A search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson (H) with a mass of 125 GeV to a pair of light pseudoscalars $\mathrm{a}_1$ is performed in final states where one pseudoscalar decays to two b quarks and the other to a pair of muons or $\tau$ leptons. A data sample of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ recorded with the CMS detector is analyzed. No statistically significant excess is observed over the standard model backgrounds. Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level (CL) on the Higgs boson branching fraction to $\mu\mu$bb and to $\tau\tau$bb, via a pair of $\mathrm{a}_1$s. The limits depend on the pseudoscalar mass $m_{\mathrm{a}_1}$ and are observed to be in the range (0.17-3.3) $\times$ 10$^{-4}$ and (1.7-7.7) $\times$ 10$^{-2}$ in the $\mu\mu$bb and $\tau\tau$bb final states, respectively. In the framework of models with two Higgs doublets and a complex scalar singlet (2HDM+S), the results of the two final states are combined to determine model-independent upper limits on the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}$(H $\to$ $\mathrm{a}_1\mathrm{a}_1$ $\to$ $\ell\ell$bb) at 95% CL, with $\ell$ being a muon or a $\tau$ lepton. For different types of 2HDM+S, upper bounds on the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}$(H $\to$ $\mathrm{a}_1\mathrm{a}_1$) are extracted from the combination of the two channels. In most of the Type II 2HDM+S parameter space, $\mathcal{B}($H $\to$ $\mathrm{a}_1\mathrm{a}_1$) values above 0.23 are excluded at 95% CL for $m_{\mathrm{a}_1}$ values between 15 and 60 GeV.
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on B($\text{H} \rightarrow \text{a}_{1}\text{a}_{1} \rightarrow \mu\mu$bb) as functions of $m_{\text{a}_{1}}$. The inner and outer bands indicate the regions containing the distribution of limits located within 68 and 95% confidence intervals, respectively, of the expectation under the background-only hypothesis.
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on B($\text{H} \rightarrow \text{a}_{1}\text{a}_{1} \rightarrow \tau\tau$bb) in percent as functions of $m_{\text{a}_{1}}$, for the combination of the $\mu\tau_{\text{h}}$, $e\tau_{\text{h}}$, and $e\mu$ channels. The inner and outer bands indicate the regions containing the distribution of limits located within 68 and 95% confidence intervals, respectively, of the expectation under the background-only hypothesis.
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on B($\text{H} \rightarrow \text{a}_{1}\text{a}_{1} \rightarrow ll$bb) in percent, where $l$ stands for muons or $\tau$ leptons, obtained from the combination of the $\mu\mu$bb and $\tau\tau$bb channels. The results are obtained as functions $m_{\text{a}_{1}}$ for 2HDM+S models, independent of the type and tan $\beta$ parameter. The inner and outer bands indicate the regions containing the distribution of limits located within 68 and 95% confidence intervals, respectively, of the expectation under the background-only hypothesis.
Searches for dark matter with liquid xenon time projection chamber experiments have traditionally focused on the region of the parameter space that is characteristic of weakly interacting massive particles, ranging from a few GeV/$c^2$ to a few TeV/$c^2$. Models of dark matter with a mass much heavier than this are well motivated by early production mechanisms different from the standard thermal freeze-out, but they have generally been less explored experimentally. In this work, we present a re-analysis of the first science run (SR1) of the LZ experiment, with an exposure of $0.9$ tonne$\times$year, to search for ultraheavy particle dark matter. The signal topology consists of multiple energy deposits in the active region of the detector forming a straight line, from which the velocity of the incoming particle can be reconstructed on an event-by-event basis. Zero events with this topology were observed after applying the data selection calibrated on a simulated sample of signal-like events. New experimental constraints are derived, which rule out previously unexplored regions of the dark matter parameter space of spin-independent interactions beyond a mass of 10$^{17}$ GeV/$c^2$.
Upper limit on the WIMP-nucleon scattering cross section from the multiple-scatter analysis.
Upper limit on the WIMP-nucleus scattering cross section from the multiple-scatter analysis.
Upper limit on the WIMP-nucleon scattering cross section from the single-scatter analysis.
The central exclusive production of charged-hadron pairs in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13\TeV is examined, based on data collected in a special high-$\beta^*$ run of the LHC. The nonresonant continuum processes are studied with the invariant mass of the centrally produced two-pion system in the resonance-free region, $m_{\pi^+\pi^-}$$\lt$ 0.7 GeV or $m_{\pi^+\pi^-}$$\gt$ 1.8 GeV. Differential cross sections as functions of the azimuthal angle between the surviving protons, squared exchanged four-momenta, and $m_{\pi^+\pi^-}$ are measured in a wide region of scattered proton transverse momenta, between 0.2 and 0.8 GeV, and for pion rapidities $\lvert y\rvert$$\lt$ 2. A rich structure of interactions related to double-pomeron exchange is observed. A parabolic minimum in the distribution of the two-proton azimuthal angle is observed for the first time. It can be interpreted as an effect of additional pomeron exchanges between the protons from the interference between the bare and the rescattered amplitudes. After model tuning, various physical quantities are determined that are related to the pomeron cross section, proton-pomeron and meson-pomeron form factors, pomeron trajectory and intercept, and coefficients of diffractive eigenstates of the proton.
Distributions of $\mathrm{d}^3\sigma / \mathrm{d}p_\mathrm{1,T} dp_\mathrm{2,T}\mathrm {d}\phi$ as functions of $\phi$ in the $\pi^+\pi^-$ nonresonant region ($0.35 < m < 0.65\,\mathrm{GeV}$) in several $(p_\mathrm{1,T}, p_\mathrm{2,T})$ bins, in units of $\mu\mathrm{b}/\mathrm{GeV}^2$.
Distribution of $\mathrm{d}^3\sigma / \mathrm{d}p_{1,T} \mathrm{d}p_\mathrm{2,T} \mathrm{d}m$ as a function of $m$ for $\pi^+\pi^−$ pairs in several $(p_\mathrm{1,T}, p_\mathrm{2,T})$ bins, in units of $\mu\mathrm{b}/\mathrm{GeV}^3$.
Distribution of the squared momentum transfer of the virtual pion in several $(p_\mathrm{1,T}, p_\mathrm{2,T})$ bins, in units of $\mu\mathrm{b}/\mathrm{GeV}^3$.
A measurement is presented of the primary Lund jet plane (LJP) density in inclusive jet production in proton-proton collisions. The analysis uses 138 fb$^{-1}$ of data collected by the CMS experiment at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV. The LJP, a representation of the phase space of emissions inside jets, is constructed using iterative jet declustering. The transverse momentum $k_\mathrm{T}$ and the splitting angle $\Delta R$ of an emission relative to its emitter are measured at each step of the jet declustering process. The average density of emissions as function of $\ln(k_\mathrm{T}$/GeV) and $\ln(R/\Delta R)$ is measured for jets with distance parameters $R$ = 0.4 or 0.8, transverse momentum $p_\mathrm{T} \gt$ 700 GeV, and rapidity $\vert y\vert \lt $ 1.7. The jet substructure is measured using the charged-particle tracks of the jet. The measured distributions, unfolded to the level of stable particles, are compared with theoretical predictions from simulations and with perturbative quantum chromodynamics calculations. Due to the ability of the LJP to factorize physical effects, these measurements can be used to improve different aspects of the physics modeling in event generators.
Primary Lund jet plane density for AK4 jets in a one-dimensional representation with bin indices for MC tuning purposes. The mapping between the bin indices and the physical binning can be imported from the XML file attached to this HepData record using the TUnfoldBinningXML class of ROOT (qualitatively, it corresponds to slicing the Lund plane horizontally from low kT to high kT). All systematic uncertainties are bin-to-bin fully correlated (allowing for sign-changes bin-to-bin), with the exception of the statistical uncertainties from data and MC, for which a separate correlation matrix is provided in this HepData record.
Correlation matrix associated to the statistical covariance matrix of the data and MC for the primary Lund jet plane density for AK4 jets in a one-dimensional representation with bin indices. The mapping between the bin indices and the physical binning can be imported from the XML file attached to this HepData record using the TUnfoldBinningXML class of ROOT (qualitatively, it corresponds to slicing the Lund plane horizontally from low kT to high kT).
Primary Lund jet plane density for AK8 jets in a one-dimensional representation with bin indices for MC tuning purposes. The mapping between the bin indices and the physical binning can be imported from the XML file attached to this HepData record using the TUnfoldBinningXML class of ROOT (qualitatively, it corresponds to slicing the Lund plane horizontally from low kT to high kT). All systematic uncertainties are bin-to-bin fully correlated (allowing for sign-changes bin-to-bin), with the exception of the statistical uncertainties from data and MC, for which a separate correlation matrix is provided in this HepData record.
A search for the production of a top quark in association with a photon and additional jets via flavor changing neutral current interactions is presented. The analysis uses proton-proton collision data recorded by the CMS detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. The search is performed by looking for processes where a single top quark is produced in association with a photon, or a pair of top quarks where one of the top quarks decays into a photon and an up or charm quark. Events with an electron or a muon, a photon, one or more jets, and missing transverse momentum are selected. Multivariate analysis techniques are used to discriminate signal and standard model background processes. No significant deviation is observed over the predicted background. Observed (expected) upper limits are set on the branching fractions of top quark decays: $\mathcal{B}$(t $\to$ u$\gamma$) $\lt$ 0.95 $\times$ 10$^{-5}$ (1.20 $\times$ 10$^{-5}$) and $\mathcal{B}$(t $\to$ c$\gamma$) $\lt$ 1.51 $\times$ 10$^{-5}$ (1.54 $\times$ 10$^{-5}$) at 95% confidence level, assuming a single nonzero coupling at a time. The obtained limit for $\mathcal{B}$(t $\to$ u$\gamma$) is similar to the current best limit, while the limit for $\mathcal{B}$(t $\to$ c$\gamma$) is significantly tighter than previous results.
Expected and observed 95\% CL upper limits on the branching fraction as well as FCNC couplings of the top quark decaying to the photon and a light-flavor quark (either an up or a charm quark)
Following the first science results of the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment, a dual-phase xenon time projection chamber operating from the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota, USA, we report the initial limits on a model-independent non-relativistic effective field theory describing the complete set of possible interactions of a weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) with a nucleon. These results utilize the same 5.5 t fiducial mass and 60 live days of exposure collected for the LZ spin-independent and spin-dependent analyses while extending the upper limit of the energy region of interest by a factor of 7.5 to 270 keVnr. No significant excess in this high energy region is observed. Using a profile-likelihood ratio analysis, we report 90% confidence level exclusion limits on the coupling of each individual non-relativistic WIMP-nucleon operator for both elastic and inelastic interactions in the isoscalar and isovector bases.
Data points used in analysis in log_10(S2)-S1 space.
Data selection efficiency as a function of nuclear recoil energy
Isoscalar WIMP-nucleon elastic coupling limit for Operator 8
The hydrodynamic flow-like behavior of charged hadrons in high-energy lead-lead collisions is studied through multiparticle correlations. The elliptic anisotropy values based on different orders of multiparticle cumulants, $v_{2}\{2k\}$, are measured up to the tenth order ($k$ = 5) as functions of the collision centrality at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV. The data were recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 0.607 nb$^{-1}$. A hierarchy is observed between the coefficients, with $v_{2}\{2\} > v_{2}\{4\} \gtrsim v_{2}\{6\} \gtrsim v_{2}\{8\} \gtrsim v_{2}\{10\}$. Based on these results, centrality-dependent moments for the fluctuation-driven event-by-event $v_{2}$ distribution are determined, including the skewness, kurtosis and, for the first time, superskewness. Assuming a hydrodynamic expansion of the produced medium, these moments directly probe the initial-state geometry in high-energy nucleus-nucleus collisions.
The $v_2\{2k\}$ ($k = 1, ..., 5$) values as functions of centrality in PbPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5.02~\textrm{Te}\textrm{V}$. The measurement is performed with charged particles within the acceptance region.
The relative differences $(v_2\{2k\}-v_2\{10\})/v_2\{10\}$ ($k = 1, ..., 4$) as functions of centrality in PbPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5.02~\textrm{Te}\textrm{V}$. The measurement is performed with charged particles within the acceptance region.
The $h_1$ and the $h_2$ hydrodynamic probes as functions of centrality in PbPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5.02~\textrm{Te}\textrm{V}$. The measurement is performed with charged particles within the acceptance region.
A search is presented for high-mass exclusive diphoton production via photon-photon fusion in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV in events where both protons survive the interaction. The analysis utilizes data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 103 fb$^{-1}$ collected in 2016-2018 with the central CMS detector and the CMS and TOTEM precision proton spectrometer (PPS). Events that have two photons with high transverse momenta ($p_\mathrm{T}^\gamma > $ 100 GeV), back-to-back in azimuth, and with a large diphoton invariant mass ($m_{\gamma\gamma} \gt$ 350 GeV) are selected. To remove the dominant inclusive diphoton backgrounds, the kinematic properties of the protons detected in PPS are required to match those of the central diphoton system. Only events having opposite-side forward protons detected with a fractional momentum loss between 0.035 and 0.15 (0.18) for the detectors on the negative (positive) side of CMS are considered. One exclusive diphoton candidate is observed for an expected background of 1.1 events. Limits at 95% confidence level are derived for the four-photon anomalous coupling parameters $\lvert\zeta_1\rvert \lt$ 0.073 TeV$^{-4}$ and $\lvert\zeta_2\rvert \lt$ 0.15 TeV$^{-4}$, using an effective field theory. Additionally, upper limits are placed on the production of axion-like particles with coupling strength to photons $f^{-1}$ that varies from 0.03 TeV$^{-1}$ to 1 TeV$^{-1}$ over the mass range from 500 to 2000 GeV.
95% expected and observed one-dimensional limits on $\zeta_1$ and $\zeta_2$ anomalous LbyL production parameters, when the other parameter is set to zero. This corresponds to a search region of $m_{\gamma\gamma} > 350$ GeV, $0.070 < \xi^+ < 0.111$, and $0.070 < \xi^- < 0.138$.
Two-dimensional limits on anomalous quartic gauge coupling parameters. The parametric elliptic form is assumed: $\sigma=a_0\zeta_1^2+a_1\zeta_1\zeta_2+a_2\zeta_2^2$.
Limits on axion-like particle production.
A search for W' bosons decaying to a top and a bottom quark in final states including an electron or a muon is performed with the CMS detector at the LHC. The analyzed data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 Tev. Good agreement with the standard model expectation is observed and no evidence for the existence of the W' boson is found over the mass range examined. The largest observed deviation from the standard model expectation is found for a W' boson mass ($m_\mathrm{W'}$) hypothesis of 3.8 TeV with a relative decay width of 1%, with a local (global) significance of 2.6 (2.0) standard deviations. Upper limits on the production cross sections of W' bosons decaying to a top and a bottom quark are set. Left- and right-handed W' bosons with $m_\mathrm{W'}$ below 3.9 and 4.3 TeV, respectively, are excluded at the 95% confidence level, under the assumption that the new particle has a narrow decay width. Limits are also set for relative decay widths up to 30%. These are the most stringent limits to date on this W' boson decay channel.
Post-fit distributions of $M_{\ell v jj}$ in the $R0_A$ control subregion for muons. The lower panel reports the data minus the expected number of events normalized to the statistical uncertainty of the data. The orange band represents the systematic uncertainties also normalized to the statistical uncertainty of the data.
Post-fit distributions of $M_{\ell v jj}$ in the $R0_A$ control subregion for electrons. The lower panel reports the data minus the expected number of events normalized to the statistical uncertainty of the data. The orange band represents the systematic uncertainties also normalized to the statistical uncertainty of the data.
Post-fit distributions of $M_{\ell v jj}$ in the $R2B_A$ subregion for muons. All process yields and nuisance parameters are set to the values obtained from the background plus signal fit. The signal considered for the fit corresponds to the purely right-handed production of a W' with $m_{W'}$ of 3.6 TeV and a relative width of 1$\%$ of the $m_{W'}$, and is represented by the solid red line. The lower panels show the data minus the expected number of events, normalized to the statistical uncertainty of the data. The orange band represents the systematic uncertainties, also normalized to the statistical uncertainty of the data.
A search for dark matter particles is performed using events with a pair of W bosons and large missing transverse momentum. Candidate events are selected by requiring one or two leptons ($\ell =$ electrons or muons). The analysis is based on proton-proton collision data collected at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV by the CMS experiment at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. No significant excess over the expected standard model background is observed in the $\ell\nu$qq and 2$\ell$2$\nu$ final states of the W$^+$W$^-$ boson pair. Limits are set on dark matter production in the context of a simplified dark Higgs model, with a dark Higgs boson mass above the W$^+$W$^-$ mass threshold. The dark matter phase space is probed in the mass range 100-300 GeV, extending the scope of previous searches. Current exclusion limits are improved in the range of dark Higgs masses from 160 to 250 GeV, for a dark matter mass of 200 GeV.
Leading lepton $p_T$ pre-fit distribution for selected events in SR1 of the di-leptonic channel for the full dataset. The error bars on the data points represent the statistical uncertainty of the data, and the error bars on the predicted yields represent the combined systematic and statistical uncertainty in each bin. The signal prediction represents the mass point: $m_s = 160 GeV, m_{\chi} = 100 GeV, m_{Z'} = 500 GeV$. The last bin includes the overflow.
Trailing lepton $p_T$ pre-fit distribution for selected events in SR1 of the di-leptonic channel for the full dataset. The error bars on the data points represent the statistical uncertainty of the data, and the error bars on the predicted yields represent the combined systematic and statistical uncertainty in each bin. The signal prediction represents the mass point: $m_s = 160 GeV, m_{\chi} = 100 GeV, m_{Z'} = 500 GeV$. The last bin includes the overflow.
Missing $p_T$ pre-fit distribution for selected events in SR2 of the di-leptonic channel for the full dataset. The error bars on the data points represent the statistical uncertainty of the data, and the error bars on the predicted yields represent the combined systematic and statistical uncertainty in each bin. The signal prediction represents the mass point: $m_s = 160 GeV, m_{\chi} = 100 GeV, m_{Z'} = 500 GeV$. The last bin includes the overflow.
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