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DOE OSTI2024

Measurement of t -channel production of single top quarks and antiquarks in pp collisions at 13 TeV using the full ATLAS Run 2 data sample

The production of single top quarks and top antiquarks via the t-channel exchange of a virtual W boson is measured in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC using 140 fb -1 of ATLAS data. The total cross-sections are determined to be σ(tq) = 137$^{+8}_{-8}$ pb and σ($\bar{t}q$) = 84$^{+6}_{-5}$ pb for top-quark and top-antiquark production, respectively. The combined cross-section is found to be σ(tq + $\bar{t}q$) = 221$^{+13}_{-13}$ pb and the cross-section ratio is R t = σ(tq) / σ($\bar{t}q$) = 1.636$^{+0.036}_{-0.034}$. The predictions at next-to-next-to-leading-order in quantum chromodynamics are in good agreement with these measurements. The predicted value of R t using different sets of parton distribution functions is compared with the measured value, demonstrating the potential to further constrain the functions when using this result in global fits. The measured cross-sections are interpreted in an effective field theory approach, setting limits at the 95% confidence level on the strength of a four-quark operator and an operator coupling the third quark generation to the Higgs boson doublet: -0.37 < C$^{3,1}_{Qq}$ /Λ 2 < 0.06 and -0.87 < C$^{3}_{ΦQ}$ / Λ 2 < 1.42. The constraint |V tb | > 0.95 at the 95% confdence level is derived from the measured value of σ(tq + $\bar{t}q$), assuming that the Wtb interaction is a left-handed weak coupling and that |V tb | $\gg$ |V td |, |V ts |. In a more general approach, pairs of CKM matrix elements involving top quarks are simultaneously constrained, leading to confdence contours in the corresponding two-dimensional parameter spaces.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Searches for lepton-flavour-violating decays of the Higgs boson into $eτ$ and $μτ$ in $ \sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

This paper presents direct searches for lepton flavour violation in Higgs boson decays, H → eτ and H → μτ, performed using data collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The searches are based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb –1 . Leptonic (τ → ℓν ℓ ν τ ) and hadronic (τ → hadrons ν τ ) decays of the τ-lepton are considered. Two background estimation techniques are employed: the MC-template method, based on data-corrected simulation samples, and the Symmetry method, based on exploiting the symmetry between electrons and muons in the Standard Model backgrounds. No significant excess of events is observed and the results are interpreted as upper limits on lepton-flavour-violating branching ratios of the Higgs boson. The observed (expected) upper limits set on the branching ratios at 95% confidence level, $\mathcal{B}$(H → eτ) < 0.20% (0.12%) and $\mathcal{B}$(H → μτ ) < 0.18% (0.09%), are obtained with the MC-template method from a simultaneous measurement of potential H → eτ and H → μτ signals. The best-fit branching ratio difference, $\mathcal{B}$(H → μτ) → $\mathcal{B}$(H → eτ), measured with the Symmetry method in the channel where the τ-lepton decays to leptons, is (0.25 ± 0.10)%, compatible with a value of zero within 2.5σ.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Search for the decay of the Higgs boson to a pair of light pseudoscalar bosons in the final state with four bottom quarks in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{\textrm{s}} $ = 13 TeV

A search is presented for the decay of the 125 GeV Higgs boson (H) to a pair of new light pseudoscalar bosons (a), followed by the prompt decay of each a boson to a bottom quark-antiquark pair, $ \textrm{H}\to \textrm{aa}\to \textrm{b}\overline{\textrm{b}}\textrm{b}\overline{\textrm{b}} $. The analysis is performed using a data sample of proton-proton collisions collected with the CMS detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{−1}$. To reduce the background from standard model processes, the search requires the Higgs boson to be produced in association with a leptonically decaying W or Z boson. The analysis probes the production of new light bosons in a 15 < m$_{a}$ < 60 GeV mass range. Assuming the standard model predictions for the Higgs boson production cross sections for pp → WH and ZH, model independent upper limits at 95% confidence level are derived for the branching fraction $ \mathcal{B}\left(\textrm{H}\to \textrm{aa}\to \textrm{b}\overline{\textrm{b}}\textrm{b}\overline{\textrm{b}}\right) $. The combined WH and ZH observed upper limit on the branching fraction ranges from 1.10 for m$_{a}$ = 20 GeV to 0.36 for m$_{a}$ = 60 GeV, complementing other measurements in the μμττ, ττττ and bbℓℓ (ℓ = μ, τ) channels.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Search for a W' boson decaying to a vector-like quark and a top or bottom quark in the all-jets final state at $\sqrt{\mathrm{s}}$ = 13 TeV

A search is presented for a heavy W' boson resonance decaying to a B or T vector-like quark and a t or a b quark, respectively. The analysis is performed using proton-proton collisions collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb -1 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. Both decay channels result in a signature with a t quark, a Higgs or Z boson, and a b quark, each produced with a significant Lorentz boost. The all-hadronic decays of the Higgs or Z boson and of the t quark are selected using jet substructure techniques to reduce standard model backgrounds, resulting in a distinct three-jet W' boson decay signature. No significant deviation in data with respect to the standard model background prediction is observed. Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level on the product of the W' boson cross section and the final state branching fraction. A W' boson with a mass below 3.1 TeV is excluded, given the benchmark model assumption of democratic branching fractions. In addition, limits are set based on generalizations of these assumptions. These are the most sensitive limits to date for this final state.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Search for Nonresonant Pair Production of Highly Energetic Higgs Bosons Decaying to Bottom Quarks

A search for nonresonant Higgs boson ($H$) pair production via gluon and vector boson ($V$) fusion is performed in the four-bottom-quark final state, using proton-proton collision data at 13 TeV corresponding to 138 fb$^{−1}$ collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The analysis targets Lorentz-boosted $H$ pairs identified using a graph neural network. It constrains the strengths relative to the standard model of the $H$ self-coupling and the quartic VVHH couplings, $κ_{2V}$, excluding $κ_{2V} = 0$ for the first time, with a significance of 6.3 standard deviations when other H couplings are fixed to their standard model values.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Search for production of a single vectorlike quark decaying to t H or t Z in the all-hadronic final state in p p collisions at s = 13 TeV

A search for electroweak production of a single vectorlike T quark in association with a bottom ( b ) quark in the all-hadronic decay channel is presented. This search uses proton-proton collision data at s = 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC during 2016–2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb - 1 . The T quark is assumed to have charge 2 / 3 and decay to a top ( t ) quark and a Higgs ( H ) or Z boson. Hadronic decays of the t quark and the H or Z boson are reconstructed from the kinematic properties of jets, including those containing b hadrons. No deviation from the standard model prediction is observed in the reconstructed t H and t Z invariant mass distributions. The 95% confidence level upper limits on the product of the production cross section and branching fraction of a T quark produced in association with a b quark and decaying via t H or t Z range from 1260 to 68 fb for T quark masses of 600–1200 GeV.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Search for long-lived particles produced in association with a Z boson in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

A search for long-lived particles (LLPs) produced in association with a Z boson is presented. The study is performed using data from proton-proton collisions with a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV recorded by the CMS experiment during 2016–2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 117 fb -1 . The LLPs are assumed to decay to a pair of standard model quarks that are identified as displaced jets within the CMS tracker system. Triggers and selections based on Z boson decays to electron or muon pairs improve the sensitivity to light LLPs (down to 15 GeV). This search provides sensitivity to beyond the standard model scenarios which predict LLPs produced in association with a Z boson. In particular, the results are interpreted in the context of exotic decays of the Higgs boson to a pair of scalar LLPs (H → SS). The Higgs boson decay branching fraction is constrained to values less than 6% for proper decay lengths of 10–100 mm and for LLP masses between 40 and 55 GeV. In the case of low-mass (≈ 15 GeV) scalar particles that subsequently decay to a pair of b quarks, the search is sensitive to branching fractions B(H → SS) < 20% for proper decay lengths of 10–50 mm. The use of associated production with a Z boson increases the sensitivity to low-mass LLPs of this analysis with respect to gluon fusion searches. In the case of 15 GeV scalar LLPs, the improvement corresponds to a factor of 2 at a proper decay length of 30 mm.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Measurement of the Higgs boson width and evidence of its off-shell contributions to ZZ production

Since the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012, detailed studies of its properties have been ongoing. Besides its mass, its width - related to its lifetime - is an important parameter. One way to determine this quantity is by measuring its off-shell production, where the Higgs boson mass is far away from its nominal value, and relating it to its on-shell production, where the mass is close to the nominal value. Here, we report evidence for such off-shell contributions to the production cross section of two Z bosons with data from the CMS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. We constrain the total rate of the off-shell Higgs boson contribution beyond the Z boson pair production threshold, relative to its standard model expectation, to the interval [0.0061, 2.0] at 95% confidence level. The scenario with no off-shell contribution is excluded at a p-value of 0.0003 (3.6 standard deviations). We measure the width of the Higgs boson as $\Gamma_{\mathrm{H}}$ = 3.2 $_{-1.7}^{+2.4}$ MeV, in agreement with the standard model expectation of 4.1 MeV. In addition, we set constraints on anomalous Higgs boson couplings to W and Z boson pairs.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Search for long-lived particles using displaced jets in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

An inclusive search is presented for long-lived particles using displaced jets. The search uses a data sample collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC in 2017 and 2018, from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The results of this search are combined with those of a previous search using a data sample collected with the CMS detector in 2016, yielding a total integrated luminosity of 132 fb - 1 . The analysis searches for the distinctive topology of displaced tracks and displaced vertices associated with a dijet system. For a simplified model, where pair-produced long-lived neutral particles decay into quark-antiquark pairs, pair production cross sections larger than 0.07 fb are excluded at 95% confidence level (C.L.) for long-lived particle masses larger than 500 GeV and mean proper decay lengths between 2 and 250 mm. For a model where the standard model-like Higgs boson decays to two long-lived scalar particles that each decays to a quark-antiquark pair, branching fractions larger than 1% are excluded at 95% C.L. for mean proper decay lengths between 1 mm and 340 mm. A group of supersymmetric models with pair-produced long-lived gluinos or top squarks decaying into various final-state topologies containing displaced jets is also tested. Gluino masses up to 2500 GeV and top squark masses up to 1600 GeV are excluded at 95% C.L. for mean proper decay lengths between 3 and 300 mm. The highest lower bounds on mass reach 2600 GeV for long-lived gluinos and 1800 GeV for long-lived top squarks. These are the most stringent limits to date on these models.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Search for dark photons from Higgs boson decays via $ZH$ production with a photon plus missing transverse momentum signature from $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This paper describes a search for dark photons ($γ_d$) in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The dark photons are searched for in the decay of Higgs bosons ($H$ → $γγ_d$) produced through the $ZH$ production mode. The transverse mass of the system, made of the photon and the missing transverse momentum from the non-interacting $γ_d$, presents a distinctive signature as it peaks near the Higgs boson mass. The results presented use the total Run-2 integrated luminosity of 139 fb –1 recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The dominant reducible background processes are estimated using data-driven techniques. A Boosted Decision Tree technique is adopted to enhance the sensitivity of the search. As no excess is observed with respect to the Standard Model prediction, an observed (expected) upper limit on the branching ratio BR($H$ → $γγ_d$) of 2.28% (${2.82}_{–0.84}^{+1.33}$%) is set at 95% CL for massless $γ_d$. For massive dark photons up to 40 GeV, the observed (expected) upper limits on BR($H$ → $γγ_d$) at 95% confidence level is found within the [2.19,2.52]% ([2.71,3.11]%) range.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Search for neutral long-lived particles that decay into displaced jets in the ATLAS calorimeter in association with leptons or jets using pp collisions at $\sqrt{\textrm{s}}$ = 13 TeV

A search for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs) decaying in the ATLAS hadronic calorimeter using 140 fb -1 of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV delivered by the LHC is presented. The analysis is composed of three channels. The first targets pair-produced LLPs, where at least one LLP is produced with sufficiently low boost that its decay products can be resolved as separate jets. The second and third channels target LLPs respectively produced in association with a W or Z boson that decays leptonically. In each channel, different search regions target different kinematic regimes, to cover a broad range of LLP mass hypotheses and models. No excesses of events relative to the background predictions are observed. Higgs boson branching fractions to pairs of hadronically decaying neutral LLPs larger than 1% are excluded at 95% confidence level for proper decay lengths in the range of 30 cm to 4.5 m depending on the LLP mass, a factor of three improvement on previous searches in the hadronic calorimeter. The production of long-lived dark photons in association with a Z boson with cross-sections above 0.1 pb is excluded for dark photon mean proper decay lengths in the range of 20 cm to 50 m, improving previous ATLAS results by an order of magnitude. Finally, long-lived photo-phobic axion-like particle models are probed for the first time by ATLAS, with production cross-sections above 0.1 pb excluded in the 0.1 mm to 10 m range.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Search for electroweak production of a vector-like T quark using fully hadronic final states

A search is performed for electroweak production of a vector-like top quark partner T of charge 2/3 in association with a top or bottom quark, using proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The search targets T quarks over a wide range of masses and fractional widths, decaying to a top quark and either a Higgs boson or a Z boson in fully hadronic final states. The search is performed using two experimentally distinct signatures that depend on whether or not each quark from the decays of the top quark, Higgs boson, or Z boson produces an individual resolved jet. Jet substructure, b tagging, and kinematic variables are used to identify the top quark and boson jets, and also to suppress the standard model backgrounds. The data are found to be consistent with the expected backgrounds. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the cross sections for T quark-mediated production of tHQq, tZQq, and their sum, where Q is the associated top or bottom heavy quark and q is another associated quark. The limits are given for each search signature for various T quark widths up to 30% of the T quark mass, and are between 2 pb and 20 fb for T quark masses in the range 0.6-2.6 TeV. These results are significantly more sensitive than prior searches for electroweak single production of T$\to$tH and represent the first constraints on T$\to$tZ using hadronic decays of the Z boson with this production mode.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Erratum to: Higgs boson production cross-section measurements and their EFT interpretation in the $4\ell $ decay channel at $\sqrt{s}=$13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

When quoting the final cross section result in the text of the paper (Eur. Phys. J. C 80 (2020) 957), the theory component of the uncertainty was incorrectly set to 0.04 pb while the correct value of 0.03 pb was given in Table 8 and in all other results reported in this paper.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Search for a heavy Higgs boson decaying into two lighter Higgs bosons in the ττbb final state at 13 TeV

A search for a heavy Higgs boson H decaying into the observed Higgs boson h with a mass of 125 GeV and another Higgs boson hS is presented. The h and hS bosons are required to decay into a pair of tau leptons and a pair of b quarks, respectively. The search uses a sample of proton-proton collisions collected with the CMS detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb -1 . Mass ranges of 240–3000 GeV for m H and 60–2800 GeV for m h S are explored in the search. No signal has been observed. Model independent 95% confidence level upper limits on the product of the production cross section and the branching fractions of the signal process are set with a sensitivity ranging from 125 fb (for m H = 240 GeV) to 2.7 fb (for m H = 1000 GeV). These limits are compared to maximally allowed products of the production cross section and the branching fractions of the signal process in the next-to-minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Revealing the structure of light pseudoscalar mesons at the electron–ion collider

The questions of how the bulk of the Universe's visible mass emerges and how it is manifest in the existence and properties of hadrons are profound, and probe the heart of strongly interacting matter. Paradoxically, the lightest pseudoscalar mesons appear to be key to a further understanding of the emergent mass and structure mechanisms. These mesons, namely, the pion and kaon, are the Nambu-Goldstone boson modes of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Unravelling their partonic structure and the interplay between emergent and Higgs-boson mass mechanisms is a common goal of three interdependent approaches - continuum QCD phenomenology, lattice-regularised QCD, and the global analysis of parton distributions - linked to experimental measurements of hadron structure. Experimentally, the anticipated electron-ion collider will enable a revolution in our ability to study pion and kaon structures, accessed by scattering from the 'meson cloud' of the proton through the Sullivan process. With the goal of enabling a suite of measurements that can address these questions, we examine key reactions that identify the critical detector-system requirements needed to map tagged pion and kaon cross-sections over a wide range of kinematics. The excellent prospects for extracting pion structural, functional, and form-factor data are outlined, and similar prospects for kaon structures are discussed in the context of a worldwide programme. Finally, the successful completion of the programme outlined herein will deliver deep, far-reaching insights into the emergence of pions and kaons, their properties, and their role as QCD's Goldstone boson modes.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Search for a charged Higgs boson decaying into a heavy neutral Higgs boson and a W boson in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

A search for a charged Higgs boson H ± decaying into a heavy neutral Higgs boson H and a W boson is presented. The analysis targets the H decay into a pair of tau leptons with at least one of them decaying hadronically and with an additional electron or muon present in the event. The search is based on proton-proton collision data recorded by the CMS experiment during 2016–2018 at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb –1 . The data are consistent with standard model background expectations. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the product of the cross section and branching fraction for an H ± in the mass range of 300–700 GeV, assuming an H with a mass of 200 GeV. The observed limits range from 0.085 pb for an H ± mass of 300 Ge V to 0.019 pb for a mass of 700 GeV. These are the first limits on H ± production in the H ± → HW ± decay channel at the LHC.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗