The production of $Z$ bosons with one or two isolated high-energy photons is studied using $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 8 TeV. The analyses use a data sample with an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the ATLAS detector during the 2012 LHC data taking. The $Z\gamma$ and $Z\gamma\gamma$ production cross sections are measured with leptonic ($e^{+}e^{-}$, $\mu^{+}\mu^{-}$, $\nu\bar{\nu}$) decays of the $Z$ boson, in extended fiducial regions defined in terms of the lepton and photon acceptance. They are then compared to cross-section predictions from the Standard Model, where the sources of the photons are radiation off initial-state quarks and radiative $Z$-boson decay to charged leptons, and from fragmentation of final-state quarks and gluons into photons. The yields of events with photon transverse energy $E_T >$ 250 GeV from $\ell^{+}\ell^{-}\gamma$ events and with $E_T >$ 400 GeV from $\nu\bar{\nu}\gamma$ events are used to search for anomalous triple gauge-boson couplings $ZZ\gamma$ and $Z\gamma\gamma$. The yields of events with diphoton invariant mass $m_{\gamma\gamma} >$ 200 GeV from $\ell^{+}\ell^{-}\gamma\gamma$ events and with $m_{\gamma\gamma} > $ 300 GeV from $\nu\bar{\nu}\gamma\gamma$ events are used to search for anomalous quartic gauge-boson couplings $ZZ\gamma\gamma$ and $Z\gamma\gamma\gamma$. No deviations from Standard Model predictions are observed and limits are placed on parameters used to describe anomalous triple and quartic gauge-boson couplings.
Measured integrated cross sections for the $Z\gamma$ process for charged lepton final states at $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV in the extended fiducial regions defined in the paper, table 5. The parton-to-particle correction factors are also shown, which are defined as the ratio of the cross sections at parton-level to the cross sections at particle-level.
Measured integrated cross sections for the $Z\gamma$ process for neutrino final states at $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV in the extended fiducial regions defined in the paper, table 5. The parton-to-particle correction factors are also shown, which are defined as the ratio of the cross sections at parton-level to the cross sections at particle-level.
Measured integrated cross sections for the $Z\gamma\gamma$ process for charged lepton final states at $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV in the extended fiducial regions defined in the paper, table 5. The parton-to-particle correction factors are also shown, which are defined as the ratio of the cross sections at parton-level to the cross sections at particle-level.
The production rates of prompt and non-prompt $J/\psi$ and $\psi(2\mathrm{S})$ mesons are measured using 2.1 $fb^{-1}$ and 11.4 $fb^{-1}$ of data collected with the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ and 8 TeV respectively. Production cross-sections for both prompt and non-prompt production sources, ratios of $\psi(2\mathrm{S})$ to $J/\psi$ production, and fractions of non-prompt to inclusive production for $J/\psi$ and $\psi(2\mathrm{S})$ are measured double-differentially as a function of meson $p_{T}$ and rapidity. These measurements are made in a restricted fiducial volume and also corrected for geometrical acceptance after which they are compared to a variety of theoretical predictions.
Summary of results for cross-section of prompt $J/\psi$ decaying to a muon pair for 7 TeV data in nb/GeV. Uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.
Summary of results for cross-section of prompt $J/\psi$ decaying to a muon pair for 8 TeV data in nb/GeV. Uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.
Summary of results for cross-section of non-prompt $J/\psi$ decaying to a muon pair for 7 TeV data in nb/GeV. Uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.
Distributions of transverse momentum $p_T^{ll}$ and the angular variable $\phi^*_\eta$ of Drell--Yan lepton pairs are measured in 20.3 fb$^{-1}$ of proton--proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Measurements in electron-pair and muon-pair final states are corrected for detector effects and combined. Compared to previous measurements in proton--proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV, these new measurements benefit from a larger data sample and improved control of systematic uncertainties. Measurements are performed in bins of lepton-pair mass above, around and below the Z-boson mass peak. The data are compared to predictions from perturbative and resummed QCD calculations. For values of $\phi^*_\eta < 1$ the predictions from the Monte Carlo generator ResBos are generally consistent with the data within the theoretical uncertainties. However, at larger values of $\phi^*_\eta$ this is not generally the case. Monte Carlo generators based on the parton-shower approach are unable to describe the data over the full range of $p_T^{ll}$ and the fixed-order prediction of DYNNLO falls below the data at high values of $p_T^{ll}$. ResBos and the parton-shower Monte Carlo generators provide a much better description of the evolution of the $\phi^*_\eta$ and $p_T^{ll}$ distributions as a function of lepton-pair mass and rapidity.
Fiducial cross sections at Born level in the electron- and muon-pair channels as well as the combined value. The statistical and systematic uncertainties are given as a percentage of the cross section. An additional uncertainty of 2.8% on the integrated luminosity, which is fully correlated between channels and among all $m_{\ell\ell}$ bins, pertains to these measurements. The individual uncertainty sources after the combination are not necessarily orthogonal and also do not include uncertainties uncorrelated between bins of $m_{\ell\ell}$. Therefore their quadratic sum may not give the total systematic uncertainty.
The values of $(1/\sigma)\,\mathrm{d}\sigma/\mathrm{d}\phi^*_{\eta}$ in each bin of $\phi^*_{\eta}$ for the electron and muon channels separately (for various particle-level definitions) and for the Born-level combination in the kinematic region $46\textrm{ GeV} \leq m_{\ell\ell} < 66\textrm{ GeV},\ 0 \leq |y_{\ell\ell}| < 0.8$. The associated statistical and systematic (both uncorrelated and correlated between bins of $\phi^*_{\eta}$) are provided in percentage form.
The values of $(1/\sigma)\,\mathrm{d}\sigma/\mathrm{d}\phi^*_{\eta}$ in each bin of $\phi^*_{\eta}$ for the electron and muon channels separately (for various particle-level definitions) and for the Born-level combination in the kinematic region $46\textrm{ GeV} \leq m_{\ell\ell} < 66\textrm{ GeV},\ 0.8 \leq |y_{\ell\ell}| < 1.6$. The associated statistical and systematic (both uncorrelated and correlated between bins of $\phi^*_{\eta}$) are provided in percentage form.
The $ZZ$ production cross section in proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV center-of-mass energy is measured using 3.2 fb$^{-1}$ of data recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The considered $Z$ boson candidates decay to an electron or muon pair of mass 66-116 GeV. The cross section is measured in a fiducial phase space reflecting the detector acceptance. It is also extrapolated to a total phase space for $Z$ bosons in the same mass range and of all decay modes, giving $16.7^{+2.2}_{-2.0}$(stat.)$^{+0.9}_{-0.7}$(syst.)$^{+1.0}_{-0.7}$(lumi.) pb. The results agree with standard model predictions.
Measured fiducial cross section in the $e^+e^-e^+e^-$ channel. The first systematic uncertainty is the combined systematic uncertainty excluding luminosity uncertainty, the second is the luminosity uncertainty.
Measured fiducial cross section in the $e^+e^-\mu^+\mu^-$ channel. The first systematic uncertainty is the combined systematic uncertainty excluding luminosity uncertainty, the second is the luminosity uncertainty.
Measured fiducial cross section in the $\mu^+\mu^-\mu^+\mu^-$ channel. The first systematic uncertainty is the combined systematic uncertainty excluding luminosity uncertainty, the second is the luminosity uncertainty.
This Letter reports a measurement of the exclusive $\gamma\gamma\rightarrow \ell^+\ell^- (\ell=e, \mu)$ cross-section in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, based on an integrated luminosity of $4.6$ fb$^{-1}$. For the electron or muon pairs satisfying exclusive selection criteria, a fit to the dilepton acoplanarity distribution is used to extract the fiducial cross-sections. The cross-section in the electron channel is determined to be $\sigma_{\gamma\gamma\rightarrow e^+e^-}^{\mathrm{excl.}} = 0.428 \pm 0.035 (\mathrm{stat.}) \pm 0.018 (\mathrm{syst.})$ pb for a phase-space region with invariant mass of the electron pairs greater than 24 GeV, in which both electrons have transverse momentum $p_\mathrm{T}>12$ GeV and pseudorapidity $|\eta|<2.4$. For muon pairs with invariant mass greater than 20 GeV, muon transverse momentum $p_\mathrm{T}>10$ GeV and pseudorapidity $|\eta|<2.4$, the cross-section is determined to be $\sigma_{\gamma\gamma\rightarrow \mu^+\mu^- }^{\mathrm{excl.}} = 0.628 \pm 0.032 (\mathrm{stat.}) \pm 0.021 (\mathrm{syst.})$ pb. When proton absorptive effects due to the finite size of the proton are taken into account in the theory calculation, the measured cross-sections are found to be consistent with the theory prediction.
Fiducial cross-section SIG for the exclusive e+ e- and mu+ mu- production.
Ratios of the number of observed to the number of expected events based on the MC predictions (R) for the exclusive e+ e- and mu+ mu- production.
Detector response matrix (PROB) for the acoplanarity variable (ACO) for e+ e- channel (empty bins are not reported).
A search for the dimuon decay of the Higgs boson was performed using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the ATLAS detector in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV at the Large Hadron Collider. No significant excess is observed above the expected background. The observed (expected) upper limit on the cross section times branching ratio is 3.0 (3.1) times the Standard Model prediction at the 95% confidence level for a Higgs boson mass of 125 GeV. When combined with the $pp$ collision data at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV and $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV, the observed (expected) upper limit is 2.8 (2.9) times the Standard Model prediction.
Measurement of signal strength
Event yields for the expected signal (S) and background (B) processes, and numbers of the observed data events in different categories. The full widths at half maximum (FWHM) of the signal $m_{μμ}$ distributions are also shown. In each category, the event yields are counted within an $m_{μμ}$ interval, which is centered at the simulated signal peak and contains 90% of the expected signal events. The expected signal event yields are normalized to $36.1 fb^-1$. The background in each category is normalized to the observed data yield, while the relative fractions between the different processes are fixed to the SM predictions.
The 95% CL upper limit on signal strength
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.
Forum