A search is presented for the decay of the 125 GeV Higgs boson (H) to a pair of new light pseudoscalar bosons (a), followed by the prompt decay of each a boson to a bottom quark-antiquark pair, H $\to$ aa $\to$$\mathrm{b\bar{b}b\bar{b}}$. The analysis is performed using a data sample of proton-proton collisions collected with the CMS detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. To reduce the background from standard model processes, the search requires the Higgs boson to be produced in association with a leptonically decaying W or Z boson. The analysis probes the production of new light bosons in a 15 $\lt$$m_\mathrm{a}$$\lt$ 60 GeV mass range. Assuming the standard model predictions for the Higgs boson production cross sections for pp $\to$ WH and ZH, model independent upper limits at 95% confidence level are derived for the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}$(H $\to$ aa $\to$ $\mathrm{b\bar{b}b\bar{b}}$). The combined WH and ZH observed upper limit on the branching fraction ranges from 1.10 for $m_\mathrm{a} =$ 20 GeV to 0.36 for $m_\mathrm{a} =$ 60 GeV, complementing other measurements in the $\mu\mu\tau\tau$, $\tau\tau\tau\tau$ and bb$\ell\ell$ ($\ell=$ $\mu$,$\tau$) channels.
Post-fit BDT distributions in the WH channel extracted with the ma = 60 GeV signal hypothesis. Signal regions for the 3b (upper) and 4b (lower) event categories are shown separately for the electron (left) and muon (right) channels. The dotted lines WH20 GeV, WH60 GeV, illustrate the shapes of the signal template normalised to the SM cross section times a branching fraction B(H → aa → bbbb) = 1 and scaled by the factors indicated in the figure. The horizontal error bars indicate the bin width.
Post-fit BDT distributions in the ZH channel extracted with the ma = 60 GeV signal hypothesis. Signal regions for the 3b (upper) and 4b (lower) event categories are shown separately for the electron (left) and muon (right) channels. The dotted lines ZH20 GeV and ZH60 GeV, illustrate the shapes of the signal template normalised to the SM cross section times a branching fraction B(H → aa → bbbb) = 1 and scaled by the factors indicated in the figure. The horizontal error bars indicate the bin width.
Model independent 95% CL upper limits on σ(VH) B(H → aa → bbbb)/σ(SM) for the WH channel (upper), the ZH channel (middle), and the combination of both channels (lower), where “a” is a new pseudoscalar particle decaying through a → bb, and σ(SM) is the SM Higgs boson production cross section.
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.
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.
A data sample containing top quark pairs ($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$) produced in association with a Lorentz-boosted Z or Higgs boson is used to search for signs of new physics using effective field theory. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions produced at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC and collected by the CMS experiment. Selected events contain a single lepton and hadronic jets, including two identified with the decay of bottom quarks, plus an additional large-radius jet with high transverse momentum identified as a Z or Higgs boson decaying to a bottom quark pair. Machine learning techniques are employed to discriminate between $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$Z or $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$H events and events from background processes, which are dominated by $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ + jets production. No indications of new physics are observed. The signal strengths of boosted $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$Z and $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$H production are measured, and upper limits are placed on the $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$Z and $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$H differential cross sections as functions of the Z or Higgs boson transverse momentum. The effects of new physics are probed using a framework in which the standard model is considered to be the low-energy effective field theory of a higher energy scale theory. Eight possible dimension-six operators are added to the standard model Lagrangian and their corresponding coefficients are constrained via fits to the data.
Negative log-likelihood difference in $\mu_{\text{ttH}}, \mu_{\text{ttZ}}$ for a Z or Higgs boson with a simulated pT $> 200$GeV
Negative log-likelihood difference in $\text{c}_{\text{t}\varphi}$ where the other Wilson coefficients are fixed to 0.
Negative log-likelihood difference in $\text{c}_{\varphi\text{Q}}^{-}$ where the other Wilson coefficients are fixed to 0.
Three searches are presented for signatures of physics beyond the standard model (SM) in $\tau\tau$ final states in proton-proton collisions at the LHC, using a data sample collected with the CMS detector at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Upper limits at 95% confidence level (CL) are set on the products of the branching fraction for the decay into $\tau$ leptons and the cross sections for the production of a new boson $\phi$, in addition to the H(125) boson, via gluon fusion (gg$\phi$) or in association with b quarks, ranging from $\mathcal{O}$(10 pb) for a mass of 60 GeV to 0.3 fb for a mass of 3.5 TeV each. The data reveal two excesses for gg$\phi$ production with local $p$-values equivalent to about three standard deviations at $m_\phi$ = 0.1 and 1.2 TeV. In a search for $t$-channel exchange of a vector leptoquark U$_1$, 95% CL upper limits are set on the dimensionless U$_1$ leptoquark coupling to quarks and $\tau$ leptons ranging from 1 for a mass of 1 TeV to 6 for a mass of 5 TeV, depending on the scenario. In the interpretations of the $M_\mathrm{h}^{125}$ and $M_\mathrm{h, EFT}^{125}$ minimal supersymmetric SM benchmark scenarios, additional Higgs bosons with masses below 350 GeV are excluded at 95% CL.
Expected and observed $95\%\text{ CL}$ upper limits on the product of the cross sections and branching fraction for the decay into $\tau$ leptons for $gg\phi$ production in a mass range of $60\leq m_\phi\leq 3500\text{ GeV}$, in addition to $\text{H}(125)$. The central $68$ and $95\%$ intervals are given in addition to the expected median value. In this case, $bb\phi$ production rate has been profiled. The peak in the expected $gg\phi$ limit is tribute to a loss of sensitivity around $90\text{ GeV}$ due to the background from $Z/\gamma^\ast\rightarrow\tau\tau$ events. Numerical values provided in this table correspond to Figure 10a of the publication.
Expected and observed $95\%\text{ CL}$ upper limits on the product of the cross sections and branching fraction for the decay into $\tau$ leptons for $bb\phi$ production in a mass range of $60\leq m_\phi\leq 3500\text{ GeV}$, in addition to $\text{H}(125)$. The central $68$ and $95\%$ intervals are given in addition to the expected median value. In this case, $gg\phi$ production rate has been profiled. Numerical values provided in this table correspond to Figure 10b of the publication.
Expected and observed $95\%\text{ CL}$ upper limits on the product of the cross sections and branching fraction for the decay into $\tau$ leptons for $gg\phi$ production in a mass range of $60\leq m_\phi\leq 3500\text{ GeV}$, in addition to $\text{H}(125)$. The central $68$ and $95\%$ intervals are given in addition to the expected median value. In this case, $bb\phi$ production rate has been fixed to zero. Numerical values provided in this table correspond to Figure 37 of the auxilliary material of the publication.
The results of a search for Higgs boson pair (HH) production in the WW*WW*, WW*$\tau\tau$, and $\tau\tau\tau\tau$ decay modes are presented. The search uses 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV from 2016 to 2018. Analyzed events contain two, three, or four reconstructed leptons, including electrons, muons, and hadronically decaying tau leptons. No evidence for a signal is found in the data. Upper limits are set on the cross section for nonresonant HH production, as well as resonant production in which a new heavy particle decays to a pair of Higgs bosons. For nonresonant production, the observed (expected) upper limit on the cross section at 95% confidence level (CL) is 21.3 (19.4) times the standard model (SM) prediction. The observed (expected) ratio of the trilinear Higgs boson self-coupling to its value in the SM is constrained to be within the interval $-$6.9 to 11.1 ($-$6.9 to 11.7) at 95% CL, and limits are set on a variety of new-physics models using an effective field theory approach. The observed (expected) limits on the cross section for resonant HH production range from 0.18 to 0.90 (0.08 to 1.06) pb at 95% CL for new heavy-particle masses in the range 250-1000 GeV.
Distribution of an input to the BDT classifier in the $2\ell$(ss) category: The scalar $p_{T}$ sum, denoted as $H_{T}$, of the two reconstructed $\ell$ and all small-radius jets.
Distribution of an input to the BDT classifier in the $2\ell$(ss) category: The angular separation $\Delta R$ between the two $\ell$.
Distribution of an input to the BDT classifier in the $3\ell$ category: The angular separation between $\ell_{3}$ and the nearest small-radius jet (j). The $\ell_{3}$ in is defined as the $\ell$ that is not part of the opposite-sign $\ell\ell$ pair of lowest mass.
A search for nonresonant Higgs boson (H) pair production via gluon and vector boson (V) fusion is performed in the four-bottom-quark final state, using proton-proton collision data at 13 TeV corresponding to 138 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The analysis targets Lorentz-boosted H pairs identified using a graph neural network. It constrains the strengths relative to the standard model of the H self-coupling and the quartic VVHH couplings, $\kappa_{2V}$, excluding $\kappa_{2V}$ = 0 for the first time, with a significance of 6.3 standard deviations when other H couplings are fixed to their standard model values.
The data and fitted signal and background distributions for the $D_{b\overline{b}}$-subleading jet regressed mass for the ggF BDT event category 1. The SM $HH$ ($\kappa_{2V}=\kappa_{V}=\kappa_{\lambda}=1$) signal is scaled to the best fit signal strength $\mu=3.5$.
The distributions of the invariant mass of the $HH$ system after a background-only fit to the data, for the VBF low-purity, medium-purity, and high-purity categories. The VBF signal corresponds to $\kappa_{2V} = 0$, $\kappa_{V} = \kappa_{\lambda} = 1$, with the error bar indicating the prefit uncertainty.
Two-parameter profile likelihood test statistic ($-2\Delta\ln\mathcal{L}$) scan in data as a function of $\kappa_{\lambda}$ and $\kappa_{2V}$.
A study of anomalous couplings of the Higgs boson to vector bosons and fermions is presented. The data were recorded by the CMS experiment at a center-of-mass energy of pp collisions at the LHC of 13 TeV and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The study uses Higgs boson candidates produced mainly in gluon fusion or electroweak vector boson fusion at the LHC that subsequently decay to a pair of $\tau$ leptons. Matrix-element and machine-learning techniques were employed in a search for anomalous interactions. The results are combined with those from the four-lepton and two-photon decay channels to yield the most stringent constraints on anomalous Higgs boson couplings to date. The pure $CP$-odd scenario of the Higgs boson coupling to gluons is excluded at 2.4 standard deviations. The results are consistent with the standard model predictions.
Observed likelihood scan of $f_{a3}^{\mathrm{ggH}}$ (MELA method).
Expected likelihood scan of $f_{a3}^{\mathrm{ggH}}$ (MELA method).
Observed likelihood scan of $f_{a3}^{\mathrm{ggH}}$ ($\Delta\phi_{\mathrm{jj}}$ method).
The first measurement of the CP structure of the Yukawa coupling between the Higgs boson and $\tau$ leptons is presented. The measurement is based on data collected in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV by the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. The analysis uses the angular correlation between the decay planes of $\tau$ leptons produced in Higgs boson decays. The effective mixing angle between CP-even and CP-odd $\tau$ Yukawa couplings is found to be $-$1 $\pm$ 19$^\circ$, compared to an expected value of 0 $\pm$ 21$^\circ$ at the 68.3% confidence level. The data disfavour the pure CP-odd scenario at 3.0 standard deviations. The results are compatible with predictions for the standard model Higgs boson.
Observed likelihood scan of $\alpha^{\mathrm{H}\tau\tau}$.
Expected likelihood scan of $\alpha^{\mathrm{H}\tau\tau}$.
Observed likelihood scan in the ($\alpha^{\mathrm{H}\tau\tau}$, $\mu$) plane.
A search for new heavy resonances decaying to pairs of bosons (WW, WZ, or WH) is presented. The analysis uses data from proton-proton collisions collected with the CMS detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. One of the bosons is required to be a W boson decaying to an electron or muon and a neutrino, while the other boson is required to be reconstructed as a single jet with mass and substructure compatible with a quark pair from a W, Z, or Higgs boson decay. The search is performed in the resonance mass range between 1.0 and 4.5 TeV and includes a specific search for resonances produced via vector boson fusion. The signal is extracted using a two-dimensional maximum likelihood fit to the jet mass and the diboson invariant mass distributions. No significant excess is observed above the estimated background. Model-independent upper limits on the production cross sections of spin-0, spin-1, and spin-2 heavy resonances are derived as functions of the resonance mass and are interpreted in the context of bulk radion, heavy vector triplet, and bulk graviton models. The reported bounds are the most stringent to date.
Exclusion limits on the product of the production cross section and the branching fraction for a Bulk Graviton produced by gluon fusion and decaying to WW, as a function of the resonance mass hypothesis.
Exclusion limits on the product of the production cross section and the branching fraction for a Bulk Graviton produced by vector boson fusion and decaying to WW, as a function of the resonance mass hypothesis.
Exclusion limits on the product of the production cross section and the branching fraction for a Radion produced by gluon fusion and decaying to WW, as a function of the resonance mass hypothesis.
Measurements of the inclusive and differential fiducial cross sections of the Higgs boson are presented, using the $\tau$ lepton decay channel. The differential cross sections are measured as functions of the Higgs boson transverse momentum, jet multiplicity, and transverse momentum of the leading jet in the event if any. The analysis is performed using proton-proton data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. These are the first differential measurements of the Higgs boson cross section in the final state of two $\tau$ leptons, and they constitute a significant improvement over measurements in other final states in events with a large jet multiplicity or with a Lorentz-boosted Higgs boson.
The fiducial differential signal strength and cross section in each Higgs pT bin. Both the unregularized and regularized signal strengths are given; they do not include uncertainties in the SM signal normalization. The fiducial cross section and its full uncertainty in each bin are also given. The last bin is inclusive.
The fiducial differential signal strength and cross section in each jet multiplicity bin. Both the unregularized and regularized signal strengths are given; they do not include uncertainties in the SM signal normalization. The fiducial cross section and its full uncertainty in each bin are also given. The last bin is inclusive.
The fiducial differential signal strength and cross section in each leading jet pT bin. Both the unregularized and regularized signal strengths are given; they do not include uncertainties in the SM signal normalization. The fiducial cross section and its full uncertainty in each bin are also given. The last bin is inclusive.
A search is presented for lepton-flavor violating decays of the Higgs boson to $\mu\tau$ and e$\tau$. The data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$ collected at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. No significant excess has been found, and the results are interpreted in terms of upper limits on lepton-flavor violating branching fractions of the Higgs boson. The observed (expected) upper limits on the branching fractions are, respectively, $\mathcal{B}($H $\to\mu\tau)$$\lt$ 0.15 (0.15)% and $\mathcal{B}($H$\to$e$\tau)$ $\lt$ 0.22 (0.16)% at 95% confidence level.
Observed (expected) 95% CL upper limits on $B(H\to\mu\tau)$ for each individual category and combined
Observed (expected) 95% CL upper limits on $B(H\to e\tau)$ for each individual category and combined
Summary of observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL, best fit branching fractions and corresponding constraints on Yukawa couplings for the $H\to\mu\tau$ and $H\to e\tau$ channels
A search is presented for a heavy vector resonance decaying into a Z boson and the standard model Higgs boson, where the Z boson is identified through its leptonic decays to electrons, muons, or neutrinos, and the Higgs boson is identified through its hadronic decays. The search is performed in a Lorentz-boosted regime and is based on data collected from 2016 to 2018 at the CERN LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. Upper limits are derived on the production of a narrow heavy resonance Z', and a mass below 3.5 and 3.7 TeV is excluded at 95% confidence level in models where the heavy vector boson couples exclusively to fermions and to bosons, respectively. These are the most stringent limits placed on the Heavy Vector Triplet Z' model to date. If the heavy vector boson couples exclusively to standard model bosons, upper limits on the product of the cross section and branching fraction are set between 23 and 0.3 fb for a Z' mass between 0.8 and 4.6 TeV, respectively. This is the first limit set on a heavy vector boson coupling exclusively to standard model bosons in its production and decay.
The product of signal acceptance and efficiency in the 0l categories for the signal produced via qqbar annihilation.
The product of signal acceptance and efficiency in the 2l categories for the signal produced via qqbar annihilation.
The product of signal acceptance and efficiency in the 0l categories for the signal produced via vector boson fusion.
Measurement of the fiducial inclusive and differential production cross sections of the Higgs boson in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV are performed using events where the Higgs boson decays into a pair of W bosons that subsequently decay into a final state with an electron, a muon, and a pair of neutrinos. The analysis is based on data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC during 2016-2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. Production cross sections are measured as a function of the transverse momentum of the Higgs boson and the associated jet multiplicity. The Higgs boson signal is extracted and simultaneously unfolded to correct for selection efficiency and resolution effects using maximum-likelihood fits to the observed distributions in data. The integrated fiducial cross section is measured to be 86.5 $\pm$ 9.5 fb, consistent with the Standard Model expectation of 82.5 $\pm$ 4.2 fb. No significant deviation from the Standard Model expectations is observed in the differential measurements.
The fiducial differential signal strength and cross section in each Higgs pT bin. Both the unregularized and regularized signal strengthes are given. For the regularized case the uncertainty breakdown is given in terms of statistical (stat), experimental (exp), theoretical uncertainties on the background (bkg) and on the signal (sig), and the luminosity uncertainty (lumi). The regularization estimated bias (bias) is also given. The fiducial cross section and its full uncertainty in each bin are also given. The last bin is inclusive.
The correlation matrix for the ptH measurements, both for the unregularized and regularized fits. The last bin is inclusive.
The fiducial differential signal strength and cross section in each njet bin. The uncertainty breakdown is given in terms of statistical (stat), experimental (exp), theoretical uncertainties on the background (bkg) and on the signal (sig), and the luminosity uncertainty (lumi). The fiducial cross section and its full uncertainty in each bin are also given. The last bin is inclusive.
A search is presented for pairs of light pseudoscalar bosons, in the mass range from 4 to 15 GeV, produced from decays of the 125 GeV Higgs boson. The decay modes considered are final states that arise when one of the pseudoscalars decays to a pair of tau leptons, and the other one either into a pair of tau leptons or muons. The search is based on proton-proton collisions collected by the CMS experiment in 2016 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV that correspond to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb${-1}$. The 2$\mu$2$\tau$ and 4$\tau$ channels are used in combination to constrain the product of the Higgs boson production cross section and the branching fraction into 4$\tau$ final state, $\sigma\mathcal{B}$, exploiting the linear dependence of the fermionic coupling strength of pseudoscalar bosons on the fermion mass. No significant excess is observed beyond the expectation from the standard model. The observed and expected upper limits at 95% confidence level on $\sigma\mathcal{B}$, relative to the standard model Higgs boson production cross section, are set respectively between 0.022 and 0.23 and between 0.027 and 0.19 in the mass range probed by the analysis.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on (sigma(pp->h)/sigma(pp->hSM)) * B(h -> aa -> tautautautau) as a function of m(a) obtained from the 13 TeV data, where h(SM) is the Higgs boson of the standard model, h is the observed particle with mass of 125 GeV, and (a) denotes a light Higgs-like state.
A search for new massive particles decaying into a pair of Higgs bosons in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV is presented. Data were collected with the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The search is performed for resonances with a mass between 0.8 and 3.5 TeV using events in which one Higgs boson decays into a bottom quark pair and the other decays into two W bosons that subsequently decay into a lepton, a neutrino, and a quark pair. The Higgs boson decays are reconstructed with techniques that identify final state quarks as substructure within boosted jets. The data are consistent with standard model expectations. Exclusion limits are placed on the product of the cross section and branching fraction for generic spin-0 and spin-2 massive resonances. The results are interpreted in the context of radion and bulk graviton production in models with a warped extra spatial dimension. These are the best results to date from searches for an HH resonance decaying to this final state, and they are comparable to the results from searches in other channels for resonances with masses below 1.5 TeV.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the product of the cross section and branching fraction to HH for a generic spin-0 (left) and spin-2 (right) boson X, as a function of mass. Example radion and bulk graviton predictions are also shown. The HH branching fraction is assumed to be 25 and 10%, respectively.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the product of the cross section and branching fraction to HH for a generic spin-0 (left) and spin-2 (right) boson X, as a function of mass. Example radion and bulk graviton predictions are also shown. The HH branching fraction is assumed to be 25 and 10%, respectively.
Differential Higgs boson (H) production cross sections are sensitive probes for physics beyond the standard model. New physics may contribute in the gluon-gluon fusion loop, the dominant Higgs boson production mechanism at the LHC, and manifest itself through deviations from the distributions predicted by the standard model. Combined spectra for the H $\to$ $\gamma\gamma$, H $\to$ ZZ, and H $\to$ $\mathrm{b\overline{b}}$ decay channels and the inclusive Higgs boson production cross section are presented, based on proton-proton collision data recorded with the CMS detector at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The transverse momentum spectrum is used to place limits on the Higgs boson couplings to the top, bottom, and charm quarks, as well as its direct coupling to the gluon field. No significant deviations from the standard model are observed in any differential distribution. The measured total cross section is 61.1 $\pm$ 6.0 (stat) $\pm$ 3.7 (syst) pb, and the precision of the measurement of the differential cross section of the Higgs boson transverse momentum is improved by about 15% with respect to the H $\to$ $\gamma\gamma$ channel alone.
Combined Higgs boson transverse momentum spectrum
Higgs boson transverse momentum spectrum, $H\rightarrow\gamma\gamma$
Higgs boson transverse momentum spectrum, $H\rightarrow ZZ$
A search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson to a pair of light pseudoscalar particles a$_1$ is performed under the hypothesis that one of the pseudoscalars decays to a pair of opposite sign muons and the other decays to b$\overline{\mathrm{b}}$. Such signatures are predicted in a number of extensions of the standard model (SM), including next-to-minimal supersymmetry and two-Higgs-doublet models with an additional scalar singlet. The results are based on a data set of proton-proton collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$, accumulated with the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC in 2016 at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. No statistically significant excess is observed with respect to the SM backgrounds in the search region for pseudoscalar masses from 20 GeV to half of the Higgs boson mass. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the product of the production cross section and branching fraction, $\sigma_{\mathrm{h}}\mathcal{B}$(h $\to$ a$_1$ a$_1$ $\to$ $\mu^+\mu^-\mathrm{b}\bar{\mathrm{b}}$), ranging from 5 to 33 fb, depending on the pseudoscalar mass. Corresponding limits on the branching fraction, assuming the SM prediction for $\sigma_{\mathrm{h}}$, are (1$-$7)$\times$ 10$^{-4}$.
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on the product of the Higgs boson production cross section and B(h->aa->mumubb)
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on the branching fraction of (h->aa->mumubb)
A search is presented for the production of a Higgs boson in association with a single top quark, based on data collected in 2016 by the CMS experiment at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, which corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The production cross section for this process is highly sensitive to the absolute values of the top quark Yukawa coupling, $y_t$, the Higgs boson coupling to vector bosons, $g_\mathrm{HVV}$, and, uniquely, to their relative sign. Analyses using multilepton signatures, targeting H $\to$ WW, H $\to$ $\tau\tau$, and H $\to$ ZZ decay modes, and signatures with a single lepton and a $\mathrm{b\overline{b}}$ pair, targeting the H $\to$ $\mathrm{b\overline{b}}$ decay, are combined with a reinterpretation of a measurement in the H $\to$ $\gamma\gamma$ channel to constrain $y_\mathrm{t}$. For a standard model-like value of $g_\mathrm{HVV}$, the data favor positive values of $y_\mathrm{t}$ and exclude values of $y_\mathrm{t}$ below about $-$0.9 $y_\mathrm{t}^\mathrm{SM}$.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on the tH production cross section times $H \to WW/ZZ/\tau\tau/b\bar{b}/\gamma\gamma$ branching fraction for a scenario of inverted couplings ($\kappa_t=-1.0$ and $\kappa_V=1.0$, top rows), vanishing top quark Yukawa coupling ($\kappa_t=0.0$ and $\kappa_V=1.0$, middle rows), and for an SM-like signal ($\kappa_t=1.0$ and $\kappa_V=1.0$, bottom rows), in pb. The Higgs to vector boson couplings is considered to be SM-like. The expected limit is calculated on a background-only data set, i.e., without tH contribution, but including a coupling dependent contribution from the ttH production. The ttH normalization is kept fixed in the fit, while the tH cross section is allowed to float. Limits can be compared to the expected product of tH cross sections and branching fractions of 0.83, 0.28, and 0.077 pb for the inverted top quark Yukawa coupling, the vanishing top-Yukawa and the SM-like scenario.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limit on the tH cross section times combined $HH \to WW/ZZ/\tau\tau/b\bar{b}/\gamma\gamma$ branching fraction for different values of the top-Yukawa coupling modifier, assuming SM-like Higgs to vector boson couplings. The expected limit is calculated on a background-only data set, i.e., without tH contribution, but including a coupling dependent contribution from the ttH production. The ttH normalization is kept fixed in the fit, while the tH cross section is allowed to float.
A search is presented for decays of Z and Higgs bosons to a J$/\psi$ meson and a photon, with the subsequent decay of the J$/\psi$ to $\mu^+\mu^-$. The analysis uses data from proton-proton collisions with an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. The observed limit on the Z $\to$ J$/\psi \gamma$ decay branching fraction, assuming that the J$/\psi$ meson is produced unpolarized, is 1.4 $\times$ 10$^{-6}$ at 95% confidence level, which corresponds to a rate higher than expected in the standard model by a factor of 15. For extreme-polarization scenarios, the observed limit changes from -13.6 to +8.6% with respect to the unpolarized scenario. The observed upper limit on the branching fraction for H $\to$ J$/\psi \gamma$ where the J$/\psi$ meson is assumed to be transversely polarized is 7.6 $\times$ 10$^{-4}$, a factor of 260 larger than the standard model prediction. The results for the Higgs boson are combined with previous data from proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 8 TeV to produce an observed upper limit on the branching fraction for H $\to$ J$/\psi \gamma$ that is a factor of 220 larger than the standard model value.
Upper observed and expected limits on branching fraction of $Z (H)\rightarrow J/\psi\gamma$ decay of the $Z (H)$ boson.
The observation of the standard model (SM) Higgs boson decay to a pair of bottom quarks is presented. The main contribution to this result is from processes in which Higgs bosons are produced in association with a W or Z boson (VH), and are searched for in final states including 0, 1, or 2 charged leptons and two identified bottom quark jets. The results from the measurement of these processes in a data sample recorded by the CMS experiment in 2017, comprising 41.3 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV, are described. When combined with previous VH measurements using data collected at $\sqrt{s}=$ 7, 8, and 13 TeV, an excess of events is observed at $m_\mathrm{H} =$ 125.09 GeV with a significance of 4.8 standard deviations, where the expectation for the SM Higgs boson is 4.9. The corresponding measured signal strength is 1.01 $\pm$ 0.22. The combination of this result with searches by the CMS experiment for H $\to\mathrm{b\overline{b}}$ in other production processes yields an observed (expected) significance of 5.6 (5.5) standard deviations and a signal strength of 1.04 $\pm$ 0.20.
Expected and observed significances, in number of standard deviations, and observed signal strengths for the VH production process with H-->b bbar. Results are shown separately for 2017 data, combined Run 2 (2016 and 2017 data), and for the combination of the Run 1 and Run 2 data. For the 2017 analysis, results are shown separately for the individual mu value for each channel from a combined simultaneous fit to all channels. All results are obtained for mH=125.09 GeV. Data are from Table 2 and 2016 added from Figure 1b.
Best-fit value of the H-->b bbar signal strength with its 1 sigma systematic (red) and total (blue) uncertainties for the five individual production modes considered, as well as the overall combined result. The vertical dashed line indicates the standard model expectation. All results are extracted from a single fit combining all input analyses, with mH = 125.09 GeV. Data from Figure 3.
A search is presented for massive narrow resonances decaying either into two Higgs bosons, or into a Higgs boson and a W or Z boson. The decay channels considered are HH$\to \mathrm{b\overline{b}}\tau^{+}\tau^{-}$ and VH$ \to \mathrm{q\overline{q}}\tau^{+}\tau^{-}$, where H denotes the Higgs boson, and V denotes the W or Z boson. This analysis is based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions collected at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV by the CMS Collaboration, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. For the TeV-scale mass resonances considered, substructure techniques provide ways to differentiate among the hadronization products from vector boson decays to quarks, Higgs boson decays to bottom quarks, and quark- or gluon-induced jets. Reconstruction techniques are used that have been specifically optimized to select events in which the tau lepton pair is highly boosted. The observed data are consistent with standard model expectations and upper limits are set at 95% confidence level on the product of cross section and branching fraction for resonance masses between 0.9 and 4.0 TeV. Exclusion limits are set in the context of bulk radion and graviton models: spin-0 radion resonances are excluded below a mass of 2.7 TeV at 95% confidence level. In the spin-1 heavy vector triplet framework, mass-degenerate W' and Z' resonances with dominant couplings to the standard model gauge bosons are excluded below a mass of 2.8 TeV at 95% confidence level. There are the first limits for these decay channels at $\sqrt{s}=$ 13 TeV.
Observed 95% CL upper limits on the product of the production cross section and the branching fraction for a new spin-0 resonance decaying to HH, as a function of the resonance mass hypothesis.
Observed 95% CL upper limits on the product of the production cross section and the branching fraction for a new spin-2 resonance decaying to HH, as a function of the resonance mass hypothesis.
Observed 95% CL upper limits on the product of the production cross section and the branching fraction for a new spin-1 W prime resonance decaying to WH, as a function of the resonance mass hypothesis.
A search for a Higgs boson decaying into a pair of electrons or muons and a photon is described. Higgs boson decays to a Z boson and a photon (H $\to$ Z$\gamma\to\ell\ell\gamma$, $\ell =$ e or $\mu$), or to two photons, one of which has an internal conversion into a muon pair (H $\to\gamma^{*}\gamma\to\mu\mu\gamma$) were considered. The analysis is performed using a data set recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. No significant excess above the background prediction has been found. Limits are set on the cross section for a standard model Higgs boson decaying to opposite-sign electron or muon pairs and a photon. The observed limits on cross section times the corresponding branching fractions vary between 1.4 and 4.0 (6.1 and 11.4) times the standard model cross section for H $\to\gamma^{*}\gamma\to\mu\mu\gamma$ (H $\to$ Z$\gamma\to\ell\ell\gamma$) in the 120-130 GeV mass range of the $\ell\ell\gamma$ system. The H $\to\gamma^*\gamma\to\mu\mu\gamma$ and H $\to$ Z$\gamma\to\ell\ell\gamma$ analyses are combined for $m_\mathrm{H} =$ 125 GeV, obtaining an observed (expected) 95% confidence level upper limit of 3.9 (2.0) times the standard model cross section.
Exclusion limit, at 95% CL, on the cross section of the $H \rightarrow \gamma^{*}\gamma \rightarrow \mu\mu\gamma$ process relative to the SM prediction, as a function of the Higgs boson mass.
Exclusion limit, at 95% CL, on the cross section of the $H \rightarrow Z\gamma \rightarrow ll\gamma$ process relative to the SM prediction, as a function of the Higgs boson mass.
Exclusion limit, at 95% CL, on the cross section of the $H \rightarrow ll\gamma$ relative to the SM prediction, for an SM Higgs boson of $m_{H} = 125$ GeV. The upper limits of each analysis category, as well as their combinations, are shown.
A search for Higgs bosons that decay into a bottom quark-antiquark pair and are accompanied by at least one additional bottom quark is performed with the CMS detector. The data analyzed were recorded in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.7 fb$^{-1}$. The final state considered in this analysis is particularly sensitive to signatures of a Higgs sector beyond the standard model, as predicted in the generic class of two Higgs doublet models (2HDMs). No signal above the standard model background expectation is observed. Stringent upper limits on the cross section times branching fraction are set for Higgs bosons with masses up to 1300 GeV. The results are interpreted within several MSSM and 2HDM scenarios.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on sigma(pp->b+H(MSSM)+X) * B(H(MSSM) -> bb) in pb as a function of m(H(MSSM)), where H(MSSM) denotes a heavy Higgs-like state like the H and A bosons of MSSM and 2HDM, as obtained from the 13 TeV data.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on tan(beta) as a function of m(A) in the mhmodp benchmark scenario for a higgsino mass parameter of mu=+200 GeV. Since theoretical predictions are not reliable for tan(beta)>60, entries for which tan(beta) would exceed this value are indicated by N/A.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on tan(beta) as a function of m(A) in the hMSSM benchmark scenario. Since theoretical predictions are not reliable for tan(beta)>60, entries for which tan(beta) would exceed this value are indicated by N/A.
A search for an exotic decay of the Higgs boson to a pair of light pseudoscalar bosons is performed for the first time in the final state with two b quarks and two $\tau$ leptons. The search is motivated in the context of models of physics beyond the standard model (SM), such as two Higgs doublet models extended with a complex scalar singlet (2HDM+S), which include the next-to-minimal supersymmetric SM (NMSSM). The results are based on a data set of proton-proton collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$, accumulated by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. Masses of the pseudoscalar boson between 15 and 60 GeV are probed, and no excess of events above the SM expectation is observed. Upper limits between 3 and 12% are set on the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}$(h $\to$ aa $\to$ 2$\tau$2b) assuming the SM production of the Higgs boson. Upper limits are also set on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson to two light pseudoscalar bosons in different 2HDM+S scenarios. Assuming the SM production cross section for the Higgs boson, the upper limit on this quantity is as low as 20% for a mass of the pseudoscalar of 40 GeV in the NMSSM.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on (sigma(pp->h)/sigma(pp->hSM)) * B(h -> aa -> bbtautau) as a function of m(a), where h(SM) is the Higgs boson of the standard model, h is the observed particle with mass of 125 GeV, and a denotes a light Higgs-like state, as obtained from the 13 TeV data.
A search for exotic Higgs boson decays to light pseudoscalars in the final state of two muons and two $\tau$ leptons is performed using proton-proton collision data recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV in 2016, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. Masses of the pseudoscalar boson between 15.0 and 62.5 GeV are probed, and no significant excess of data is observed above the prediction of the standard model. Upper limits are set on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson to two light pseudoscalar bosons in different types of two-Higgs-doublet models extended with a complex scalar singlet.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on (sigma(pp->h)/sigma(pp->hSM)) * B(h -> aa -> mumutautau) as a function of m(a), where h(SM) is the Higgs boson of the standard model, h is the observed particle with mass of 125 GeV, and a denotes a light Higgs-like state, as obtained from the 13 TeV data.
A search is presented for additional neutral Higgs bosons in the $\tau\tau$ final state in proton-proton collisions at the LHC. The search is performed in the context of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model (MSSM), using the data collected with the CMS detector in 2016 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. To enhance the sensitivity to neutral MSSM Higgs bosons, the search includes production of the Higgs boson in association with b quarks. No significant deviation above the expected background is observed. Model-independent limits at 95% confidence level (CL) are set on the product of the branching fraction for the decay into $\tau$ leptons and the cross section for the production via gluon fusion or in association with b quarks. These limits range from 18 pb at 90 GeV to 3.5 fb at 3.2 TeV for gluon fusion and from 15 pb (at 90 GeV) to 2.5 fb (at 3.2 TeV) for production in association with b quarks, assuming a narrow width resonance. In the m$_{\text{h}}^{\text{mod+}}$ scenario these limits translate into a 95% CL exclusion of $\tan\beta>$ 6 for neutral Higgs boson masses below 250 GeV, where $\tan\beta$ is the ratio of the vacuum expectation values of the neutral components of the two Higgs doublets. The 95% CL exclusion contour reaches 1.6 TeV for $\tan\beta=$ 60.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits for the production of a single narrow resonance, $\phi$, with a mass between 90 GeV and 3.2 TeV via gluon-gluon fusion. This limit database corresponds to the values shown in Figure 7a of the paper.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits for the production of a single narrow resonance, $\phi$, with a mass between 90 GeV and 3.2 TeV in association with b-quarks. This limit database corresponds to the values shown in Figure 7b of the paper.
Scan of the likelihood function for the search in the $\tau\tau$ final state for a single narrow resonance, $\phi$, produced via gluon fusion ($gg\phi$) or in association with b quarks ($bb\phi$). The scan is performed in 40000 points of the ($\sigma(gg\phi)\cdot B(\phi\rightarrow\tau\tau)$, $\sigma(bb\phi)\cdot B(\phi\rightarrow\tau\tau)$) plane. An asimov dataset constructed from the expectation of all backgrounds and the SM Higgs boson is tested against a background hypothesis including the SM Higgs boson. For further details and instructions, please have a look into the following README file http://cms-results.web.cern.ch/cms-results/public-results/publications/HIG-17-020/2D-likelihood-scans/README.txt. Selected examples of such a likelihood scan are given in Figure 8 of the paper.
A search for lepton flavour violating decays of the Higgs boson in the $\mu\tau$ and e$\tau$ decay modes is presented. The search is based on a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions collected with the CMS detector in 2016, at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. No significant excess over the standard model expectation is observed. The observed (expected) upper limits on the lepton flavour violating branching fractions of the Higgs boson are $\mathcal{B}$(H$\to\mu\tau$) < 0.25% (0.25%) and $\mathcal{B}$(H$\to$e$\tau$) < 0.61% (0.37%), at 95% confidence level. These results are used to derive upper limits on the off-diagonal $\mu\tau$ and e$\tau$ Yukawa couplings $\sqrt{|{Y_{\mu\tau}}|^{2}+|{Y_{\tau\mu}}|^{2}} < 1.43 \times 10^{-3}$ and $\sqrt{|{Y_{\mathrm{e}\tau}}|^{2}+|{Y_{\tau\mathrm{e}}}|^{2}} < 2.26 \times 10^{-3}$ at 95% confidence level. The limits on the lepton flavour violating branching fractions of the Higgs boson and on the associated Yukawa couplings are the most stringent to date.
Expected and observed 95 percent CL upper limits on BR(H to mu tau) for each individual category and combined from BDT fit analysis
Expected and observed 95 percent CL upper limits on BR(H to mu tau) for each individual category and combined from collinear mass fit analysis
Expected and observed 95 percent CL upper limits on BR(H to e tau) for each individual category and combined from BDT fit analysis
Searches for invisible decays of the Higgs boson are presented. The data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC correspond to integrated luminosities of 5.1, 19.7, and 2.3 inverse femtobarns at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, respectively. The search channels target Higgs boson production via gluon fusion, vector boson fusion, and in association with a vector boson. Upper limits are placed on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson decay to invisible particles, as a function of the assumed production cross sections. The combination of all channels, assuming standard model production, yields an observed (expected) upper limit on the invisible branching fraction of 0.24 (0.23) at the 95% confidence level. The results are also interpreted in the context of Higgs-portal dark matter models.
Observed and expected 95% CL limits on $\sigma\mathcal{B}(H\rightarrow inv)/\sigma(SM)$ for individual combinations of categories targeting qqH, VH, and ggH production, and the full combination assuming a Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV.
Profile likelihood ratio as a function of $\mathcal{B}(H\rightarrow inv)$ assuming SM production cross sections of a Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV. The solid curves represent the observations in data and the dashed curves represent the expected result assuming no invisible decays of the Higgs boson. The observed and expected likelihood scans for the partial combinations of the qqH tagged, VH tagged, and ggH tagged analyses, and the full combination.
Profile likelihood ratio as a function of $\mathcal{B}(H\rightarrow inv)$ assuming SM production cross sections of a Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV. The solid curves represent the observations in data and the dashed curves represent the expected result assuming no invisible decays of the Higgs boson. The observed and expected likelihood scans for the partial combinations of the 7+8 and 13 TeV analyses, and the full combination.
The cross section for Higgs boson production in pp collisions is studied using the H to WW decay mode, followed by leptonic decays of the W bosons to an oppositely charged electron-muon pair in the final state. The measurements are performed using data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.4 inverse femtobarns. The Higgs boson transverse momentum (pT) is reconstructed using the lepton pair pT and missing pT. The differential cross section times branching fraction is measured as a function of the Higgs boson pT in a fiducial phase space defined to match the experimental acceptance in terms of the lepton kinematics and event topology. The production cross section times branching fraction in the fiducial phase space is measured to be 39 +/- 8 (stat) +/- 9 (syst) fb. The measurements are found to agree, within experimental uncertainties, with theoretical calculations based on the standard model.
The fiducial differential cross section in each Higgs pT bin. The first uncertainty is the total (stat+syst) uncertainty. The second is the statistical uncertainty and the third and fourth are Type A and Type B systematic uncertainties, respectively. The last one is the model dependence uncertainty (Type C).
The measured total cross section in the fiducial region. The first systematic uncertainty is the statistical uncertainty and the second is the systematic.
Correlation matrix among the Higgs pT bins of the differential spectrum.
A search is presented for the production of two Higgs bosons in final states containing two photons and two bottom quarks. Both resonant and nonresonant hypotheses are investigated. The analyzed data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 inverse femtobarns of proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV collected with the CMS detector. Good agreement is observed between data and predictions of the standard model (SM). Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level on the production cross section of new particles and compared to the prediction for the existence of a warped extra dimension. When the decay to two Higgs bosons is kinematically allowed, assuming a mass scale Lambda[R] = 1 TeV for the model, the data exclude a radion scalar at masses below 980 GeV. The first Kaluza-Klein excitation mode of the graviton in the RS1 Randall-Sundrum model is excluded for masses between 325 and 450 GeV. An upper limit of 0.71 pb is set on the nonresonant two-Higgs-boson cross section in the SM-like hypothesis. Limits are also derived on nonresonant production assuming anomalous Higgs boson couplings.
Observed $m_\mathrm{jj}$ spectrum (black points) compared with a background estimate (black line), obtained in background only hypothesis, for HPHP category. The simulated radion resonances of $m_\mathrm{X} = 1.5$ and 2 TeV are also shown. Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the product of cross section and the branching fraction sigma(pp->X)*B(X->HH) obtained through a combination of the two event categories. The limits for mX = 400 GeV are shown for both Low mass and High mass signal extraction methods.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the product of cross section and the branching fraction sigma(pp->X)*B(X->HH->gamma gamma b b ) for the nonresonant BSM analysis, performed by changing the parameters $kappa_$lambda, y_t and c_2 while keeping all other parameters fixed at the SM predictions.
Signal efficiencies in the four different signal regions for the nonresonant BSM analysis, performed by changing the parameters $kappa_$lambda, y_t and c_2 while keeping all other parameters fixed at the SM predictions. The four signal regions are made in b-tag and m_HH categries, being those: "Low-purity, High-mass" (LPHM), "Low-purity, Low-mass" (LPLM), "High-purity, High-mass" (HPHM) and "High-purity, Low-mass" (HPLM).
A search is presented for narrow heavy resonances X decaying into pairs of Higgs bosons (H) in proton-proton collisions collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 inverse femtobarns. The search considers HH resonances with masses between 1 and 3 TeV, having final states of two b quark pairs. Each Higgs boson is produced with large momentum, and the hadronization products of the pair of b quarks can usually be reconstructed as single large jets. The background from multijet and t t-bar events is significantly reduced by applying requirements related to the flavor of the jet, its mass, and its substructure. The signal would be identified as a peak on top of the dijet invariant mass spectrum of the remaining background events. No evidence is observed for such a signal. Upper limits obtained at 95% confidence level for the product of the production cross section and branching fraction sigma(gg to X) B(X to HH to b b-bar b b-bar) range from 10 to 1.5 fb for the mass of X from 1.15 to 2.0 TeV, significantly extending previous searches. For a warped extra dimension theory with a mass scale Lambda[R] = 1 TeV, the data exclude radion scalar masses between 1.15 and 1.55 TeV.
Observed $m_\mathrm{jj}$ spectrum (black points) compared with a background estimate (black line), obtained in background only hypothesis, for HPHP category. The simulated radion resonances of $m_\mathrm{X} = 1.5$ and 2 TeV are also shown.
Observed $m_\mathrm{jj}$ spectrum (black points) compared with a background estimate (black line), obtained in background only hypothesis, for HPLP category. The simulated radion resonances of $m_\mathrm{X} = 1.5$ and 2 TeV are also shown.
Observed $m_\mathrm{jj}$ spectrum (black points) compared with a background estimate (black line), obtained in background only hypothesis, for LPHP category. The simulated radion resonances of $m_\mathrm{X} = 1.5$ and 2 TeV are also shown.
A search is reported for a light pseudoscalar Higgs boson decaying to a pair of tau leptons, produced in association with a b b-bar pair, in the context of two-Higgs-doublet models. The results are based on pp collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 inverse femtobarns. Pseudoscalar boson masses between 25 and 80 GeV are probed. No evidence for a pseudoscalar boson is found and upper limits are set on the production cross section times branching fraction to tau pairs between 7 and 39 pb at the 95% confidence level. This excludes pseudoscalar A bosons with masses between 25 and 80 GeV, with standard model-like Higgs boson negative couplings to down-type fermions, produced in association with b b-bar pairs, in Type-II, two-Higgs-doublet models.
Expected and observed 95 % CL combined upper limits in pb on pseudoscalar Higgs bosons produced in association with bb pairs, along with their 1 and 2 standard deviation uncertainties.
A measurement is presented of differential cross sections for the Higgs boson (H) production in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV. The analysis exploits the H to gamma gamma decay in data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 inverse femtobarns collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The cross section is measured as a function of the kinematic properties of the diphoton system and of the associated jets. Results corrected for detector effects are compared with predictions at next-to-leading order and next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics, as well as with predictions beyond the standard model. For isolated photons with pseudorapidities abs(eta) < 2.5, and with the photon of largest and next-to-largest transverse momentum (pt[gamma]) divided by the diphoton mass m[gamma-gamma] satisfying the respective conditions of pt[gamma] / m[gamma-gamma] > 1/3 and > 1/4, the total fiducial cross section is 32 +/- 10 fb.
Values of the pp $\to$ H $\to \gamma\gamma$ differential cross sections as a function of kinematic observables as measured in data and as predicted in SM simulations. For each observable the fit to $m_{\gamma\gamma}$ is performed simultaneously in all the bins. Since the signal mass is profiled for each observable, the best fit $\hat{m}_{\rm{H}}$ varies from observable to observable.
Values of the pp $\to$ H $\to \gamma\gamma$ differential cross sections as a function of $p_{\rm{T}}^{\gamma\gamma}$ as measured in data. For each observable the fit to $m_{\gamma\gamma}$ is performed simultaneously in all the bins. Since the signal mass is profiled for each observable, the best fit $\hat{m}_{\rm{H}}$ varies from observable to observable.
Values of the pp $\to$ H $\to \gamma\gamma$ differential cross sections as a function of |$\cos\theta^{\ast}$| as measured in data. For each observable the fit to $m_{\gamma\gamma}$ is performed simultaneously in all the bins. Since the signal mass is profiled for each observable, the best fit $\hat{m}_{\rm{H}}$ varies from observable to observable.
A search for neutral Higgs bosons predicted in the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) for mu+ mu- decay channels is presented. The analysis uses data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 5.1 and 19.3 inverse femtobarns, respectively. The search is sensitive to Higgs bosons produced through the gluon fusion process or in association with a bb quark pair. No statistically significant excess is observed in the mu+ mu- mass spectrum. Results are interpreted in the framework of several benchmark scenarios, and the data are used to set an upper limit on the MSSM parameter tan(beta) as a function of the mass of the pseudoscalar A boson in the range from 115 to 300 GeV. Model independent upper limits are given for the product of the cross section and branching fraction for gluon fusion and b quark associated production. They are the most stringent limits obtained to date in this channel.
The 95% CL upper limit on tan B as a function of mA, after combining the data from the two event categories at the two centre-of-mass energies (7 and 8 TeV). The results are obtained in the framework of the mh-mod+ benchmark scenario.
The 95% CL limit on the product of the cross section and the decay branching fraction to two muons as a function of mPHI, obtained from a model independent analysis of the data. The results refer to b quark associated production, obtained using data collected at swrt(s) = 8 TeV.
The 95% CL limit on the product of the cross section and the decay branching fraction to two muons as a function of mPHI, obtained from a model independent analysis of the data. The results refer to gluon-fusion production, obtained using data collected at swrt(s) = 8 TeV.
A search is described for a Higgs boson decaying into two photons, one of which has an internal conversion to a muon or an electron pair (ll gamma). The analysis is performed using proton-proton collision data recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 inverse femtobarns. The events selected have an opposite-sign muon or electron pair and a high transverse momentum photon. No excess above background has been found in the three-body invariant mass range 120 < m[ll gamma] < 150 GeV, and limits have been derived for the Higgs boson production cross section times branching fraction for the decay H to gamma* gamma to ll gamma, where the dilepton invariant mass is less than 20 GeV. For a Higgs boson with m[H] = 125 GeV, a 95% confidence level (CL) exclusion observed (expected) limit is 6.7 (5.9 +2.8/-1.8) times the standard model prediction. Additionally, an upper limit at 95% CL on the branching fraction of H to J/Psi gamma for the 125 GeV Higgs boson is set at 1.5E-3.
The 95% CL exclusion limit, as a function of the mass hypothesis, $m_H$ , on $\sigma/\sigma_{SM}$, the cross section times the branching fraction of a Higgs boson decaying into a photon and a lepton pair with $m_{\ell\ell}$ < 20 GeV, divided by the SM value.
The 95% CL exclusion limit, as a function of the mass hypothesis, $m_H$ , on $\sigma/\sigma_{SM}$, the cross section times the branching fraction of a Higgs boson decaying into a photon and a lepton pair with $m_{\ell\ell}$ < 20 GeV, divided by the SM value.
The 95% CL exclusion limit, as a function of the mass hypothesis, $m_H$ , on $\sigma/\sigma_{SM}$, the cross section times the branching fraction of a Higgs boson decaying into a photon and a lepton pair with $m_{\ell\ell}$ < 20 GeV, divided by the SM value.
A search for neutral Higgs bosons decaying into a b-bbar quark pair and produced in association with at least one additional b quark is presented. This signature is sensitive to the Higgs sector of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) with large values of the parameter tan(beta). The analysis is based on data from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV collected with the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 inverse femtobarns. The results are combined with a previous analysis based on 7 TeV data. No signal is observed. Stringent upper limits on the cross section times branching fraction are derived for Higgs bosons with masses up to 900 GeV, and the results are interpreted within different MSSM benchmark scenarios, m[h,max], m[h,mod+], m[h,mod-], light-stau and light-stop. Observed 95% confidence level upper limits on tan(beta), ranging from 14 to 50, are obtained in the m[h,mod+] benchmark scenario.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on sigma(pp->b+ H(MSSM)+X) * B(H(MSSM) -> bb) in pb as a function of m(H(MSSM)), where H(MSSM) denotes a generic Higgs-like state, as obtained from the 8 TeV data.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on tan(beta) as a function of mA in the mh-max benchmark scenario for mu=+200 GeV, obtained from a combination of the 7 and 8 TeV data.
Expected and observed 95% CL upper limits on tan(beta) as a function of mA in the mh-mod+ benchmark scenario for mu=+200 GeV, obtained from a combination of the 7 and 8 TeV data.
Results are reported on a search for decays of a pseudoscalar A boson into a Z boson and a light scalar h boson, where the Z boson decays into a pair of oppositely-charged electrons or muons, and the h boson decays into b anti-b. The search is based on data from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy sqrt(s)=8 TeV collected with the CMS detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 inverse femtobarns. The h boson is assumed to be the standard model-like Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV. With no evidence for signal, upper limits are obtained on the product of the production cross section and the branching fraction of the A boson in the Zh channel. Results are also interpreted in the context of two Higgs doublet models.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on sigma A x B(A->Zh->llbb) as a function of mA in the narrow-width approximation, including statistical and systematic uncertainties.
Observed 95% CL upper limits on sigma A x B(A->Zh->llbb) as a function of mA and the A natural width Gamma.
Expected 95% CL upper limits on sigma A x B(A->Zh->llbb) as a function of mA and the A natural width Gamma.
A search for a heavy Higgs boson in the H to WW and H to ZZ decay channels is reported. The search is based upon proton-proton collision data samples corresponding to an integrated luminosity of up to 5.1 inverse femtobarns at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV and up to 19.7 inverse femtobarns at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV, recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. Several final states of the H to WW and H to ZZ decays are analyzed. The combined upper limit at the 95% confidence level on the product of the cross section and branching fraction exclude a Higgs boson with standard model-like couplings and decays in the range 145 < m[H] < 1000 GeV. We also interpret the results in the context of an electroweak singlet extension of the standard model.
Upper limits at 95\% CL on the cross section for a heavy Higgs boson decaying to a pair of W bosons as a function of its mass and its width relative to a SM-like Higgs boson.
Upper limits at 95\% CL on the cross section for a heavy Higgs boson decaying to a pair of Z bosons as a function of its mass and its width relative to a SM-like Higgs boson.
Upper limits at 95% CL on the cross section for a heavy Higgs boson as a function of its mass and its width relative to a SM-like Higgs boson. Both, gluon-gluon fusion and VBF production processes are combined, assuming a SM-like ratio between the two.
A search for a standard model Higgs boson produced in association with a top-quark pair and decaying to bottom quarks is presented. Events with hadronic jets and one or two oppositely charged leptons are selected from a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.5 inverse femtobarns collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. In order to separate the signal from the larger t t-bar + jets background, this analysis uses a matrix element method that assigns a probability density value to each reconstructed event under signal or background hypotheses. The ratio between the two values is used in a maximum likelihood fit to extract the signal yield. The results are presented in terms of the measured signal strength modifier, mu, relative to the standard model prediction for a Higgs boson mass of 125 GeV. The observed (expected) exclusion limit at a 95% confidence level is mu < 4.2 (3.3), corresponding to a best fit value mu-hat = 1.2 +1.6 -1.5.
The best-fit values of the signal strength modifier obtained from the single lepton (SL) and dilepton (DL) channels alone,and from their combination (COMBINED). The observed 95% CL upper limit (UL) on mu are given in the third column, and are compared to the median expected limits for both the signal-plus-background and for the background-only hypotheses. For the latter, the 1sigma and 2sigma CL intervals are also given.
A search for neutral Higgs bosons in the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model (MSSM) decaying to tau-lepton pairs in pp collisions is performed, using events recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 24.6 fb$^{-1}$, with 4.9 fb$^{-1}$ at 7 TeV and 19.7 fb$^{-1}$ at 8 TeV. To enhance the sensitivity to neutral MSSM Higgs bosons, the search includes the case where the Higgs boson is produced in association with a b-quark jet. No excess is observed in the tau-lepton-pair invariant mass spectrum. Exclusion limits are presented in the MSSM parameter space for different benchmark scenarios, $m_\mathrm{h}^\text{max}$, $m_\mathrm{h}^{\text{mod}+}$, $m_\mathrm{h}^{\text{mod}-}$, light-stop, light-stau, $\tau$-phobic, and low-$m_\mathrm{H}$. Upper limits on the cross section times branching fraction for gluon fusion and b-quark associated Higgs boson production are also given.
likelihood scan of the (gg$\rightarrow\phi\rightarrow\tau\tau$) - (gg$\rightarrow$bb$\phi\rightarrow\tau\tau$) - plane the with 40000 grid points at each hypothetical higgs mass, m$_\phi$, at $\sqrt{s}$ = 8 TeV testing the observation against a background hypothesis not including the Standard Model Higgs boson at 125 GeV.
likelihood scan of the (gg$\rightarrow\phi\rightarrow\tau\tau$) - (gg$\rightarrow$bb$\phi\rightarrow\tau\tau$) - plane the with 40000 grid points at each hypothetical higgs mass, m$_\phi$, at $\sqrt{s}$ = 8 TeV testing the $\textbf{asimov dataset of the sum of all backgrounds not including the Standard Model Higgs boson at 125 GeV against a background hypothesis not including the Standard Model Higgs boson at 125 GeV}.
likelihood scan of the (gg$\rightarrow\phi\rightarrow\tau\tau$) - (gg$\rightarrow$bb$\phi\rightarrow\tau\tau$) - plane the with 40000 grid points at each hypothetical higgs mass, m$_\phi$, at $\sqrt{s}$ = 8 TeV testing the observation against a background hypothesis including the Standard Model Higgs boson at 125 GeV.
A search for invisible decays of Higgs bosons is performed using the vector boson fusion and associated ZH production modes. In the ZH mode, the Z boson is required to decay to a pair of charged leptons or a $b\bar{b}$ quark pair. The searches use the 8 TeV pp collision dataset collected by the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of up to 19.7 inverse femtobarns. Certain channels include data from 7 TeV collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.9 inverse femtobarns. The searches are sensitive to non-standard-model invisible decays of the recently observed Higgs boson, as well as additional Higgs bosons with similar production modes and large invisible branching fractions. In all channels, the observed data are consistent with the expected standard model backgrounds. Limits are set on the production cross section times invisible branching fraction, as a function of the Higgs boson mass, for the vector boson fusion and ZH production modes. By combining all channels, and assuming standard model Higgs boson cross sections and acceptances, the observed (expected) upper limit on the invisible branching fraction at $m_H$=125 GeV is found to be 0.58 (0.44) at 95% confidence level. We interpret this limit in terms of a Higgs-portal model of dark matter interactions.
Summary of 95% CL upper limits on SIG*BR(HIGGS --> INVISIBLE)/SIG(SM) obtained from the VBF search, the combined ZH searches, and the combination of all three searches.
A measurement of WW production in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV and a search for the Higgs boson are reported. The WW candidates are selected in events with two leptons, either electrons or muons. The measurement is performed using LHC data recorded with the CMS detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 inverse picobarns. The pp to WW cross section is measured to be 41.1 +/- 15.3 (stat) +/- 5.8 (syst) +/- 4.5 (lumi) pb, consistent with the standard model prediction. Limits on WW gamma and WWZ anomalous triple gauge couplings are set. The search for the standard model Higgs boson in the WW decay mode does not reveal any evidence of excess above backgrounds. Limits are set on the production of the Higgs boson in the context of the standard model and in the presence of a sequential fourth family of fermions with high masses. In the latter context, a Higgs boson with mass between 144 and 207 GeV is ruled out at 95% confidence level.
The measured W+ W- cross section.
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