The first FASER search for a light, long-lived particle decaying into a pair of photons is reported. The search uses LHC proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}=13.6~\text{TeV}$ collected in 2022 and 2023, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $57.7\text{fb}^{-1}$. A model with axion-like particles (ALPs) dominantly coupled to weak gauge bosons is the primary target. Signal events are characterised by high-energy deposits in the electromagnetic calorimeter and no signal in the veto scintillators. One event is observed, compared to a background expectation of $0.44 \pm 0.39$ events, which is entirely dominated by neutrino interactions. World-leading constraints on ALPs are obtained for masses up to $300~\text{MeV}$ and couplings to the Standard Model W gauge boson, $g_{aWW}$, around $10^{-4}$ GeV$^{-1}$, testing a previously unexplored region of parameter space. Other new particle models that lead to the same experimental signature, including ALPs coupled to gluons or photons, U(1)$_B$ gauge bosons, up-philic scalars, and a Type-I two-Higgs doublet model, are also considered for interpretation, and new constraints on previously viable parameter space are presented in this paper.
90% CL observed contour for ALP-W model
90% CL observed contour for ALP-gluon model
90% CL observed contour for ALP-photon model
The FASER experiment at the LHC is designed to search for light, weakly-interacting particles produced in proton-proton collisions at the ATLAS interaction point that travel in the far-forward direction. The first results from a search for dark photons decaying to an electron-positron pair, using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 27.0 fb$^{-1}$ collected at center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} = 13.6$ TeV in 2022 in LHC Run 3, are presented. No events are seen in an almost background-free analysis, yielding world-leading constraints on dark photons with couplings $\epsilon \sim 2 \times 10^{-5} - 1 \times 10^{-4}$ and masses $\sim$ 17 MeV - 70 MeV. The analysis is also used to probe the parameter space of a massive gauge boson from a U(1)$_{B-L}$ model, with couplings $g_{B-L} \sim 5 \times 10^{-6} - 2 \times 10^{-5}$ and masses $\sim$ 15 MeV - 40 MeV excluded for the first time.
90% confidence level observed exclusion contour in the dark photon parameter space.
90% confidence level observed exclusion contour in the dark photon parameter space.
90% confidence level expected exclusion contour in the B-L gauge boson parameter space.
This letter presents the measurement of the energy-dependent neutrino-nucleon cross section in tungsten and the differential flux of muon neutrinos and anti-neutrinos. The analysis is performed using proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of $13.6 \, {\rm TeV}$ and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $(65.6 \pm 1.4) \, \mathrm{fb^{-1}}$. Using the active electronic components of the FASER detector, $338.1 \pm 21.0$ charged current muon neutrino interaction events are identified, with backgrounds from other processes subtracted. We unfold the neutrino events into a fiducial volume corresponding to the sensitive regions of the FASER detector and interpret the results in two ways: We use the expected neutrino flux to measure the cross section, and we use the predicted cross section to measure the neutrino flux. Both results are presented in six bins of neutrino energy, achieving the first differential measurement in the TeV range. The observed distributions align with Standard Model predictions. Using this differential data, we extract the contributions of neutrinos from pion and kaon decays.
The systematic uncertainties of the fitted number of neutrino interactions.
The systematic uncertainties of the fitted number of anti-neutrino interactions.
The systematic uncertainties of the fitted number of neutrino and anti-neutrino interactions.
Inclusive and differential measurements of the top-antitop ($t\bar{t}$) charge asymmetry $A_\text{C}^{t\bar{t}}$ and the leptonic asymmetry $A_\text{C}^{\ell\bar{\ell}}$ are presented in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The measurement uses the complete Run 2 dataset, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$, combines data in the single-lepton and dilepton channels, and employs reconstruction techniques adapted to both the resolved and boosted topologies. A Bayesian unfolding procedure is performed to correct for detector resolution and acceptance effects. The combined inclusive $t\bar{t}$ charge asymmetry is measured to be $A_\text{C}^{t\bar{t}} = 0.0068 \pm 0.0015$, which differs from zero by 4.7 standard deviations. Differential measurements are performed as a function of the invariant mass, transverse momentum and longitudinal boost of the $t\bar{t}$ system. Both the inclusive and differential measurements are found to be compatible with the Standard Model predictions, at next-to-next-to-leading order in quantum chromodynamics perturbation theory with next-to-leading-order electroweak corrections. The measurements are interpreted in the framework of the Standard Model effective field theory, placing competitive bounds on several Wilson coefficients.
The unfolded inclusive charge asymmetry. The measured values are given with statistical and systematic uncertainties. The SM theory predictions calculated at NNLO in QCD and NLO in EW theory are listed, and the impact of the linear term of the Wilson coefficient on the $A_C^{t\bar{t}}$ prediction is shown for two different values. The scale uncertainty is obtained by varying renormalisation and factorisation scales independently by a factor of 2 or 0.5 around $\mu_0$ to calculate the maximum and minimum value of the asymmetry, respectively. The nominal value $\mu_0$ is chosen as $H_T/4$. The variations in which one scale is multiplied by 2 while the other scale is divided by 2 are excluded. Finally, the scale and MC integration uncertainties are added in quadrature.
The unfolded differential charge asymmetry as a function of the invariant mass of the top pair system. The measured values are given with statistical and systematic uncertainties. The SM theory predictions calculated at NNLO in QCD and NLO in EW theory are listed, and the impact of the linear term of the Wilson coefficient on the $A_C^{t\bar{t}}$ prediction is shown for two different values. The scale uncertainty is obtained by varying renormalisation and factorisation scales independently by a factor of 2 or 0.5 around $\mu_0$ to calculate the maximum and minimum value of the asymmetry, respectively. The nominal value $\mu_0$ is chosen as $H_T/4$. The variations in which one scale is multiplied by 2 while the other scale is divided by 2 are excluded. Finally, the scale and MC integration uncertainties are added in quadrature.
The unfolded differential charge asymmetry as a function of the transverse momentum of the top pair system. The measured values are given with statistical and systematic uncertainties. The SM theory predictions calculated at NNLO in QCD and NLO in EW theory are listed. The scale uncertainty is obtained by varying renormalisation and factorisation scales independently by a factor of 2 or 0.5 around $\mu_0$ to calculate the maximum and minimum value of the asymmetry, respectively. The nominal value $\mu_0$ is chosen as $H_T/4$. The variations in which one scale is multiplied by 2 while the other scale is divided by 2 are excluded. Finally, the scale and MC integration uncertainties are added in quadrature.
A measurement of the ratio of the branching fractions, $R_{\tau/e} = B(W \to \tau \nu)/ B(W \to e \nu)$, is performed using a sample of $W$ bosons originating from top-quark decays to final states containing $\tau$-leptons or electrons. This measurement uses $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV, collected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider during Run 2, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb$^{-1}$. The $W \to \tau \nu_\tau$ (with $\tau \to e \nu_e \nu_\tau$) and $W \to e \nu_e$ decays are distinguished using the differences in the impact parameter distributions and transverse momentum spectra of the electrons. The measured ratio of branching fractions $R_{\tau/e} = 0.975 \pm 0.012 \textrm{(stat.)} \pm 0.020 \textrm{(syst.)}$, is consistent with the Standard Model assumption of lepton flavour universality in $W$-boson decays.
Distributions of $|d_0|$ for the $\mu e$ channel of the nominal sample in $7 < p_T < 10$ GeV bin. The data are represented by black markers. The different contributions to the nominal sample, taken from simulation after the fit (`Post-Fit'), are shown by stacked histograms. The bottom panels show the ratio of the data to the simulation prediction after the fit. The systematic uncertainties in the prediction with the constraints from the fit and the correlation between the nuisance parameters applied are represented by the blue hatched bands.
Distributions of $|d_0|$ for the $\mu e$ channel of the nominal sample in $10 < p_T < 20$ GeV bin. The data are represented by black markers. The different contributions to the nominal sample, taken from simulation after the fit (`Post-Fit'), are shown by stacked histograms. The bottom panels show the ratio of the data to the simulation prediction after the fit. The systematic uncertainties in the prediction with the constraints from the fit and the correlation between the nuisance parameters applied are represented by the blue hatched bands.
Distributions of $|d_0|$ for the $\mu e$ channel of the nominal sample in $20 < p_T < 250$ GeV bin. The data are represented by black markers. The different contributions to the nominal sample, taken from simulation after the fit (`Post-Fit'), are shown by stacked histograms. The bottom panels show the ratio of the data to the simulation prediction after the fit. The systematic uncertainties in the prediction with the constraints from the fit and the correlation between the nuisance parameters applied are represented by the blue hatched bands.
A search for Supersymmetry involving the pair production of gluinos decaying via third-generation squarks to the lightest neutralino is reported. It uses an LHC proton--proton dataset at a center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with an integrated luminosity of 3.2 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the ATLAS detector in 2015. The signal is searched for in events containing several energetic jets, of which at least three must be identified as $b$-jets, large missing transverse momentum and, potentially, isolated electrons or muons. Large-radius jets with a high mass are also used to identify highly boosted top quarks. No excess is found above the predicted background. For neutralino masses below approximately 700 GeV, gluino masses of less than 1.78 TeV and 1.76 TeV are excluded at the 95% CL in simplified models of the pair production of gluinos decaying via sbottom and stop, respectively. These results significantly extend the exclusion limits obtained with the $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV dataset.
Distribution of missing transverse energy for SR-Gbb-B.
Distribution of missing transverse energy for SR-Gtt-0L-C.
Distribution of missing transverse energy for SR-Gtt-1L-A.
A measurement of the $ZZ$ production in the $\ell^{-}\ell^{+}\ell^{\prime -}\ell^{\prime +}$ and $\ell^{-}\ell^{+}\nu\bar{\nu}$ channels $(\ell = e, \mu)$ in proton--proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the ATLAS experiment in 2012 is presented. The fiducial cross sections for $ZZ\to\ell^{-}\ell^{+}\ell^{\prime -}\ell^{\prime +}$ and $ZZ\to \ell^{-}\ell^{+}\nu\bar{\nu}$ are measured in selected phase-space regions. The total cross section for $ZZ$ events produced with both $Z$ bosons in the mass range 66 to 116 GeV is measured from the combination of the two channels to be $7.3\pm0.4\textrm{(stat)}\pm0.3\textrm{(syst)}\pm0.2\textrm{(lumi)}$ pb, which is consistent with the Standard Model prediction of $6.6^{+0.7}_{-0.6}$ pb. The differential cross sections in bins of various kinematic variables are presented. The differential event yield as a function of the transverse momentum of the leading $Z$ boson is used to set limits on anomalous neutral triple gauge boson couplings in $ZZ$ production.
The measured differential cross-section normalized to the bin width in values of the leading reconstructed dilepton pT for the 4 lepton channel. The first systematic uncertainty is detector systematics, the second is background systematic uncertainties.
The measured differential cross-section normalized to the bin width in values of the number of reconstructed jets for the 4 lepton channel. The first systematic uncertainty is detector systematics, the second is background systematic uncertainties.
The measured differential cross-section normalized to the bin width in values of the angle between the leptons in the leading reconstructed lepton pair for the 4 lepton channel. The first systematic uncertainty is detector systematics, the second is background systematic uncertainties.
A search for physics beyond the Standard Model, in final states with at least one high transverse momentum charged lepton (electron or muon) and two additional high transverse momentum leptons or jets, is performed using 3.2 fb$^{-1}$ of proton--proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in 2015 at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV. The upper end of the distribution of the scalar sum of the transverse momenta of leptons and jets is sensitive to the production of high-mass objects. No excess of events beyond Standard Model predictions is observed. Exclusion limits are set for models of microscopic black holes with two to six extra dimensions.
The sumPT distribution in the W+jets control region (electron channel). Expected background yields are given along with the total background uncertainty. The ttbar, W+jets and Z+jets backgrounds are normalised by the factors 0.95, 0.81 and 1.01 as obtained from the background likelihood fit. The single-top-quark and diboson background normalisations are taken from the simulation. The multijet background is obtained using a data-driven method. Additionally, the likelihood fit may constrain nuisance parameters for certain systematic uncertainties, altering the normalisation and shape of some of the distributions.
The sumPT distribution in the W+jets control region (muon channel). Expected background yields are given along with the total background uncertainty. The ttbar, W+jets and Z+jets backgrounds are normalised by the factors 0.95, 0.81 and 1.01 as obtained from the background likelihood fit. The single-top-quark and diboson background normalisations are taken from the simulation. The multijet background is obtained using a data-driven method. Additionally, the likelihood fit may constrain nuisance parameters for certain systematic uncertainties, altering the normalisation and shape of some of the distributions.
The sumPT distribution in the Z+jets control region (electron channel). Expected background yields are given along with the total background uncertainty. The ttbar, W+jets and Z+jets backgrounds are normalised by the factors 0.95, 0.81 and 1.01 as obtained from the background likelihood fit. The single-top-quark and diboson background normalisations are taken from the simulation. The multijet background is obtained using a data-driven method. Additionally, the likelihood fit may constrain nuisance parameters for certain systematic uncertainties, altering the normalisation and shape of some of the distributions.
Results of a search for new phenomena in events with an energetic photon and large missing transverse momentum with the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider are reported. The data were collected in proton--proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 3.2 $\rm fb^{-1}$. The observed data are in agreement with the Standard Model expectations. Exclusion limits are presented in models of new phenomena including pair production of dark matter candidates or large extra spatial dimensions. In a simplified model of dark matter and an axial-vector mediator, the search excludes mediator masses of up to 710 GeV for dark matter candidate masses up to 150 GeV. In an effective theory of dark matter production, values of the suppression scale $M_*$ up to 570 GeV are excluded and the effect of truncation for various coupling values is reported. For the ADD large extra spatial dimension model the search places more stringent limits than earlier searches in the same event topology, excluding $M_{\rm D}$ up to about 2.3 (2.8) TeV for two (six) additional spatial dimensions; the limits are reduced by 20--40% depending on the number of additional spatial dimensions when applying a truncation procedure.
Distribution of missing transverse momentum, reconstructed treating muons as non-interacting particles, in the data and for the background in the 1muCR. The total background expectation is normalized to the post-fit result. Overflows are included in the final bin. The errors include both statistical and systematic uncertainties determined by a bin-by-bin fit.
Distribution of missing transverse momentum, reconstructed treating muons as non-interacting particles, in the data and for the background in the 2muCR. The total background expectation is normalized to the post-fit result. Overflows are included in the final bin. The errors include both statistical and systematic uncertainties determined by a bin-by-bin fit.
Distribution of missing transverse momentum, reconstructed treating electrons as non-interacting particles, in the data and for the background in the 2eleCR. The total background expectation is normalized to the post-fit result. Overflows are included in the final bin. The errors include both statistical and systematic uncertainties determined by a bin-by-bin fit.
A search for heavy long-lived charged $R$-hadrons is reported using a data sample corresponding to 3.2$^{-1}$ of proton--proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV collected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. The search is based on observables related to large ionisation losses and slow propagation velocities, which are signatures of heavy charged particles travelling significantly slower than the speed of light. No significant deviations from the expected background are observed. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are provided on the production cross section of long-lived $R$-hadrons in the mass range from 600 GeV to 2000 GeV and gluino, bottom and top squark masses are excluded up to 1580 GeV, 805 GeV and 890 GeV, respectively.
Distributions of beta for data and simulation after a Zmumu selection. The values given for the mean and width are taken from Gaussian functions matched to data and simulation.
Data (black dots) and background estimates (red solid line) for m_beta for the gluino R-hadron search (1000 GeV). The green shaded band illustrates the statistical uncertainty of the background estimate. The blue dashed lines illustrate the expected signal (on top of background) for the given R-hadron mass hypothesis. The black dashed vertical lines at 500 GeV show the mass selection and the last bin includes all entries/masses above.
Data (black dots) and background estimates (red solid line) for m_betagamma for the gluino R-hadron search (1000 GeV). The green shaded band illustrates the statistical uncertainty of the background estimate. The blue dashed lines illustrate the expected signal (on top of background) for the given R-hadron mass hypothesis. The black dashed vertical lines at 500 GeV show the mass selection and the last bin includes all entries/masses above.
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