A search is presented for decays of $\mathrm {Z}$ and Higgs bosons to a ${\mathrm {J}/\psi } $ meson and a photon, with the subsequent decay of the ${\mathrm {J}/\psi } $ to $\mathrm {\mu ^+}\mathrm {\mu ^-} $ . The analysis uses data from proton-proton collisions with an integrated luminosity of 35.9 $\,\text {fb}^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s}=13\,\text {TeV} $ collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. The observed limit on the $\mathrm {Z}\rightarrow {\mathrm {J}/\psi } \gamma $ decay branching fraction, assuming that the ${\mathrm {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 $\mathrm {H} \rightarrow {\mathrm {J}/\psi } \gamma $ where the ${\mathrm {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\,\text {TeV} $ to produce an observed upper limit on the branching fraction for $\mathrm {H} \rightarrow {\mathrm {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.
About 10 μs after the Big Bang, the universe was filled—in addition to photons and leptons—with strong-interaction matter consisting of quarks and gluons, which transitioned to hadrons at temperatures close to kT = 150 MeV and densities several times higher than those found in nuclei. This quantum chromodynamics (QCD) matter can be created in the laboratory as a transient state by colliding heavy ions at relativistic energies. The different phases in which QCD matter may exist depend for example on temperature, pressure or baryochemical potential, and can be probed by studying the emission of electromagnetic radiation. Electron–positron pairs emerge from the decay of virtual photons, which immediately decouple from the strong interaction, and thus provide information about the properties of QCD matter at various stages. Here, we report the observation of virtual photon emission from baryon-rich QCD matter. The spectral distribution of the electron–positron pairs is nearly exponential, providing evidence for a source of temperature in excess of 70 MeV with constituents whose properties have been modified, thus reflecting peculiarities of strong-interaction QCD matter. Its bulk properties are similar to the dense matter formed in the final state of a neutron star merger, as apparent from recent multimessenger observation.
Reconstructed $e^{+} e^{-}$ mass distribution from Au+Au collisions.
Reconstructed $e^{+} e^{-}$ mass distribution from Au+Au collisions.
Reconstructed $e^{+} e^{-}$ mass distribution from Au+Au collisions.
A search for the direct production of the supersymmetric partners of $\tau$-leptons (staus) in final states with two hadronically decaying $\tau$-leptons is presented. The analysis uses a dataset of $pp$ collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $139$ fb$^{-1}$, recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. No significant deviation from the expected Standard Model background is observed. Limits are derived in scenarios of direct production of stau pairs with each stau decaying into the stable lightest neutralino and one $\tau$-lepton in simplified models where the two stau mass eigenstates are degenerate. Stau masses from 120 GeV to 390 GeV are excluded at 95% confidence level for a massless lightest neutralino.
The observed upper limits on the model cross-section in units of pb for simplified models with combined ${\tilde{\tau}}^{+}_{R,L} {\tilde{\tau}}^{-}_{R,L}$ production. Three points at ${M({\tilde{\chi}}^{0}_{1})}=200GeV$ were removed from the plot but kept in the table because they overlapped with the plot's legend and are far from the exclusion contour.
The expected 95% CL exclusion contours for the combined fit of SR-lowMass and SR-highMass for simplified models with combined ${\tilde{\tau}}^{+}_{R,L} {\tilde{\tau}}^{-}_{R,L}$ production.
The observed 95\% CL exclusion contours for the combined fit of SR-lowMass and SR-highMass for simplified models with combined ${\tilde{\tau}}^{+}_{R,L} {\tilde{\tau}}^{-}_{R,L}$ production.
This paper presents results of searches for electroweak production of supersymmetric particles in models with compressed mass spectra. The searches use 139 fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV proton-proton collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. Events with missing transverse momentum and two same-flavor, oppositely charged, low transverse momentum leptons are selected, and are further categorized by the presence of hadronic activity from initial-state radiation or a topology compatible with vector-boson fusion processes. The data are found to be consistent with predictions from the Standard Model. The results are interpreted using simplified models of $R$-parity-conserving supersymmetry in which the lightest supersymmetric partner is a neutralino with a mass similar to the lightest chargino, the second-to-lightest neutralino or the slepton. Lower limits on the masses of charginos in different simplified models range from 193 GeV to 240 GeV for moderate mass splittings, and extend down to mass splittings of 1.5 GeV to 2.4 GeV at the LEP chargino bounds (92.4 GeV). Similar lower limits on degenerate light-flavor sleptons extend up to masses of 251 GeV and down to mass splittings of 550 MeV. Constraints on vector-boson fusion production of electroweak SUSY states are also presented.
Number of signal events in SR-E-1L1T for the (m($\tilde{\chi}_{2}^{0}$),m($\tilde{\chi}_{1}^{0}$)) = (155 GeV, 150 GeV) Higgsino signal model at different stages of selection before and after weighting events to correspond to 140/fb.
Number of signal events in SR-E-high for the (m($\tilde{\chi}_{2}^{0}$),m($\tilde{\chi}_{1}^{0}$)) = (155 GeV, 150 GeV) Higgsino signal model at different stages of selection before and after weighting events to correspond to 140/fb.
Number of signal events in SR-E-low for the (m($\tilde{\chi}_{2}^{0}$),m($\tilde{\chi}_{1}^{0}$)) = (155 GeV, 150 GeV) Higgsino signal model at different stages of selection before and after weighting events to correspond to 140/fb.
A search for narrow and broad resonances with masses greater than 1.8 TeV decaying to a pair of jets is presented. The search uses proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}=$13 TeV collected at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. The background arising from standard model processes is predicted with the fit method used in previous publications and with a new method. The dijet invariant mass spectrum is well described by both data-driven methods, and no significant evidence for the production of new particles is observed. Model independent upper limits are reported on the production cross sections of narrow resonances, and broad resonances with widths up to 55% of the resonance mass. Limits are presented on the masses of narrow resonances from various models: string resonances, scalar diquarks, axigluons, colorons, excited quarks, color-octet scalars, W' and Z' bosons, Randall-Sundrum gravitons, and dark matter mediators. The limits on narrow resonances are improved by 200 to 800 GeV relative to those reported in previous CMS dijet resonance searches. The limits on dark matter mediators are presented as a function of the resonance mass and width, and on the associated coupling strength as a function of the mediator mass. These limits exclude at 95% confidence level a dark matter mediator with a mass of 1.8 TeV and width 1% of its mass or higher, up to one with a mass of 4.8 TeV and a width 45% of its mass or higher.
The observed 95% CL upper limits on the product of the cross section, branching fraction, and acceptance for spin-1 resonances produced and decaying in the quark-quark channel, shown for various values of intrinsic width as a function of resonance mass.
The observed 95% CL upper limits on the product of the cross section, branching fraction, and acceptance for spin-2 resonances produced and decaying in the quark-quark channel, shown for various values of intrinsic width as a function of resonance mass.
The observed 95% CL upper limits on the product of the cross section, branching fraction, and acceptance for spin-2 resonances produced and decaying in the gluon-gluon channel, shown for various values of intrinsic width as a function of resonance mass.
A search is presented for three additional operators that would lead to anomalousWW$\gamma$ or WWZ couplings with respect to those in the standard model. They are constrained by studying events with two vector bosons; a W boson decaying to e$\nu$ or $\mu\nu$, and a W or Z boson decaying hadronically, reconstructed as a single, massive, large-radius jet. The search uses a data set of proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC in 2016, and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. Using the reconstructed diboson invariant mass, 95% confidence intervals are obtained for the anomalous coupling parameters of $-$1.58 $< c_\mathrm{WWW}/\Lambda^2 <$ 1.59 TeV$^{-2}$, $-$2.00 $< c_\mathrm{W}/\Lambda^2 <$ 2.65 TeV$^{-2}$, and $-$8.78$ < c_\mathrm{B}/\Lambda^2 <$ 8.54 TeV$^{-2}$, in agreement with standard model expectations of zero for each parameter. These are the strictest bounds on these parameters to date.
aTGC limits on EFT parameters in lepton + jet events in WW and WZ production
2-dimensional aTGC limits in lepton + jet events in WW and WZ production
aTGC limits in LEP parametrization in lepton + jet events in WW and WZ production
We present a study of the inclusive charged-particle transverse momentum ( $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ ) spectra as a function of charged-particle multiplicity density at mid-pseudorapidity, $\mathrm{d}N_{\mathrm{ch}}/\mathrm{d}\eta $ , in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=5.02$ and 13 TeV covering the kinematic range $|\eta |<0.8$ and $0.15<p_{\mathrm{T}} <20$ GeV/c. The results are presented for events with at least one charged particle in $|\eta |<1$ (INEL $\,>0$ ). The $p_\mathrm{T}$ spectra are reported for two multiplicity estimators covering different pseudorapidity regions. The $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ spectra normalized to that for INEL $\,>0$ show little energy dependence. Moreover, the high- $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ yields of charged particles increase faster than the charged-particle multiplicity density. The average ${ p}_{\mathrm{T}}$ as a function of multiplicity and transverse spherocity is reported for pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV. For low- (high-) spherocity events, corresponding to jet-like (isotropic) events, the average $p_\mathrm{T}$ is higher (smaller) than that measured in INEL $\,>0$ pp collisions. Within uncertainties, the functional form of $\langle p_{\mathrm{T}} \rangle (N_{\mathrm{ch}})$ is not affected by the spherocity selection. While EPOS LHC gives a good description of many features of data, PYTHIA overestimates the average $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ in jet-like events.
Transverse momentum spectra as a function of the event multiplicity for pp collisions at 13 TeV. Event multiplicity is estimated with the number of SPD tracklets. Uncorrelated systematic uncertainties are the multiplicity dependent systematic uncertainties.
Transverse momentum spectra as a function of the event multiplicity for pp collisions at 5.02 TeV. Event multiplicity is estimated with the number of SPD tracklets. Uncorrelated systematic uncertainties are the multiplicity dependent systematic uncertainties.
Transverse momentum spectra as a function of the event multiplicity for pp collisions at 13 TeV. Event multiplicity is estimated with the signal in the VZERO detector. Uncorrelated systematic uncertainties are the multiplicity dependent systematic uncertainties.
The cross sections for the production of single top quarks and antiquarks in the $t$ channel, and their ratio, are measured in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $13~\mathrm{TeV}$. The full data set recorded in 2016 by the CMS detector at the LHC is analyzed, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $35.9~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. Events with one muon or electron and two jets are selected, where one of the two jets is identified as originating from a bottom quark. A multivariate discriminator exploiting several kinematic variables is applied to separate signal from background events. The ratio $R_{t\mathrm{\text{-}ch.}}$ of the cross sections is measured to be $1.65 \pm0.02\,\text{(stat)} \pm0.04\,\text{(syst)}$. The total cross section for the production of single top quarks or antiquarks is measured to be $219.0 \pm1.5\,\text{(stat)} \pm33.0\,\text{(syst)} \,\mathrm{pb}$ and the absolute value of the CKM matrix element $V_{\mathrm{tb}}$ is determined to be $1.00 \pm0.05\,\text{(exp)} \pm0.02 \,\text{(theo)}$. All results are in agreement with the standard model predictions.
The measured cross section of top quark production in $t$-channel. The first uncertainty is the statistical, the second is due to profiled systematic sources, the third is due to the sources describing signal modelling (externalized), and the last due to the integrated luminosity (externalized).
The measured cross section of top antiquark production in $t$-channel. The first uncertainty is the statistical, the second is due to profiled systematic sources, the third is due to the sources describing signal modelling (externalized), and the last due to the integrated luminosity (externalized).
The measured inclusive cross section of production of the top quarks and antiquarks in $t$-channel. The first uncertainty is the statistical, the second is due to profiled systematic sources, the third is due to the sources describing signal modelling (externalized), and the last due to the integrated luminosity (externalized).
This letter presents a combination of searches for Higgs boson pair production using up to 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The combination is performed using six analyses searching for Higgs boson pairs decaying into the bbbb, bbWW, bb$\tau\tau$, WWWW, bb$\gamma \gamma$ and WW$\gamma\gamma$ final states. Results are presented for non-resonant and resonant Higgs boson pair production modes. The combined observed limit at 95% confidence level on the non-resonant Higgs boson pair production cross-section is 6.9 times the predicted Standard Model cross-section. Limits are also set on the ratio ($\kappa_{\lambda}$) of the Higgs boson self-coupling to its Standard Model value. This ratio is constrained at 95% confidence level to $-5.0 < \kappa_{\lambda} <12.0$. In addition, limits are set on the production of narrow scalar resonances and spin-2 Kaluza-Klein Randall-Sundrum gravitons. Exclusion regions are also provided in the parameter space of the habemus Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model and the Electroweak Singlet Model.
Upper limits at 95% CL on the signal cross-section of the ggF non-resonant Higgs boson pair production as a function of κ<sub>λ</sub> with statistical uncertainties only. The limits are shown in dashed lines. The combined limit including all systematic uncertainties is also shown with a solid line.
Upper limits at 95% CL on the cross-section of the ggF non-resonant SM HH production as a function of κ<sub>λ</sub>. The observed (expected) limits are shown as solid (dashed) lines. In the $b\bar{b}\gamma\gamma$ final state, the observed and expected limits coincide. The $\pm 1 \sigma$ and $\pm 2\sigma$ bands are only shown for the combined expected limit. The theoretical prediction of the cross-section as a function of κ<sub>λ</sub> is also shown.
Expected exclusion regions in the EWK-singlet model for m<sub>S</sub>= 260 GeV. The theoretical contour points with width over mass of the resonance equal to 10% are included in the table to identify the experimental-invalid regions.
A measurement of $W^\pm$ boson production in lead-lead collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} = 5.02$ TeV is reported using data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC in 2015, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of $0.49\;\mathrm{nb^{-1}}$. The $W^\pm$ bosons are reconstructed in the electron or muon leptonic decay channels. Production yields of leptonically decaying $W^\pm$ bosons, normalised by the total number of minimum-bias events and the nuclear thickness function, are measured within a fiducial region defined by the detector acceptance and the main kinematic requirements. These normalised yields are measured separately for $W^+$ and $W^-$ bosons, and are presented as a function of the absolute value of pseudorapidity of the charged lepton and of the collision centrality. The lepton charge asymmetry is also measured as a function of the absolute value of lepton pseudorapidity. In addition, nuclear modification factors are calculated using the $W^\pm$ boson production cross-sections measured in $pp$ collisions. The results are compared with predictions based on next-to-leading-order calculations with CT14 parton distribution functions as well as with predictions obtained with the EPPS16 and nCTEQ15 nuclear parton distribution functions. No dependence of normalised production yields on centrality and a good agreement with predictions are observed for mid-central and central collisions. For peripheral collisions, the data agree with predictions within 1.7 (0.9) standard deviations for $W^-$ ($W^+$) bosons.
The covariance matrix of the differential normalised production yields for $W^+$ bosons. Systematic uncertainties related to $T_{\mathrm{AA}}$ (1.6%) are not included.
The covariance matrix of the differential normalised production yields for $W^-$ bosons. Systematic uncertainties related to $T_{\mathrm{AA}}$ (1.6%) are not included.
The covariance matrix of the lepton charge asymmetry.