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Lowette, Steven

Publications and source records attributed to Lowette, Steven.

At least 235 records · Page 13

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DOE OSTI2018

Search for resonant and nonresonant Higgs boson pair production in the $ \mathrm{b}\overline{\mathrm{b}}\mathit{\ell \nu \ell \nu } $ final state in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV

Searches for resonant and nonresonant pair-produced Higgs bosons (HH) decaying respectively into ℓνℓν, through either W or Z bosons, and $ \mathrm{b}\overline{\mathrm{b}} $ are presented. The analyses are based on a sample of proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV, collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$. Data and predictions from the standard model are in agreement within uncertainties. For the standard model HH hypothesis, the data exclude at 95% confidence level a product of the production cross section and branching fraction larger than 72 fb, corresponding to 79 times the standard model prediction. Constraints are placed on different scenarios considering anomalous couplings, which could affect the rate and kinematics of HH production. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the production cross section of narrow-width spin-0 and spin-2 particles decaying to Higgs boson pairs, the latter produced with minimal gravity-like coupling.

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DOE OSTI2018

Pseudorapidity distributions of charged hadrons in proton-lead collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_\mathrm{NN}}} =$ 5.02 and 8.16 TeV

The pseudorapidity distributions of charged hadrons in proton-lead collisions at nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energies $ \sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02 $ and 8.16 TeV are presented. The measurements are based on data samples collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The number of primary charged hadrons produced in non-single-diffractive proton-lead collisions is determined in the pseudorapidity range |η$_{lab}$| < 2.4. The charged-hadron multiplicity distributions are compared to the predictions from theoretical calculations and Monte Carlo event generators. In the center-of-mass pseudorapidity range |η$_{cm}$| < 0.5, the average charged-hadron multiplicity densities 〈dN$_{ch}$/dη$_{cm}$〉$_{|η}_{cm|}$ < 0.5 are 17.31 ± 0.01 (stat) ± 0.59 (syst) and 20.10 ± 0.01 (stat) ± 0.85(syst) at $ \sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02 $ and 8.16 TeV, respectively. The particle densities per participant nucleon are compared to similar measurements in proton-proton, proton-nucleus, and nucleus-nucleus collisions.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for supersymmetry in events with at least one photon, missing transverse momentum, and large transverse event activity in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV

A search for physics beyond the standard model in final states with at least one photon, large transverse momentum imbalance, and large total transverse event activity is presented. Such topologies can be produced in gauge-mediated supersymmetry models in which pair-produced gluinos or squarks decay to photons and gravitinos via short-lived neutralinos. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$ of proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016. No significant excess of events above the expected standard model background is observed. The data are interpreted in simplified models of gluino and squark pair production, in which gluinos or squarks decay via neutralinos to photons. Gluino masses of up to 1.50-2.00 TeV and squark masses up to 1.30-1.65 TeV are excluded at 95% confidence level, depending on the neutralino mass and branching fraction.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for lepton flavour violating decays of the Higgs boson to $\mu\tau$ and e$\tau$ in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=$ 13 TeV

A search for lepton flavour violating decays of the Higgs boson in the μτ and eτ decay modes is presented. The search is based on a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$ of proton-proton collisions collected with the CMS detector in 2016, at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. No significant excess over the standard model expectation is observed. The observed (expected) upper limits on the lepton flavour violating branching fractions of the Higgs boson are ℬ(H → μτ) < 0.25% (0.25%) and ℬ(H → eτ) < 0.61% (0.37%), at 95% confidence level. These results are used to derive upper limits on the off-diagonal μτ and eτ Yukawa couplings $ \sqrt{{\left|{Y}_{\mu \tau}\right|}^2+{\left|{Y}_{\tau \mu}\right|}^2}<1.43\times {10}^{-3} $ and $ \sqrt{{\left|{Y}_{\mathrm{e}\tau}\right|}^2+{\left|{Y}_{\tau \mathrm{e}}\right|}^2}<2.26\times {10}^{-3} $ at 95% confidence level. The limits on the lepton flavour violating branching fractions of the Higgs boson and on the associated Yukawa couplings are the most stringent to date.

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DOE OSTI2017

Observation of top quark production in proton-nucleus collisions

The first observation of top quark production in proton-nucleus collisions is reported using proton-lead data collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of sNN=8.16 TeV. The measurement is performed using events with exactly one isolated electron or muon candidate and at least four jets. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 174 nb-1. The significance of the tt¯ signal against the background-only hypothesis is above 5 standard deviations. The measured cross section is σtt¯=45±8 nb, consistent with predictions from perturbative quantum chromodynamics.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for dark matter produced in association with heavy-flavor quark pairs in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV

A search is presented for an excess of events with heavy-flavor quark pairs ( ${t}\overline{{t}} $ and ${b} \overline{{b}} $ ) and a large imbalance in transverse momentum in data from proton–proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 $\,\text{TeV}$ . The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 2.2 $\,\text{fb}^{-1}$ collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. No deviations are observed with respect to standard model predictions. The results are used in the first interpretation of dark matter production in ${t}\overline{{t}} $ and ${b} \overline{{b}} $ final states in a simplified model. This analysis is also the first to perform a statistical combination of searches for dark matter produced with different heavy-flavor final states. The combination provides exclusions that are stronger than those achieved with individual heavy-flavor final states.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for the flavor-changing neutral current interactions of the top quark and the Higgs boson which decays into a pair of b quarks at $\sqrt{s}=$ 13 TeV

A search for flavor-changing neutral currents (FCNC) in events with the top quark and the Higgs boson is presented. The Higgs boson decay to a pair of b quarks is considered. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$ recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV. Two channels are considered: single top quark FCNC production in association with the Higgs boson (pp → tH), and top quark pair production with FCNC decay of the top quark (t → qH). Final states with one isolated lepton and at least three reconstructed jets, among which at least two are associated with b quarks, are studied. No significant deviation is observed from the predicted background. Observed (expected) upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the branching fractions of top quark decays, ℬ(t → uH) < 0.47% (0.34%) and ℬ(t → cH) < 0.47% (0.44%), assuming a single nonzero FCNC coupling.

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DOE OSTI2017

Measurement of charged pion, kaon, and proton production in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV

Transverse momentum spectra of charged pions, kaons, and protons are measured in proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC. The particles, identified via their energy loss in the silicon tracker, are measured in the transverse momentum range of pT≈0.1–1.7 GeV/c and rapidities |y|<1. The pT spectra and integrated yields are compared to previous results at smaller s and to predictions of Monte Carlo event generators. The average pT increases with particle mass and charged particle multiplicity of the event. Comparisons with previous CMS results at s=0.9, 2.76, and 7 TeV show that the average pT and the ratios of hadron yields feature very similar dependences on the particle multiplicity in the event, independently of the center-of-mass energy of the pp collision.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for Evidence of the Type-III Seesaw Mechanism in Multilepton Final States in Proton-Proton Collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$

A search for a signal consistent with the type-III seesaw mechanism in events with three or more electrons or muons is presented. The data sample consists of proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016 and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1. Selection criteria based on the number of leptons and the invariant mass of oppositely charged lepton pairs are used to distinguish the signal from the standard model background. The observations are consistent with the expectations from standard model processes. The results are used to place limits on the production of heavy fermions of the type-III seesaw model as a function of the branching ratio to each lepton flavor. In the scenario of equal branching fractions to each lepton flavor, heavy fermions with masses below 840 GeV are excluded. This is the most sensitive probe to date of the type-III seesaw mechanism.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for pair production of vector-like T and B quarks in single-lepton final states using boosted jet substructure in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV

A search for pair production of massive vector-like T and B quarks in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV is presented. The data set was collected in 2015 by the CMS experiment at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of up to 2.6 fb$^{−1}$. The T and B quarks are assumed to decay through three possible channels into a heavy boson (either a W, Z or Higgs boson) and a third generation quark. This search is performed in final states with one charged lepton and several jets, exploiting techniques to identify W or Higgs bosons decaying hadronically with large transverse momenta. No excess over the predicted standard model background is observed. Upper limits at 95% confidence level on the T quark pair production cross section are set that exclude T quark masses below 860 GeV in the singlet, and below 830 GeV in the doublet branching fraction scenario. For other branching fraction combinations with ℬ(T → tH) + ℬ(T → bW) ≥ 0.4, lower limits on the T quark range from 790 to 940 GeV. Limits are also set on pair production of singlet vector-like B quarks, which can be excluded up to a mass of 730 GeV. The techniques showcased here for understanding highly-boosted final states are important as the sensitivity to new particles is extended to higher masses.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for ZZ resonances in the 2$\ell$2$\nu$ final state in proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV

A search for heavy resonances decaying to a pair of Z bosons is performed using data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. Events are selected by requiring two oppositely charged leptons (electrons or muons), consistent with the decay of a Z boson, and large missing transverse momentum, which is interpreted as arising from the decay of a second Z boson to two neutrinos. The analysis uses data from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$. The hypothesis of a spin-2 bulk graviton (X) decaying to a pair of Z bosons is examined for 600 ≤ m$_{X}$ ≤ 2500 GeV and upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the product of the production cross section and branching fraction of X → ZZ ranging from 100 to 4 fb. For bulk graviton models characterized by a curvature scale parameter $ \tilde{k}=0.5 $ in the extra dimension, the region m$_{X}$ < 800 GeV is excluded, providing the most stringent limit reported to date. Variations of the model considering the possibility of a wide resonance produced exclusively via gluon-gluon fusion or $ \mathrm{q}\overline{\mathrm{q}} $ annihilation are also examined.

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DOE OSTI2017

Measurements of properties of the Higgs boson decaying into the four-lepton final state in pp collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV

Properties of the Higgs boson are measured in the H → ZZ → 4ℓ (ℓ = e, μ) decay channel. A data sample of proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV, collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$ is used. The signal strength modifier μ, defined as the ratio of the observed Higgs boson rate in the H → ZZ → 4ℓ decay channel to the standard model expectation, is measured to be μ = 1.05$_{− 0.17}^{+ 0.19}$ at m$_{H}$ = 125.09 GeV, the combined ATLAS and CMS measurement of the Higgs boson mass. The signal strength modifiers for the individual Higgs boson production modes are also measured. The cross section in the fiducial phase space defined by the requirements on lepton kinematics and event topology is measured to be 2. 92$_{− 0.44}^{+ 0.48}$ (stat)$_{− 0.24}^{+ 0.28}$ (syst)fb, which is compatible with the standard model prediction of 2.76 ± 0.14 fb. Differential cross sections are reported as a function of the transverse momentum of the Higgs boson, the number of associated jets, and the transverse momentum of the leading associated jet. The Higgs boson mass is measured to be m$_{H}$ = 125.26 ± 0.21 GeV and the width is constrained using the on-shell invariant mass distribution to be Γ$_{H}$ < 1.10 GeV, at 95% confidence level.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for electroweak production of charginos and neutralinos in WH events in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV

Results are reported from a search for physics beyond the standard model in proton-proton collision events with a charged lepton (electron or muon), two jets identified as originating from a bottom quark decay, and significant imbalance in the transverse momentum. The search was performed using a data sample corresponding to 35.9 fb$^{−1}$, collected by the CMS experiment in 2016 at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV. Events with this signature can arise, for example, from the electroweak production of gauginos, which are predicted in models based on supersymmetry. The event yields observed in data are consistent with the estimated standard model backgrounds. Limits are obtained on the cross sections for chargino-neutralino $ \left({\tilde{\chi}}_1^{\pm }{\tilde{\chi}}_2^0\right) $ production in a simplified model of supersymmetry with the decays $ {\chi}_1^{\pm}\to {\mathrm{W}}^{\pm }{\tilde{\chi}}_1^0\kern0.5em \mathrm{and}\kern0.5em {\tilde{\chi}}_2^0\to \mathrm{H}{\chi}_1^0 $ . Values of $ {m}_{{\tilde{\chi}}_1^{\pm }} $ between 220 and 490 GeV are excluded at 95% confidence level by this search when the $ {\tilde{\chi}}_1^0 $ is massless, and values of $ {m}_{{\tilde{\chi}}_1^0} $ are 1 excluded up to 110 GeV for $ {m}_{{\tilde{\chi}}_1^{\pm }}\approx 450 $ GeV.

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DOE OSTI2017

Measurements of the associated production of a Z boson and b jets in pp collisions at ${\sqrt{s}} = 8\,\text {TeV} $

Measurements of the associated production of a Z boson with at least one jet originating from a b quark in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 8 TeV are presented. Differential cross sections are measured with data collected by the CMS experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.8 inverse femtobarns. Z bosons are reconstructed through their decays to electrons and muons. Cross sections are measured as a function of observables characterizing the kinematics of the b jet and the Z boson. Ratios of differential cross sections for the associated production with at least one b jet to the associated production with any jet are also presented. The production of a Z boson with two b jets is investigated, and differential cross sections are measured for the dijet system. Results are compared to theoretical predictions, testing two different flavour schemes for the choice of initial-state partons.

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DOE OSTI2017

Measurement of the triple-differential dijet cross section in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=8\,\text {TeV} $ and constraints on parton distribution functions

A measurement is presented of the triple-differential dijet cross section at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 $\,\text {TeV}$ using 19.7 $\,\text {fb}^\text {-1}$ of data collected with the CMS detector in proton-proton collisions at the LHC. The cross section is measured as a function of the average transverse momentum, half the rapidity separation, and the boost of the two leading jets in the event. The cross section is corrected for detector effects and compared to calculations in perturbative quantum chromodynamics at next-to-leading order accuracy, complemented with electroweak and nonperturbative corrections. New constraints on parton distribution functions are obtained and the inferred value of the strong coupling constant is $\alpha _S(M_\text {Z}) = 0.1199\,\pm {0.0015}\,(\mathrm {exp})\, _{-0.0020}^{+0.0031}\,(\mathrm {theo})$ , where $M_\text {Z}$ is the mass of the Z boson.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for a light pseudoscalar Higgs boson produced in association with bottom quarks in pp collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=8 $ TeV

A search for a light pseudoscalar Higgs boson (A) produced in association with bottom quarks and decaying into a muon pair is reported. The search uses 19.7 inverse femtobarns of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV, collected by the CMS experiment. No signal is observed in the dimuon mass range from 25 to 60 GeV. Upper limits on the cross section times branching fraction, sigma(pp to b bbar A) B(A to mu mu), are set.

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DOE OSTI2017

Measurement of the differential cross sections for the associated production of a $W$ boson and jets in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV

A measurement of the differential cross sections for a W boson produced in association with jets in the muon decay channel is presented. The measurement is based on 13 TeV proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.2 fb-1, recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC. The cross sections are reported as functions of jet multiplicity, jet transverse momentum pT, jet rapidity, the scalar pT sum of the jets, and angular correlations between the muon and each jet for different jet multiplicities. The measured cross sections are in agreement with predictions that include multileg leading-order (LO) and next-to-LO matrix element calculations interfaced with parton showers, as well as a next-to-next-to-LO calculation for the W boson and one jet production.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for new phenomena with the $M_{\mathrm {T2}}$ variable in the all-hadronic final state produced in proton–proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ $\,\text {TeV}$

A search for new phenomena is performed using events with jets and significant transverse momentum imbalance, as inferred through the $M_{\mathrm {T2}}$ variable. The results are based on a sample of proton–proton collisions collected in 2016 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 $\,\text {TeV}$ with the CMS detector and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 $\,\text {fb}^\text {-1}$ . No excess event yield is observed above the predicted standard model background, and the results are interpreted as exclusion limits at 95% confidence level on the masses of predicted particles in a variety of simplified models of R-parity conserving supersymmetry. Depending on the details of the model, 95% confidence level lower limits on the gluino (light-flavor squark) masses are placed up to 2025 (1550) $\,\text {GeV}$ . Mass limits as high as 1070 (1175) $\,\text {GeV}$ are set on the masses of top (bottom) squarks. Information is provided to enable re-interpretation of these results, including model-independent limits on the number of non-standard model events for a set of simplified, inclusive search regions.

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