Light-by-light scattering ($\gamma\gamma\rightarrow\gamma\gamma$) is a quantum-mechanical process that is forbidden in the classical theory of electrodynamics. This reaction is accessible at the Large Hadron Collider thanks to the large electromagnetic field strengths generated by ultra-relativistic colliding lead (Pb) ions. Using 480 $\mu$b$^{-1}$ of Pb+Pb collision data recorded at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 5.02 TeV by the ATLAS detector, the ATLAS Collaboration reports evidence for the $\gamma\gamma\rightarrow\gamma\gamma$ reaction. A total of 13 candidate events are observed with an expected background of 2.6$\pm$0.7 events. After background subtraction and analysis corrections, the fiducial cross section of the process $\textrm{Pb+Pb}\,(\gamma\gamma)\rightarrow \textrm{Pb}^{(\ast)}\textrm{+}\textrm{Pb}^{(\ast)}\,\gamma\gamma$, for photon transverse energy $E_{\mathrm{T}}>$3 GeV, photon absolute pseudorapidity $|\eta|<$2.4, diphoton invariant mass greater than 6 GeV, diphoton transverse momentum lower than 2 GeV and diphoton acoplanarity below 0.01, is measured to be 70 $\pm$ 24 (stat.) $\pm$ 17 (syst.) nb, which is in agreement with Standard Model predictions.

The production cross sections of the prompt charmed mesons D$^0$, D$^+$, D$^{*+}$ and D$_s$ were measured at mid-rapidity in p-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=5.02$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. D mesons were reconstructed from their decays D$^0\rightarrow{\rm K}^-\pi^+$, D$^+\rightarrow{\rm K}^-\pi^+\pi^+$, D$^{*+}\rightarrow D^0\pi^+$, D$_s^+\rightarrow\phi\pi^+\rightarrow{\rm K}^-{\rm K}^+\pi^+$, and their charge conjugates. The $p_{\rm T}$-differential production cross sections were measured at mid-rapidity in the interval $1<p_{\rm T}<24$ GeV/$c$ for D$^0$, D$^+$ and D$^{*+}$ mesons and in $2<p_{\rm T}<12$ GeV/$c$ for D$_s$ mesons, using an analysis method based on the selection of decay topologies displaced from the interaction vertex. The production cross sections of the D$^0$, D$^+$ and D$^{*+}$ mesons were also measured in three $p_{\rm T}$ intervals as a function of the rapidity $y_{\rm cms}$ in the centre-of-mass system in $-1.26<y_{\rm cms}<0.34$. In addition, the prompt D$^0$ cross section was measured in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV and p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=5.02$ TeV down to $p_{\rm T}=0$ using an analysis technique that is based on the estimation and subtraction of the combinatorial background, without reconstruction of the D$^0$ decay vertex. The nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm pPb}(p_{\rm T})$, defined as the ratio of the $p_{\rm T}$-differential D-meson cross section in p-Pb collisions and that in pp collisions scaled by the mass number of the Pb nucleus, was calculated for the four D-meson species and found to be compatible with unity within experimental uncertainties. The results are compared to theoretical calculations that include cold-nuclear-matter effects and to transport model calculations incorporating the interactions of charm quarks with an expanding deconfined medium.

Measurement of Z-boson production in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=8.16$ TeV and Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV is reported. It is performed in the dimuon decay channel, through the detection of muons with pseudorapidity $-4 < \eta_{\mu} < -2.5$ and transverse momentum $p_{\rm T}^{\mu} > 20$ GeV/$c$ in the laboratory frame. The invariant yield and nuclear modification factor are measured for opposite-sign dimuons with invariant mass $60 < m^{\mu\mu} < 120$ GeV$c^2$ and rapidity $2.5 < y_{cms}^{\mu\mu} < 4$. They are presented as a function of rapidity and, for the Pb-Pb collisions, of centrality as well. The results are compared with theoretical calculations, both with and without nuclear modifications to the Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs). In p-Pb collisions the center-of-mass frame is boosted with respect to the laboratory frame, and the measurements cover the backward ($-4.46< y_{cms}^{\mu\mu}<-2.96$) and forward ($2.03< y_{cms}^{\mu\mu}<3.53$) rapidity regions. For the p-Pb collisions, the results are consistent within experimental and theoretical uncertainties with calculations that include both free-nucleon and nuclear-modified PDFs. For the Pb-Pb collisions, a $3.4\sigma$ deviation is seen in the integrated yield between the data and calculations based on the free-nucleon PDFs, while good agreement is found once nuclear modifications are considered.

The measurement of the production of ${\rm f}_{0}(980)$ in inelastic pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV is presented. This is the first reported measurement of inclusive ${\rm f}_{0}(980)$ yield at LHC energies. The production is measured at midrapidity, $|y| < 0.5$, in a wide transverse momentum range, $0 < p_{\rm T} < 16$ GeV/$c$, by reconstructing the resonance in the ${\rm f}_{0}(980) \rightarrow \pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ hadronic decay channel using the ALICE detector. The $p_{\rm T}$-differential yields are compared to those of pions, protons and $\phi$ mesons as well as to predictions from the HERWIG 7.2 QCD-inspired Monte Carlo event generator and calculations from a coalescence model that uses the AMPT model as an input. The ratio of the $p_{\rm T}$-integrated yield of ${\rm f}_{0}(980)$ relative to pions is compared to measurements in ${\rm e}^{+}{\rm e}^{-}$ and pp collisions at lower energies and predictions from statistical hadronisation models and HERWIG 7.2. A mild collision energy dependence of the ${\rm f}_{0}(980)$ to pion production is observed in pp collisions from SPS to LHC energies. All considered models underpredict the $p_{\rm T}$-integrated $2{\rm f}_{0}(980)/(\pi^{+}+\pi^{-})$ ratio. The prediction from the canonical statistical hadronisation model assuming a zero total strangeness content of ${\rm f}_{0}(980)$ is consistent with the data within 1.9$\sigma$ and is the closest to the data. The results provide an essential reference for future measurements of the particle yield and nuclear modification in p$-$Pb and Pb$-$Pb collisions, which have been proposed to be instrumental to probe the elusive nature and quark composition of the ${\rm f}_{0}(980)$ scalar meson.

The nuclear modification factors of J/$\psi$ and $\psi$(2S) mesons are measured in PbPb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} =$ 5.02 TeV. The analysis is based on PbPb and pp data samples collected by CMS at the LHC in 2015, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 464 $\mu$b$^{-1}$ and 28 pb$^{-1}$, respectively. The measurements are performed in the dimuon rapidity range of $|y| <$ 2.4 as a function of centrality, rapidity, and transverse momentum (p$_\mathrm{T}$) from p$_\mathrm{T}=$ 3 GeV/$c$ in the most forward region and up to 50 GeV/$c$. Both prompt and nonprompt (coming from b hadron decays) mesons are observed to be increasingly suppressed with centrality, with a magnitude similar to the one observed at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=$ 2.76 TeV for the two J/$\psi$ meson components. No dependence on rapidity is observed for either prompt or nonprompt J/$\psi$ mesons. An indication of a lower prompt J/$\psi$ meson suppression at p$_\mathrm{T} >$ 25 GeV/$c$ is seen with respect to that observed at intermediate p$_\mathrm{T}$. The prompt $\psi$(2S) meson yield is found to be more suppressed than that of the prompt J/$\psi$ mesons in the entire p$_\mathrm{T}$ range.

Production cross sections of $\Upsilon$(1S), $\Upsilon$(2S), and $\Upsilon$(3S) states decaying into $\mu^+\mu^-$ in proton-lead (pPb) collisions are reported using data collected by the CMS experiment at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} =$ 5.02 TeV. A comparison is made with corresponding cross sections obtained with pp data measured at the same collision energy and scaled by the Pb nucleus mass number. The nuclear modification factor for $\Upsilon$(1S) is found to be $R_\mathrm{pPb}(\Upsilon(1S))$ = 0.806 $\pm$ 0.024 (stat) $\pm$ 0.059 (syst). Similar results for the excited states indicate a sequential suppression pattern, such that $R_\mathrm{pPb}(\Upsilon(1S))$$\gt$$R_\mathrm{pPb}(\Upsilon(2S))$$\gt$$R_\mathrm{pPb}(\Upsilon(3S))$. The suppression is much less pronounced in pPb than in PbPb collisions, and independent of transverse momentum $p_\mathrm{T}^\Upsilon$ and center-of-mass rapidity $y_\mathrm{CM}^\Upsilon$ of the individual $\Upsilon$ state in the studied range $p_\mathrm{T}^\Upsilon$$\lt$ 30 GeV$/c$ and $\vert y_\mathrm{CM}^\Upsilon\vert$$\lt$ 1.93. Models that incorporate sequential suppression of bottomonia in pPb collisions are in better agreement with the data than those which only assume initial-state modifications.

The ALICE Collaboration has studied the inclusive production of the charmonium state $\psi(2S)$ in proton-lead (p-Pb) collisions at the nucleon-nucleon centre of mass energy $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV at the CERN LHC. The measurement was performed at forward ($2.03<y_{cms}<3.53$) and backward ($-4.46<y_{cms}<-2.96$) centre of mass rapidities, studying the decays into muon pairs. In this paper, we present the inclusive production cross sections $\sigma_{\psi(2S)}$, both integrated and as a function of the transverse momentum $p_{T}$, for the two $y_{cms}$ domains. The results are compared to those obtained for the 1S vector state (J/$\psi$), by showing the ratios between the production cross sections, as well as the double ratios $[\sigma_{\psi(2S)}/\sigma_{J/\psi}]_{pPb}/[\sigma_{\psi(2S)}/\sigma_{J/\psi}]_{pp}$ between p-Pb and proton-proton collisions. Finally, the nuclear modification factor for inclusive $\psi(2S)$ is evaluated and compared to the measurement of the same quantity for J/$\psi$ and to theoretical models including parton shadowing and coherent energy loss mechanisms. The results show a significantly larger suppression of the $\psi(2S)$ compared to that measured for J/$\psi$ and to models. These observations represent a clear indication for sizeable final state effects on $\psi(2S)$ production.

The $p_{\rm T}$-differential production cross sections of the prompt (B feed-down subtracted) charmed mesons D$^0$, D$^+$, and D$^{*+}$ in the rapidity range $|y|<0.5$, and for transverse momentum $1< p_{\rm T} <12$ GeV/$c$, were measured in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 2.76$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The analysis exploited the hadronic decays D$^0 \rightarrow $K$\pi$, D$^+ \rightarrow $K$\pi\pi$, D$^{*+} \rightarrow $D$^0\pi$, and their charge conjugates, and was performed on a $L_{\rm int} = 1.1$ nb$^{-1}$ event sample collected in 2011 with a minimum-bias trigger. The total charm production cross section at $\sqrt{s} = 2.76$ TeV and at 7 TeV was evaluated by extrapolating to the full phase space the $p_{\rm T}$-differential production cross sections at $\sqrt{s} = 2.76$ TeV and our previous measurements at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV. The results were compared to existing measurements and to perturbative-QCD calculations. The fraction of cdbar D mesons produced in a vector state was also determined.

The inclusive production of the $\psi$(2S) charmonium state was studied as a function of centrality in p-Pb collisions at the nucleon-nucleon center of mass energy $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV at the CERN LHC. The measurement was performed with the ALICE detector in the center of mass rapidity ranges $-4.46<y_{\rm cms}<-2.96$ and $2.03<y_{\rm cms}<3.53$, down to zero transverse momentum, by reconstructing the $\psi$(2S) decay to a muon pair. The $\psi$(2S) production cross section $\sigma_{\psi(\rm 2S)}$ is presented as a function of the collision centrality, which is estimated through the energy deposited in forward rapidity calorimeters. The relative strength of nuclear effects on the $\psi$(2S) and on the corresponding 1S charmonium state J/$\psi$ is then studied by means of the double ratio of cross sections $[\sigma_{\psi(\rm 2S)}/\sigma_{\rm J/\psi}]_{\rm pPb}/[\sigma_{\psi(\rm 2S)}/\sigma_{\rm J/\psi}]_{\rm pp}$ between p-Pb and pp collisions, and by the values of the nuclear modification factors for the two charmonium states. The results show a large suppression of $\psi$(2S) production relative to the J/$\psi$ at backward (negative) rapidity, corresponding to the flight direction of the Pb-nucleus, while at forward (positive) rapidity the suppressions of the two states are comparable. Finally, comparisons to results from lower energy experiments and to available theoretical models are presented.

This article reports measurements of the $p_{\rm{T}}$-differential inclusive jet cross-section in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 TeV and the $p_{\rm{T}}$-differential inclusive jet yield in Pb-Pb 0-10% central collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV. Jets were reconstructed at mid-rapidity with the ALICE tracking detectors and electromagnetic calorimeter using the anti-$k_{\rm{T}}$ algorithm. For pp collisions, we report jet cross-sections for jet resolution parameters $R=0.1-0.6$ over the range $20<p_{\rm{T,jet}}<140$ GeV/$c$, as well as the jet cross-section ratios of different $R$, and comparisons to two next-to-leading-order (NLO)-based theoretical predictions. For Pb-Pb collisions, we report the $R=0.2$ and $R=0.4$ jet spectra for $40<p_{\rm{T,jet}}<140$ GeV/$c$ and $60<p_{\rm{T,jet}}<140$ GeV/$c$, respectively. The scaled ratio of jet yields observed in Pb-Pb to pp collisions, $R_{\rm{AA}}$, is constructed, and exhibits strong jet quenching and a clear $p_{\rm{T}}$-dependence for $R=0.2$. No significant $R$-dependence of the jet $R_{\rm{AA}}$ is observed within the uncertainties of the measurement. These results are compared to several theoretical predictions.