This paper presents a measurement of the $W$ boson production cross section and the $W^{+}/W^{-}$ cross-section ratio, both in association with jets, in proton--proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV with the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The measurement is performed in final states containing one electron and missing transverse momentum using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.2 fb$^{-1}$. Differential cross sections for events with one or two jets are presented for a range of observables, including jet transverse momenta and rapidities, the scalar sum of transverse momenta of the visible particles and the missing transverse momentum in the event, and the transverse momentum of the $W$ boson. For a subset of the observables, the differential cross sections of positively and negatively charged $W$ bosons are measured separately. In the cross-section ratio of $W^{+}/W^{-}$ the dominant systematic uncertainties cancel out, improving the measurement precision by up to a factor of nine. The observables and ratios selected for this paper provide valuable input for the up quark, down quark, and gluon parton distribution functions of the proton.
Cross section for the production of W bosons for different inclusive jet multiplicities.
Statistical correlation between bins in data for the cross section for the production of W bosons for different inclusive jet multiplicities.
Differential cross sections for the production of W<sup>+</sup> bosons, W<sup>-</sup> bosons and the W<sup>+</sup>/W<sup>-</sup> cross section ratio as a function of the inclusive jet multiplicity.
Measurements of normalized differential cross-sections of top-quark pair production are presented as a function of the top-quark, $t\bar{t}$ system and event-level kinematic observables in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV}. The observables have been chosen to emphasize the $t\bar{t}$ production process and to be sensitive to effects of initial- and final-state radiation, to the different parton distribution functions, and to non-resonant processes and higher-order corrections. The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb$^{-1}$, recorded in 2012 with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. Events are selected in the lepton+jets channel, requiring exactly one charged lepton and at least four jets with at least two of the jets tagged as originating from a $b$-quark. The measured spectra are corrected for detector effects and are compared to several Monte Carlo simulations. The results are in fair agreement with the predictions over a wide kinematic range. Nevertheless, most generators predict a harder top-quark transverse momentum distribution at high values than what is observed in the data. Predictions beyond NLO accuracy improve the agreement with data at high top-quark transverse momenta. Using the current settings and parton distribution functions, the rapidity distributions are not well modelled by any generator under consideration. However, the level of agreement is improved when more recent sets of parton distribution functions are used.
Fiducial phase-space absolute differential cross-sections after combining the e+jets and $\mu$+jets channels for the $t\bar{t}$ system invariant mass $m^{t\bar{t}}$. All uncertainties are quoted as a percentage with respect to the cross-section values in each bin.
Fiducial phase-space relative differential cross-sections after combining the e+jets and $\mu$+jets channels for the $t\bar{t}$ system invariant mass $m^{t\bar{t}}$. All uncertainties are quoted as a percentage with respect to the cross-section values in each bin.
Fiducial phase-space absolute differential cross-sections after combining the e+jets and $\mu$+jets channels for the $t\bar{t}$ system transverse momentum $p_{T}^{t\bar{t}}$. All uncertainties are quoted as a percentage with respect to the cross-section values in each bin.
A measurement of the splitting scales occuring in the $k_\mathrm{t}$ jet-clustering algorithm is presented for final states containing a $Z$ boson. The measurement is done using 20.2 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data collected at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC in 2012. The measurement is based on charged-particle track information, which is measured with excellent precision in the $p_\mathrm{T}$ region relevant for the transition between the perturbative and the non-perturbative regimes. The data distributions are corrected for detector effects, and are found to deviate from state-of-the-art predictions in various regions of the observables.
The measured fiducial as a function of sqrt(d0). The fiducial cross sections are measred for the charged-only particle level in the muon channel as well as the electron channel. Extrapolations to the complete fiducial phase space including charged and neutral particles are also shown for the muon channel and the electron channel.
The measured fiducial as a function of sqrt(d1). The fiducial cross sections are measred for the charged-only particle level in the muon channel as well as the electron channel. Extrapolations to the complete fiducial phase space including charged and neutral particles are also shown for the muon channel and the electron channel.
The measured fiducial as a function of sqrt(d2). The fiducial cross sections are measred for the charged-only particle level in the muon channel as well as the electron channel. Extrapolations to the complete fiducial phase space including charged and neutral particles are also shown for the muon channel and the electron channel.
Measurements of the top--antitop quark pair production charge asymmetry in the dilepton channel, characterized by two high-${p}_{\rm{T}}$ leptons (electrons or muons), are presented using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $20.3$ $\textrm{fb}^{-1}$ from $pp$ collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. Inclusive and differential measurements as a function of the invariant mass, transverse momentum, and longitudinal boost of the $t\bar{t}$ system are performed both in the full phase space and in a fiducial phase space closely matching the detector acceptance. Two observables are studied: $A^{\ell\ell}_{\textrm{C}}$ based on the selected leptons and $A^{t\bar{t}}_{\textrm{C}}$ based on the reconstructed $t\bar{t}$ final state. The inclusive asymmetries are measured in the full phase space to be $A^{\ell\ell}_{\textrm{C}} = 0.008 \pm 0.006$ and $A^{t\bar{t}}_{\textrm{C}} = 0.021 \pm 0.016$, which are in agreement with the Standard Model predictions of $A^{\ell\ell}_{\textrm{C}} = 0.0064 \pm 0.0003 $ and $A^{t\bar{t}}_{\textrm{C}} = 0.0111 \pm 0.0004$.
Unfolded distribution for the inclusive $\Delta|\eta|$ observable in the fiducial volume.
Unfolded distribution for the inclusive $\Delta|y|$ observable in the fiducial volume.
The leptonic inclusive asymmetry in the fiducial volume.
A measurement of the production cross section for two isolated photons in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV is presented. The results are based on an integrated luminosity of 20.2 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The measurement considers photons with pseudorapidities satisfying $|\eta^{\gamma}|<1.37$ or ${1.56<|\eta^{\gamma}|<2.37}$ and transverse energies of respectively $E_{\mathrm{T,1}}^{\gamma}>40$ GeV and $E_{\mathrm{T,2}}^{\gamma}>30$ GeV for the two leading photons ordered in transverse energy produced in the interaction.The background due to hadronic jets and electrons is subtracted using data-driven techniques. The fiducial cross sections are corrected for detector effects and measured differentially as a function of six kinematic observables. The measured cross section integrated within the fiducial volume is $16.8 \pm 0.8$ pb. The data are compared to fixed-order QCD calculations at next-to-leading-order and next-to-next-to-leading-order accuracy as well as next-to-leading-order computations including resummation of initial-state gluon radiation at next-to-next-to-leading logarithm or matched to a parton shower, with relative uncertainties varying from 5% to 20%.
The measured fiducial (total xs).
The measured differential as a function of Mgg.
The measured differential as a function of pTgg.
A search for strongly produced supersymmetric particles is conducted using signatures involving multiple energetic jets and either two isolated leptons ($e$ or $\mu$) with the same electric charge, or at least three isolated leptons. The search also utilises jets originating from b-quarks, missing transverse momentum and other observables to extend its sensitivity. The analysis uses a data sample corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s} =$ 8 TeV proton-proton collisions recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in 2012. No deviation from the Standard Model expectation is observed. New or significantly improved exclusion limits are set on a wide variety of supersymmetric models in which the lightest squark can be of the first, second or third generations, and in which R-parity can be conserved or violated.
Numbers of observed and background events for SR0b for each bin of the distribution in Meff. The table corresponds to Fig. 4(b). The statistical and systematic uncertainties are combined for the expected backgrounds.
Numbers of observed and background events for SR1b for each bin of the distribution in Meff. The table corresponds to Fig. 4(c). The statistical and systematic uncertainties are combined for the predicted numbers.
Numbers of observed and background events for SR3b for each bin of the distribution in Meff. The table corresponds to Fig. 4(a). The statistical and systematic uncertainties are combined for the predicted numbers.
This paper presents measurements of $W^\pm Z$ production in $pp$ collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. The gauge bosons are reconstructed using their leptonic decay modes into electrons and muons. The data were collected in 2012 by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb$^{-1}$. The measured inclusive cross section in the detector fiducial region is $\sigma_{W^\pm Z \rightarrow \ell^{'} \nu\ \ell \ell} = 35.1 \pm$ 0.9 (stat.) $\pm 0.8$ (sys.) $\pm 0.8$ (lumi.) fb, for one leptonic decay channel. In comparison, the next-to-leading-order Standard Model expectation is 30.0 $\pm$ 2.1 fb. Cross sections for $W^+Z$ and $W^-Z$ production and their ratio are presented as well as differential cross sections for several kinematic observables. Limits on anomalous triple gauge boson couplings are derived from the transverse mass spectrum of the $W^\pm Z$ system. From the analysis of events with a $W$ and a $Z$ boson associated with two or more forward jets an upper limit at 95% confidence level on the $W^\pm Z$ scattering cross section of 0.63 fb, for each leptonic decay channel, is established, while the Standard Model prediction at next-to-leading order is 0.13 fb. Limits on anomalous quartic gauge boson couplings are also extracted.
The measured fiducial cross section in the four channels and their combination. The first systematic uncertainty is the combined systematic uncertainty excluding luminosity uncertainty, the second is the luminosity uncertainty.
The measured fiducial cross section in the four channels and their combination. The first systematic uncertainty is the combined systematic uncertainty excluding luminosity uncertainty, the second is the luminosity uncertainty.
The measured fiducial cross section in the four channels and their combination. The first systematic uncertainty is the combined systematic uncertainty excluding luminosity uncertainty, the second is the luminosity uncertainty.
The differential cross-section for pair production of top quarks with high transverse momentum is measured in 20.3 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. The measurement is performed for $t\bar{t}$ events in the lepton+jets channel. The cross-section is reported as a function of the hadronically decaying top quark transverse momentum for values above 300 GeV. The hadronically decaying top quark is reconstructed as an anti-$k_t$ jet with radius parameter $R=1.0$ and identified with jet substructure techniques. The observed yield is corrected for detector effects to obtain a cross-section at particle level in a fiducial region close to the event selection. A parton-level cross-section extrapolated to the full phase space is also reported for top quarks with transverse momentum above 300 GeV. The predictions of a majority of next-to-leading-order and leading-order matrix-element Monte Carlo generators are found to agree with the measured cross-sections.
Fiducial particle-level differential cross-section, with statistical and systematic uncertainties, as a function of the top-jet candidate p_T.
Parton-level differential cross-section, with statistical and systematic uncertainties, as a function of the hadronically decaying top quark p_T.
The individual systematic uncertainties calculated as a percentage of the particle-level differential cross-section $d\sigma_{tt} / d p_{T,ptcl}$ in each bin. Variations on the two sides ("UP" and "DOWN") are separately quoted with their respective signs. Uncertainties smaller than 0.1% are neglected.
The four-lepton ($4\ell$, $\ell = e, \mu$) production cross section is measured in the mass range from 80 to 1000 GeV using 20.3 fb$^{-1}$ of data in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The $4\ell$ events are produced in the decays of resonant $Z$ and Higgs bosons and the non-resonant $ZZ$ continuum originating from $q\bar q$, $gg$, and $qg$ initial states. A total of 476 signal candidate events are observed with a background expectation of $26.2 \pm 3.6$ events, enabling the measurement of the integrated cross section and the differential cross section as a function of the invariant mass and transverse momentum of the four-lepton system. In the mass range above $180$ GeV, assuming the theoretical constraint on the $q\bar q$ production cross section calculated with perturbative NNLO QCD and NLO electroweak corrections, the signal strength of the gluon-fusion component relative to its leading-order prediction is determined to be $\mu_{gg}=2.4 \pm 1.0 (stat.) \pm 0.5 (syst.)\pm 0.8 (theory)$.
The measured differential cross-section distributions in unit of fb/TeV of $m_{4\ell}$ unfolded into the fiducial phase space, and compared to theory predictions. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic uncertainties.
The measured differential cross-section distributions in unit of fb/TeV of $p_{T}^{4\ell}$ unfolded into the fiducial phase space, and compared to theory predictions. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic uncertainties.
Measured cross sections in the fiducial phase space ($\sigma^\mathrm{fid}$) and extended phase space ($\sigma^\mathrm{ext}$), compared to their SM predictions. One should note that the non-resonant $gg$-induced signal cross section is only calculated at LO approximation.
This Letter describes a model-independent search for the production of new resonances in photon + jet events using 20 inverse fb of proton--proton LHC data recorded with the ATLAS detector at a centre-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 8 TeV. The photon + jet mass distribution is compared to a background model fit from data; no significant deviation from the background-only hypothesis is found. Limits are set at 95% credibility level on generic Gaussian-shaped signals and two benchmark phenomena beyond the Standard Model: non-thermal quantum black holes and excited quarks. Non-thermal quantum black holes are excluded below masses of 4.6 TeV and excited quarks are excluded below masses of 3.5 TeV.
Invariant mass of the photon+jet pair for events passing the final selections. The number of observed events and the fit background estimates are given in each bin, where the fit estimates are rounded to the nearest integer.
The 95% CL upper limits on SIG*BR*A*EPSILON for a hypothetical signal with a Gaussian-shaped M(GAMMA JET) distribution as a function of the signal mass M(G) for four values of the relative width SIGMA(G) / M(G).
Acceptance (A), efficiency (EPSILON), cross-section (SIG) and limits in number of events for the quantum black hole (QBH) benchmark model, as a function of the threshold mass M(th). Uncertainties on the cross section are on the order of 1%. The limits include statistical uncertainties only. Expected limits include the 68% uncertainty band. Acceptance was calculated using parton-level quantities by imposing criteria that apply directly to kinematic selections (photon/jet |eta|, photon/jet transverse momentum, Delta(eta), Delta(R)). All other selections, which in general correspond to event and object quality criteria, were used to calculate the efficiency based on the events included in the acceptance.