The pseudorapidity distributions of charged hadrons in proton-lead collisions at nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energies $\sqrt{s_{_\mathrm{NN}}} =$ 5.02 and 8.16 TeV are presented. The measurements are based on data samples collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The number of primary charged hadrons produced in non-single-diffractive proton-lead collisions is determined in the pseudorapidity range $|\eta_\mathrm{lab}| <$ 2.4. The charged-hadron multiplicity distributions are compared to the predictions from theoretical calculations and Monte Carlo event generators. In the center-of-mass pseudorapidity range $|\eta_\mathrm{cm}| < 0.5$, the average charged-hadron multiplicity densities $<\mathrm{d}N_{\mathrm{ch}}/\mathrm{d}\eta_{\mathrm{cm}}>$$\vert_{|\eta_{\mathrm{cm}}| < 0.5}$ are 17.31 $\pm$ 0.01 (stat) $\pm$ 0.59 (syst) and 20.10 $\pm$ 0.01 (stat) $\pm$ 0.85 (syst) at $\sqrt{s_{_\mathrm{NN}}} =$ 5.02 and 8.16 TeV, respectively. The particle densities per participant nucleon are compared to similar measurements in proton-proton, proton-nucleus, and nucleus-nucleus collisions.

A search for resonance-like structures in the $\mathrm{B}^{0}_{\mathrm{s}}\pi^{\pm}$ invariant mass spectrum is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC at $\sqrt{s} = $ 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb$^{-1}$. The $\mathrm{B}^{0}_{\mathrm{s}}$ mesons are reconstructed in the decay chain $\mathrm{B}^{0}_{\mathrm{s}} \rightarrow \mathrm{J}/\psi\,\phi$, with $\mathrm{J}/\psi \rightarrow \mu^+\mu^-$ and $\phi\rightarrow\mathrm{K^{+}}\mathrm{K^{-}}$. The $\mathrm{B}^{0}_{\mathrm{s}}\pi^{\pm}$ invariant mass distribution shows no statistically significant peaks for different selection requirements on the reconstructed $\mathrm{B}^{0}_{\mathrm{s}}$ and $\pi^{\pm}$ candidates. Upper limits are set on the relative production rates of the X(5568) and $\mathrm{B}^{0}_{\mathrm{s}}$ states times the branching fraction of the decay $\mathrm{X}(5568)^{\pm} \rightarrow \mathrm{B}^{0}_{\mathrm{s}} \pi^{\pm} $. In addition, upper limits are obtained as a function of the mass and the natural width of possible exotic states decaying into $\mathrm{B}^{0}_{\mathrm{s}}\pi^{\pm}$.

Measurements are presented of the lifetimes of the B$^0$, B$^0_\mathrm{s}$, $\Lambda^0_\mathrm{b}$, and B$_\mathrm{c}^+$ hadrons using the decay channels B$^0\to$ J/$\psi$K*(892)$^0$, B$^0\to$J/$\psi$K$^0_\mathrm{S}$, B$^0_\mathrm{s}\to$J/$\psi \pi^+\pi^-$, B$^0_\mathrm{s}\to$J/$\psi\phi$(1020), $\Lambda^0_\mathrm{b}\to$J/$\psi\Lambda^0$, and B$_\mathrm{c}\to$J/$\psi\pi^+$. The data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb$^{-1}$, was collected by the CMS detector at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=$ 8 TeV. The B$^0$ lifetime is measured to be 453.0 $\pm$ 1.6 (stat) $\pm$ 1.8 (syst) $\mu$m in J/$\psi$K*(892)$^0$ and 457.8 $\pm$ 2.7 (stat) $\pm$ 2.8 (syst) $\mu$m in J/$\psi$K$^0_\mathrm{S}$, which results in a combined measurement of $c\tau_{\mathrm{B}^0} =$ 454.1 $\pm$ 1.4 (stat) $\pm$ 1.7 (syst) $\mu$m. The effective lifetime of the B$^0_\mathrm{s}$ meson is measured in two decay modes, with contributions from different amounts of the heavy and light eigenstates. This results in two different measured lifetimes: $c\tau_{\mathrm{B}^0_\mathrm{s} \to \mathrm{J}/\psi \pi^+\pi^-} =$ 502.7 $\pm$ 10.2 (stat) $\pm$ 3.4 (syst) $\mu$m and $c\tau_{\mathrm{B}^0_\mathrm{s} \to \mathrm{J}/\psi\phi(1020)} =$ 443.9 $\pm$ 2.0 (stat) $\pm$ 1.5 (syst) $\mu$m. The $\Lambda^0_\mathrm{b}$ lifetime is found to be 443.9 $\pm$ 8.2 (stat) $\pm$ 2.8 (syst) $\mu$m. The precision from each of these channels is as good as or better than previous measurements. The B$_\mathrm{c}^+$ lifetime, measured with respect to the B$^+$ to reduce the systematic uncertainty, is 162.3 $\pm$ 7.8 (stat) $\pm$ 4.2 (syst) $\pm$ 0.1 $(\tau_{\mathrm{B}^+})$ $\mu$m. All results are in agreement with current world-average values.

A first search for same-sign WW production via double-parton scattering is performed based on proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV using dimuon and electron-muon final states. The search is based on the analysis of data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb$^{-1}$. No significant excess of events is observed above the expected single-parton scattering yields. A 95% confidence level upper limit of 0.32 pb is set on the inclusive cross section for same-sign WW production via the double-parton scattering process. This upper limit is used to place a 95% confidence level lower limit of 12.2 mb on the effective double-parton cross section parameter, closely related to the transverse distribution of partons in the proton. This limit on the effective cross section is consistent with previous measurements as well as with Monte Carlo event generator predictions.

A study of the associated production of a Z boson and a charm quark jet (Z + c), and a comparison to production with a b quark jet (Z + b), in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV are presented. The analysis uses a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb$^{-1}$, collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The Z boson candidates are identified through their decays into pairs of electrons or muons. Jets originating from heavy flavour quarks are identified using semileptonic decays of c or b flavoured hadrons and hadronic decays of charm hadrons. The measurements are performed in the kinematic region with two leptons with $p_{\rm T}^{\ell} > $ 20 GeV, ${|\eta^{\ell}|} < $ 2.1, 71 $ < m_{\ell\ell} < $ 111 GeV, and heavy flavour jets with $p_{\rm T}^{{\rm jet}} > $ 25 GeV and ${|\eta^{{\rm jet}}|} < $ 2.5. The Z + c production cross section is measured to be $\sigma({\mathrm{p}}{\mathrm{p}} \rightarrow \mathrm{Z} + \mathrm{c} + \mathrm{X}) {\cal B}(\mathrm{Z} \rightarrow \ell^+\ell^-) = $ 8.8 $ \pm $ 0.5 (stat) $ \pm $ 0.6 (syst) pb. The ratio of the Z + c and Z + b production cross sections is measured to be $\sigma({\mathrm{p}}{\mathrm{p}} \rightarrow \mathrm{Z} + \mathrm{c} + \mathrm{X}) / \sigma({\mathrm{p}}{\mathrm{p}} \rightarrow \mathrm{Z} + \mathrm{b} + \mathrm{X}) = $ 2.0 $ \pm $ 0.2 (stat) $ \pm $ 0.2 (syst). The Z + c production cross section and the cross section ratio are also measured as a function of the transverse momentum of the Z boson and of the heavy flavour jet. The measurements are compared with theoretical predictions.

Charge-dependent azimuthal correlations of same- and opposite-sign pairs with respect to the second- and third-order event planes have been measured in pPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} =$ 8.16 TeV and PbPb collisions at 5.02 TeV with the CMS experiment at the LHC. The measurement is motivated by the search for the charge separation phenomenon predicted by the chiral magnetic effect (CME) in heavy ion collisions. Three- and two-particle azimuthal correlators are extracted as functions of the pseudorapidity difference, the transverse momentum ($p_\mathrm{t}$) difference, and the $p_\mathrm{t}$ average of same- and opposite-charge pairs in various event multiplicity ranges. The data suggest that the charge-dependent three-particle correlators with respect to the second- and third-order event planes share a common origin, predominantly arising from charge-dependent two-particle azimuthal correlations coupled with an anisotropic flow. The CME is expected to lead to a $v_2$-independent three-particle correlation when the magnetic field is fixed. Using an event shape engineering technique, upper limits on the $v_2$-independent fraction of the three-particle correlator are estimated to be 13% for pPb and 7% for PbPb collisions at 95% confidence level. The results of this analysis, both the dominance of two-particle correlations as a source of the three-particle results and the similarities seen between PbPb and pPb, provide stringent constraints on the origin of charge-dependent three-particle azimuthal correlations and challenge their interpretation as arising from a chiral magnetic effect in heavy ion collisions.

The azimuthal anisotropy Fourier coefficients ($v_n$) in 8.16 TeV pPb data are extracted via long-range two-particle correlations as a function of event multiplicity and compared to corresponding results in pp and PbPb collisions. Using a four-particle cumulant technique, $v_n$ correlations are measured for the first time in pp and pPb collisions. The $v_2$ and $v_4$ coefficients are found to be positively correlated in all collision systems. For high multiplicity pPb collisions an anticorrelation of $v_2$ and $v_3$ is observed, with a similar correlation strength as in PbPb data at the same multiplicity. The new correlation results strengthen the case for a common origin of the collectivity seen in pPb and PbPb collisions in the measured multiplicity range.

Normalized double-differential cross sections for top quark pair (t t-bar) production are measured in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV with the CMS experiment at the LHC. The analyzed data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 inverse femtobarns. The measurement is performed in the dilepton e+/- mu-/+ final state. The t t-bar cross section is determined as a function of various pairs of observables characterizing the kinematics of the top quark and t t-bar system. The data are compared to calculations using perturbative quantum chromodynamics at next-to-leading and approximate next-to-next-to-leading orders. They are also compared to predictions of Monte Carlo event generators that complement fixed-order computations with parton showers, hadronization, and multiple-parton interactions. Overall agreement is observed with the predictions, which is improved when the latest global sets of proton parton distribution functions are used. The inclusion of the measured t t-bar cross sections in a fit of parametrized parton distribution functions is shown to have significant impact on the gluon distribution.

A measurement is presented of the triple-differential dijet cross section at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV using 19.7 inverse femtobarns of data collected with the CMS detector in proton-proton collisions at the LHC. The cross section is measured as a function of the average transverse momentum, half the rapidity separation, and the boost of the two leading jets in the event. The cross section is corrected for detector effects and compared to calculations in perturbative quantum chromodynamics at next-to-leading order accuracy, complemented with electroweak and nonperturbative corrections. New constraints on parton distribution functions are obtained and the inferred value of the strong coupling constant is alpha[S](M[Z]) = 0.1199 +/- 0.0015 (exp) -0.0020 +0.0031 (theo), where M[Z] is the mass of the Z boson.

Jet charge is an estimator of the electric charge of a quark, antiquark, or gluon initiating a jet. It is based on the momentum-weighted sum of the electric charges of the jet constituents. Measurements of three charge observables of the leading jet in transverse momentum pT are performed with dijet events. The analysis is carried out with data collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC in proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 inverse femtobarns. The results are presented as a function of the pT of the leading jet and compared to predictions from leading- and next-to-leading-order event generators combined with parton showers. Measured jet charge distributions, unfolded for detector effects, are reported, which expand on previous measurements of the jet charge average and standard deviation in pp collisions.