Measurements of the polarization and spin correlation in top quark pairs ($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$) are presented using events with a single electron or muon and jets in the final state. The measurements are based on proton-proton collision data from the LHC at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. All coefficients of the polarization vectors and the spin correlation matrix are extracted simultaneously by performing a binned likelihood fit to the data. The measurement is performed inclusively and in bins of additional observables, such as the mass of the $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ system and the top quark scattering angle in the $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ rest frame. The measured polarization and spin correlation are in agreement with the standard model. From the measured spin correlation, conclusions on the $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ spin entanglement are drawn by applying the Peres-Horodecki criterion. The standard model predicts entangled spins for $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ states at the production threshold and at high masses of the $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ system. Entanglement is observed for the first time in events at high $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ mass, where a large fraction of the $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ decays are space-like separated, with an expected and observed significance of above 5 standard deviations.
Results for full matrix measurement inclusive from $m(t\bar{t})$
Covariance for full matrix measurement inclusive from $m(t\bar{t})$
Results for full matrix measurement all bins from $m(t\bar{t})$ fit
The forward-backward asymmetry in Drell-Yan production and the effective leptonic electroweak mixing angle are measured in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, collected by the CMS experiment and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The measurement uses both dimuon and dielectron events, and is performed as a function of the dilepton mass and rapidity. The unfolded angular coefficient $A_4$ is also extracted, as a function of the dilepton mass and rapidity. Using the CT18Z set of parton distribution functions, we obtain $\sin\theta^\ell_\text{eff}$ = 0.23157 $\pm$ 0.00031, where the uncertainty includes the experimental and theoretical contributions. The measured value agrees with the standard model fit result to global experimental data. This is the most precise $\sin\theta^\ell_\text{eff}$ measurement at a hadron collider, with a precision comparable to the results obtained at LEP and SLD.
Measured $A_4(|Y|,M))$ distribution for the combined Run 2 data.
Correlation coefficients for the $A_4(|Y|,M)$ values among different $|Y|-M$ bins. The $A_4(|Y|,M)$ values and total uncertainties are shown in Figure 8 in the paper.
Measurements at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13.6 TeV of the opposite-sign W boson pair production cross section in proton-proton collisions are presented. The data used in this study were collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC in 2022, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 34.8 fb$^{-1}$. Events are selected by requiring one electron and one muon of opposite charge. A maximum likelihood fit is performed on signal- and background-enriched data categories defined by the flavour and charge of the leptons, the number of jets, and number of jets originating from b quarks. An inclusive W$^+$W$^-$ production cross section of 125.7 $\pm$ 5.6 pb is measured, in agreement with standard model predictions. Cross sections are also reported in a fiducial region close to that of the detector acceptance, both inclusively and differentially, as a function of the jet multiplicity in the event. For first time in proton-proton collisions, WW events with at least two reconstructed jets are studied and compared with recent theoretical predictions.
Summary of inclusive cross section.
Relative systematic uncertainties in the total cross section measurement.
Measured fraction of events for $N_j = 0, 1, \geq 2$ jets. The total uncertainty is reported.
A search for light long-lived particles decaying to displaced jets is presented, using a data sample of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13.6 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 34.7 fb$^{-1}$, collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC in 2022. Novel trigger, reconstruction, and machine-learning techniques were developed for and employed in this search. After all selections, the observations are consistent with the background predictions. Limits are presented on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson to long-lived particles that subsequently decay to quark pairs or tau lepton pairs. An improvement by up to a factor of 10 is achieved over previous limits for models with long-lived particle masses smaller than 60 GeV and proper decay lengths smaller than 1 m. The first constraints are placed on the fraternal twin Higgs and folded supersymmetry models, where the lower bounds on the top quark partner mass reach up to 350 GeV for the fraternal twin Higgs model and 250 GeV for the folded supersymmetry model.
The predicted background yields and the number of observed events for the data with $g_{\mathrm{prompt-veto}}>0.985$, shown for different bins of the displacd-dijet GNN score $g_{\mathrm{displaced}}$. Expected signal yields for the $\mathrm{H \to SS}$, $\mathrm{S \to b\overline{b}}$ signature are also shown for models with $m_{\mathrm{S}}=40~\mathrm{GeV}$, and $c \tau_{0}=1$, $10$ or $100\mathrm{mm}$, assuming a branching fraction of $1\%$ for the $\mathrm{H \to SS}$ decay.
The 95% CL upper limits on the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}(\mathrm{H \to SS})$ with $\mathrm{S \to b\overline{b}}$ deacy, for different LLP masses $m_{\mathrm{S}}$ and proper decay lengths $c\tau_{0}$.
The 95% CL upper limits on the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}(\mathrm{H \to SS})$ with $\mathrm{S \to d\overline{d}}$ decay, for different LLP masses $m_{\mathrm{S}}$ and proper decay lengths $c\tau_{0}$.
The first measurement of the inclusive and normalised differential cross sections of single top quark production in association with a W boson in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13.6 TeV is presented. The data were recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2022, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 34.7 fb$^{-1}$. The analysed events contain one muon and one electron in the final state. For the inclusive measurement, multivariate discriminants exploiting the kinematic properties of the events are used to separate the signal from the dominant top quark-antiquark production background. A cross section of 82.3 $\pm$ 2.1 (stat) ${}^{+9.9}_{-9.7}$ (syst) $\pm$ 3.3 (lumi) pb is obtained, consistent with the predictions of the standard model. A fiducial region is defined according to the detector acceptance to perform the differential measurements. The resulting differential distributions are unfolded to particle level and show good agreement with the predictions at next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics.
The distribution of the RF output for events in the 1j1b region. The number of observed events (points) and estimated signal and background events (filled histograms) from the maximum likelihood fit are shown. The vertical bars on the points represent the statistical uncertainty in the data, and the hatched band the total uncertainty in the estimated events after the fit. The lower panels display the ratio of the data to the sum of the estimated events (points) after the fit, with the bands giving the corresponding uncertainties.
The distribution of the RF output for events in the 2j1b region. The number of observed events (points) and estimated signal and background events (filled histograms) from the maximum likelihood fit are shown. The vertical bars on the points represent the statistical uncertainty in the data, and the hatched band the total uncertainty in the estimated events after the fit. The lower panels display the ratio of the data to the sum of the estimated events (points) after the fit, with the bands giving the corresponding uncertainties.
The distribution of the Subleading jet $p_{T}$ for events in the 2j2b region. The number of observed events (points) and estimated signal and background events (filled histograms) from the maximum likelihood fit are shown. The vertical bars on the points represent the statistical uncertainty in the data, and the hatched band the total uncertainty in the estimated events after the fit. The lower panels display the ratio of the data to the sum of the estimated events (points) after the fit, with the bands giving the corresponding uncertainties.
The results of a model-independent search for the pair production of new bosons within a mass range of 0.21 $\lt$$m$$\lt$ 60 GeV, are presented. This study utilizes events with a four-muon final state. We use two data sets, comprising 41.5 fb$^{-1}$ and 59.7 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, recorded in 2017 and 2018 by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. The study of the 2018 data set includes a search for displaced signatures of a new boson within the proper decay length range of 0 $\lt$$c\tau$$\lt$ 100 $\mu$m. Our results are combined with a previous CMS result, based on 35.9 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV collected in 2016. No significant deviation from the expected background is observed. Results are presented in terms of a model-independent upper limit on the product of cross section, branching fraction, and acceptance. The findings are interpreted across various benchmark models, such as an axion-like particle model, a vector portal model, the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model, and a dark supersymmetric scenario, including those predicting a non-negligible proper decay length of the new boson. In all considered scenarios, substantial portions of the parameter space are excluded, expanding upon prior results.
The model-independent 95\% \CL expected and observed upper limits set on ${\sigma(\PP\to 2\Pa+\PX)\mathcal{B}^2(\Pa\to 2\PGm)\alphaGen}$ over the range $0.21 < \MPa < 60\GeV$ for the 2017 analysis. Mass ranges that overlap with \JPsi and \PgU resonances are excluded from the search
The model-independent 95\% \CL expected and observed upper limits set on ${\sigma(\PP\to 2\Pa+\PX)\mathcal{B}^2(\Pa\to 2\PGm)\alphaGen}$ over the range $0.21 < \MPa < 60\GeV$ for the 2018 analysis. Mass ranges that overlap with \JPsi and \PgU resonances are excluded from the search
The model-independent 95\% \CL expected and observed upper limits set on ${\sigma(\PP\to 2\Pa+\PX)\mathcal{B}^2(\Pa\to 2\PGm)\alphaGen}$ over the range $0.21 < \MPa < 60\GeV$ for the combined 2017 and 2018 analyses. Mass ranges that overlap with \JPsi and \PgU resonances are excluded from the search
This Letter presents the first search for bottom quark associated production of the standard model Higgs boson, in final states with leptons. Higgs boson decays to pairs of tau leptons and pairs of leptonically decaying W bosons are considered. The search is performed using data collected from 2016 to 2018 by the CMS experiment in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb${-1}$. Upper limits at the 95% confidence level are placed on the signal strength for Higgs boson production in association with bottom quarks; the observed (expected) upper limit is 3.7 (6.1) times the standard model prediction.
Inclusive signal strength modifiers $\mu$.
Cross section limits assuming a SM cross-section of 1.489 pb $\sigma_i$.
Signal strength modifier calculated for the bbH(yb2) process $\mu_i$.
The first search for soft unclustered energy patterns (SUEPs) is performed using an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV collected in 2016-2018 by the CMS detector at the LHC. Such SUEPs are predicted by Hidden Valley models with a new, confining force with a large 't Hooft coupling. In events with boosted topologies, selected by high-threshold hadronic triggers, the multiplicity and sphericity of clustered tracks are used to reject the background from standard model quantum chromodynamics. With no observed excess of events over the standard model expectation, limits are set on the cross section for production via gluon fusion of a scalar mediator with SUEP-like decays.
The number of observed events as a function of the number of tracks in the SUEP candidate, for all CRs (A–H) and the SR, as well as two signal samples. The three figures correspond to contiguous $S_{boosted}^{SUEP}$ ranges. The VR is not used in the fit so the estimation comes from the observed values in the control regions. For all other regions and bins, the post-fit values for a background-only fit are shown.
The observed exclusions for the nominal $\sigma$ cross section in the plane of $m_{\phi}$ and $T_D$, for various $m_S$ values, for the case $m_{A'}=1.0$ GeV ($A' \rightarrow \pi^+\pi^-$ with $\mathcal{BR}=100\%$).
The expected exclusions for the nominal $\sigma$ cross section in the plane of $m_{\phi}$ and $T_D$, for various $m_S$ values, for the case $m_{A'}=1.0$ GeV ($A' \rightarrow \pi^+\pi^-$ with $\mathcal{BR}=100\%$).
A search for beyond the standard model spin-0 bosons, $\phi$, that decay into pairs of electrons, muons, or tau leptons is presented. The search targets the associated production of such bosons with a W or Z gauge boson, or a top quark-antiquark pair, and uses events with three or four charged leptons, including hadronically decaying tau leptons. The proton-proton collision data set used in the analysis was collected at the LHC from 2016 to 2018 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The observations are consistent with the predictions from standard model processes. Upper limits are placed on the product of cross sections and branching fractions of such new particles over the mass range of 15 to 350 GeV with scalar, pseudoscalar, or Higgs-boson-like couplings, as well as on the product of coupling parameters and branching fractions. Several model-dependent exclusion limits are also presented. For a Higgs-boson-like $\phi$ model, limits are set on the mixing angle of the Higgs boson with the $\phi$ boson. For the associated production of a $\phi$ boson with a top quark-antiquark pair, limits are set on the coupling to top quarks. Finally, limits are set for the first time on a fermiophilic dilaton-like model with scalar couplings and a fermiophilic axion-like model with pseudoscalar couplings.
Binned representation of the control and signal regions for the combined multilepton event selection and the combined 2016–2018 data set. The control region bins follow their definitions as given in Table 1 of the paper, and the signal region bins correspond to the channels as defined by the lepton flavor composition. The normalizations of the background samples in the control regions are described in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of the paper. All three (four) lepton events are required to have $\mathrm{Q_{\ell}=1 (0)}$, and those satisfying any of the control region requirements are removed from the signal region bins. All subsequent selections given in Tables 2 and 3 of the paper are based on events given in the signal region bins. The lower panel shows the ratio of observed events to the total expected SM background prediction (Obs/Exp), and the gray band represents the statistical uncertainties in the background prediction.
The $M_{OSSF}$ spectrum for the combined 2L1T, 2L2T, 3L, 3L1T, and 4L event selection (excluding the $\mathrm{Z\gamma}$ control region) and the combined 2016-2018 data set. All three (four) lepton events are required to have $\mathrm{Q_{\ell}=1 (0)}$. The lower panel shows the ratio of observed events to the total expected SM background prediction (Obs/Exp), and the gray band represents the statistical uncertainties in the background prediction.
Dilepton mass spectra for the low mass $W\phi($ee$)$ SR1 event selections for the combined 2016–2018 data set. The lower panel shows the ratio of observed events to the total expected SM background prediction (Obs/Exp), and the gray band represents the sum of statistical and systematic uncertainties in the background prediction. The expected background distributions and the uncertainties are shown after the data is fit under the background-only hypothesis. For illustration, two example signal hypotheses for the production and decay of a scalar and a pseudoscalar $\phi$ boson are shown, and their masses (in units of GeV) are indicated in the legend. The signals are normalized to the product of the cross section and branching fraction of 10 fb.
Searches for pair-produced multijet signatures using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 128 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV are presented. A data scouting technique is employed to record events with low jet scalar transverse momentum sum values. The electroweak production of particles predicted in $R$-parity violating supersymmetric models is probed for the first time with fully hadronic final states. This is the first search for prompt hadronically decaying mass-degenerate higgsinos, and extends current exclusions on $R$-parity violating top squarks and gluinos.
Fit results for the pair produced merged three-quark average jet mass ($\bar{m}$) distribution, after the selection of $p_{\rm T}>300$ GeV, $|\eta|<2.4$, and $\tau_{32,\mathrm{DDT}}<0$ on both leading and subleading jet and $A_m<0.15$
Fit results for the pair produced merged three-quark average jet mass ($\bar{m}$) distribution, after the selection of $p_{\rm T}>300$ GeV, $|\eta|<2.4$, and $N^1_{2,\mathrm{DDT}}<0$ on both leading and subleading jet
Fit results for the region 1 of pair produced resolved three jet mass ($m_{jjj}$) distribution, after $H_{\rm T}>600$ GeV, $|\eta|<2.4$, sixth jet $p_{\rm T}>40$ GeV, $D^2_{[(6,3)+(3,2)]}<1.25$, $A_m <0.25$, $\Delta>250$ GeV, $D^2_{[3,2]}<0.05$