The observation of the standard model (SM) Higgs boson decay to a pair of bottom quarks is presented. The main contribution to this result is from processes in which Higgs bosons are produced in association with a W or Z boson (VH), and are searched for in final states including 0, 1, or 2 charged leptons and two identified bottom quark jets. The results from the measurement of these processes in a data sample recorded by the CMS experiment in 2017, comprising 41.3 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV, are described. When combined with previous VH measurements using data collected at $\sqrt{s}=$ 7, 8, and 13 TeV, an excess of events is observed at $m_\mathrm{H} =$ 125.09 GeV with a significance of 4.8 standard deviations, where the expectation for the SM Higgs boson is 4.9. The corresponding measured signal strength is 1.01 $\pm$ 0.22. The combination of this result with searches by the CMS experiment for H $\to\mathrm{b\overline{b}}$ in other production processes yields an observed (expected) significance of 5.6 (5.5) standard deviations and a signal strength of 1.04 $\pm$ 0.20.
Expected and observed significances, in number of standard deviations, and observed signal strengths for the VH production process with H-->b bbar. Results are shown separately for 2017 data, combined Run 2 (2016 and 2017 data), and for the combination of the Run 1 and Run 2 data. For the 2017 analysis, results are shown separately for the individual mu value for each channel from a combined simultaneous fit to all channels. All results are obtained for mH=125.09 GeV. Data are from Table 2 and 2016 added from Figure 1b.
Best-fit value of the H-->b bbar signal strength with its 1 sigma systematic (red) and total (blue) uncertainties for the five individual production modes considered, as well as the overall combined result. The vertical dashed line indicates the standard model expectation. All results are extracted from a single fit combining all input analyses, with mH = 125.09 GeV. Data from Figure 3.
The angular distribution of the flavor-changing neutral current decay B$^+$$\to$ K$^+\mu^+\mu^-$ is studied in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. The analysis is based on data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.5 fb$^{-1}$. The forward-backward asymmetry $A_{\mathrm{FB}}$ of the dimuon system and the contribution $F_{\mathrm{H}}$ from the pseudoscalar, scalar, and tensor amplitudes to the decay width are measured as a function of the dimuon mass squared. The measurements are consistent with the standard model expectations.
Figure 5a. Results of the $A_{FB}$ measurements in ranges of q2. 0 ≤ $F_{H}$ ≤ 3 and |$A_{FB}$| ≤ min(1, $F_{H}$/2).
Figure 5b. Results of the $F_{H}$ measurements in ranges of q2. 0 ≤ $F_{H}$ ≤ 3 and |$A_{FB}$| ≤ min(1, $F_{H}$/2).
Table 2. Results of the fit for each q2 range, together with several SM predictions. The inclusive $q^{2}$ = 1.00–22.00 $GeV^{2}$ range in the bottom line does not include events from the J/ψ and ψ(2S) resonance regions.
Measurements of $\mathrm{B}^*_\mathrm{s2}(5840)^0$ and $\mathrm{B}_\mathrm{s1}(5830)^0$ mesons are performed using a data sample of proton-proton collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.6 fb$^{-1}$, collected with the CMS detector at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. The analysis studies $P$-wave $\mathrm{B}^0_\mathrm{S}$ meson decays into $\mathrm{B}^{(*)+}\mathrm{K}^-$ and $\mathrm{B}^{(*)0}\mathrm{K}^0_\mathrm{S}$, where the $\mathrm{B}^+$ and $\mathrm{B}^0$ mesons are identified using the decays $\mathrm{B}^+\to\mathrm{J}/\psi\,\mathrm{K}^+$ and $\mathrm{B}^0\to\mathrm{J}/\psi\,\mathrm{K}^*(892)^0$. The masses of the $P$-wave $\mathrm{B}^0_\mathrm{S}$ meson states are measured and the natural width of the $\mathrm{B}^*_\mathrm{s2}(5840)^0$ state is determined. The first measurement of the mass difference between the charged and neutral $\mathrm{B}^*$ mesons is also presented. The $\mathrm{B}^*_\mathrm{s2}(5840)^0$ decay to $\mathrm{B}^0\mathrm{K}^0_\mathrm{S}$ is observed, together with a measurement of its branching fraction relative to the $\mathrm{B}^*_\mathrm{s2}(5840)^0\to\mathrm{B}^+\mathrm{K}^-$ decay.
The $\mathrm{J}/\psi\mathrm{K}^+$ invariant mass distribution in data
The $\mathrm{J}/\psi\mathrm{K}^{*0}$ invariant mass distribution in data
The $\mathrm{B}^+\pi^-$ invariant mass distribution of the selected candidates in data
The polarizations of promptly produced $\chi_\mathrm{c1}$ and $\chi_\mathrm{c2}$ mesons are studied using data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = $ 8 TeV. The $\chi_\mathrm{c}$ states are reconstructed via their radiative decays $\chi_\mathrm{c}$ $\to$ $\mathrm{J}/\psi\, \gamma$, with the photons being measured through conversions to e$^+$e$^-$, which allows the two states to be well resolved. The polarizations are measured in the helicity frame, through the analysis of the $\chi_\mathrm{c2}$ to $\chi_\mathrm{c1}$ yield ratio as a function of the polar or azimuthal angle of the positive muon emitted in the $\mathrm{J}/\psi$ $\to$ $\mu^+\mu^-$ decay, in three ranges of $\mathrm{J}/\psi$ transverse momentum. While no differences are seen between the two states in terms of azimuthal decay angle distributions, they are observed to have significantly different polar anisotropies. The measurement favors a scenario where at least one of the two states is strongly polarized along the helicity quantization axis, in agreement with nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics predictions. This is the first measurement of significantly polarized quarkonia produced at high transverse momentum.
Yield ratios of chi_c2 over chi_c1 mesons as a function of phi (HX) in the J/psi pT range 8-12 GeV
Yield ratios of chi_c2 over chi_c1 mesons as a function of phi (HX) in the J/psi pT range 12-18 GeV
Yield ratios of chi_c2 over chi_c1 mesons as a function of phi (HX) in the J/psi pT range 18-30 GeV
The production of W$^\pm$ bosons is studied in proton-lead (pPb) collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} =$ 8.16 TeV. Measurements are performed in the W$^\pm$ $\to$ $\mu^\pm\nu_\mu$ channel using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 173.4 $\pm$ 8.7 nb$^{-1}$, collected by the CMS Collaboration at the LHC. The number of positively and negatively charged W bosons is determined separately in the muon pseudorapidity region in the laboratory frame $|\eta^\mu_\mathrm{lab}|$ $<$ 2.4 and transverse momentum $p_\mathrm{T}^\mu$ $>$ 25 GeV/$c$. The W$^\pm$ boson differential cross sections, muon charge asymmetry, and the ratios of W$^\pm$ boson yields for the proton-going over the Pb-going beam directions are reported as a function of the muon pseudorapidity in the nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass frame. The measurements are compared to the predictions from theoretical calculations based on parton distribution functions (PDFs) at next-to-leading-order. The results favour PDF calculations that include nuclear modifications and provide constraints on the nuclear PDF global fits.
Muon charge asymmetry, $(N_{\mu}^{+} - N_{\mu}^{-})/(N_{\mu}^{+} + N_{\mu}^{-})$, as a function of the muon pseudorapidity in the centre-of-mass frame.
Differential production cross sections for $\textrm{pPb} \to W^{+} + X \to \mu^{+} \nu + X$ for positively charged muons of $p_T$ larger than 25 GeV$/c$, in nanobarns, as a function of the muon pseudorapidity in the centre-of-mass frame. The global normalisation uncertainty of 3.5% is listed separately.
Differential production cross sections for $\textrm{pPb} \to W^{-} + X \to \mu^{-} \bar{\nu} + X$ for negatively charged muons of $p_T$ larger than 25 GeV$/c$, in nanobarns, as a function of the muon pseudorapidity in the centre-of-mass frame. The global normalisation uncertainty of 3.5% is listed separately.
The elliptic azimuthal anisotropy coefficient ($v_2$) is measured for charm (D$^0$) and strange (K$_\mathrm{S}^0$, $\Lambda$, $\Xi^-$, and $\Omega^-$) hadrons, using a data sample of pPb collisions collected by the CMS experiment, at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_{_\mathrm{NN}}} =$ 8.16 TeV. A significant positive $v_2$ signal from long-range azimuthal correlations is observed for all particle species in high-multiplicity pPb collisions. The measurement represents the first observation of possible long-range collectivity for open heavy flavor hadrons in small systems. The results suggest that charm quarks have a smaller $v_2$ than the lighter quarks, probably reflecting a weaker collective behavior. This effect is not seen in the larger PbPb collision system at $\sqrt{s_{_\mathrm{NN}}} =$ 5.02 TeV, also presented.
The elliptic flow per constituent quark after correcting back-to-back jet contribution, $v_{2}^{sub}/n_{q}$, for $\Xi^{-}$ as a function of transverse kinetic energy per constituent quark $KE_{T}/n_{q}$ in PbPb collision at 5.02 TeV.
A search for charged Higgs boson decaying to a charm and a bottom quark (H$^+\to$ c$\overline{\mathrm{b}}$) is performed using 19.7 fb$^{-1}$ of pp collision data at $\sqrt{s} =$ 8 TeV. The production mechanism investigated in this search is $\mathrm{t\overline{t}}$ pair production in which one top quark decays to a charged Higgs boson and a bottom quark and the other decays to a charged lepton, a neutrino, and a bottom quark. Charged Higgs boson decays to $\mathrm{c\overline{b}}$ are searched for, resulting in a final state containing at least four jets, a charged lepton (muon or electron), and missing transverse momentum. A kinematic fit is performed to identify the pair of jets least likely to be the bottom quarks originating from direct top quark decays and the invariant mass of this pair is used as the final observable in the search. No evidence for the presence of a charged Higgs boson is observed and upper limits at 95% confidence level of 0.8-0.5% are set on the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}$(t $\to$ H$^+$b), assuming $\mathcal{B}$(H$^+\to$ $\mathrm{c\overline{b}}) =$ 1.0 and $\mathcal{B}$(t $\to$ H$^+$b) $+$ $\mathcal{B}$(t $\to$ Wb) = 1.0, for the charged Higgs boson mass range 90-150 GeV.
Measurements are presented of the triple-differential cross section for inclusive isolated-photon+jet events in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 8 TeV as a function of photon transverse momentum ($p_\mathrm{T}^\gamma$), photon pseudorapidity ($\eta^\gamma$), and jet pseudorapidity ($\eta^\text{jet}$). The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb$^{-1}$ that probe a broad range of the available phase space, for $|\eta^\gamma|$ $<$ 1.44 and 1.57 $<$ $|\eta^\gamma|$ $<$ 2.50, $|\eta^\text{jet}|$ $<$ 2.5, 40 $<$ $p_\mathrm{T}^\gamma$ $<$ 1000 GeV, and jet transverse momentum, $p_\mathrm{T}^\text{jet}$, $>$ 25 GeV. The measurements are compared to next-to-leading order perturbative quantum chromodynamics calculations, which reproduce the data within uncertainties.
The second- and third-order azimuthal anisotropy Fourier harmonics of charged particles produced in pPb collisions, at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} =$ 8.16 TeV, are studied over a wide range of event multiplicities. Multiparticle correlations are used to isolate global properties stemming from the collision overlap geometry. The second-order "elliptic" harmonic moment is obtained with high precision through four-, six-, and eight-particle correlations and, for the first time, the third-order "triangular" harmonic moment is studied using four-particle correlations. A sample of peripheral PbPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} =$ 5.02 TeV that covers a similar range of event multiplicities as the pPb results is also analyzed. Model calculations of initial-state fluctuations in pPb and PbPb collisions can be directly compared to the high precision experimental results. This work provides new insight into the fluctuation-driven origin of the $v_3$ coefficients in pPb and PbPb collisions, and into the dominating overall collision geometry in PbPb collisions at the earliest stages of heavy ion interactions.
A measurement of the mass of the Higgs boson in the diphoton decay channel is presented. This analysis is based on 35.9 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data collected during the 2016 LHC running period, with the CMS detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. A refined detector calibration and new analysis techniques have been used to improve the precision of this measurement. The Higgs boson mass is measured to be $m_\mathrm{H} =$ 125.78 $\pm$ 0.26 GeV. This is combined with a measurement of $m_\mathrm{H}$ already performed in the H $\to$ ZZ $\to$ 4$\ell$ decay channel using the same data set, giving $m_\mathrm{H} =$ 125.46 $\pm$ 0.16 GeV. This result, when further combined with an earlier measurement of $m_\mathrm{H}$ using data collected in 2011 and 2012 with the CMS detector, gives a value for the Higgs boson mass of $m_\mathrm{H} =$ 125.38 $\pm$ 0.14 GeV. This is currently the most precise measurement of the mass of the Higgs boson.
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