A novel search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson into pairs of long-lived neutral particles, each decaying into a bottom quark pair, is performed using 139 fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Events consistent with the production of a Higgs boson in association with a leptonically decaying $Z$ boson are analysed. Long-lived particle (LLP) decays are reconstructed from inner-detector tracks as displaced vertices with high mass and track multiplicity relative to Standard Model processes. The analysis selection requires the presence of at least two displaced vertices, effectively suppressing Standard Model backgrounds. The residual background contribution is estimated using a data-driven technique. No excess over Standard Model predictions is observed, and upper limits are set on the branching ratio of the Higgs boson to LLPs. Branching ratios above 10% are excluded at 95% confidence level for LLP mean proper lifetimes $c\tau$ as small as 4 mm and as large as 100 mm. For LLP masses below 40 GeV, these results represent the most stringent constraint in this lifetime regime.
95% CL exclusion limits on $\mathcal{B}(H\rightarrow aa \rightarrow b\bar{b}b\bar{b})$ for $m_a = 16$ GeV.
95% CL exclusion limits on $\mathcal{B}(H\rightarrow aa \rightarrow b\bar{b}b\bar{b})$ for $m_a = 25$ GeV.
95% CL exclusion limits on $\mathcal{B}(H\rightarrow aa \rightarrow b\bar{b}b\bar{b})$ for $m_a = 35$ GeV.
Double-parton scattering is investigated using events with a Z boson and jets. The Z boson is reconstructed using only the dimuon channel. The measurements are performed with proton-proton collision data recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$ collected in the year 2016. Differential cross sections of Z + $\geq$ 1 jet and Z + $\geq$ 2 jets are measured with transverse momentum of the jets above 20 GeV and pseudorapidity $|\eta|$$\lt$ 2.4. Several distributions with sensitivity to double-parton scattering effects are measured as functions of the angle and the transverse momentum imbalance between the Z boson and the jets. The measured distributions are compared with predictions from several event generators with different hadronization models and different parameter settings for multiparton interactions. The measured distributions show a dependence on the hadronization and multiparton interaction simulation parameters, and are important input for future improvements of the simulations.
Differential cross sections as function of Delta Phi between Z boson and the leading jet for Z+ ≥ 1 jet events.
Differential cross sections as function of transverse momentum imbalance between Z boson and the leading jet for Z+ ≥ 1 jet events.
Differential cross sections as function of Delta Phi between Z boson and dijet for Z+ ≥ 2 jets events.
A measurement of the production cross section of top quark pairs in association with two b jets ($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$) is presented using data collected in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV by the CMS detector at the LHC corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The cross section is measured in the all-jet decay channel of the top quark pair by selecting events containing at least eight jets, of which at least two are identified as originating from the hadronization of b quarks. A combination of multivariate analysis techniques is used to reduce the large background from multijet events not containing a top quark pair, and to help discriminate between jets originating from top quark decays and other additional jets. The cross section is determined for the total phase space to be 5.5 $\pm$ 0.3 (stat)${}^{+1.6}_{-1.3}$ (syst) pb and also measured for two fiducial $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$ definitions. The measured cross sections are found to be larger than theoretical predictions by a factor of 1.5-2.4, corresponding to 1-2 standard deviations.
The measured cross sections. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second uncertianty is the systematic.
The measured cross sections. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second uncertianty is the systematic.
The first measurement of the coherent photoproduction of $\rho^{0}$ vector mesons in ultra-peripheral Xe-Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{\rm NN}}}= 5.44$ TeV is presented. This result, together with previous HERA $\gamma$p data and $\gamma$-Pb measurements from ALICE, describes the atomic number ($A$) dependence of this process, which is particularly sensitive to nuclear shadowing effects and to the approach to the black-disc limit of QCD at a semi-hard scale. The cross section of the ${\rm Xe}+{\rm Xe} \to \rho^{0} + {\rm Xe}+{\rm Xe}$ process, measured at midrapidity through the decay channel $\rho^{0}\to\pi^+\pi^-$, is found to be ${\rm d}\sigma/{\rm d}y=131.5\pm 5.6 {\rm (stat.)} ^{+17.5}_{-16.9} {\rm (syst.)}$ mb. The ratio of the continuum to resonant contributions for the production of pion pairs is also measured. In addition, the fraction of events accompanied by electromagnetic dissociation of either one or both colliding nuclei is reported. The dependence on $A$ of cross section for the coherent $\rho^{0}$ photoproduction at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon of the $\gamma A$ system of $W_{\gamma A,n}= 65$ GeV is found to be consistent with a power-law behaviour $\sigma (\gamma A\rightarrow \rho^{0} A) \propto A^{\alpha}$ with a slope $\alpha = 0.96 \pm 0.02 {\rm (syst.)}$. This slope signals important shadowing effects, but it is still far from the behaviour expected in the black-disc limit.
Differential cross section as a function of rapidity for coherent RHO0 photoproduction in ultra-peripheral Xe-Xe collisions at ALICE.
Collinear (small-angle) and large-angle, as well as soft and hard radiations are investigated in three-jet and Z + two-jet events collected in proton-proton collisions at the LHC. The normalized production cross sections are measured as a function of the ratio of transverse momenta of two jets and their angular separation. The measurements in the three-jet and Z + two-jet events are based on data collected at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.8 fb$^{-1}$. The Z + two-jet events are reconstructed in the dimuon decay channel of the Z boson. The three-jet measurement is extended to include $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.3 fb$^{-1}$. The results are compared to predictions from event generators that include parton showers, multiple parton interactions, and hadronization. The collinear and soft regions are in general well described by parton showers, whereas the regions of large angular separation are often best described by calculations using higher-order matrix elements.
Three-jet events $p_{\mathrm{T}3}/p_{\mathrm{T}2}$ for small-angle radiation ($\Delta R_{23}$ < 1.0)
Three-jet events $p_{\mathrm{T}3}/p_{\mathrm{T}2}$ for small-angle radiation ($\Delta R_{23}$ < 1.0)
Three-jet events $p_{\mathrm{T}3}/p_{\mathrm{T}2}$ for large-angle radiation ($\Delta R_{23}$ > 1.0)
Flow harmonics ($v_n$) in the Fourier expansion of the azimuthal distribution of particles are widely used to quantify the anisotropy in particle emission in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. The symmetric cumulants, $SC(m,n)$, are used to measure the correlations between different orders of flow harmonics. These correlations are used to constrain the initial conditions and the transport properties of the medium in theoretical models. In this Letter, we present the first measurements of the four-particle symmetric cumulants in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 39 and 200 GeV from data collected by the STAR experiment at RHIC. We observe that $v_{2}$ and $v_{3}$ are anti-correlated in all centrality intervals with similar correlation strengths from 39 GeV Au+Au to 2.76 TeV Pb+Pb (measured by the ALICE experiment). The $v_{2}$-$v_{4}$ correlation seems to be stronger at 39 GeV than at higher collision energies. The initial-stage anti-correlations between second and third order eccentricities are sufficient to describe the measured correlations between $v_{2}$ and $v_{3}$. The best description of $v_{2}$-$v_{4}$ correlations at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV is obtained with inclusion of the system's nonlinear response to initial eccentricities accompanied by the viscous effect with $\eta/s$ $>$ 0.08. Theoretical calculations using different initial conditions, equations of state and viscous coefficients need to be further explored to extract $\eta/s$ of the medium created at RHIC.
Symmetric cumulant SC(2,3) and SC(2,4) as a function of average number of participant nucleons in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
Symmetric cumulant SC(2,3) as a function of average number of participant nucleons in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 39 GeV.
Symmetric cumulant SC(2,4) as a function of average number of participant nucleons in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 39 GeV.
The STAR Collaboration reports measurements of the transverse single-spin asymmetry (TSSA) of inclusive $\pi^0$ at center-of-mass energies ($\sqrt s$) of 200 GeV and 500 GeV in transversely polarized proton-proton collisions in the pseudo-rapidity region 2.7 to 4.0. The results at the two different energies show a continuous increase of the TSSA with Feynman-$x$, and, when compared to previous measurements, no dependence on $\sqrt s$ from 19.4 GeV to 500 GeV is found. To investigate the underlying physics leading to this large TSSA, different topologies have been studied. $\pi^0$ with no nearby particles tend to have a higher TSSA than inclusive $\pi^0$. The TSSA for inclusive electromagnetic jets, sensitive to the Sivers effect in the initial state, is substantially smaller, but shows the same behavior as the inclusive $\pi^0$ asymmetry as a function of Feynman-$x$. To investigate final-state effects, the Collins asymmetry of $\pi^0$ inside electromagnetic jets has been measured. The Collins asymmetry is analyzed for its dependence on the $\pi^0$ momentum transverse to the jet thrust axis and its dependence on the fraction of jet energy carried by the $\pi^0$. The asymmetry was found to be small in each case for both center-of-mass energies. All the measurements are compared to QCD-based theoretical calculations for transverse-momentum-dependent parton distribution functions and fragmentation functions. Some discrepancies are found, which indicates new mechanisms might be involved.
Transverse single-spin asymmetry as a function of Feynman-x for \pi^0 production in transversely polarized proton-proton collisions at 200 GeV.
Transverse single-spin asymmetry as a function of Feynman-x for \pi^0 production in transversely polarized proton-proton collisions at 500 GeV.
average transverse momentum of the \pi^0 for each xF bin in transversely polarized proton-proton collisions at 200 GeV.
The STAR Collaboration reports a measurement of the transverse single-spin asymmetries, $A_{N}$, for neutral pions produced in polarized proton collisions with protons ($pp$), with aluminum nuclei ($p\rm{Al}$) and with gold nuclei ($p\rm{Au}$) at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV. Neutral pions are observed in the forward direction relative to the transversely polarized proton beam, in the pseudo-rapidity region $2.7<\eta<3.8$. Results are presented for $\pi^0$s observed in the STAR FMS electromagnetic calorimeter in narrow Feynman x ($x_F$) and transverse momentum ($p_T$) bins, spanning the range $0.17<x_F<0.81$ and $1.7<p_{T}<6.0$ GeV/$c$. For fixed $x_F<0.47$, the asymmetries are found to rise with increasing transverse momentum. For larger $x_F$, the asymmetry flattens or falls as ${p_T}$ increases. Parametrizing the ratio $r(A) \equiv A_N(pA)/A_N(pp)=A^P$ over the kinematic range, the ratio $r(A)$ is found to depend only weakly on $A$, with ${\langle}P{\rangle} = -0.027 \pm 0.005$. No significant difference in $P$ is observed between the low-$p_T$ region, $p_T<2.5$ GeV/$c$, where gluon saturation effects may play a role, and the high-$p_T$ region, $p_T>2.5$ GeV/$c$. It is further observed that the value of $A_N$ is significantly larger for events with a large-$p_T$ isolated $\pi^0$ than for events with a non-isolated $\pi^0$ accompanied by additional jet-like fragments. The nuclear dependence $r(A)$ is similar for isolated and non-isolated $\pi^0$ events.
A_N pAl 0.17<x_F<0.19
A_N pp 0.17<x_F<0.19
A_N pAu 0.17<x_F<0.19
A measurement of four-top-quark production using proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$ is presented. Events are selected if they contain a single lepton (electron or muon) or an opposite-sign lepton pair, in association with multiple jets. The events are categorised according to the number of jets and how likely these are to contain $b$-hadrons. A multivariate technique is then used to discriminate between signal and background events. The measured four-top-quark production cross section is found to be 26$^{+17}_{-15}$ fb, with a corresponding observed (expected) significance of 1.9 (1.0) standard deviations over the background-only hypothesis. The result is combined with the previous measurement performed by the ATLAS Collaboration in the multilepton final state. The combined four-top-quark production cross section is measured to be 24$^{+7}_{-6}$ fb, with a corresponding observed (expected) signal significance of 4.7 (2.6) standard deviations over the background-only predictions. It is consistent within 2.0 standard deviations with the Standard Model expectation of 12.0$\pm$2.4 fb.
The results of the fitted signal strength $\mu$ in the 1L/2LOS channel
The results of fitted inclusive ${t\bar{t}t\bar{t}}$ cross-section in the 1L/2LOS channel
Ranking of the nuisance parameters included in the fit according to their impact on the signal strength $\mu$. The impact of each nuisance parameter, $\Delta\mu$, is computed by comparing the nominal best-fit value of $\mu$ with the result of the fit when fixing the nuisance parameter to its best-fit value, $\hat{\theta}$, shifted by its pre-fit (post-fit) uncertainties $\pm \Delta\theta$ ($\pm \Delta\hat{\theta}$).
A search for new top quark interactions is performed within the framework of an effective field theory using the associated production of either one or two top quarks with a Z boson in multilepton final states. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. Five dimension-six operators modifying the electroweak interactions of the top quark are considered. Novel machine-learning techniques are used to enhance the sensitivity to effects arising from these operators. Distributions used for the signal extraction are parameterized in terms of Wilson coefficients describing the interaction strengths of the operators. All five Wilson coefficients are simultaneously fit to data and 95% confidence level intervals are computed. All results are consistent with the SM expectations.
Expected and observed 95% CL confidence intervals for all Wilson coefficients. The intervals are obtained by scanning over a single Wilson coefficient, while fixing the other Wilson coefficients to their SM values of zero.
Expected and observed 95% CL confidence intervals for all Wilson coefficients. The intervals for all five Wilson coefficients are obtained from a single fit, in which all Wilson coefficients are treated as free parameters.
Covariance between the Wilson coefficients (in units of TeV$^{-4}$), after the 5D fit to data.
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