The inclusive top quark pair ($t\bar{t}$) production cross-section $\sigma_{t\bar{t}}$ has been measured in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV and $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV with the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, using $t\bar{t}$ events with an opposite-charge $e\mu$ pair in the final state. The measurement was performed with the 2011 7 TeV dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 fb$^{-1}$ and the 2012 8 TeV dataset of 20.3 fb$^{-1}$. The cross-section was measured to be: $\sigma_{t\bar{t}}=182.9\pm 3.1\pm 4.2\pm 3.6 \pm 3.3$ pb ($\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV) and $\sigma_{t\bar{t}}=242.9\pm 1.7\pm 5.5\pm 5.1\pm 4.2$ pb ($\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV, updated as described in the Addendum), where the four uncertainties arise from data statistics, experimental and theoretical systematic effects, the knowledge of the integrated luminosity and of the LHC beam energy. The results are consistent with recent theoretical QCD calculations at next-to-next-to-leading order. Fiducial measurements corresponding to the experimental acceptance of the leptons are also reported, together with the ratio of cross-sections measured at the two centre-of-mass energies. The inclusive cross-section results were used to determine the top quark pole mass via the dependence of the theoretically-predicted cross-section on $m_t^{\rm pole}$, giving a result of $m_t^{\rm pole}=172.9^{+2.5}_{-2.6}$ GeV. By looking for an excess of $t\bar{t}$ production with respect to the QCD prediction, the results were also used to place limits on the pair-production of supersymmetric top squarks $\tilde{t}_1$ with masses close to the top quark mass decaying via $\tilde{t}_1\rightarrow t\tilde{\chi}^0_1$ to predominantly right-handed top quarks and a light neutralino $\tilde{\chi}_0^1$, the lightest supersymmetric particle. Top squarks with masses between the top quark mass and 177 GeV are excluded at the 95% confidence level.
95% CL exclusion limit on signal strength.
95% CL exclusion limit on signal cross section for the 7 TeV dataset.
95% CL exclusion limit on signal cross section for the 8 TeV dataset.
Measurements of four-lepton (4$\ell$, $\ell=e,\mu$) production cross sections at the $Z$ resonance in $pp$ collisions at the LHC with the ATLAS detector are presented. For dilepton and four-lepton invariant mass region $m_{\ell^+\ell^-} > 5$ GeV and $80 < m_{4\ell} < 100$ GeV, the measured cross sections are $76 \pm 18 \text { (stat) } \pm 4 \text { (syst) } \pm 1.4 \text { (lumi) }$ fb and $107 \pm 9 \text{ (stat) } \pm 4 \text{ (syst) } \pm 3.0 \text { (lumi) }$ fb at $\sqrt s$ = 7 and 8 TeV, respectively. By subtracting the non-resonant 4$\ell$ production contributions and normalizing with $Z\rightarrow \mu^+\mu^-$ events, the branching fraction for the $Z$ boson decay to $4\ell$ is determined to be $\left( 3.20 \pm 0.25\text{ (stat)} \pm 0.13\text{ (syst)} \right) \times 10^{-6}$, consistent with the Standard Model prediction.
The measured individual cross sections in the fiducial region and the combined cross sections for 4-muon and 4-electron final states at a centre-of-collision energy of 7 TeV.
The measured individual cross sections in the fiducial region and the combined cross sections for 2-muon-2-electron final states at a centre-of-collision energy of 7 TeV.
The measured cross section for four-lepton final states at a centre-of-collision energy of 7 TeV.
A search is conducted for non-resonant new phenomena in dielectron and dimuon final states, originating from either contact interactions or large extra spatial dimensions. The LHC 2012 proton-proton collision dataset recorded by the ATLAS detector is used, corresponding to 20 fb$^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s}$ = 8 TeV. The dilepton invariant mass spectrum is a discriminating variable in both searches, with the contact interaction search additionally utilizing the dilepton forward-backward asymmetry. No significant deviations from the Standard Model expectation are observed. Lower limits are set on the $\ell\ell q q$ contact interaction scale $\Lambda$ between 15.4 TeV and 26.3 TeV, at the 95% credibility level. For large extra spatial dimensions, lower limits are set on the string scale $M_{S}$ between 3.2 TeV to 5.0 TeV.
Reconstructed dielectron mass distributions for data and the SM background estimate.
Reconstructed dimuon mass distributions for data and the SM background estimate.
Reconstructed $\cos\theta^*$ distributions for data and the SM background estimate in the dielectron channel.
The production of a W boson in association with a single charm quark is studied using 4.6 fb^-1 of pp collision data at sqrt(s)=7 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. In events in which a W boson decays to an electron or muon, the charm quark is tagged either by its semileptonic decay to a muon or by the presence of a charmed meson. The integrated and differential cross sections as a function of the pseudorapidity of the lepton from the W-boson decay are measured. Results are compared to the predictions of next-to-leading-order QCD calculations obtained from various parton distribution function parameterisations. The ratio of the strange-to-down sea-quark distributions is determined to be 0.96 +0.26 -0.30 at Q^2=1.9 GeV^2, which supports the hypothesis of an SU(3)-symmetric composition of the light-quark sea. Additionally, the cross-section ratio sigma(W^+ + bar{c})/sigma(W^- + c) is compared to the predictions obtained using parton distribution function parameterisations with different assumptions about the s-bar{s} quark asymmetry.
Measured integrated cross sections of the production of a W boson with a single c-jet, a D meson or a D* meson times the branching ratio W -> l nu in the fiducial regions together with the statistical and systematic uncertainties. For the W+c-jet cross sections events with more than one c-jet are discarded. The particle-level c-jet is defined as the one containing a weakly decaying c-hadron with pt>5 GeV, within DeltaR<0.3. Jets containing c-hadrons originating from b-hadron decays are not counted as c-jets. Jets are not required for the W+D/D* cross sections. The cross sections are defined for OS-SS events.
Measured integrated cross section ratios of the production of W+ and W- bosons associated with a single c-jet, a D meson or a D* meson in the fiducial regions together with the statistical and systematic uncertainties. For the W+c-jet cross sections events with more than one c-jet are discarded. The particle-level c-jet is defined as the one containing a weakly decaying c-hadron with pt>5 GeV, within DeltaR<0.3. Jets containing c-hadrons originating from b-hadron decays are not counted as c-jets. Jets are not required for the W+D/D* cross sections. The cross sections are defined for OS-SS events.
Measured differential cross sections as function of the lepton pseudo-rapidity of the production of a W boson with a single c-jet times the branching ratio W -> l nu in the fiducial regions together with the statistical and systematic uncertainties. For the W+c-jet cross sections events with more than one c-jet are discarded. The particle-level c-jet is defined as the one containing a weakly decaying c-hadron with pt>5 GeV, within DeltaR<0.3. Jets containing c-hadrons originating from b-hadron decays are not counted as c-jets. The cross sections are defined for OS-SS events.
This paper describes a measurement of the $Z/\gamma^*$ boson transverse momentum spectrum using ATLAS proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV at the LHC. The measurement is performed in the $Z/\gamma^* \rightarrow e^+e^-$ and $Z/\gamma^* \rightarrow \mu^+\mu^-$ channels, using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.7 fb$^{-1}$. Normalized differential cross sections as a function of the $Z/\gamma^*$ boson transverse momentum are measured for transverse momenta up to 800 GeV. The measurement is performed inclusively for $Z/\gamma^*$ rapidities up to 2.4, as well as in three rapidity bins. The channel results are combined, compared to perturbative and resummed QCD calculations and used to constrain the parton shower parameters of Monte Carlo generators.
The measured normalized cross section (1/SIG(FID))*D(SIG(FID))/DPT(Z) at the Born level in bins of PT(Z) for the Z/GAMMA* --> E+ E- and Z/GAMMA* --> MU+ MU- channels, and correction factors to the bare- and dressed-level cross sections. The relative statistical and total uncorrelated systematic uncertainties are given for each channel as well as the correlated systematic uncertainties.
The measured normalized combined (electron and muon channels) cross section (1/SIG(FID))*D(SIG(FID))/DPT(Z) inclusive in rapidity. The cross sections at Born and dressed levels are given as well as the relative statistical and total uncorrelated systematic uncertainties as well as the correlated systematic uncertainties.
The measured normalized combined (electron and muon channels) cross section (1/SIG(FID))*D(SIG(FID))/DPT(Z) for 0 <= ABS(YRAP(Z)) < 1, 1 <= ABS(YRAP(Z)) < 2 and 2 <= ABS(YRAP(Z)) < 2.4. The cross sections at Born and dressed levels are given as well as the relative statistical and systematic uncertainties for uncorrelated and correlated sources.
The process pp--> W + J/psi provides a powerful probe of the production mechanism of charmonium in hadronic collisions, and is also sensitive to multiple parton interactions in the colliding protons. Using the 2011 ATLAS dataset of 4.5 fb-1 of sqrt{s} = 7 TeV pp collisions at the LHC, the first observation is made of the production of W + prompt J/psi events in hadronic collisions, using W-->mu+nu and J/psi-->mu+mu. A yield of 27.4+7.5-6.5 W + prompt J/psi events is observed, with a statistical significance of 5.1 sigma. The production rate as a ratio to the inclusive W boson production rate is measured, and the double parton scattering contribution to the cross section is estimated.
The W + prompt J/psi to inclusive W production cross-section ratio (times 10^6) in the J/psi fiducial region (Fiducial), after correction for J/psi acceptance (Inclusive), and after subtraction of the double parton scattering component (DPS-subtracted). The first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third/fourth (where applicable) is the uncertainty up/down due to spin-alignment.
The inclusive (SPS+DPS) cross-section ratio (times 10^6) as a function of J/psi transverse momentum, along with the estimate of the DPS contribution. For the inclusive result, the first uncertainty is statistical, second uncertainty is systematic, and the third uncertainty is the possible variation due to spin-alignment.
The inclusive (SPS+DPS) cross-section ratio (times 10^6) as a function of J/psi transverse momentum under the LONGITUDINAL spin-alignment hypothesis. The first uncertainty is statistical and the second uncertainty is systematic.
This Letter presents a search for quantum black-hole production using 20.3 inverse fb of data collected with the ATLAS detector in pp collisions at the LHC at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV. The quantum black holes are assumed to decay into a lepton (electron or muon) and a jet. In either channel, no event with a lepton-jet invariant mass of 3.5 TeV or more is observed, consistent with the expected background. Limits are set on the product of cross sections and branching fractions for the lepton+jet final states of quantum black holes produced in a search region for invariant masses above 1 TeV. The combined 95% confidence level upper limit on this product for quantum black holes with threshold mass above 3.5 TeV is 0.18 fb. This limit constrains the threshold quantum black-hole mass to be above 5.3 TeV in the model considered.
The combined 95% CL upper limits on the cross section times branching fraction (SIG*BR) for Quantum Black Holes decaying to a lepton and jet, as a function of the threshold mass, Mth.
Numbers of observed events and expected background events for electron+jet channel, along with acceptance (A), experimental efficiency (EPSILON), cumulative efficiency (A*EPSILON), total cross section (SIG*BR) and 95% CL observed upper limit, for various values of the threshold mass, Mth. The leading order cross sections have a statistical precision of the order of 1%. The uncertainties on the predicted background include both statistical and systematic components. Acceptance is calculated using generator-level quantities by imposing selection criteria that apply directly to phase space (electron/jet eta, electron/jet pT, Delta(eta), Delta(phi), <eta>, and Minv). All other selections, which in general correspond to event and object quality criteria, are used to calculate the efficiency on the events included in the acceptance. The cumulative signal efficiency is the product of the acceptance and experimental efficiency.
Numbers of observed events and expected background events for muon+jet channel, along with acceptance (A), experimental efficiency (EPSILON), cumulative efficiency (A*EPSILON), total cross section (SIG*BR) and 95% CL observed upper limit, for various values of the threshold mass, Mth. The leading order cross sections have a statistical precision of the order of 1%. The uncertainties on the predicted background include both statistical and systematic components. Acceptance is calculated using generator-level quantities by imposing selection criteria that apply directly to phase space (muon/jet eta, muon/jet pT, Delta(eta), Delta(phi), <eta>, and Minv). All other selections, which in general correspond to event and object quality criteria, are used to calculate the efficiency on the events included in the acceptance. The cumulative signal efficiency is the product of the acceptance and experimental efficiency.
A measurement of angular correlations in Drell-Yan lepton pairs via the phistar observable is presented. This variable probes the same physics as the Z/gamma* boson transverse momentum with a better experimental resolution. The Z/gamma*->e+e- and Z/gamma*->mu+mu- decays produced in proton--proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV are used. The data were collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 fb-1. Normalised differential cross sections as a function of phistar are measured separately for electron and muon decay channels. These channels are then combined for improved accuracy. The cross section is also measured double differentially as a function of phistar for three independent bins of the Z boson rapidity. The results are compared to QCD calculations and to predictions from different Monte Carlo event generators. The data are reasonably well described, in all measured Z boson rapidity regions, by resummed QCD predictions combined with fixed-order perturbative QCD calculations. Some of the Monte Carlo event generators are also able to describe the data. The measurement precision is typically better by one order of magnitude than present theoretical uncertainties.
The measured PHI* distributions for the dielectron events corrected back to the born level. The distributions are normalised to unity inidividually for each abs(yrap) bin and channel.
The measured PHI* distributions for the dielectron events corrected back to the dress level. The distributions are normalised to unity inidividually for each abs(yrap) bin and channel.
The measured PHI* distributions for the dielectron events corrected back to the bare particle level. The distributions are normalised to unity inidividually for each abs(yrap) bin and channel.
The production cross-section of B+ mesons is measured as a function of transverse momentum pT and rapidity y in proton--proton collisions at center-of-mass energy sqrt(s) = 7 TeV, using 2.4 fb-1 of data recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The differential production cross-sections, determined in the range 9<pT<120 GeV and y<2.25, are compared to next-to-leading-order theoretical predictions.
Differential cross-section measurement for B+ production multiplied by the branching ratio to the J/PSI < MU+ MU- > K+ final state in B+ pT intervals in the B+ rapidity range |y|<0.5. The first quoted uncertainty is statistical, the second uncertainty is systematic.
Differential cross-section measurement for B+ production multiplied by the branching ratio to the J/PSI < MU+ MU- > K+ final state in B+ pT intervals in the B+ rapidity range 0.5<|y|<1. The first quoted uncertainty is statistical, the second uncertainty is systematic.
Differential cross-section measurement for B+ production multiplied by the branching ratio to the J/PSI < MU+ MU- > K+ final state in B+ pT intervals in the B+ rapidity range 1<|y|<1.5 The first quoted uncertainty is statistical, the second uncertainty is systematic.
The differential cross section for the process $Z/\gamma^*\rightarrow ll$ ($l=e,\mu$) as a function of dilepton invariant mass is measured in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=$ 7 TeV at the LHC using the ATLAS detector. The measurement is performed in the $e$ and $\mu$ channels for invariant masses between 26 GeV and 66 GeV using an integrated luminosity of 1.6 fb$^{-1}$ collected in 2011 and these measurements are combined. The analysis is extended to invariant masses as low as 12 GeV in the muon channel using 35 pb$^{-1}$ of data collected in 2010. The cross sections are determined within fiducial acceptance regions and corrections to extrapolate the measurements to the full kinematic range are provided. Next-to-next-to-leading-order QCD predictions provide a significantly better description of the results than next-to-leading-order QCD calculations, unless the latter are matched to a parton shower calculation.
The nominal electron-channel differential Born-level fiducial cross section. The statistical and systematic uncertainties are given for each invariant mass bin. The luminosity uncertainty 1.8% is not included.
The systematic uncertainties of the nominal electron-channel cross-section measurement. Some sources of uncertainty have both correlated and uncorrelated components. Correlated uncertainties arise from the uncertainty in the electroweak background contributions delta(e.w.)_cor, from corrections to the Monte Carlo modelling of the Z/gamma* pT spectra, delta(pTrw)_cor, the electron identification efficiency, delta(id)_cor1 and delta(id)_cor2, the reconstruction efficiency, delta(rec)_cor, and from the Geant4 simulation, delta(geant4)_cor. Uncorrelated uncertainties arise from the isolation and trigger efficiency corrections, delta(trig) and delta(iso) respectively, unfolding uncertainties, delta(res)_unf, and the statistical precision of the signal Monte Carlo, delta(MC). The electron identification efficiency uncertainties have several components other than the two largest correlated parts above. These additional components are all combined into a single uncorrelated error source delta(id)_unc. The uncertainty on the normalisation of the multijet background is given by delta(multijet). The luminosity uncertainty 1.8% is not included.
The nominal muon-channel differential Born-level fiducial cross section. The statistical, systematic, and total uncertainties are given for each invariant mass bin. The luminosity uncertainty 1.8% is not included.
Forum