^2$ bin.
A measurement of the Higgs boson (H) production via vector boson fusion (VBF) and its decay into a bottom quark-antiquark pair ($\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$) is presented using proton-proton collision data recorded by the CMS experiment at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 90.8 fb$^{-1}$. Treating the gluon-gluon fusion process as a background and constraining its rate to the value expected in the standard model (SM) within uncertainties, the signal strength of the VBF process, defined as the ratio of the observed signal rate to that predicted by the SM, is measured to be $\mu^\text{qqH}_\mathrm{Hb\bar{b}}$ = 1.01 $^{+0.55}_{-0.46}$. The VBF signal is observed with a significance of 2.4 standard deviations relative to the background prediction, while the expected significance is 2.7 standard deviations. Considering inclusive Higgs boson production and decay into bottom quarks, the signal strength is measured to be $\mu^\text{incl.}_\mathrm{Hb\bar{b}}$ = 0.99 $^{+0.48}_{-0.41}$, corresponding to an observed (expected) significance of 2.6 (2.9) standard deviations.
The mbb distribution after weighted combination of all categories in the analysis weighted with S/(S + B). where S is the total Hbb signal yield (both VBF and ggH) and B is the total background yield including QCD multijet and Z+jets
The best fit values of the signal strength modifier for the different processes. 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.
The best fit values of the signal strength modifier for the different processes by floating the VBF and ggH production rates independently. 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.
The first measurement of the top quark pair ($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$) production cross section in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13.6 TeV is presented. Data recorded with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC in Summer 2022, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.21 fb$^{-1}$, are analyzed. Events are selected with one or two charged leptons (electrons or muons) and additional jets. A maximum likelihood fit is performed in event categories defined by the number and flavors of the leptons, the number of jets, and the number of jets identified as originating from b quarks. An inclusive $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ production cross section of 881 $\pm$ 23 (stat+syst) $\pm$ 20 (lumi) pb is measured, in agreement with the standard model prediction of 924 $^{+32}_{-40}$ pb.
Comparison of the number of observed (points) and predicted (filled histograms) events in the final analysis binning. The predictions are shown before fitting the model to the data. The lower panel of the plot displays the ratio of the event yields in data to the sum of predicted signal and background yields. The vertical bars on the points represent the statistical uncertainties in the data, while the hatched bands represent systematic uncertainty in the predictions, excluding the integrated luminosity. No b jet efficiency scale factors are applied in the plot, and no systematic uncertainty entering into the hatched bands is intended to cover thesefactors, which are free parameters in the fit.
Comparison of the number of observed (points) and predicted (filled histograms) events in the final analysis binning. The predictions are shown after fitting the model to the data. The lower panel of each plot displays the ratio of the event yields in data to the sum of predicted signal and background yields. The vertical bars on the points represent the statistical uncertainties in the data, while the hatched bands represent systematic uncertainty in the predictions, excluding the integrated luminosity. The hatched bands are greatly reduced due to additional constraint of the nuisances parameters as well as correlations between them.
Result for the inclusive ttbar production cross section
The polarization of $\tau$ leptons is measured using leptonic and hadronic $\tau$ lepton decays in Z $\to$$\tau^+\tau^-$ events in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV recorded by CMS at the CERN LHC with an integrated luminosity of 36.3 fb$^{-1}$. The measured $\tau^-$ polarization at the Z boson mass pole is $\mathcal{P}_{\tau}$(Z) = $-$0.144 $\pm$ 0.006 (stat) $\pm$ 0.014 (syst) = $-$0.144 $\pm$ 0.015, in good agreement with the measurement of the $\tau$ lepton asymmetry parameter of $A_{\tau}$ = 0.1439 $\pm$ 0.0043 = $-\mathcal{P}_{\tau}$(Z) at LEP. The $\tau$ polarization depends on the ratio of the vector to axial-vector couplings of the $\tau$ leptons in the neutral current expression, and thus on the effective weak mixing angle $\sin^{2}\theta_\mathrm{W}^{\text{eff}}$, independently of the Z boson production mechanism. The obtained value $\sin^{2}\theta_\mathrm{W}^{\text{eff}}$ = 0.2319 $\pm$ 0.0008 (stat) $\pm$ 0.0018 (syst) = 0.2319 $\pm$ 0.0019 is in good agreement with measurements at e$^+$e$^-$ colliders.
Fit results for the average $\tau^{-}$ lepton polarization for the 11 event categories and the combined fit as the lowest point in the figure
Fit results for the average $\tau^{-}$ lepton polarization for categories grouped into 4 channels.
A comparison of the $\tau$ lepton asymmetry, $A_{\tau}$ measured from the tau lepton polarization in this paper and other measurements.
A search for resonances in events with the $\gamma$+jet final state has been performed using proton-proton collision data collected at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The total data analyzed correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Models of excited quarks and quantum black holes are considered. Using a wide-jet reconstruction for the candidate jet, the $\gamma$+jet invariant mass spectrum measured in data is examined for the presence of resonances over the standard model continuum background. The background is estimated by fitting the mass distribution with a functional form. The data exhibit no statistically significant deviations from the expected standard model background. Exclusion limits at 95% confidence level on the resonance mass and other parameters are set. Excited light-flavor quarks (excited bottom quarks) are excluded up to a mass of 6.0 (3.8) TeV. Quantum black hole production is excluded for masses up to 7.5 (5.2) TeV in the Arkani-Hamed-Dimopoulos-Dvali (Randall-Sundrum) model. These lower mass bounds are the most stringent to date among those obtained in the $\gamma$+jet final state.
The signal cross-sections values of the signals q* with coupling mupltiplier f =1.0 and f = 0.5, as a function of resonance mass
The signal cross-sections values of the signals b* with coupling mupltiplier f =1.0 and f = 0.5, as a function of resonance mass
The signal cross-sections values of the signal QBH ADD with n=6 extra dimensions, as a function of threshold mass
Using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the CMS experiment at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, the $\Lambda_\text{b}^0$$\to$ J/$\psi\Xi^-$K$^+$ decay is observed for the first time, with a statistical significance exceeding 5 standard deviations. The relative branching fraction, with respect to the $\Lambda_\text{b}^0$$\to$$\psi$(2S)$\Lambda$ decay, is measured to be $\mathcal{B}$($\Lambda_\text{b}^0$$\to$ J/$\psi\Xi^-$K$^+$)/$\mathcal{B}$( $\Lambda_\text{b}^0$$\to$$\psi$(2S)$\Lambda$) = [3.38 $\pm$ 1.02 $\pm$ 0.61 $\pm$ 0.03]%, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is related to the uncertainties in $\mathcal{B}$($\psi$(2S) $\to$ J/$\psi\pi^+\pi^-$) and $\mathcal{B}$($\Xi^-$ $\to$ $\Lambda\pi^-$).
The measured branching fraction ratio
A measurement of the dijet production cross section is reported based on proton-proton collision data collected in 2016 at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of up to 36.3 fb$^{-1}$. Jets are reconstructed with the anti-$k_\mathrm{T}$ algorithm for distance parameters of $R$ = 0.4 and 0.8. Cross sections are measured double-differentially (2D) as a function of the largest absolute rapidity $\lvert y_\text{max}\rvert$ of the two jets with the highest transverse momenta $p_\mathrm{T}$ and their invariant mass $m_{1,2}$, and triple-differentially (3D) as a function of the rapidity separation $y^*$, the total boost $y_\mathrm{b}$, and either $m_{1,2}$ or the average $p_\mathrm{T}$ of the two jets. The cross sections are unfolded to correct for detector effects and are compared with fixed-order calculations derived at next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics. The impact of the measurements on the parton distribution functions and the strong coupling constant at the mass of the Z boson is investigated, yielding a value of $\alpha_\mathrm{S}$ = 0.1179 $\pm$ 0.0019.
Double-differential dijet cross section for anti-$k_\text{T}$ jets with R = 0.4 as a function of the dijet invariant mass ($m_{1,2}$) and the absolute rapidity of the outermost jet ($\left| y \right|_\text{max}$)
Electroweak corrections to double-differential dijet cross section for anti-$k_\text{T}$ jets with R = 0.4 as a function of the dijet invariant mass ($m_{1,2}$) and the absolute rapidity of the outermost jet ($\left| y \right|_\text{max}$)
Nonperturbative corrections to double-differential dijet cross section for anti-$k_\text{T}$ jets with R = 0.4 as a function of the dijet invariant mass ($m_{1,2}$) and the absolute rapidity of the outermost jet ($\left| y \right|_\text{max}$)
Differential cross sections are measured for the standard model Higgs boson produced in association with vector bosons (W, Z) and decaying to a pair of b quarks. Measurements are performed within the framework of the simplified template cross sections. The analysis relies on the leptonic decays of the W and Z bosons, resulting in final states with 0, 1, or 2 electrons or muons. The Higgs boson candidates are either reconstructed from pairs of resolved b-tagged jets, or from single large distance parameter jets containing the particles arising from two b quarks. Proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, collected by the CMS experiment in 2016-2018 and corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$, are analyzed. The inclusive signal strength, defined as the product of the observed production cross section and branching fraction relative to the standard model expectation, combining all analysis categories, is found to be $\mu$ = 1.15$^{+0.22}_{-0.20}$. This corresponds to an observed (expected) significance of 6.3 (5.6) standard deviations.
Measured product of cross section and branching fraction as well as signal strength, defined as the ratio of the observed signal cross section to the Standard Model expectation, in the V(leptonic)H STXS process scheme from the analysis of the 2016, 2017 and 2018 data. If the observed signal strength for a given STXS bin is negative, no uncertainty is reported for the associated bin.
Signal strength per signal process. All results combine the 2016, 2017 and 2018 data-taking years.
Signal strength per analysis channels. All results combine the 2016, 2017 and 2018 data-taking years.
Measurements of inclusive and normalized differential cross sections of the associated production of top quark-antiquark and bottom quark-antiquark pairs, ttbb, are presented. The results are based on data from proton-proton collisions collected by the CMS detector at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The cross sections are measured in the lepton+jets decay channel of the top quark pair, using events containing exactly one isolated electron or muon and at least five jets. Measurements are made in four fiducial phase space regions, targeting different aspects of the ttbb process. Distributions are unfolded to the particle level through maximum likelihood fits, and compared with predictions from several event generators. The inclusive cross section measurements of this process in the fiducial phase space regions are the most precise to date. In most cases, the measured inclusive cross sections exceed the predictions with the chosen generator settings. The only exception is when using a particular choice of dynamic renormalization scale, $\mu_\mathrm{R}=\frac{1}{2} \prod_{i=\mathrm{t, \bar{t}, b, \bar{b}}} m_{\mathrm{T},i}^{1/4}$, where $m_{\mathrm{T},i}^2=m_i^2+p^2_{\mathrm{T},i}$ are the transverse masses of top and bottom quarks. The differential cross sections show varying degrees of compatibility with the theoretical predictions, and none of the tested generators with the chosen settings simultaneously describe all the measured distributions.
Fiducial cross sections from the measurements of all observables, compared to predictions from different ttbb simulation approaches. For each of the normalized differential measurements the fiducial cross section in the respective phase space is also determined. In the paper only one representative observable is quoted for each fiducial phase space, while here the measured cross section with the uncertainties from the fit to the respective observable is summarized.
Compatibility of normalized differential cross section measurements with modeling predictions. The compatibility is quantified with z scores for each of the theoretical predictions, given the unfolded normalized differential cross sections and their covariances. A lower value indicates a better agreement between prediction and measurement. A value of z = 2 indicates a p-value of 5%. In the calculation of the z score only the measurement uncertainties and the statistical uncertainties of the modeling predictions are taken into account
Normalized differential cross section of $|\eta(\mathrm{b}^{\mathrm{add.}}_{1})|$ in $\geq 6$ jets: $\geq 4 \mathrm{b}$ phase space.
A search is presented for fractionally charged particles with charge below 1$e$, using their small energy loss in the tracking detector as a key variable to observe a signal. The analyzed data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions collected at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV in 2016-2018 at the CERN LHC. This is the first search at the LHC for new particles with charges between $e/$3 and $e$. Masses up to 640 GeV and charges as low as $e/$3 are excluded at 95% confidence level. These are the most stringent limits to date for the considered Drell-Yan-like production mode.
Signal yields for two charge scenarios considered in the analysis, as well as their associated uncertainties.
Signal yields for two charge scenarios considered in the analysis, as well as their associated uncertainties.
Signal yields for two charge scenarios considered in the analysis, as well as their associated uncertainties.
The first evidence for the standard model production of a top quark in association with a W boson and a Z boson is reported. The measurement is performed in multilepton final states, where the Z boson is reconstructed via its decays to electron or muon pairs and the W boson decays either to leptons or hadrons. The analysed data were recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC in 2016-2018 in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The measured cross section is 354 $\pm$ 54 (stat) $\pm$ 95 (syst) fb, and corresponds to a statistical significance of 3.4 standard deviations.
Expected yields for signal and background processes and observed number of events in the signal and control regions
Postfit b jet multiplicity distribution in the $\text{SR}_\text{4l}$
Postfit score of the tWZ output node from the multiclass classifier in $\text{SR}_\text{3l,3j}$ for events with exactly 1 b jet
The first search for scalar leptoquarks produced in $\tau$-lepton-quark collisions is presented. It is based on a set of proton-proton collision data recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The reconstructed final state consists of a jet, significant missing transverse momentum, and a $\tau$ lepton reconstructed through its hadronic or leptonic decays. Limits are set on the product of the leptoquark production cross section and branching fraction and interpreted as exclusions in the plane of the leptoquark mass and the leptoquark-$\tau$-quark coupling strength.
Observed and expected distributions of the collinear mass in the $\tau_\mathrm{h}$+jet btag category with the BDT requirements selecting the most signal-like events. The signal hypothesis corresponds to a scalar leptoquark coupled to u quarks and $\tau$ leptons with a coupling strength $\lambda$ equal to 1.5.
Observed and expected distributions of the collinear mass in the e+jet btag category with the BDT requirements selecting the most signal-like events. The signal hypothesis corresponds to a scalar leptoquark coupled to u quarks and $\tau$ leptons with a coupling strength $\lambda$ equal to 1.5.
Observed and expected distributions of the collinear mass in the $\mu$+jet btag category with the BDT requirements selecting the most signal-like events. The signal hypothesis corresponds to a scalar leptoquark coupled to u quarks and $\tau$ leptons with a coupling strength $\lambda$ equal to 1.5.
A search for dark matter in events with a displaced nonresonant muon pair and missing transverse momentum is presented. The analysis is performed using an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton (pp) collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV produced by the LHC in 2016-2018. No significant excess over the predicted backgrounds is observed. Upper limits are set on the product of the inelastic dark matter production cross section $\sigma$(pp $\to$ A' $\to$$\chi_1$$\chi_2$) and the decay branching fraction $\mathcal{B}$($\chi_2$$\to$$\chi_1 \mu^+ \mu^-$), where A' is a dark photon and $\chi_1$ and $\chi_2$ are states in the dark sector with near mass degeneracy. This is the first dedicated collider search for inelastic dark matter.
Definition of ABCD bins and yields in data, per match category. The predicted yield in the bin with the smallest backgrounds (bin D) is extracted from the simultaneous four-bin fit by assuming zero signal, which corresponds to $(\text{Obs. B} \times \text{Obs. C}) / (\text{Obs. A})$ in this limit.
Systematic uncertainties in the analysis. The jet uncertainties are larger in 2017 because of noise issues with the ECAL endcap. The tracking inefficiency in 2016 is caused by the unexpected saturation of photodiode signals in the tracker.
Simulated muon reconstruction efficiency of standard (blue squares) and displaced (red circles) reconstruction algorithms as a function of transverse vertex displacement $v_{xy}$. The two dashed vertical gray lines denote the ends of the fiducial tracker and muon detector regions, respectively.
The first observation of the decay $\Xi^-_\mathrm{b}$$\to$$\psi$(2S)$\Xi^-$ and measurement of the branching ratio of $\Xi^-_\mathrm{b}$$\to$$\psi$(2S)$\Xi^-$ to $\Xi^-_\mathrm{b}$$\to$ J/$\psi$$\Xi^-$ are presented. The J/$\psi$ and $\psi$(2S) mesons are reconstructed using their dimuon decay modes. The results are based on proton-proton colliding beam data from the LHC collected by the CMS experiment at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV in 2016-2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb$^{-1}$. The branching fraction ratio is measured to be $\mathcal{B}$($\Xi^-_\mathrm{b}$$\to$$\psi$(2S)$\Xi^-$)/$\mathcal{B}$($\Xi^-_\mathrm{b}$$\to$ J/$\psi$$\Xi^-$) = 0.84$^{+0.21}_{-0.19}$ (stat) $\pm$ 0.10 (syst) $\pm$ 0.02 ($\mathcal{B}$), where the last uncertainty comes from the uncertainties in the branching fractions of the charmonium states. New measurements of the $\Xi_\mathrm{b}^{\ast{}0}$ baryon mass and natural width are also presented, using the $\Xi_\mathrm{b}^-\pi^+$ final state, where the $\Xi^-_\mathrm{b}$ baryon is reconstructed through the decays J/$\psi \Xi^-$, $\psi$(2S)$\Xi^-$, J/$\psi \Lambda$K$^-$, and J/$\psi \Sigma^0$K$^-$. Finally, the fraction of the $\Xi^-_\mathrm{b}$ baryons produced from $\Xi_\mathrm{b}^{\ast{}0}$ decays is determined.
The measured ratio of branching fractions
Measured mass
Measured mass difference
A search for the production of long-lived particles in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the CERN LHC is presented. The search is based on data collected by the CMS experiment in 2016-2018, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. This search is designed to be sensitive to long-lived particles with mean proper decay lengths between 0.1 and 1000 $\mu$m, whose decay products produce a final state with at least one displaced vertex and missing transverse momentum. A machine learning algorithm, which improves the background rejection power by more than an order of magnitude, is applied to improve the sensitivity. The observation is consistent with the standard model background prediction, and the results are used to constrain split supersymmetry (SUSY) and gauge-mediated SUSY breaking models with different gluino mean proper decay lengths and masses. This search is the first CMS search that shows sensitivity to hadronically decaying long-lived particles from signals with mass differences between the gluino and neutralino below 100 GeV. It sets the most stringent limits to date for split-SUSY models and gauge-mediated SUSY breaking models with gluino proper decay length less than 6 $\mu$m.
Distributions of $S_{\mathrm{ML}}$ for data, simulated background and signal events with $n_{\mathrm{track}}$ of 3. The distributions are shown for split-SUSY signals with a gluino mass of 2000 GeV and neutralino mass of 1900 GeV. Different gluino proper decay lengths are shown as $c\tau$ in the legend. All distributions are normalized to unity.
Distributions of $S_{\mathrm{ML}}$ for data, simulated background and signal events with $n_{\mathrm{track}}$ of 3. The distributions are shown for split-SUSY signals with a gluino mass of 2000 GeV and neutralino mass of 1800 GeV. Different gluino proper decay lengths are shown as $c\tau$ in the legend. All distributions are normalized to unity.
Distributions of $S_{\mathrm{ML}}$ for data, simulated background and signal events with $n_{\mathrm{track}}$ of 4. The distributions are shown for split-SUSY signals with a gluino mass of 2000 GeV and neutralino mass of 1900 GeV. Different gluino proper decay lengths are shown as $c\tau$ in the legend. All distributions are normalized to unity.
A study of the anomalous couplings of the Higgs boson to vector bosons, including $CP$-violation effects, has been conducted using its production and decay in the WW channel. This analysis is performed on proton-proton collision data collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC during 2016-2018 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The different-flavor dilepton (e$\mu$) final state is analyzed, with dedicated categories targeting gluon fusion, electroweak vector boson fusion, and associated production with a W or Z boson. Kinematic information from associated jets is combined using matrix element techniques to increase the sensitivity to anomalous effects at the production vertex. A simultaneous measurement of four Higgs boson couplings to electroweak vector bosons is performed in the framework of a standard model effective field theory. All measurements are consistent with the expectations for the standard model Higgs boson and constraints are set on the fractional contribution of the anomalous couplings to the Higgs boson production cross section.
Expected profiled likelihood on $f_{a2}$ using Approach 1. The signal strength modifiers are treated as free parameters. Axis scales are varied to improve the visibility of important features.
Observed profiled likelihood on $f_{a2}$ using Approach 1. The signal strength modifiers are treated as free parameters. Axis scales are varied to improve the visibility of important features.
Expected profiled likelihood on $f_{\Lambda1}$ using Approach 1. The signal strength modifiers are treated as free parameters. Axis scales are varied to improve the visibility of important features.
A search for long-lived heavy neutrinos (N) in the decays of \PB mesons produced in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV is presented. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 41.6 fb$^{-1}$ collected in 2018 by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC, using a dedicated data stream that enhances the number of recorded events containing B mesons. The search probes heavy neutrinos with masses in the range 1 $\lt$$m_\mathrm{N}$$\lt$ 3 GeV and decay lengths in the range 10$^{-2}$$\lt$$c\tau$$\lt$ 10$^{4}$ mm, where $\tau_\mathrm{N}$ is the N proper mean lifetime. Signal events are defined by the signature B $\to$$\ell_\mathrm{B}$NX; N $\to$$\ell^{\pm} \pi^{\mp}$, where the leptons $\ell_\mathrm{B}$ and $\ell$ can be either a muon or an electron, provided that at least one of them is a muon. The hadronic recoil system, X, is treated inclusively and is not reconstructed. No significant excess of events over the standard model background is observed in any of the $\ell^{\pm}\pi^{\mp}$ invariant mass distributions. Limits at 95% confidence level on the sum of the squares of the mixing amplitudes between heavy and light neutrinos, $\vert V_\mathrm{N}\vert^2$, and on $c\tau$ are obtained in different mixing scenarios for both Majorana and Dirac-like N particles. The most stringent upper limit $\vert V_\mathrm{N}\vert^2$ $\lt$ 2.0$\times$10$^{-5}$ is obtained at $m_\mathrm{N}$ = 1.95 GeV for the Majorana case where N mixes exclusively with muon neutrinos. The limits on $\vert V_\mathrm{N}\vert^2$ for masses 1 $\lt$ $m_\mathrm{N}$ $\lt$ 1.7 GeV are the most stringent from a collider experiment to date.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on $|V_\mathrm{N}|^2$ as a function of $m_\mathrm{N}$ for the mixing scenario ($r_e$, $r_\mu$, $r_\tau$) = (0.0, 1.0, 0.0) and in the Majorana scenario.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on $|V_\mathrm{N}|^2$ as a function of $m_\mathrm{N}$ for the mixing scenario ($r_e$, $r_\mu$, $r_\tau$) = (0.0, 0.5, 0.5) and in the Majorana scenario.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on $|V_\mathrm{N}|^2$ as a function of $m_\mathrm{N}$ for the mixing scenario ($r_e$, $r_\mu$, $r_\tau$) = (0.5, 0.5, 0.0) and in the Majorana scenario.
A search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson (H) with a mass of 125 GeV to a pair of light pseudoscalars $\mathrm{a}_1$ is performed in final states where one pseudoscalar decays to two b quarks and the other to a pair of muons or $\tau$ leptons. A data sample of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ recorded with the CMS detector is analyzed. No statistically significant excess is observed over the standard model backgrounds. Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level (CL) on the Higgs boson branching fraction to $\mu\mu$bb and to $\tau\tau$bb, via a pair of $\mathrm{a}_1$s. The limits depend on the pseudoscalar mass $m_{\mathrm{a}_1}$ and are observed to be in the range (0.17-3.3) $\times$ 10$^{-4}$ and (1.7-7.7) $\times$ 10$^{2}$ in the $\mu\mu$bb and $\tau\tau$bb final states, respectively. In the framework of models with two Higgs doublets and a complex scalar singlet (2HDM+S), the results of the two final states are combined to determine model-independent upper limits on the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}$(H $\to$ $\mathrm{a}_1\mathrm{a}_1$ $\to$ $\ell\ell$bb) at 95% CL, with $\ell$ being a muon or a $\tau$ lepton. For different types of 2HDM+S, upper bounds on the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}$(H $\to$ $\mathrm{a}_1\mathrm{a}_1$) are extracted from the combination of the two channels. In most of the Type II 2HDM+S parameter space, $\mathcal{B}($H $\to$ $\mathrm{a}_1\mathrm{a}_1$) values above 0.23 are excluded at 95% CL for $m_{\mathrm{a}_1}$ values between 15 and 60 GeV.
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on B($\text{H} \rightarrow \text{a}_{1}\text{a}_{1} \rightarrow \mu\mu$bb) as functions of $m_{\text{a}_{1}}$. The inner and outer bands indicate the regions containing the distribution of limits located within 68 and 95% confidence intervals, respectively, of the expectation under the background-only hypothesis.
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on B($\text{H} \rightarrow \text{a}_{1}\text{a}_{1} \rightarrow \tau\tau$bb) in percent as functions of $m_{\text{a}_{1}}$, for the combination of the $\mu\tau_{\text{h}}$, $e\tau_{\text{h}}$, and $e\mu$ channels. The inner and outer bands indicate the regions containing the distribution of limits located within 68 and 95% confidence intervals, respectively, of the expectation under the background-only hypothesis.
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on B($\text{H} \rightarrow \text{a}_{1}\text{a}_{1} \rightarrow ll$bb) in percent, where $l$ stands for muons or $\tau$ leptons, obtained from the combination of the $\mu\mu$bb and $\tau\tau$bb channels. The results are obtained as functions $m_{\text{a}_{1}}$ for 2HDM+S models, independent of the type and tan $\beta$ parameter. The inner and outer bands indicate the regions containing the distribution of limits located within 68 and 95% confidence intervals, respectively, of the expectation under the background-only hypothesis.
A search is described for the production of a pair of bottom-type vector-like quarks (B VLQs) with mass greater than 1000 GeV. Each B VLQ decays into a b quark and a Higgs boson, a b quark and a Z boson, or a t quark and a W boson. This analysis considers both fully hadronic final states and those containing a charged lepton pair from a Z boson decay. The products of the H $to$ bb boson decay and of the hadronic Z or W boson decays can be resolved as two distinct jets or merged into a single jet, so the final states are classified by the number of reconstructed jets. The analysis uses data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ collected in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC from 2016 to 2018. No excess over the expected background is observed. Lower limits are set on the B VLQ mass at 95% confidence level. These depend on the B VLQ branching fractions and are 1570 and 1540 GeV for 100% B $\to$ bH and 100% B $\to$ bZ, respectively. In most cases, the mass limits obtained exceed previous limits by at least 100 GeV.
Distributions of reconstructed VLQ mass for expected postfit background (blue histogram), signal plus background (colored lines), and observed data (black points) for events in the hadronic 4-jet bHbH channel.
Distributions of reconstructed VLQ mass for expected postfit background (blue histogram), signal plus background (colored lines), and observed data (black points) for events in the hadronic 4-jet bHbZ channel.
Distributions of reconstructed VLQ mass for expected postfit background (blue histogram), signal plus background (colored lines), and observed data (black points) for events in the hadronic 4-jet bZbZ channel.
A search is presented for baryon number violating interactions in top quark production and decay. The analysis uses data from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected with the CMS detector at the LHC with an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Candidate events are selected by requiring two oppositely-charged leptons (electrons or muons) and exactly one jet identified as originating from a bottom quark. Multivariate discriminants are used to separate the signal from the background. No significant deviation from the standard model prediction is observed. Upper limits are placed on the strength of baryon number violating couplings. For the first time the production of single top quarks via baryon number violating interactions is studied. This allows the search to set the most stringent constraints to date on the branching fraction of the top quark decay to a lepton, an up-type quark (u or c), and a down-type quark (d, s, or b). The results improve the previous bounds by three to six orders of magnitude based on the fermion flavor combination of the baryon number violating interactions.
The observed upper limits on the branching fractions of the top quark BNV decays are shown with circle and triangle shapes for electron and muon couplings, respectively. The observed limits corresponding to the $C_t$ and $C_s$ coefficients are shown with filled and open markers, respectively. The yellow light (green dark) bands indicate the range within plus or minus one (two) standard deviations bands around the expected limits.
A search for long-lived particles (LLPs) decaying in the CMS muon detectors is presented. A data sample of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ recorded at the LHC in 2016-2018, is used. The decays of LLPs are reconstructed as high multiplicity clusters of hits in the muon detectors. In the context of twin Higgs models, the search is sensitive to LLP masses from 0.4 to 55 GeV and a broad range of LLP decay modes, including decays to hadrons, $\tau$ leptons, electrons, or photons. No excess of events above the standard model background is observed. The most stringent limits to date from LHC data are set on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson decay to a pair of LLPs with masses below 10 GeV. This search also provides the best limits for various intervals of LLP proper decay length and mass. Finally, this search sets the first limits at the LHC on a dark quantum chromodynamic sector whose particles couple to the Higgs boson through gluon, Higgs boson, photon, vector, and dark-photon portals, and is sensitive to branching fractions of the Higgs boson to dark quarks as low as 2$\times$10$^{-3}$.
The cluster reconstruction efficiency, including both DT and CSC clusters, as a function of the simulated r and |z| decay positions of the particle S decaying to $d\bar{d}$ in events with $\it{p}_{T}^\text{miss} >$ 200 GeV, for a mass of 40 GeV and a range of c$\tau$ values uniformly distributed between 1 and 10 m.
The DT cluster reconstruction efficiency as a function of the simulated r decay positions of S decaying to $d\bar{d}$ in events with $\it{p}_{T}^\text{miss} >$ 200 GeV, for a mass of 40 GeV and a range of c$\tau$ values between 1 and 10 m. The clusters are selected from signal events satisfying the $\it{p}_{T}^\text{miss} >$ 200 GeV requirement.
The CSC cluster reconstruction efficiency as a function of the simulated |z| decay positions of S decaying to $d\bar{d}$ in events with $\it{p}_{T}^\text{miss} >$ 200 GeV, for a mass of 40 GeV and a range of c$\tau$ values between 1 and 10 m. The clusters are selected from signal events satisfying the $\it{p}_{T}^\text{miss} >$ 200 GeV requirement.
A search for pair production of scalar and vector leptoquarks (LQs) each decaying to a muon and a bottom quark is performed using proton-proton collision data collected at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. No excess above standard model expectation is observed. Scalar (vector) LQs with masses less than 1810 (2120) GeV are excluded at 95% confidence level, assuming a 100% branching fraction of the LQ decaying to a muon and a bottom quark. These limits represent the most stringent to date.
Comparison of data and background pT distribution at the preselection level for the first leading muon.
Comparison of data and background pT distribution at the preselection level for the second leading muon.
Comparison of data and background pT distribution at the preselection level for the first leading jet.
A search for beyond the standard model spin-0 bosons, $\phi$, that decay into pairs of electrons, muons, or tau leptons is presented. The search targets the associated production of such bosons with a W or Z gauge boson, or a top quark-antiquark pair, and uses events with three or four charged leptons, including hadronically decaying tau leptons. The proton-proton collision data set used in the analysis was collected at the LHC from 2016 to 2018 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The observations are consistent with the predictions from standard model processes. Upper limits are placed on the product of cross sections and branching fractions of such new particles over the mass range of 15 to 350 GeV with scalar, pseudoscalar, or Higgs-boson-like couplings, as well as on the product of coupling parameters and branching fractions. Several model-dependent exclusion limits are also presented. For a Higgs-boson-like $\phi$ model, limits are set on the mixing angle of the Higgs boson with the $\phi$ boson. For the associated production of a $\phi$ boson with a top quark-antiquark pair, limits are set on the coupling to top quarks. Finally, limits are set for the first time on a fermiophilic dilaton-like model with scalar couplings and a fermiophilic axion-like model with pseudoscalar couplings.
Cross sections for the W$\phi$, Z$\phi$, and $t\bar{t}\phi$ signal models as a function of the $\phi$ boson mass in GeV. All cross sections are inclusive of all W, Z, $t\bar{t}$ and $\phi$ decay modes.
Binned representation of the control and signal regions for the combined multilepton event selection and the combined 2016–2018 data set. The control region bins follow their definitions as given in Table 1 of the paper, and the signal region bins correspond to the channels as defined by the lepton flavor composition. The normalizations of the background samples in the control regions are described in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of the paper. All three (four) lepton events are required to have $\mathrm{Q_{\ell}=1 (0)}$, and those satisfying any of the control region requirements are removed from the signal region bins. All subsequent selections given in Tables 2 and 3 of the paper are based on events given in the signal region bins. The lower panel shows the ratio of observed events to the total expected SM background prediction (Obs/Exp), and the gray band represents the statistical uncertainties in the background prediction.
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on the product of the signal production cross section and branching fraction of the $t\bar{t} \phi$ Scalar with $\phi$ decaying into dielectron pair. Theory cross section for all signals is provived in separate figure Cross section ($pp \rightarrow \ X\phi) [pb]$.
A search is presented for new Higgs bosons in proton-proton (pp) collision events in which a same-sign top quark pair is produced in association with a jet, via the pp $\to$ tH/A $\to$ t$\mathrm{\bar{t}}$c and pp $\to$ tH/A $\to$ t$\mathrm{\bar{t}}$u processes. Here, H and A represent the extra scalar and pseudoscalar boson, respectively, of the second Higgs doublet in the generalized two-Higgs-doublet model (g2HDM). The search is based on pp collision data collected at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Final states with a same-sign lepton pair in association with jets and missing transverse momentum are considered. New Higgs bosons in the 200-1000 GeV mass range and new Yukawa couplings between 0.1 and 1.0 are targeted in the search, for scenarios in which either H or A appear alone, or in which they coexist and interfere. No significant excess above the standard model prediction is observed. Exclusion limits are derived in the context of the g2HDM.
Pre-fit distributon for leading jet's CvsL variable.
Pre-fit distributon for leading jet's CvsB variable.
Post-fit distributon of BDT discriminants for $\rho_{tu}=1.0$ with $m_A$ = 350 GeV interfered with H.($m_A - m_H$ = 50 GeV)
The production of prompt $\Lambda^+_\mathrm{c}$ baryons is measured via the exclusive decay channel $\Lambda^+_\mathrm{c}$$\to$ pK$^-\pi^+$ at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 5.02 TeV, using proton-proton (pp) and lead-lead (PbPb) collision data collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. The pp and PbPb data were obtained in 2017 and 2018 with integrated luminosities of 252 and 0.607 nb$^{-1}$, respectively. The measurements are performed within the $\Lambda^+_\mathrm{c}$ rapidity interval $\vert y \vert$$\lt$ 1 with transverse momentum ($p_\mathrm{T}$) ranges of 3-30 and 6-40 GeV/$c$ for pp and PbPb collisions, respectively. Compared to the yields in pp collisions scaled by the expected number of nucleon-nucleon interactions, the observed yields of $\Lambda^+_\mathrm{c}$ with $p_\mathrm{T}$$\gt$ 10 GeV/$c$ are strongly suppressed in PbPb collisions. The level of suppression depends significantly on the collision centrality. The $\Lambda^+_\mathrm{c}$ / D$^0$ production ratio is similar in PbPb and pp collisions at $p_\mathrm{T}$$\gt$ 10 GeV/$c$, suggesting that the coalescence process does not play a dominant role in prompt $\Lambda^+_\mathrm{c}$ baryon production at higher $p_\mathrm{T}$.
The product of acceptance and efficiency ($A \epsilon$) as a function of $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ for prompt $\Lambda^+_c$ in pp collisions and within centrality regions of 0-90, 0-10, 10-30, 30-50 and 50-90% in PbPb collisions.
The $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ differential cross sections for prompt $\Lambda^+_c$ production in pp collisions. The global fit uncertainty is 8.6%.
The $\mathrm{T_{AA}}$-scaled $\Lambda^+_c$ yields as a function of $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ for PbPb collisions within centrality regions of 0-90, 0-10, 10-30, 30-50 and 50-90%.
A search for the production of a top quark in association with a photon and additional jets via flavor changing neutral current interactions is presented. The analysis uses proton-proton collision data recorded by the CMS detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The search is performed by looking for processes where a single top quark is produced in association with a photon, or a pair of top quarks where one of the top quarks decays into a photon and an up or charm quark. Events with an electron or a muon, a photon, one or more jets, and missing transverse momentum are selected. Multivariate analysis techniques are used to discriminate signal and standard model background processes. No significant deviation is observed over the predicted background. Observed (expected) upper limits are set on the branching fractions of top quark decays: $\mathcal{B}$(t $\to$ u$\gamma$) $\lt$ 0.95 $\times$ 10$^{-5}$ (1.20 $\times$ 10$^{-5}$) and $\mathcal{B}$(t $\to$ c$\gamma$) $\lt$ 1.51 $\times$ 10$^{-5}$ (1.54 $\times$ 10$^{-5}$) at 95% confidence level, assuming a single nonzero coupling at a time. The obtained limit for $\mathcal{B}$(t $\to$ u$\gamma$) is similar to the current best limit, while the limit for $\mathcal{B}$(t $\to$ c$\gamma$) is significantly tighter than previous results.
Expected and observed 95\% CL upper limits on the branching fraction as well as FCNC couplings of the top quark decaying to the photon and a light-flavor quark (either an up or a charm quark)
A search for an exotic decay of the Higgs boson to a Z boson and a light pseudoscalar particle (a), decaying to a pair of leptons and a pair of photons, respectively, is presented. The search is based on proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, collected with the CMS detector and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The analysis probes pseudoscalar masses $m_\mathrm{a}$ between 1 and 30 GeV, leading to two pairs of well-isolated leptons and photons. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the Higgs boson production cross section times its branching fraction to two leptons and two photons. The observed (expected) limits are in the range of 1.1-17.8 (1.7-17.9) fb within the probed $m_\mathrm{a}$ interval. An excess of data above the expected standard model background with a local (global) significance of 2.6 (1.3) standard deviations is observed for a mass hypothesis of $m_\mathrm{a}$ = 3 GeV. Limits on models involving axion-like particles, formulated as an effective field theory, are also reported.
Exclusion limits on the product of the production cross section and the branching fraction, as a function of the pseudoscalar mass hypothesis.
Exclusion limits on $C_{Zh}^{eff}$, as a function of the pseudoscalar mass hypothesis.
Product of detector efficiency and analysis acceptance for signal samples with various $m_a$ values for the electron channel.
A search for Higgs boson pair (HH) production with one Higgs boson decaying to two bottom quarks and the other to two W bosons are presented. The search is done using proton-proton collisions data at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC from 2016 to 2018. The final states considered include at least one leptonically decaying W boson. No evidence for the presence of a signal is observed and corresponding upper limits on the HH production cross section are derived. The limit on the inclusive cross section of the nonresonant HH production, assuming that the distributions of kinematic observables are as expected in the standard model (SM), is observed (expected) to be 14 (18) times the value predicted by the SM, at 95% confidence level. The limits on the cross section are also presented as functions of various Higgs boson coupling modifiers, and anomalous Higgs boson coupling scenarios. In addition, limits are set on the resonant HH production via spin-0 and spin-2 resonances within the mass range 250-900 GeV.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the production of new particles X of spin-2 and mass $m_X$ in the range 250 $\leq m_X \leq$ 900 GeV, which decay to Higgs boson pairs.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the production of new particles X of spin-0 and mass $m_X$ in the range 250 $\leq m_X \leq$ 900 GeV, which decay to Higgs boson pairs.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the inclusive nonresonant HH production cross section obtained for both single-lepton and dilepton channels, and from their combination
Energy correlators that describe energy-weighted distances between two or three particles in a jet are measured using an event sample of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV proton-proton collisions collected by the CMS experiment and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.3 fb$^{-1}$. The measured distributions reveal two key features of the strong interaction: confinement and asymptotic freedom. By comparing the ratio of the two measured distributions with theoretical calculations that resum collinear emissions at approximate next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy matched to a next-to-leading order calculation, the strong coupling is determined at the Z boson mass: $\alpha_\mathrm{S}(m_\mathrm{Z})$ = 0.1229$^{+0.0040}_{-0.0050}$, the most precise $\alpha_\mathrm{S}(m_\mathrm{Z})$ value obtained using jet substructure observables.
Unfolded E2C distributions in data compared to MC predictions.
Unfolded E2C distributions in data compared to MC predictions.
Unfolded E2C distributions in data compared to MC predictions.
Despite the f$_0$(980) hadron having been discovered half a century ago, the question about its quark content has not been settled: it might be an ordinary quark-antiquark ($\mathrm{q\bar{q}}$) meson, a tetraquark ($\mathrm{q\bar{q}q\bar{q}}$) exotic state, a kaon-antikaon ($\mathrm{K\bar{K}}$) molecule, or a quark-antiquark-gluon ($\mathrm{q\bar{q}g}$) hybrid. This paper reports strong evidence that the f$_0$(980) state is an ordinary $\mathrm{q\bar{q}}$ meson, inferred from the scaling of elliptic anisotropies ($v_2$) with the number of constituent quarks ($n_\mathrm{q}$), as empirically established using conventional hadrons in relativistic heavy ion collisions. The f$_0$(980) state is reconstructed via its dominant decay channel f$_0$(980) $\to$$\pi^+\pi^-$, in proton-lead collisions recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC, and its $v_2$ is measured as a function of transverse momentum ($p_\mathrm{T}$). It is found that the $n_q$ = 2 ($\mathrm{q\bar{q}}$ state) hypothesis is favored over $n_q$ = 4 ($\mathrm{q\bar{q}q\bar{q}}$ or $\mathrm{K\bar{K}}$ states) by 7.7, 6.3, or 3.1 standard deviations in the $p_\mathrm{T}$$\lt$ 10, 8, or 6 GeV/$c$ ranges, respectively, and over $n_\mathrm{q}$ = 3 ($\mathrm{q\bar{q}g}$ hybrid state) by 3.5 standard deviations in the $p_\mathrm{T}$$\lt$ 8 GeV/$c$ range. This result represents the first determination of the quark content of the f$_0$(980) state, made possible by using a novel approach, and paves the way for similar studies of other exotic hadron candidates.
The elliptic flow, $v_{2}$, for $f_0(980)$ as a function of $p_{T}$ in pPb collision at 8.16 TeV.
The elliptic flow after nonflow subtraction, $v_{2}^{sub}$, for $f_0(980)$ as a function of $p_{T}$ in pPb collision at 8.16 TeV.
The elliptic flow after nonflow subtraction, $v_{2}^{sub}/2$, for $f_0(980)$ as a function of $<KE_{T}>/2$ in pPb collision at 8.16 TeV.
A search for partonic collective effects inside jets produced in proton-proton collisions is performed via correlation measurements of charged constituents using the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The analysis uses data collected at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Jets are reconstructed with the anti-$k_\mathrm{T}$ algorithm with a distance parameter of 0.8 and are required to have transverse momentum greater than 550 GeV and pseudorapidity $\lvert\eta\rvert$$\lt$ 1.6. Two-particle correlations among the charged constituents within the jets are studied as functions of the particles' azimuthal angle and pseudorapidity separations ($\Delta\phi^*$ and $\Delta\eta^*$) in a jet coordinate basis, where constituents' $\eta^*$, $\phi^*$ are defined relative to the direction of the jet. The correlation functions are studied in classes of in-jet charged-particle multiplicity up to $N_\text{ch}^\mathrm{j}$$\approx$ 100. Fourier harmonics are extracted from long-range azimuthal correlation functions to characterize azimuthal anisotropy for $\lvert\Delta\eta^*\rvert$$\gt$ 2. For low-multiplicity jets, the long-range elliptic anisotropic harmonic, $v^*_2$, is observed to decrease with $N_\text{ch}^\mathrm{j}$. This trend is well described by Monte Carlo event generators. However, a rising trend for $v^*_2$ emerges at $N_\text{ch}^\mathrm{j}$$\gtrsim$ 80, hinting at a possible onset of collective behavior, which is not reproduced by the models tested. This observation yields new insights into the dynamics of parton fragmentation processes in the vacuum.
Examples of two-particle angular correlations projected onto 1D $\Delta\phi^*$ for $\abs{\Delta\eta^*}>2$.
A continuous evolution of extracted two-particle Fourier coefficients $V^*_{N\Delta}$ as a function of $N_{ch}^{j}$.
The single-particle elliptic anisotropies $v^*_2$, as a function of $N_{ch}^{j}$.
Measurements of the charge-dependent two-particle angular correlation function in proton-lead (pPb) collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV and lead-lead (PbPb) collisions at$\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV are reported. The pPb and PbPb datasets correspond to integrated luminosities of 186\nbinv and 0.607 nb$^{-1}$, respectively, and were collected using the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The charge-dependent correlations are characterized by balance functions of same- and opposite-sign particle pairs. The balance functions, which contain information about the creation time of charged particle pairs and the development of collectivity, are studied as functions of relative pseudorapidity ($\Delta \eta$) and relative azimuthal angle ($\Delta \phi$), for various multiplicity and transverse momentum ($p_\mathrm{T}$) intervals. A multiplicity dependence of the balance function is observed in $\Delta \eta$ and $\Delta \phi$ for both systems. The width of the balance functions decreases towards high-multiplicity collisions in the momentum region $\lt$2 GeV, for pPb and PbPb results. No multiplicity dependence is observed at higher transverse momentum. The data are compared with HYDJET, HIJING and AMPT generator predictions, none of which capture completely the multiplicity dependence seen in the data.
$\Delta\eta$ projection of balance function in low $p_{T}$ in 0-10% centrality
$\Delta\eta$ projection of balance function in low $p_{T}$ in 30-40% centrality
$\Delta\eta$ projection of balance function in low $p_{T}$ in 70-80% centrality
A search for dark matter particles is performed using events with a pair of W bosons and large missing transverse momentum. Candidate events are selected by requiring one or two leptons ($\ell =$ electrons or muons). The analysis is based on proton-proton collision data collected at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV by the CMS experiment at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. No significant excess over the expected standard model background is observed in the $\ell\nu$qq and 2$\ell$2$\nu$ final states of the W$^+$W$^-$ boson pair. Limits are set on dark matter production in the context of a simplified dark Higgs model, with a dark Higgs boson mass above the W$^+$W$^-$ mass threshold. The dark matter phase space is probed in the mass range 100-300 GeV, extending the scope of previous searches. Current exclusion limits are improved in the range of dark Higgs masses from 160 to 250 GeV, for a dark matter mass of 200 GeV.
Leading lepton $p_T$ pre-fit distribution for selected events in SR1 of the di-leptonic channel for the full dataset. The error bars on the data points represent the statistical uncertainty of the data, and the error bars on the predicted yields represent the combined systematic and statistical uncertainty in each bin. The signal prediction represents the mass point: $m_s = 160 GeV, m_{\chi} = 100 GeV, m_{Z'} = 500 GeV$. The last bin includes the overflow.
Trailing lepton $p_T$ pre-fit distribution for selected events in SR1 of the di-leptonic channel for the full dataset. The error bars on the data points represent the statistical uncertainty of the data, and the error bars on the predicted yields represent the combined systematic and statistical uncertainty in each bin. The signal prediction represents the mass point: $m_s = 160 GeV, m_{\chi} = 100 GeV, m_{Z'} = 500 GeV$. The last bin includes the overflow.
Missing $p_T$ pre-fit distribution for selected events in SR2 of the di-leptonic channel for the full dataset. The error bars on the data points represent the statistical uncertainty of the data, and the error bars on the predicted yields represent the combined systematic and statistical uncertainty in each bin. The signal prediction represents the mass point: $m_s = 160 GeV, m_{\chi} = 100 GeV, m_{Z'} = 500 GeV$. The last bin includes the overflow.
Two-particle Bose-Einstein momentum correlation functions are studied for charged-hadron pairs in lead-lead collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV. The data sample, containing 4.27 $\times$$10^{9}$ minimum bias events corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.607 nb$^{-1}$, was collected by the CMS experiment in 2018. The experimental results are discussed in terms of a Lévy-type source distribution. The parameters of this distribution are extracted as functions of particle pair average transverse mass and collision centrality. These parameters include the Lévy index or shape parameter ($\alpha$), the Lévy scale parameter ($R$), and the correlation strength parameter ($\lambda$). The source shape, characterized by $\alpha$, is found to be neither Cauchy nor Gaussian, implying the need for a full Lévy analysis. Similarly to what was previously found for systems characterized by Gaussian source radii, a hydrodynamical scaling is observed for the Lévy $R$ parameter. The $\lambda$ parameter is studied in terms of the core-halo model.
The correlation function $C_2(q)$ of negatively charged hadron pairs with $1.00<K_{\mathrm{T}}<1.05$ GeV/$c$ in the 10-20% centrality bin.
The double-ratio correlation function $DR(q)$ of negatively charged hadron pairs with $1.30<K_{\mathrm{T}}<1.35$ GeV/$c$ in the 20-30% centrality bin.
The two-particle correlation function of negatively charged hadron pairs with $0.9<K_{\mathrm{T}}<1.3$ GeV/$c$ in the 0-100% centrality range, calculated using MC events with (Reco) and without (Gen) detector reconstruction.
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