In July 2012, the ATLAS and CMS collaborations at the CERN Large Hadron Collider announced the observation of a Higgs boson at a mass of around 125 gigaelectronvolts. Ten years later, and with the ...data corresponding to the production of a 30-times larger number of Higgs bosons, we have learnt much more about the properties of the Higgs boson. The CMS experiment has observed the Higgs boson in numerous fermionic and bosonic decay channels, established its spin-parity quantum numbers, determined its mass and measured its production cross-sections in various modes. Here the CMS Collaboration reports the most up-to-date combination of results on the properties of the Higgs boson, including the most stringent limit on the cross-section for the production of a pair of Higgs bosons, on the basis of data from proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 teraelectronvolts. Within the uncertainties, all these observations are compatible with the predictions of the standard model of elementary particle physics. Much evidence points to the fact that the standard model is a low-energy approximation of a more comprehensive theory. Several of the standard model issues originate in the sector of Higgs boson physics. An order of magnitude larger number of Higgs bosons, expected to be examined over the next 15 years, will help deepen our understanding of this crucial sector.
Abstract A search for new long-lived particles decaying to leptons using proton–proton collision data produced by the CERN LHC at $$\sqrt{s}=13\,\text {Te}\text {V} $$ s = 13 Te is presented. Events ...are selected with two leptons (an electron and a muon, two electrons, or two muons) that both have transverse impact parameter values between 0.01 and 10 $$\,\text {cm}$$ cm and are not required to form a common vertex. Data used for the analysis were collected with the CMS detector in 2016, 2017, and 2018, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 118 (113) $$\,\text {fb}^{-1}$$ fb - 1 in the $${{\mathrm{e}}_{\mathrm{}}^{\mathrm{}}} {{\mathrm{e}}_{\mathrm{}}^{\mathrm{}}} $$ e e channel ( $${{\mathrm{e}}_{\mathrm{}}^{\mathrm{}}} {\upmu } $$ e μ and $${\upmu } {\upmu } $$ μ μ channels). The search is designed to be sensitive to a wide range of models with displaced $${{\mathrm{e}}_{\mathrm{}}^{\mathrm{}}} {\upmu } $$ e μ , $${{\mathrm{e}}_{\mathrm{}}^{\mathrm{}}} {{\mathrm{e}}_{\mathrm{}}^{\mathrm{}}} $$ e e , and $${\upmu } {\upmu } $$ μ μ final states. The results constrain several well-motivated models involving new long-lived particles that decay to displaced leptons. For some areas of the available phase space, these are the most stringent constraints to date.
Abstract A combination of searches for top squark pair production using proton–proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 $$\,\text {Te}\text {V}$$ Te at the CERN LHC, corresponding to an ...integrated luminosity of 137 $$\,\text {fb}^{-1}$$ fb - 1 collected by the CMS experiment, is presented. Signatures with at least 2 jets and large missing transverse momentum are categorized into events with 0, 1, or 2 leptons. New results for regions of parameter space where the kinematical properties of top squark pair production and top quark pair production are very similar are presented. Depending on the model, the combined result excludes a top squark mass up to 1325 $$\,\text {Ge}\text {V}$$ Ge for a massless neutralino, and a neutralino mass up to 700 $$\,\text {Ge}\text {V}$$ Ge for a top squark mass of 1150 $$\,\text {Ge}\text {V}$$ Ge . Top squarks with masses from 145 to 295 $$\,\text {Ge}\text {V}$$ Ge , for neutralino masses from 0 to 100 $$\,\text {Ge}\text {V}$$ Ge , with a mass difference between the top squark and the neutralino in a window of 30 $$\,\text {Ge}\text {V}$$ Ge around the mass of the top quark, are excluded for the first time with CMS data. The results of theses searches are also interpreted in an alternative signal model of dark matter production via a spin-0 mediator in association with a top quark pair. Upper limits are set on the cross section for mediator particle masses of up to 420 $$\,\text {Ge}\text {V}$$ Ge .
Abstract A search for charged Higgs bosons produced in vector boson fusion processes and decaying into vector bosons, using proton–proton collisions at $$\sqrt{s}=13\,{\text {TeV}} $$ s = 13 TeV at ...the LHC, is reported. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 137 $$\,{\text {fb}}^{-1}$$ fb - 1 collected with the CMS detector. Events are selected by requiring two or three electrons or muons, moderate missing transverse momentum, and two jets with a large rapidity separation and a large dijet mass. No excess of events with respect to the standard model background predictions is observed. Model independent upper limits at 95% confidence level are reported on the product of the cross section and branching fraction for vector boson fusion production of charged Higgs bosons as a function of mass, from 200 to 3000 $$\,{\text {GeV}}$$ GeV . The results are interpreted in the context of the Georgi–Machacek model.
Abstract Results of the Model Unspecific Search in CMS (MUSiC), using proton–proton collision data recorded at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 $$\,\text {TeV}$$ TeV , corresponding to an ...integrated luminosity of 35.9 $$\,\text {fb}^{-1}$$ fb - 1 , are presented. The MUSiC analysis searches for anomalies that could be signatures of physics beyond the standard model. The analysis is based on the comparison of observed data with the standard model prediction, as determined from simulation, in several hundred final states and multiple kinematic distributions. Events containing at least one electron or muon are classified based on their final state topology, and an automated search algorithm surveys the observed data for deviations from the prediction. The sensitivity of the search is validated using multiple methods. No significant deviations from the predictions have been observed. For a wide range of final state topologies, agreement is found between the data and the standard model simulation. This analysis complements dedicated search analyses by significantly expanding the range of final states covered using a model independent approach with the largest data set to date to probe phase space regions beyond the reach of previous general searches.
Abstract Production cross sections of the Higgs boson are measured in the $${\mathrm{H}} \rightarrow {\mathrm{Z}} {\mathrm{Z}} \rightarrow 4\ell $$ H → Z Z → 4 ℓ ( $$\ell ={\mathrm{e}},{{{\upmu ...}}_{\mathrm{}}^{\mathrm{}}} $$ ℓ = e , μ ) decay channel. A data sample of proton–proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 $$\,\text {Te}\text {V}$$ Te , collected by the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 $$\,\text {fb}^{-1}$$ fb - 1 is used. The signal strength modifier $$\mu $$ μ , defined as the ratio of the Higgs boson production rate in the $$4\ell $$ 4 ℓ channel to the standard model (SM) expectation, is measured to be $$\mu =0.94 \pm 0.07 \,\text {(stat)} ^{+0.09}_{-0.08} \,\text {(syst)} $$ μ = 0.94 ± 0.07 (stat) - 0.08 + 0.09 (syst) at a fixed value of $$m_{{\mathrm{H}}} = 125.38\,\text {Ge}\text {V} $$ m H = 125.38 Ge . The signal strength modifiers for the individual Higgs boson production modes are also reported. The inclusive fiducial cross section for the $${\mathrm{H}} \rightarrow 4\ell $$ H → 4 ℓ process is measured to be $$2.84^{+0.23}_{-0.22} \,\text {(stat)} ^{+0.26}_{-0.21} \,\text {(syst)} \,\text {fb} $$ 2 . 84 - 0.22 + 0.23 (stat) - 0.21 + 0.26 (syst) fb , which is compatible with the SM prediction of $$2.84 \pm 0.15 \,\text {fb} $$ 2.84 ± 0.15 fb for the same fiducial region. Differential cross sections as a function of the transverse momentum and rapidity of the Higgs boson, the number of associated jets, and the transverse momentum of the leading associated jet are measured. A new set of cross section measurements in mutually exclusive categories targeted to identify production mechanisms and kinematical features of the events is presented. The results are in agreement with the SM predictions.
Abstract The production of Z boson pairs in proton–proton ( $${\mathrm{p}} {\mathrm{p}} $$ p p ) collisions, $${{\mathrm{p}} {\mathrm{p}} \rightarrow ({\mathrm{Z}}/\gamma ^*)({\mathrm{Z}}/\gamma ^*) ...\rightarrow 2\ell 2\ell '}$$ p p → ( Z / γ ∗ ) ( Z / γ ∗ ) → 2 ℓ 2 ℓ ′ , where $${\ell ,\ell ' = {\mathrm{e}}}$$ ℓ , ℓ ′ = e or $${{\upmu }}$$ μ , is studied at a center-of-mass energy of 13 $$\,\text {TeV}$$ TeV with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 137 $$\,\text {fb}^{-1}$$ fb - 1 , collected during 2016–2018. The $${\mathrm{Z}} {\mathrm{Z}} $$ Z Z production cross section, $$\sigma _{\text {tot}} ({\mathrm{p}} {\mathrm{p}} \rightarrow {\mathrm{Z}} {\mathrm{Z}} ) = 17.4 \pm 0.3 \,\text {(stat)} \pm 0.5 \,\text {(syst)} \pm 0.4 \,\text {(theo)} \pm 0.3 \,\text {(lumi)} \text { pb} $$ σ tot ( p p → Z Z ) = 17.4 ± 0.3 (stat) ± 0.5 (syst) ± 0.4 (theo) ± 0.3 (lumi) pb , measured for events with two pairs of opposite-sign, same-flavor leptons produced in the mass region $${60< m_{\ell ^+\ell ^-} < 120\,\text {GeV}}$$ 60 < m ℓ + ℓ - < 120 GeV is consistent with standard model predictions. Differential cross sections are also measured and agree with theoretical predictions. The invariant mass distribution of the four-lepton system is used to set limits on anomalous $${\mathrm{Z}} {\mathrm{Z}} {\mathrm{Z}} $$ Z Z Z and $${{\mathrm{Z}} {\mathrm{Z}} \gamma }$$ Z Z γ couplings.
Abstract A search is presented for supersymmetric partners of the top quark (top squarks) in final states with two oppositely charged leptons (electrons or muons), jets identified as originating from ...$${\text {b}}$$ b quarks, and missing transverse momentum. The search uses data from proton-proton collisions at $$\sqrt{s}=13\,\text {TeV} $$ s = 13 TeV collected with the CMS detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 $$\,{\text {fb}}^{-1}$$ fb - 1 . Hypothetical signal events are efficiently separated from the dominant top quark pair production background with requirements on the significance of the missing transverse momentum and on transverse mass variables. No significant deviation is observed from the expected background. Exclusion limits are set in the context of simplified supersymmetric models with pair-produced lightest top squarks. For top squarks decaying exclusively to a top quark and a lightest neutralino, lower limits are placed at $$95\%$$ 95 % confidence level on the masses of the top squark and the neutralino up to 925 and 450 $$\,\text {GeV}$$ GeV , respectively. If the decay proceeds via an intermediate chargino, the corresponding lower limits on the mass of the lightest top squark are set up to 850 $$\,\text {GeV}$$ GeV for neutralino masses below 420 $$\,\text {GeV}$$ GeV . For top squarks undergoing a cascade decay through charginos and sleptons, the mass limits reach up to 1.4 $$\,\text {TeV}$$ TeV and 900 $$\,\text {GeV}$$ GeV respectively for the top squark and the lightest neutralino.
Abstract Normalised multi-differential cross sections for top quark pair ($$\hbox {t}{\bar{\hbox {t}}}$$ tt¯ ) production are measured in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of ...13$$\,{\text {TeV}}$$ TeV using events containing two oppositely charged leptons. The analysed data were recorded with the CMS detector in 2016 and correspond to an integrated luminosity of $$35.9{\,{\text {fb}}^{-1}} $$ 35.9fb-1 . The double-differential $$\hbox {t}{\bar{\hbox {t}}}$$ tt¯ cross section is measured as a function of the kinematic properties of the top quark and of the $$\hbox {t}{\bar{\hbox {t}}}$$ tt¯ system at parton level in the full phase space. A triple-differential measurement is performed as a function of the invariant mass and rapidity of the $$\hbox {t}{\bar{\hbox {t}}}$$ tt¯ system and the multiplicity of additional jets at particle level. The data are compared to predictions of Monte Carlo event generators that complement next-to-leading-order (NLO) quantum chromodynamics (QCD) calculations with parton showers. Together with a fixed-order NLO QCD calculation, the triple-differential measurement is used to extract values of the strong coupling strength $$\alpha _{S}$$ αS and the top quark pole mass ($$m_{{\text {t}}}^{{\text {pole}}}$$ mtpole ) using several sets of parton distribution functions (PDFs). The measurement of $$m_{{\text {t}}}^{{\text {pole}}}$$ mtpole exploits the sensitivity of the $$\hbox {t}{\bar{\hbox {t}}}$$ tt¯ invariant mass distribution to $$m_{{\text {t}}}^{{\text {pole}}}$$ mtpole near the production threshold. Furthermore, a simultaneous fit of the PDFs, $$\alpha _{S}$$ αS , and $$m_{{\text {t}}}^{{\text {pole}}}$$ mtpole is performed at NLO, demonstrating that the new data have significant impact on the gluon PDF, and at the same time allow an accurate determination of $$\alpha _{S}$$ αS and $$m_{{\text {t}}}^{{\text {pole}}}$$ mtpole . The values $$\alpha _{S}(m_{{\text {Z}}}) = 0.1135{}^{+0.0021}_{-0.0017}$$ αS(mZ)=0.1135-0.0017+0.0021 and $$m_{{\text {t}}}^{{\text {pole}}} = 170.5 \pm 0.8 \,{\text {GeV}} $$ mtpole=170.5±0.8GeV are extracted, which account for experimental and theoretical uncertainties, the latter being estimated from NLO scale variations. Possible effects from Coulomb and soft-gluon resummation near the $$\hbox {t}{\bar{\hbox {t}}}$$ tt¯ production threshold are neglected in these parameter extractions. A rough estimate of these effects indicates an expected correction of $$m_{{\text {t}}}^{{\text {pole}}}$$ mtpole of the order of $$+1 \,{\text {GeV}} $$ +1GeV , which can be regarded as additional theoretical uncertainty in the current $$m_{{\text {t}}}^{{\text {pole}}}$$ mtpole extraction.
Abstract A measurement is presented of differential cross sections for t-channel single top quark and antiquark production in proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13$$\,\text ...{Te}\text {V}$$ Te by the CMS experiment at the LHC. From a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9$$\,\text {fb}^{-1}$$ fb-1 , events containing one muon or electron and two or three jets are analysed. The cross section is measured as a function of the top quark transverse momentum ($$p_{\mathrm{T}} $$ pT ), rapidity, and polarisation angle, the charged lepton $$p_{\mathrm{T}} $$ pT and rapidity, and the $$p_{\mathrm{T}} $$ pT of the $$\text {W}{}{}$$ W boson from the top quark decay. In addition, the charge ratio is measured differentially as a function of the top quark, charged lepton, and $$\text {W}{}{}$$ W boson kinematic observables. The results are found to be in agreement with standard model predictions using various next-to-leading-order event generators and sets of parton distribution functions. Additionally, the spin asymmetry, sensitive to the top quark polarisation, is determined from the differential distribution of the polarisation angle at parton level to be $$0.440 \pm 0.070$$ 0.440±0.070 , in agreement with the standard model prediction.