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
Decays of the 125 GeV Higgs boson into a Z boson and a $\rho^0$(770) or $\phi$(1020) meson are searched for using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC at $\sqrt{s} = $ 13 TeV. The analysed data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. Events are selected in which the Z boson decays into a pair of electrons or a pair of muons, and the $\rho$ and $\phi$ mesons decay into pairs of pions and kaons, respectively. No significant excess above the background model is observed. As different polarization states are possible for the decay products of the Z boson and $\rho$ or $\phi$ mesons, affecting the signal acceptance, scenarios in which the decays are longitudinally or transversely polarized are considered. Upper limits at the 95% confidence level on the Higgs boson branching fractions into Z$\rho$ and Z$\phi$ are determined to be 1.04-1.31% and 0.31-0.40%, respectively, where the ranges reflect the considered polarization scenarios; these values are 740-940 and 730-950 times larger than the respective standard model expectations. These results constitute the first experimental limits on the two decay channels.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on B(H $\rightarrow$ Z$\rho$), for different polarizations.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on B(H $\rightarrow$ Z$\phi$), for different polarizations.
The coupling properties of the Higgs boson are studied in the four-lepton decay channel using 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data from the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the ATLAS detector. Cross sections are measured for the four key production modes in several exclusive regions of the Higgs boson production phase space and are interpreted in terms of coupling modifiers. The inclusive cross section times branching ratio for $H \rightarrow ZZ^*$ decay and for a Higgs boson absolute rapidity below 2.5 is measured to be $1.73^{+0.24}_{-0.23}$(stat.)$^{+0.10}_{-0.08}$(exp.)$\pm 0.04$(th.) pb compared to the Standard Model prediction of $1.34\pm0.09$ pb. In addition, the tensor structure of the Higgs boson couplings is studied using an effective Lagrangian approach for the description of interactions beyond the Standard Model. Constraints are placed on the non-Standard-Model CP-even and CP-odd couplings to $Z$ bosons and on the CP-odd coupling to gluons.
The expected number of SM Higgs boson events with a mass mH= 125.09 GeV in the mass range 118 < m4l < 129 GeV for an integrated luminosity of 36.1/fb and sqrt(s)= 13 TeV in each reconstructed event category, shown separately for each Stage-0 production bin. The ggF and bbH contributions are shown separately but both contribute to the same (ggF) production bin. Statistical and systematic uncertainties are added in quadrature.
The observed and expected numbers of signal and background events in the four-lepton decay channels for an integrated luminosity of 36.1/fb and at sqrt(s)= 13 TeV, assuming the SM Higgs boson signal with a mass m_{H} = 125.09 GeV . The second column shows the expected number of signal events for the full mass range while the subsequent columns correspond to the mass range of 118 < m4l < 129 GeV. In addition to the ZZ* background, the contribution of other backgrounds is shown, comprising the data-driven estimate from Table 4 and the simulation-based estimate of contributions from rare triboson and tbar{t}V processes. Statistical and systematic uncertainties are added in quadrature.
The expected and observed numbers of signal events in reconstructed event categories for an integrated luminosity of 36.1/fb at sqrt(s)= 13 TeV, together with signal acceptances for each Stage-0 production mode. Results are obtained in bins of BDT discriminants using coarse binning with several bins merged into one. Signal acceptances less than 0.0001 are set to 0.
Inclusive and differential fiducial cross sections of the Higgs boson are measured in the $H \to ZZ^{*} \to 4\ell$ ($\ell = e,\mu$) decay channel. The results are based on proton$-$proton collision data produced at the Large Hadron Collider at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and recorded by the ATLAS detector from 2015 to 2018, equivalent to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. The inclusive fiducial cross section for the $H \to ZZ^{*} \to 4\ell$ process is measured to be $\sigma_\mathrm{fid} = 3.28 \pm 0.32$ fb, in agreement with the Standard Model prediction of $\sigma_\mathrm{fid, SM} = 3.41 \pm 0.18 $ fb. Differential fiducial cross sections are measured for a variety of observables which are sensitive to the production and decay of the Higgs boson. All measurements are in agreement with the Standard Model predictions. The results are used to constrain anomalous Higgs boson interactions with Standard Model particles.
Fractional uncertainties for the inclusive fiducial and total cross sections, and range of systematic uncertainties for the differential measurements. The columns e/$\mu$ and jets represent the experimental uncertainties in lepton and jet reconstruction and identification, respectively. The Z + jets, $t\bar{t}$, tXX (Other Bkg.) column includes uncertainties related to the estimation of these background sources. The $ZZ^{*}$ theory ($ZZ^{*}$ th.) uncertainties include the PDF and scale variations. Signal theory (Sig th.) uncertainties include PDF choice, QCD scale, and shower modelling of the signal. Finally, the column labelled Comp. contains uncertainties related to production mode composition and unfolding bias which affect the response matrices. The uncertainties have been rounded to the nearest 0.5%, except for the luminosity uncertainty which has been measured to be 1.7%.
Expected (pre-fit) and observed number of events in the four decay final states after the event selection, in the mass range 115< $m_{4l}$ < 130 GeV. The sum of the expected number of SM Higgs boson events and the estimated background yields is compared to the data. Combined statistical and systematic uncertainties are included for the predictions.
The fiducial and total cross sections of Higgs boson production measured in the 4l final state. The fiducial cross sections are given separately for each decay final state, and for same- and different-flavour decays. The inclusive fiducial cross section is measured as the sum of all final states ($\sigma_{sum}$), as well as by combining the per-final state measurements assuming SM $ZZ^{*} \to 4l$ relative branching ratios ($\sigma_{comb}$). For the total cross section ($\sigma_{tot}$), the Higgs boson branching ratio at $m_{H}$= 125 GeV is assumed. The total SM prediction is accurate to N3LO in QCD and NLO EW for the ggF process. The cross sections for all other Higgs boson production modes XH are added. For the fiducial cross section predictions, the SM cross sections are multiplied by the acceptances determined using the NNLOPS sample for ggF. The p-values indicating the compatibility of the measurement and the SM prediction are shown as well. They do not include the systematic uncertainty in the theoretical predictions.
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 for a heavy resonance decaying into a top quark and a W boson in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV is presented. The data analyzed were recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The top quark is reconstructed as a single jet and the W boson, from its decay into an electron or muon and the corresponding neutrino. A top quark tagging technique based on jet clustering with a variable distance parameter and simultaneous jet grooming is used to identify jets from the collimated top quark decay. The results are interpreted in the context of two benchmark models, where the heavy resonance is either an excited bottom quark b$^*$ or a vector-like quark B. A statistical combination with an earlier search by the CMS Collaboration in the all-hadronic final state is performed to place upper cross section limits on these two models. The new analysis extends the lower range of resonance mass probed from 1.4 down to 0.7 TeV. For left-handed, right-handed, and vector-like couplings, b$^*$ masses up to 3.0, 3.0, and 3.2 TeV are excluded at 95% confidence level, respectively. The observed upper limits represent the most stringent constraints on the b$^*$ model to date.
Distributions of MtW in the 1b category. The data are shown by filled markers, where the horizontal bars indicate the bin widths. The individual background contributions are given by filled histograms. The expected signal for a LH b* with mb∗ = 2.4 TeV is shown by a dashed line. The shaded region is the uncertainty in the total background estimate. The lower panel shows the ratio of data to the background estimate, with the total uncertainty on the predicted background displayed as the gray band.
Distributions of MtW in the 2b category. The data are shown by filled markers, where the horizontal bars indicate the bin widths. The individual background contributions are given by filled histograms. The expected signal for a LH b* with mb∗ = 2.4 TeV is shown by a dashed line. The shaded region is the uncertainty in the total background estimate. The lower panel shows the ratio of data to the background estimate, with the total uncertainty on the predicted background displayed as the gray band.
Upper limits on the production cross section times branching fraction of the b* LH hypothesis at a 95% CL. Dashed colored lines show the expected limits from the l+jets and all-hadronic channels, where the latter start at resonance masses of 1.4 TeV. The observed and expected limits from the combination are shown as solid and dashed black lines, respectively. The green and yellow bands show the 68 and 95% confidence intervals on the combined expected limits.
Measurements of $ZZ$ production in the $\ell^{+}\ell^{-}\ell^{\prime +}\ell^{\prime -}$ channel in proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV center-of-mass energy at the Large Hadron Collider are presented. The data correspond to 36.1 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of collisions collected by the ATLAS experiment in 2015 and 2016. Here $\ell$ and $\ell'$ stand for electrons or muons. Integrated and differential $ZZ \to \ell^{+}\ell^{-}\ell^{\prime +}\ell^{\prime -}$ cross sections with $Z \to \ell^+\ell^-$ candidate masses in the range of 66 GeV to 116 GeV are measured in a fiducial phase space corresponding to the detector acceptance and corrected for detector effects. The differential cross sections are presented in bins of twenty observables, including several that describe the jet activity. The integrated cross section is also extrapolated to a total phase space and to all Standard-Model decays of $Z$ bosons with mass between 66 GeV and 116 GeV, resulting in a value of $17.3 \pm 0.9$ [$\pm 0.6$ (stat.) $\pm 0.5$ (syst.) $\pm 0.6$ (lumi.)] pb. The measurements are found to be in good agreement with the Standard-Model predictions. A search for neutral triple gauge couplings is performed using the transverse momentum distribution of the leading $Z$-boson candidate. No evidence for such couplings is found and exclusion limits are set on their parameters.
Integrated fiducial cross sections. Fiducial phase space - At least 4 electrons, 4 muons, or 2 electrons and 2 muons forming two same-flavour opposite-charge dileptons (Z candidates) - Lepton pairing ambiguities are resolved by choosing the combination that results in the smaller value of the sum of |mll - mZ| for the two pairs, where mll is the mass of the dilepton system and mZ the Z boson pole mass - Lepton absolute pseudorapidity |eta| < 2.7 - Lepton transverse momentum pT > 5 GeV - The three leading-pT leptons satisfy pT > 20 GeV, 15 GeV, 10 GeV - Angular separation of any same-flavour (opposite-flavour) leptons DeltaR > 0.1 (0.2) - Both chosen dileptons have invariant mass between 66 GeV and 116 GeV - All possible same-flavour opposite-charge dileptons have mass > 5 GeV Details about the fiducial definition as well as all other aspects of the analysis can be found in the journal publication.
Differential fiducial cross section as function of the transverse momentum of the four-lepton system. Fiducial phase space - At least 4 electrons, 4 muons, or 2 electrons and 2 muons forming two same-flavour opposite-charge dileptons (Z candidates) - Lepton pairing ambiguities are resolved by choosing the combination that results in the smaller value of the sum of |mll - mZ| for the two pairs, where mll is the mass of the dilepton system and mZ the Z boson pole mass - Lepton absolute pseudorapidity |eta| < 2.7 - Lepton transverse momentum pT > 5 GeV - The three leading-pT leptons satisfy pT > 20 GeV, 15 GeV, 10 GeV - Angular separation of any same-flavour (opposite-flavour) leptons DeltaR > 0.1 (0.2) - Both chosen dileptons have invariant mass between 66 GeV and 116 GeV - All possible same-flavour opposite-charge dileptons have mass > 5 GeV Details about the fiducial definition as well as all other aspects of the analysis can be found in the journal publication.
Predicted background as function of the transverse momentum of the four-lepton system.
Inclusive and differential fiducial cross sections of Higgs boson production in proton-proton collisions are measured in the $H \rightarrow ZZ^* \rightarrow 4\ell$ decay channel. The proton-proton collision data were produced at the Large Hadron Collider at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and recorded by the ATLAS detector in 2015 and 2016, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb$^{-1}$. The inclusive fiducial cross section in the $H \rightarrow ZZ^* \rightarrow 4\ell$ decay channel is measured to be 3.62 $\pm$ 0.50 (stat) $^{+0.25}_{-0.20}$ (sys) fb, in agreement with the Standard Model prediction of 2.91 $\pm$ 0.13 fb. The cross section is also extrapolated to the total phase space including all Standard Model Higgs boson decays. Several differential fiducial cross sections are measured for observables sensitive to the Higgs boson production and decay, including kinematic distributions of jets produced in association with the Higgs boson. Good agreement is found between data and Standard Model predictions. The results are used to put constraints on anomalous Higgs boson interactions with Standard Model particles, using the pseudo-observable extension to the kappa-framework.
Measured differential fiducial cross sections in Higgs transverse momentum (second column). The given uncertainty is split into statistical (first) and systematic components (second). Values without uncertainties are 95% CL limits in the absence of signal events. The third column gives the theoretical prediction of Higgs production in the fiducial volume using Powheg NNLOPS for the ggF process, Powheg for the VBF and the VH processes, and Madgraph5_aMC@NLO for the ttH and bbH processes. The uncertainty includes PDF, scale, and branching fraction uncertainty. All predictions were normalized to the best available inclusive Higgs production cross sections at the time of the publication.
Measured differential fiducial cross sections in Higgs rapidity (second column). The given uncertainty is split into statistical (first) and systematic components (second). Values without uncertainties are 95% CL limits in the absence of signal events. The third column gives the theoretical prediction of Higgs production in the fiducial volume using Powheg NNLOPS for the ggF process, Powheg for the VBF and the VH processes, and Madgraph5_aMC@NLO for the ttH and bbH processes. The uncertainty includes PDF, scale, and branching fraction uncertainty. All predictions were normalized to the best available inclusive Higgs production cross sections at the time of the publication.
Measured differential fiducial cross sections in invariant mass of the subleading lepton pair (second column). The given uncertainty is split into statistical (first) and systematic components (second). Values without uncertainties are 95% CL limits in the absence of signal events. The third column gives the theoretical prediction of Higgs production in the fiducial volume using Powheg NNLOPS for the ggF process, Powheg for the VBF and the VH processes, and Madgraph5_aMC@NLO for the ttH and bbH processes. The uncertainty includes PDF, scale, and branching fraction uncertainty. All predictions were normalized to the best available inclusive Higgs production cross sections at the time of the publication.
A search for neutral heavy resonances is performed in the $WW\to e\nu\mu\nu$ decay channel using $pp$ collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb$^{-1}$, collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. No evidence of such heavy resonances is found. In the search for production via the quark--antiquark annihilation or gluon--gluon fusion process, upper limits on $\sigma_X \times B(X \to WW)$ as a function of the resonance mass are obtained in the mass range between 200 GeV and up to 5 TeV for various benchmark models: a Higgs-like scalar in different width scenarios, a two-Higgs-doublet model, a heavy vector triplet model, and a warped extra dimensions model. In the vector-boson fusion process, constraints are also obtained on these resonances, as well as on a Higgs boson in the Georgi--Machacek model and a heavy tensor particle coupling only to gauge bosons.
Figure 1, left, subfigure a, Acceptance times efficiency as a function of signal mass for the ggF or qqA production. The "0" efficiency mass point means there's no such signal sample for the corresponding model.
Figure 1, right, subfigure b, Acceptance times efficiency as a function of signal mass for the VBF production. The "0" efficiency mass point means there's no such signal sample for the corresponding model.
Figure 2, left, subfigure a, Transverse mass distribution in the ggF top-quark control regions. For NWA signals, the "0" value means lack of statistics.
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.
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