Search for dark photon decays to $\mu^+\mu^-$ at NA62

The NA62 collaboration Cortina Gil, Eduardo ; Jerhot, Jan ; Kleimenova, Alina ; et al.
JHEP 09 (2023) 035, 2023.
Inspire Record 2642398 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.144533

The NA62 experiment at CERN, designed to study the ultra-rare decay $K^+ \to \pi^+\nu\overline{\nu}$, has also collected data in beam-dump mode. In this configuration, dark photons may be produced by protons dumped on an absorber and reach a decay volume beginning 80 m downstream. A search for dark photons decaying in flight to $\mu^+\mu^-$ pairs is reported, based on a sample of $1.4 \times 10^{17}$ protons on dump collected in 2021. No evidence for a dark photon signal is observed. A region of the parameter space is excluded at 90% CL, improving on previous experimental limits for dark photon masses between 215 and 550 MeV$/c^2$.

2 data tables

90% CL upper limit in dark photon coupling vs mass parameter space.

90% CL upper limit in \(BR(B \rightarrow K a, a \rightarrow \mu^+ \mu^-)\) vs lifetime \(\tau \) parameter space.


Measurement of the very rare $K^+\rightarrow\pi^+\nu\bar{\nu}$ decay

The NA62 collaboration Cortina Gil, Eduardo ; Minucci, Elisa ; Padolski, Sergey ; et al.
JHEP 06 (2021) 093, 2021.
Inspire Record 1854186 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.106641

The NA62 experiment reports the branching ratio measurement BR$(K^+ \rightarrow \pi^+ \nu\bar{\nu}) = (10.6^{+4.0}_{-3.4} |_{\rm stat} \pm 0.9_{\rm syst}) \times 10 ^{-11}$ at 68% CL, based on the observation of 20 signal candidates with an expected background of 7.0 events from the total data sample collected at the CERN SPS during 2016-2018. This provides evidence for the very rare $K^+ \rightarrow \pi^+ \nu\bar{\nu}$ decay, observed with a significance of 3.4$\sigma$. The experiment achieves a single event sensitivity of $(0.839\pm 0.054)\times 10^{-11}$, corresponding to 10.0 events assuming the Standard Model branching ratio of $(8.4\pm1.0)\times10^{-11}$. This measurement is also used to set limits on BR($K^+ \to \pi^+ X$), where $X$ is a scalar or pseudo-scalar particle. Details are given of the analysis of the 2018 data sample, which corresponds to about 80% of the total data sample.

3 data tables

Observed and expected upper limits on branching ratio \(K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}X\) at 90% CL.

Observed upper limits on branching ratio \(K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}X\) at 90% CL as functions of X mass and lifetime.

Exclusion region limits on coupling strength \(sin^{2}\theta\) at 90% CL as a function of X mass, for visible X decays.


Search for a feebly interacting particle $X$ in the decay $K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}X$

The NA62 collaboration Cortina Gil, Eduardo ; Minucci, Elisa ; Padolski, Sergey ; et al.
JHEP 03 (2021) 058, 2021.
Inspire Record 1832447 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.102393

A search for the $K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}X$ decay, where $X$ is a long-lived feebly interacting particle, is performed through an interpretation of the $K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}\nu\bar{\nu}$ analysis of data collected in 2017 by the NA62 experiment at CERN. Two ranges of $X$ masses, $0$-$110\,\text{MeV}/c^{2}$ and $154$-$260\,\text{MeV}/c^{2}$, and lifetimes above $100\,\text{ps}$ are considered. The limits set on the branching ratio, $\text{BR}(K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}X)$, are competitive with previously reported searches in the first mass range, and improve on current limits in the second mass range by more than an order of magnitude.

6 data tables

Observed and expected upper limits on branching ratio \(K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}X\) at 90% CL.

Observed upper limits on branching ratio \(K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}X\) at 90% CL as functions of X mass and lifetime.

Exclusion region limits on coupling strength \(sin^{2}\theta\) at 90% CL as a function of X mass, for visible X decays.

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Version 2
Search for dark matter in association with an energetic photon in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The ATLAS collaboration Aad, Georges ; Abbott, Brad ; Abbott, Dale Charles ; et al.
JHEP 02 (2021) 226, 2021.
Inspire Record 1829872 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.96846

A search for dark matter is conducted in final states containing a photon and missing transverse momentum in proton$-$proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV. The data, collected during 2015$-$2018 by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN LHC, correspond to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. No deviations from the predictions of the Standard Model are observed and 95% confidence-level upper limits between 2.45 fb and 0.5 fb are set on the visible cross section for contributions from physics beyond the Standard Model, in different ranges of the missing transverse momentum. The results are interpreted as 95% confidence-level limits in models where weakly interacting dark-matter candidates are pair-produced via an s-channel axial-vector or vector mediator. Dark-matter candidates with masses up to 415 (580) GeV are excluded for axial-vector (vector) mediators, while the maximum excluded mass of the mediator is 1460 (1470) GeV. In addition, the results are expressed in terms of 95% confidence-level limits on the parameters of a model with an axion-like particle produced in association with a photon, and are used to constrain the coupling $g_{aZ\gamma}$ of an axion-like particle to the electroweak gauge bosons.

60 data tables

Distribution of $E^{miss}_T$ in data and for the expected SM background in the SRs after performing the 'simplified shape fit'. The error bars are statistical, and the dashed band includes statistical and systematic uncertainties determined by the fit. The expectations for the simplified model for two different values of $m_{\chi}$ and $m_{med}$, and with $g_{q}=0.25$ and $g_{\chi}=1.0$ and for the ALP model are also shown. The lower panel shows the ratio of data to expected background event yields.

Distribution of $E^{miss}_T$ in data and for the expected SM background in the SRs after performing the 'simplified shape fit'. Overflows are included in the fourth bin of each distribution. The error bars are statistical, and the dashed band includes statistical and systematic uncertainties determined by the fit. The expectations for the simplified model for two different values of $m_{\chi}$ and $m_{med}$, and with $g_{q}=0.25$ and $g_{\chi}=1.0$ and for the ALP model are also shown. The lower panel shows the ratio of data to expected background event yields.

Distribution of $E^{miss}_T$ in data and for the expected SM background in the Single-Muon CR after performing the 'simplified shape fit'. The $E^{miss}_T$ calculation in this CR does not include the muon contribution. The error bars are statistical, and the dashed band includes statistical and systematic uncertainties determined by the fit. The lower panel shows the ratio of data to expected background event yields.

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Search for $\pi^0$ decays to invisible particles

The NA62 collaboration Cortina Gil, Eduardo ; Minucci, Elisa ; Padolski, Sergey ; et al.
JHEP 02 (2021) 201, 2021.
Inspire Record 1822910 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.102452

The NA62 experiment at the CERN SPS reports a study of a sample of $4 \times10^{9}$ tagged $\pi^0$ mesons from $K^+ \to \pi^+ \pi^0 (\gamma)$, searching for the decay of the $\pi^0$ to invisible particles. No signal is observed in excess of the expected background fluctuations. An upper limit of $4.4 \times10^{-9}$ is set on the branching ratio at 90% confidence level, improving on previous results by a factor of 60. This result can also be interpreted as a model-independent upper limit on the branching ratio for the decay $K^+ \to \pi^+ X$, where $X$ is a particle escaping detection with mass in the range 0.110-0.155 GeV$/c^2$ and rest lifetime greater than 100 ps. Model-dependent upper limits are obtained assuming $X$ to be an axion-like particle with dominant fermion couplings or a dark scalar mixing with the Standard Model Higgs boson.

5 data tables

The expected upper limit refers to absence of signal.

See caption of Fig 6.

ALP width dominantly visible, see caption of Fig 7.

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Search for $t\bar{t}$ resonances in fully hadronic final states in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector

The ATLAS collaboration Aad, Georges ; Abbott, Brad ; Abbott, Dale Charles ; et al.
JHEP 10 (2020) 061, 2020.
Inspire Record 1795076 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.94415

This paper presents a search for new heavy particles decaying into a pair of top quarks using 139 fb$^{-1}$ of proton--proton collision data recorded at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The search is performed using events consistent with pair production of high-transverse-momentum top quarks and their subsequent decays into the fully hadronic final states. The analysis is optimized for resonances decaying into a $t\bar{t}$ pair with mass above 1.4 TeV, exploiting a dedicated multivariate technique with jet substructure to identify hadronically decaying top quarks using large-radius jets and evaluating the background expectation from data. No significant deviation from the background prediction is observed. Limits are set on the production cross-section times branching fraction for the new $Z'$ boson in a topcolor-assisted-technicolor model. The $Z'$ boson masses below 3.9 and 4.7 TeV are excluded at 95% confidence level for the decay widths of 1% and 3%, respectively.

6 data tables

Acceptance and acceptance times selection efficiency as a function of $m^{gen}_{t\bar{t}}$ in SR$1b$. The acceptance is measured as the fraction of events with two leading truth-contained large-$R$ jets, both satisfying the kinematic requirements, but not containing generator-level electrons or muons, as described in the paper. The acceptance $\times$ efficiency is calculated with respect to the full analysis selections including top- and $b$-tagging requirements on the two leading large-$R$ jets. The $m^{gen}_{t\bar{t}}$ is calculated from the momenta of top and anti-top quarks at the generator level before final-state radiation. The branching fractions of the $t \bar{t}$ into all possible final states are included in the acceptance calculation.

Acceptance and acceptance times selection efficiency as a function of $m^{gen}_{t\bar{t}}$ in SR$2b$. The acceptance is measured as the fraction of events with two leading truth-contained large-$R$ jets, both satisfying the kinematic requirements, but not containing generator-level electrons or muons, as described in the paper. The acceptance $\times$ efficiency is calculated with respect to the full analysis selections including top- and $b$-tagging requirements on the two leading large-$R$ jets. The $m^{gen}_{t\bar{t}}$ is calculated from the momenta of top and anti-top quarks at the generator level before final-state radiation. The branching fractions of the $t \bar{t}$ into all possible final states are included in the acceptance calculation.

Observed $m_{t\bar{t}}^{reco}$ distributions in data for SR$1b$, shown together with the result of the fit with the three-shape-parameter function. The error bars indicate the effect of the fit parameter uncertainty on the background prediction. The bin width of the distributions is chosen to be the same as that used in the background parameterization.

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Search for production of an invisible dark photon in $\pi^0$ decays

The NA62 collaboration Cortina Gil, Eduardo ; Minucci, Elisa ; Padolski, Sergey ; et al.
JHEP 05 (2019) 182, 2019.
Inspire Record 1726101 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.102492

The results of a search for $\pi^0$ decays to a photon and an invisible massive dark photon at the NA62 experiment at the CERN SPS are reported. From a total of $4.12\times10^8$ tagged $\pi^0$ mesons, no signal is observed. Assuming a kinetic-mixing interaction, limits are set on the dark photon coupling to the ordinary photon as a function of the dark photon mass, improving on previous searches in the mass range 60--110 MeV/$c^2$. The present results are interpreted in terms of an upper limit of the branching ratio of the electro-weak decay $\pi^0 \to \gamma \nu \overline{\nu}$, improving the current limit by more than three orders of magnitude.

3 data tables

See caption of Fig 6.

See caption of Fig 6.

90% CL expected upper limit refers to absence of signal in the region of squared missing mass above 0.0054 GeV^2.


Search for dark matter at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV in final states containing an energetic photon and large missing transverse momentum with the ATLAS detector

The ATLAS collaboration Aaboud, Morad ; Aad, Georges ; Abbott, Brad ; et al.
Eur.Phys.J.C 77 (2017) 393, 2017.
Inspire Record 1591328 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.77382

Results of a search for physics beyond the Standard Model in events containing an energetic photon and large missing transverse momentum with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider are reported. As the number of events observed in data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 $\textrm fb^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, is in agreement with the Standard Model expectations, exclusion limits in models where dark-matter candidates are pair-produced are determined. For dark-matter production via an axial-vector or a vector mediator in the s-channel, this search excludes mediator masses below 750-1200 GeV for dark-matter candidate masses below 230-480 GeV at 95% confidence level, depending on the couplings. In an effective theory of dark-matter production, the limits restrict the value of the suppression scale $M_{*}$ to be above 790 GeV at 95% confidence level. A limit is also reported on the production of a high-mass scalar resonance by processes beyond the Standard Model, in which the resonance decays to $Z\gamma$ and the Z boson subsequently decays into neutrinos.

24 data tables

Observed event yields in 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ of data compared to expected yields from SM backgrounds in all signal regions, as predicted from the simultaneous fit to their respective CRs. The first three lines report the yields obtained from the inclusive-SR fit, while the two last lines report the yields obtained from the multiple-bin fit. The uncertainty includes both the statistical and systematic uncertainties.

The observed 95% CL exclusion contour for a simplified model of dark-matter production involving an axial-vector operator, Dirac DM and couplings $g_{q}$ = 0.25, $g_{\chi}$ = 1 and $g_{l}$ = 0 as a function of the dark-matter mass $m_{\chi}$ and the mediator mass $m_{\mathrm{med}}$. The plane under the limit curve is excluded.

The expected 95% CL exclusion contour (+1$\sigma$) for a simplified model of dark-matter production involving an axial-vector operator, Dirac DM and couplings $g_{q}$ = 0.25, $g_{\chi}$ = 1 and $g_{l}$ = 0 as a function of the dark-matter mass $m_{\chi}$ and the mediator mass $m_{\mathrm{med}}$. The plane under the limit curve is excluded.

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Search for new phenomena in events with a photon and missing transverse momentum in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector

The ATLAS collaboration Aaboud, Morad ; Aad, Georges ; Abbott, Brad ; et al.
JHEP 06 (2016) 059, 2016.
Inspire Record 1442359 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.72855

Results of a search for new phenomena in events with an energetic photon and large missing transverse momentum with the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider are reported. The data were collected in proton--proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 3.2 $\rm fb^{-1}$. The observed data are in agreement with the Standard Model expectations. Exclusion limits are presented in models of new phenomena including pair production of dark matter candidates or large extra spatial dimensions. In a simplified model of dark matter and an axial-vector mediator, the search excludes mediator masses of up to 710 GeV for dark matter candidate masses up to 150 GeV. In an effective theory of dark matter production, values of the suppression scale $M_*$ up to 570 GeV are excluded and the effect of truncation for various coupling values is reported. For the ADD large extra spatial dimension model the search places more stringent limits than earlier searches in the same event topology, excluding $M_{\rm D}$ up to about 2.3 (2.8) TeV for two (six) additional spatial dimensions; the limits are reduced by 20--40% depending on the number of additional spatial dimensions when applying a truncation procedure.

10 data tables

Distribution of missing transverse momentum, reconstructed treating muons as non-interacting particles, in the data and for the background in the 1muCR. The total background expectation is normalized to the post-fit result. Overflows are included in the final bin. The errors include both statistical and systematic uncertainties determined by a bin-by-bin fit.

Distribution of missing transverse momentum, reconstructed treating muons as non-interacting particles, in the data and for the background in the 2muCR. The total background expectation is normalized to the post-fit result. Overflows are included in the final bin. The errors include both statistical and systematic uncertainties determined by a bin-by-bin fit.

Distribution of missing transverse momentum, reconstructed treating electrons as non-interacting particles, in the data and for the background in the 2eleCR. The total background expectation is normalized to the post-fit result. Overflows are included in the final bin. The errors include both statistical and systematic uncertainties determined by a bin-by-bin fit.

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