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At least 163 records · Page 9

Search for physics beyond the standard model in events with jets and two same-sign or at least three charged leptons in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=$ 13 TeV

A data sample of events from proton-proton collisions with at least two jets, and two isolated same-sign or three or more charged leptons, is studied in a search for signatures of new physics phenomena. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of $137{\,{\text {fb}}^{-1}} $ at a center-of-mass energy of $13\,{\text {TeV}} $, collected in 2016–2018 by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The search is performed using a total of 168 signal regions defined using several kinematic variables. The properties of the events are found to be consistent with the expectations from standard model processes. Exclusion limits at 95% confidence level are set on cross sections for the pair production of gluinos or squarks for various decay scenarios in the context of supersymmetric models conserving or violating R parity. The observed lower mass limits are as large as $2.1\,{\text {TeV}} $ for gluinos and $0.9\,{\text {TeV}} $ for top and bottom squarks. To facilitate reinterpretations, model-independent limits are provided in a set of simplified signal regions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Isotope dependence of muon-to-electron conversion

The lepton-flavor-violating conversion of a muon into an electron in the field of a nucleus is one of the most sensitive probes of physics beyond the Standard Model and the experiments Mu2e, COMET, and DeeMe will explore uncharted terrain in the near future. An observation of this μ - → e - conversion process opens up the possibility to distinguish the underlying operator or new-physics model by exploiting the target-nucleus dependence of the conversion rate. To facilitate the choice of optimal targets we provide μ - → e - conversion rates for all stable isotopes and estimate nuclear-structure uncertainties. Our results enable studies of mixed or enriched target materials that are particularly promising for distinguishing scenarios in which the muon converts either on protons or neutrons.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

An updated estimate of the Mu2e experiment sensitivity

The Mu2e experiment at Fermilab will search for the conversion of a negative muon into an electron inside the field of a nucleus. This process does not conserve charged-lepton flavour and is heavily suppressed in the Standard Model (SM), with a branching ratio < 10-50. Any evidence of it would be an undeniable evidence of new physics beyond the SM. The project sets out to achieve a single event sensitivity of $\sim 3 × 10^{-17}$ on the ratio between the probability for a conversion of a negative muon into an electron and the one for a muon capture by the nucleus. Such a sensitivity would represent a 4 orders of magnitude improvement on the previous upper limit for the process, making possible to test predictions of different extensions of the SM. Mu2e uses three superconducting solenoids to produce and measure the muon conversions. In the first solenoid, the Production Solenoid, pions and kaons are produced, together with other secondary products, by 8 GeV kinetic energy proton interactions in a tungsten target. A gradient magnetic field is specifically designed to direct low momentum particles into the Transport Solenoid, an S-shaped magnet that filters out particles with unwanted charge and momentum. Muons, produced by pion and kaon decays, finally reach the aluminum Stopping Target in the Detector Solenoid, where they eventually stop and convert. The result of the conversion process is a monochromatic electron of ~105 MeV/c momentum. The Detector Solenoid also hosts the two main detectors: a straw tube tracker and two CsI calorimeter disks, both providing measurement of event kinematics. A germanium detector and a LaBr crystal are located downstream of the Detector Solenoid to measure the X and gamma rays produced by the muon captures in the Stopping Target. A veto system of scintillators covering the Detector Solenoid and half of the Transport Solenoid is used to identify and reject cosmic rays interactions. With respect to the initial project, the Mu2e running plan has evolved to a staged configuration with 2 years at reduced intensity before the 2025 accelerator shutdown for the neutrino beam upgrade and 2 or 3 years at full intensity after that. This, together with geometry changes and a better knowledge of detector performances obtained by the first slice tests, has required a full revision of the signal over background selection that is the subject of this thesis. In order to achieve a new estimate of Mu2e sensitivity, the simulation of the data corresponding to the first 2 years of data acquisition has been performed. This includes both conversion electrons (CE) and the main sources of background: cosmics, decay-in orbits (DIO), radiative pion captures (RPC) and antiprotons. The characteristics of the signal and of the main backgrounds have been studied to define the best selection variables for CE. A special effort has been devoted to the evaluation of the antiproton background. The lack of experimental data for antiproton production cross section makes the systematic uncertainty on this background significant. A new parameterization of the cross section has been developed to fit the existing data and to provide a more reliable estimate of the systematic uncertainty by comparing the results of the old and the new model. A special effort has been devoted to the optimization of the antiprotons Monte Carlo generator. This study has also revealed that the dominant component within this background is represented by antiprotons produced in the opposite direction with respect to the Transport Solenoid entrance and then redirected to it by back-scattering processes in the Production Target. This ultimately highlights the sensitivity of the background estimate to the G4 handling of antiproton interactions in the 1 to 3 GeV/c momentum range. Finally, the final experimental sensitivity has been studied. The momentum and time selection have been optimized to obtain the 5-sigma discovery reach or, in case of no signal, the upper limit on conversion probability. The results confirm that, in the firs t two years of data taking, Mu2e will be able to improve the current experimental sensitivity for muon-to-electron conversion in an atomic field by more than 3 order of magnitudes.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Theory Techniques for Precision Physics -- Snowmass 2021 TF06 Topical Group Report

The wealth of experimental data collected at laboratory experiments suggests that there is some scale separation between the Standard Model (SM) and phenomena beyond the SM (BSM). New phenomena can manifest itself as small corrections to SM predictions, or as signals in processes where the SM predictions vanish or are exceedingly small. This makes precise calculations of the SM expectations essential, in order to maximize the sensitivity of current and forthcoming experiments to BSM physics. Here, this topical group report highlights some past and forthcoming theory developments critical for maximizing the sensitivity of the experimental program to understanding Nature at the shortest distances.

Boughezal, Radja↗

Enriching the physics program of the CMS experiment via data scouting and data parking

Specialized data-taking and data-processing techniques were introduced by the CMS experiment in Run 1 of the CERN LHC to enhance the sensitivity of searches for new physics and the precision of standard model measurements. These techniques, termed data scouting and data parking, extend the data-taking capabilities of CMS beyond the original design specifications. The novel data-scouting strategy trades complete event information for higher event rates, while keeping the data bandwidth within limits. Data parking involves storing a large amount of raw detector data collected by algorithms with low trigger thresholds to be processed when sufficient computational power is available to handle such data. The research program of the CMS Collaboration is greatly expanded with these techniques. The implementation, performance, and physics results obtained with data scouting and data parking in CMS over the last decade are discussed in this Report, along with new developments aimed at further improving low-mass physics sensitivity over the next years of data taking.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

A measurement of proton-carbon forward scattering in a proof-of-principle test of the EMPHATIC spectrometer

The next generation of long-baseline neutrino experiments will be capable of precision measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters, precision neutrino-nucleus scattering, and unprecedented sensitivity to physics beyond the Standard Model. Reduced uncertainties in neutrino fluxes are necessary to achieve high precision and sensitivity in these future precise neutrino measurements. New measurements of hadron-nucleus interaction cross sections are needed to reduce uncertainties of neutrino fluxes. We report measurements of the differential cross-section as a function of scattering angle for proton-carbon interactions with a single charged particle in the final state at beam momenta of 20, 30, and 120 GeV/c. These measurements are the result of a beam test for EMPHATIC, a hadron-scattering and hadron-production experiment. The total, elastic and inelastic cross-sections are also extracted from the data and compared to previous measurements. These results can be used in current and future long-baseline neutrino experiments, and demonstrate the feasibility of future measurements by an upgraded EMPHATIC spectrometer.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

The Higgs trilinear coupling and the scale of new physics

We consider modifications of the Higgs potential due to new physics at high energy scales. These upset delicate cancellations predicted by the Standard Model for processes involving Higgs bosons and longitudinal gauge bosons, and lead to a breakdown of the theory at high energies. We focus on modifications of the Higgs trilinear coupling and use the violation of tree-level unitarity as an estimate of the scale where the theory breaks down. We obtain a completely model-independent bound of $ \underset{\sim }{<} $ 13 TeV for an order-1 modification of the trilinear. We argue that this bound can be saturated only in fine-tuned models, and the scale of new physics is likely to be much lower. The most stringent bounds are obtained from amplitudes involving multiparticle states that are not conventional scattering states. Our results show that a future determination of the Higgs cubic coupling can point to a well-defined scale of new physics that can be targeted and explored at future colliders.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Search for new physics in the lepton plus missing transverse momentum final state in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV

A search for physics beyond the standard model (SM) in final states with an electron or muon and missing transverse momentum is presented. The analysis uses data from proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2016–2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. No significant deviation from the SM prediction is observed. Model-independent limits are set on the production cross section of W’ bosons decaying into lepton-plus-neutrino final states. Within the framework of the sequential standard model, with the combined results from the electron and muon decay channels a W’ boson with mass less than 5.7 TeV is excluded at 95% confidence level. Results on a SM precision test, the determination of the oblique electroweak W parameter, are presented using LHC data for the first time. These results together with those from the direct W’ resonance search are used to extend existing constraints on composite Higgs scenarios. This is the first experimental exclusion on compositeness parameters using results from LHC data other than Higgs boson measurements.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

The Juno mission as a probe of long-range new physics

Orbits of celestial objects, especially the geocentric and heliocentric ones, have been well explored to constrain new long-range forces beyond the Standard Model (SM), often referred to as fifth forces. In this paper, for the first time, we apply the motion of a spacecraft around Jupiter to probe fifth forces that don’t violate the equivalence principle. The spacecraft is the Juno orbiter, and ten of its early orbits already allow a precise determination of the Jovian gravitational field. We use the shift in the precession angle as a proxy to test non-gravitational interactions between Juno and Jupiter. Requiring that the contribution from the fifth force does not exceed the uncertainty of the precession shift inferred from data, we find that a new parameter space with the mass of the fifth-force mediator around 10 −14 eV is excluded at 95% C.L.

new light particles↗

Full phase space resonant anomaly detection

Physics beyond the Standard Model that is resonant in one or more dimensions has been a longstanding focus of countless searches at colliders and beyond. Recently, many new strategies for have been developed, where sideband information can be used in conjunction with modern machine learning, in order to generate synthetic datasets representing the Standard Model background. Until now, this approach was only able to accommodate a relatively small number of dimensions, limiting the breadth of the search sensitivity. Using recent innovations in point cloud generative models, we show that this strategy can also be applied to the full phase space, using all relevant particles for the anomaly detection. As a proof of principle, we show that the signal from the R&D dataset from the LHC Olympics is findable with this method, opening up the door to future studies that explore the interplay between depth and breadth in the representation of the data for anomaly detection. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

White paper on light sterile neutrino searches and related phenomenology

This white paper provides a comprehensive review of our present understanding of experimental neutrino anomalies that remain unresolved, charting the progress achieved over the last decade at the experimental and phenomenological level, and sets the stage for future programmatic prospects in addressing those anomalies. It is purposed to serve as a guiding and motivational "encyclopedic" reference, with emphasis on needs and options for future exploration that may lead to the ultimate resolution of the anomalies. We see the main experimental, analysis, and theory-driven thrusts that will be essential to achieving this goal being: 1) Cover all anomaly sectors -- given the unresolved nature of all four canonical anomalies, it is imperative to support all pillars of a diverse experimental portfolio, source, reactor, decay-at-rest, decay-in-flight, and other methods/sources, to provide complementary probes of and increased precision for new physics explanations; 2) Pursue diverse signatures -- it is imperative that experiments make design and analysis choices that maximize sensitivity to as broad an array of these potential new physics signatures as possible; 3) Deepen theoretical engagement -- priority in the theory community should be placed on development of standard and beyond standard models relevant to all four short-baseline anomalies and the development of tools for efficient tests of these models with existing and future experimental datasets; 4) Openly share data -- Fluid communication between the experimental and theory communities will be required, which implies that both experimental data releases and theoretical calculations should be publicly available; and 5) Apply robust analysis techniques -- Appropriate statistical treatment is crucial to assess the compatibility of data sets within the context of any given model.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Flavor-violating Higgs and Z boson decays at a future circular lepton collider

Recent advances in b , c , and s quark tagging coupled with novel statistical analysis techniques will allow future high energy and high statistics electron-positron colliders, such as the FCC-ee, to place phenomenologically relevant bounds on flavor violating Higgs and Z decays to quarks. We assess the FCC-ee reach for Z / h → b s , c u decays as a function of jet tagging performance. We also update the standard model (SM) predictions for the corresponding branching ratios, as well as the indirect constraints on the flavor violating Higgs and Z couplings to quarks. Using the type III two Higgs doublet model as an example of beyond the standard model physics, we show that the searches for h → b s , c u decays at FCC-ee can probe new parameter space not excluded by indirect searches. We also reinterpret the FCC-ee reach for Z → b s , c u in terms of the constraints on models with vectorlike quarks. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Kamenik, Jernej F. (ORCID:0000000151838637)↗

Report of the Snowmass 2021 Topical Group on Lattice Gauge Theory

Lattice gauge theory continues to be a powerful theoretical and computational approach to simulating strongly interacting quantum field theories, whose applications permeate almost all disciplines of modern-day research in High-Energy Physics. Whether it is to enable precision quark- and lepton-flavor physics, to uncover signals of new physics in nucleons and nuclei, to elucidate hadron structure and spectrum, to serve as a numerical laboratory to reach beyond the Standard Model, or to invent and improve state-of-the-art computational paradigms, the lattice-gauge-theory program is in a prime position to impact the course of developments and enhance discovery potential of a vibrant experimental program in High-Energy Physics over the coming decade. This projection is based on abundant successful results that have emerged using lattice gauge theory over the years: on continued improvement in theoretical frameworks and algorithmic suits; on the forthcoming transition into the exascale era of high-performance computing; and on a skillful, dedicated, and organized community of lattice gauge theorists in the U.S. and worldwide. The prospects of this effort in pushing the frontiers of research in High-Energy Physics have recently been studied within the U.S. decadal Particle Physics Planning Exercise (Snowmass 2021), and the conclusions are summarized in this Topical Report.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Long-lived particles: theory and experimental probes

Long-lived particles (LLPs) are particles that are stable or that live long enough for their decays to be experimentally distinguishable in time or position from their production point. We provide an overview of the phenomenology and experimental signatures of LLPs, focusing on LLPs at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). We explain what determines a particle's lifetime and we show that LLPs are ubiquitous both within the Standard Model and beyond. We survey the methods used to experimentally detect and characterize particles at collider-based experiments, and discuss how searches for LLPs present both experimental challenges and exciting new possibilities for detection. Finally, we situate LHC searches for LLPs within the broader experimental landscape with a brief overview of searches for LLPs at lower-energy experiments and a discussion of astrophysical and cosmological probes offering complementary insight into the physics of LLPs beyond the Standard Model.

Jeanty, Laura [University of Oregon]↗

Directly probing the Higgs-top coupling at high scales

We explore the sensitivity to new physics for the coupling of the Higgs boson (h) and top quark (t) at high energy scales with the process ${pp}$→ $t\bar{t}h$ at the high-luminosity LHC. This process probes the coupling in both the space-like and time-like domains at a high scale, complementary to the off-shell Higgs processes in the time-like domain. The effects from physics beyond the Standard Model are parametrized in terms of the effective field theory framework and a non-local Higgs-top form factor. Focusing on the boosted Higgs regime in association with jet substructure techniques, we show that the present search can directly probe the Higgs-top coupling to good precision, providing a strong sensitivity to the new physics scale

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

New Physics from the Neutrino Portal: Early Universe Implications and Detection Prospects

Despite their ubiquity, the nature of Dark Matter (DM) and neutrinos remains mysterious. Both are examples of particles which are neutral, stable, and require physics beyond the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics. It is therefore natural to investigate theories which relate them. If DM has more than gravitational interactions, it must not couple very sizably to the Standard Mode (SM) in order to have escaped detection so far. The nature of this coupling (or “portal”) is of paramount importance in determining the optimal experimental search strategies. This proposal aims to focus on the implications of “Hidden Sector” models of new physics where the dominant interaction is from the neutrino-mixing portal. Such scenarios give rise to new neutrino self-interactions and DM-neutrino interactions with a variety of consequences. By undertaking the thorough study of neutrino portal (NP) theories of DM this proposal seeks to achieve the following specific objectives: (1) Expand and deepen the theoretical foundations of self-interacting neutrinos in the early universe with application to sterile neutrino DM, (2) establish theoretical and phenomenological bases for DM-modified neutrino oscillations, (3) establish sensitivity projections for neutrino self-interactions from future IceCube data. The proposed research will intellectually contribute to the physics literature by thoroughly characterizing the consequences of “hidden sector” models incorporating DM and neutrinos. Theoretical consistency and a complete description of their impact on the early universe will constitute one component of this work. As a result of the additional structure in the neutrino sector the detectability of various aspects of neutrino physics will be impacted. This includes modifications to oscillation experiments, ultra-high-energy neutrino telescopes (e.g. IceCube, KM3NET), and Cosmic Microwave Background data. The success of this research proposal will depend on the successful integration of these complementary probes of new physics in the proper context of theoretically motivated scenarios determined from their impact on the early universe.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Search for New Physics via EFT in collisions containing a top quark and a boosted Z or Higgs boson

We present a generator-level sensitivity study of physics beyond the Standard Model within the framework of Effective Field Theory (EFT). The targeted signal processes are single top quark production in association with a Lorentz-boosted Higgs or Z boson (tHq and tZq) in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13.6 TeV. Event selection requires one electron or muon, a high-transverse-momentum, large-radius (AK8) jet reconstructing hadronic H → b̄b or Z → b̄b decays, at least two distinct, non-overlapping small-radius (AK4) jets with one originating from a b quark, and a missing transverse energy greater than 30 GeV. Signal and background samples are generated via Monte Carlo simulation using MadGraph with MadJax to perform EFT matrix-element calculations. Deviations from the Standard Model are parametrized through dimension-six EFT operators that probe modified top quark interactions. This generator-level study identifies kinematic observables with enhanced sensitivity to EFT operators and motivates future reconstruction-level analyses of tHq and tZq channels.

Meshramkar, Daniel [Baylor U., Waco]↗

Search for New Physics via EFT in collisions containing a top quark and a boosted Z or Higgs boson

We present a generator-level sensitivity study of physics beyond the Standard Model within the framework of Effective Field Theory (EFT). The targeted signal processes are single top quark production in association with a Lorentz-boosted Higgs or Z boson (tHq and tZq) in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13.6 TeV. Event selection requires one electron or muon, a high-transverse-momentum, large-radius (AK8) jet reconstructing hadronic H → b̄b or Z → b̄b decays, at least two distinct, non-overlapping small-radius (AK4) jets with one originating from a b quark, and a missing transverse energy greater than 30 GeV. Signal and background samples are generated via Monte Carlo simulation using MadGraph with MadJax to perform EFT matrix-element calculations. Deviations from the Standard Model are parametrized through dimension-six EFT operators that probe modified top quark interactions. This generator-level study identifies kinematic observables with enhanced sensitivity to EFT operators and motivates future reconstruction-level analyses of tHq and tZq channels.

Meshramkar, Daniel [Baylor U., Waco]↗