A search for bottom-type vector-like quark pair production in dileptonic and fully hadronic final states in proton-proton collisions at = 13 TeV

Journal of High Energy Physics

The polarization of τ leptons is measured using leptonic and hadronic τ lepton decays in Z→ τ+ τ− events in proton-proton collisions at= 13 TeV recorded by CMS at the CERN LHC with an integrated luminosity of 36.3 fb− 1. The measured τ− lepton polarization at the Z boson mass pole is=− 0.144±0.006 (stat)±0.014 (syst)=− 0.144±0.015, in good agreement with the measurement of the τ lepton asymmetry parameter of A τ= 0.1439±0.0043= at LEP. The τ lepton polarization depends on the ratio of the vector to axial-vector couplings of the τ leptons in the neutral current expression, and thus on the effective weak mixing angle sin 2, independently of the Z boson production mechanism. The obtained value sin 2= 0.2319±0. 0008 (stat)±0. 0018 (syst)= 0. 2319±0. 0019 is in good agreement with measurements at e+ e− colliders.

Diboson production in association with jets is studied in the fully leptonic final states, pp (Z)(Z/)+jets 22+jets, ( = e or ) in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. Differential distributions and normalized differential cross sections are measured as a function of jet multiplicity, transverse momentum , pseudorapidity , invariant mass and of the highest- and second-highest- jets, and as a function of invariant mass of the four-lepton system for events with various jet multiplicities. These differential cross sections are compared with theoretical predictions that mostly agree with the experimental data. However, in a few regions we observe discrepancies between the predicted and measured values. Further improvement of the predictions is required to describe the ZZ+jets production in the whole phase space.

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.

Journal of High Energy Physics

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 (ℓ= 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 ℓνqq and 2ℓ2ν 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 …

Searches for pair-produced multijet signatures using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 128 fb of proton-proton collisions at = 13 TeV are presented. A data scouting technique is employed to record events with low jet scalar transverse momentum sum values. The electroweak production of particles predicted in -parity violating supersymmetric models is probed for the first time with fully hadronic final states. This is the first search for prompt hadronically decaying mass-degenerate higgsinos, and extends current exclusions on -parity violating top squarks and gluinos.

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.

The discovery of the Higgs boson has led to new possible signatures for heavy resonance searches at the LHC. Since then, search channels including at least one Higgs boson plus another particle have formed an important part of the program of new physics searches. In this report, the status of these searches by the CMS Collaboration is reviewed. Searches are discussed for resonances decaying to two Higgs bosons, a Higgs and a vector boson, or a Higgs boson and another new resonance, with proton-proton collision data collected at = 13 TeV in the years 2016-2018. A combination of the results of these searches is presented together with constraints on different beyond-the-standard model scenarios, including scenarios with extended Higgs sectors, heavy vector bosons and extra dimensions. Studies are shown for the first time by CMS on the validity of the narrow-width approximation in searches for the resonant production of a pair of Higgs bosons. The potential for a discovery at the High Luminosity LHC is also discussed.

arXiv preprint arXiv:2403.01313

The top quark mass is one of the most intriguing parameters of the standard model (SM). Its value indicates a Yukawa coupling close to unity, and the resulting strong ties to the Higgs physics make the top quark mass a crucial ingredient for understanding essential aspects of the electroweak sector of the SM. While it is such an important parameter of the SM, its measurement and interpretation in terms of the Lagrangian parameter are challenging. The CMS Collaboration has performed multiple measurements of the top quark mass, addressing these challenges from different angles: highly precise `direct' measurements, using the top quark decay products, as well as `indirect' measurements aiming at accurate interpretations in terms of the Lagrangian parameter. Recent mass measurements using Lorentz-boosted top quarks are particularly promising, opening a new avenue of measurements based on top quark decay products contained in a single particle jet, with superior prospects for accurate theoretical interpretations. Moreover, dedicated studies of the dominant uncertainties in the modelling of the signal processes have been performed. This review offers the first comprehensive overview of these measurements performed by the CMS Collaboration using the data collected at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV.

arXiv preprint arXiv:2404.16082

A measurement is presented of a ratio observable that provides a measure of the azimuthal correlations among jets with large transverse momentum . This observable is measured in multijet events over the range of = 360-3170 GeV based on data collected by the CMS experiment in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 134 fb. The results are compared with predictions from Monte Carlo parton-shower event generator simulations, as well as with fixed-order perturbative quantum chromodynamics (pQCD) predictions at next-to-leading-order (NLO) accuracy obtained with different parton distribution functions (PDFs) and corrected for nonperturbative and electroweak effects. Data and theory agree within uncertainties. From the comparison of the measured observable with the pQCD prediction obtained with the NNPDF3.1 NLO PDFs, the strong coupling at the Z boson mass scale is = 0.1177 0.0013 (exp) (theo) = 0.1177, where the total uncertainty is dominated by the scale dependence of the fixed-order predictions. A test of the running of in the TeV region shows no deviation from the expected NLO pQCD behaviour.

A search for heavy neutral leptons (HNLs) decaying in the CMS muon system is presented. A data sample is used corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb of proton-proton collisions at = 13 TeV, recorded at the CERN LHC in 2016-2018. Decay products of long-lived HNLs could interact with the shielding materials in the CMS muon system and create hadronic and electromagnetic showers detected in the muon chambers. This distinctive signature provides a unique handle to search for HNLs with masses below 4 GeV and proper decay lengths of the order of meters. The signature is sensitive to HNL couplings to all three generations of leptons. Candidate events are required to contain a prompt electron or muon originating from a vertex on the beam axis and a displaced shower in the muon chambers. No significant deviations from the standard model background expectation are observed. In the electron (muon) channel, the most stringent limits to date are set for HNLs in the mass range of 2.1-3.0 (1.9-3.3) GeV, reaching mixing matrix element squared values as low as 8.6 (4.6) 10.

Journal of High Energy Physics

The polarization of τ leptons is measured using leptonic and hadronic τ lepton decays in Z→ τ+ τ− events in proton-proton collisions at= 13 TeV recorded by CMS at the CERN LHC with an integrated luminosity of 36.3 fb− 1. The measured τ− lepton polarization at the Z boson mass pole is=− 0.144±0.006 (stat)±0.014 (syst)=− 0.144±0.015, in good agreement with the measurement of the τ lepton asymmetry parameter of A τ= 0.1439±0.0043= at LEP. The τ lepton polarization depends on the ratio of the vector to axial-vector couplings of the τ leptons in the neutral current expression, and thus on the effective weak mixing angle sin 2, independently of the Z boson production mechanism. The obtained value sin 2= 0.2319±0. 0008 (stat)±0. 0018 (syst)= 0. 2319±0. 0019 is in good agreement with measurements at e+ e− colliders.

arXiv preprint arXiv:2310.03844

The identification of prompt and isolated muons, as well as muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays, is an important task. We developed two multivariate techniques to provide highly efficient identification for muons with transverse momentum greater than 10\GeV. One provides a continuous variable as an alternative to a cut-based identification selection and offers a better discrimination power against misidentified muons. The other one selects prompt and isolated muons by using isolation requirements to reduce the contamination from nonprompt muons arising in heavy-flavour hadron decays. Both algorithms are developed using 59.7 fb of proton-proton collisions data at a centre-of-mass energy of = 13 TeV collected in 2018 with the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC.

The inclusive jet cross section is measured as a function of jet transverse momentum and rapidity . The measurement is performed using proton-proton collision data at = 5.02 TeV, recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 27.4 pb. The jets are reconstructed with the anti- algorithm using a distance parameter of = 0.4, within the rapidity interval $\lvert y\rvert$ 2, and across the kinematic range 0.06 1 TeV. The jet cross section is unfolded from detector to particle level using the determined jet response and resolution. The results are compared to predictions of perturbative quantum chromodynamics, calculated at both next-to-leading order and next-to-next-to-leading order. The predictions are corrected for nonperturbative effects, and presented for a variety of parton distribution functions and choices of the renormalization/factorization scales and the strong coupling .

A search for ``emerging jets'' produced in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV is performed using data collected by the CMS experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb. This search examines a hypothetical dark quantum chromodynamics (QCD) sector that couples to the standard model (SM) through a scalar mediator. The scalar mediator decays into an SM quark and a dark sector quark. As the dark sector quark showers and hadronizes, it produces long-lived dark mesons that subsequently decay into SM particles, resulting in a jet, known as an emerging jet, with multiple displaced vertices. This search looks for pair production of the scalar mediator at the LHC, which yields events with two SM jets and two emerging jets at leading order. The results are interpreted using two dark sector models with different flavor structures, and exclude mediator masses up to 1950 (1850) GeV for an unflavored (flavor-aligned) dark QCD model. The unflavored results surpass a previous search for emerging jets by setting the most stringent mediator mass exclusion limits to date, while the flavor-aligned results provide the first direct mediator mass exclusion limits to date.

arXiv preprint arXiv:2404.16082

A measurement is presented of a ratio observable that provides a measure of the azimuthal correlations among jets with large transverse momentum . This observable is measured in multijet events over the range of = 360-3170 GeV based on data collected by the CMS experiment in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 134 fb. The results are compared with predictions from Monte Carlo parton-shower event generator simulations, as well as with fixed-order perturbative quantum chromodynamics (pQCD) predictions at next-to-leading-order (NLO) accuracy obtained with different parton distribution functions (PDFs) and corrected for nonperturbative and electroweak effects. Data and theory agree within uncertainties. From the comparison of the measured observable with the pQCD prediction obtained with the NNPDF3.1 NLO PDFs, the strong coupling at the Z boson mass scale is = 0.1177 0.0013 (exp) (theo) = 0.1177, where the total uncertainty is dominated by the scale dependence of the fixed-order predictions. A test of the running of in the TeV region shows no deviation from the expected NLO pQCD behaviour.

Using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb collected by the CMS experiment at = 13 TeV, the J/K decay is observed for the first time, with a statistical significance exceeding 5 standard deviations. The relative branching fraction, with respect to the (2S) decay, is measured to be ( J/K)/( (2S)) = [3.38 1.02 0.61 0.03]%, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is related to the uncertainties in ((2S) J/) and ( ).

arXiv preprint arXiv:2403.15518

The operation and performance of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL) are presented, based on data collected in pp collisions at = 13 TeV at the CERN LHC, in the years from 2015 to 2018 (LHC Run 2), corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 151 fb. The CMS ECAL is a scintillating lead-tungstate crystal calorimeter, with a silicon strip preshower detector in the forward region that provides precise measurements of the energy and the time-of-arrival of electrons and photons. The successful operation of the ECAL is crucial for a broad range of physics goals, ranging from observing the Higgs boson and measuring its properties, to other standard model measurements and searches for new phenomena. Precise calibration, alignment, and monitoring of the ECAL response are important ingredients to achieve these goals. To face the challenges posed by the higher luminosity, which characterized the operation of the LHC in Run 2, the procedures established during the 2011-2012 run of the LHC have been revisited and new methods have been developed for the energy measurement and for the ECAL calibration. The energy resolution of the calorimeter, for electrons from Z boson decays reaching the ECAL without significant loss of energy by bremsstrahlung, was better than 1.8%, 3.0%, and 4.5% in the $\lvert\eta\rvert$ intervals [0.0,0.8], [0.8,1.5], [1.5, 2.5], respectively. This resulting performance is similar to that achieved during Run 1 in 2011-2012, in spite of the more severe running conditions.

Searches for pair-produced multijet signatures using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 128 fb of proton-proton collisions at = 13 TeV are presented. A data scouting technique is employed to record events with low jet scalar transverse momentum sum values. The electroweak production of particles predicted in -parity violating supersymmetric models is probed for the first time with fully hadronic final states. This is the first search for prompt hadronically decaying mass-degenerate higgsinos, and extends current exclusions on -parity violating top squarks and gluinos.

Physical Review Letters

The first search for scalar leptoquarks produced in τ-lepton–quark collisions is presented. It is based on a set of proton-proton collision data recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb− 1. The reconstructed final state consists of a jet, significant missing transverse momentum, and a τ lepton reconstructed through its hadronic or leptonic decays. Limits are set on the product of the leptoquark production cross section and branching fraction and interpreted as exclusions in the plane of the leptoquark mass and the leptoquark-τ-quark coupling strength.

Physical Review Letters

A search for dark matter in events with a displaced nonresonant muon pair and missing transverse momentum is presented. The analysis is performed using an integrated luminosity of 138 fb− 1 of proton-proton (p p) collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV produced by the LHC in 2016–2018. No significant excess over the predicted backgrounds is observed. Upper limits are set on the product of the inelastic dark matter production cross section σ (p p→ A′→ χ 1 χ 2) and the decay branching fraction B (χ 2→ χ 1 μ+ μ−), where A′ is a dark photon and χ 1 and χ 2 are states in the dark sector with near mass degeneracy. This is the first dedicated collider search for inelastic dark matter.