A search is presented for the production of vector-like quark pairs, TT‾ or YY‾ , with electric charge of 2/3 (T) or −4/3 (Y), in proton–proton collisions at s=13TeV . The data were collected by the ...CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016 and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 35.8fb−1 . The T and Y quarks are assumed to decay exclusively to a W boson and a b quark. The search is based on events with a single isolated electron or muon, large missing transverse momentum, and at least four jets with large transverse momenta. In the search, a kinematic reconstruction of the final state observables is performed, which would permit a signal to be detected as a narrow mass peak (≈7% resolution). The observed number of events is consistent with the standard model prediction. Assuming strong pair production of the vector-like quarks and a 100% branching fraction to bW , a lower limit of 1295 GeV at 95% confidence level is set on the T and Y quark masses.
A search is presented for a singly produced third-generation scalar leptoquark decaying to a $τ$ lepton and a bottom quark. Associated production of a leptoquark and a $τ$ lepton is considered, ...leading to a final state with a bottom quark and two $τ$ leptons. The search uses proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV recorded with the CMS detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$. Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level on the production cross section of the third-generation scalar leptoquarks as a function of their mass. From a comparison of the results with the theoretical predictions, a third-generation scalar leptoquark decaying to a τ lepton and a bottom quark, assuming unit Yukawa coupling ($λ$), is excluded for masses below 740 GeV. Limits are also set on $λ$ of the hypothesized leptoquark as a function of its mass. Above $λ$ = 1.4, this result provides the best upper limit on the mass of a third-generation scalar leptoquark decaying to a $τ$ lepton and a bottom quark.
A search is reported for heavy resonances decaying into eμ final states in proton-proton collisions recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV, corresponding to an ...integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$. The search focuses on resonance masses above 200 GeV. With no evidence found for physics beyond the standard model in the eμ mass spectrum, upper limits are set at 95% confidence level on the product of the cross section and branching fraction for this lepton-flavor violating signal. Based on these results, resonant τ sneutrino production in R-parity violating supersymmetric models is excluded for masses below 1.7 TeV, for couplings λ$_{132}$ = λ$_{231}$ = λ$_{311}^{′}$ = 0.01. Heavy Z$^{′}$ gauge bosons with lepton-flavor violating transitions are excluded for masses up to 4.4 TeV. The eμ mass spectrum is also interpreted in terms of non-resonant contributions from quantum black-hole production in models with one to six extra spatial dimensions, and lower mass limits are found between 3.6 and 5.6 TeV. In all interpretations used in this analysis, the results of this search improve previous limits by about 1 TeV. These limits correspond to the most sensitive values obtained at colliders.
The azimuthal anisotropy Fourier coefficients $\mathrm{(\nu_n)}$ in 8.16 TeV $\mathrm{p+Pb}$ data are extracted via long-range two-particle correlations as a function of the event multiplicity and ...compared to corresponding results in $pp$ and PbPb collisions. Using a four-particle cumulant technique, $\mathrm{\nu_n}$ correlations are measured for the first time in $pp$ and $p$+Pb collisions. The $\mathrm{\nu_2}$ and $\mathrm{\nu_4}$ coefficients are found to be positively correlated in all collision systems. For high-multiplicity $p$+Pb collisions, an anticorrelation of $\mathrm{\nu_2}$ and $\mathrm{\nu_3}$ is observed, with a similar correlation strength as in PbPb data at the same multiplicity. The new correlation results strengthen the case for a common origin of the collectivity seen in $p$+Pb and PbPb collisions in the measured multiplicity range.
A search for standard model production of four top quarks ( $\mathrm {t}\overline{\mathrm {t}} \mathrm {t}\overline{\mathrm {t}} $ ) is reported using events containing at least three leptons ( ...$\mathrm {e}, \mathrm {\mu }$ ) or a same-sign lepton pair. The events are produced in proton–proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 $\,\text {TeV}$ at the LHC, and the data sample, recorded in 2016, corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 $\,\text {fb}^{-1}$ . Jet multiplicity and flavor are used to enhance signal sensitivity, and dedicated control regions are used to constrain the dominant backgrounds. The observed and expected signal significances are, respectively, 1.6 and 1.0 standard deviations, and the $\mathrm {t}\overline{\mathrm {t}} \mathrm {t}\overline{\mathrm {t}} $ cross section is measured to be $16.9^{+13.8-11.4}$ $\,\text {fb}$ , in agreement with next-to-leading-order standard model predictions. These results are also used to constrain the Yukawa coupling between the top quark and the Higgs boson to be less than 2.1 times its expected standard model value at 95% confidence level.
A search is presented for resonances decaying to a Z boson and a photon. The analysis is based on data from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an ...integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$, and collected with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2016. Two decay modes of the Z boson are investigated. In the leptonic channels, the Z boson candidates are reconstructed using electron or muon pairs. In the hadronic channels, they are identified using a large-radius jet, containing either light-quark or b quark decay products of the Z boson, via jet substructure and advanced b quark tagging techniques. The results from these channels are combined and interpreted in terms of upper limits on the product of the production cross section and the branching fraction to Z$γ$ for narrow and broad spin-0 resonances with masses between 0.35 and 4.0 TeV, providing thereby the most stringent limits on such resonances.
A search for a heavy right-handed W boson (W$_{R}$) decaying to a heavy right-handed neutrino and a charged lepton in events with two same-flavor leptons (e or μ) and two jets, is presented. The ...analysis is based on proton-proton collision data, collected by the CMS Collaboration at the LHC in 2016 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$. No significant excess above the standard model expectation is seen in the invariant mass distribution of the dilepton plus dijet system. Assuming that couplings are identical to those of the standard model, and that only one heavy neutrino flavor N$_{R}$ contributes significantly to the W$_{R}$ decay width, the region in the two-dimensional $ \left({m}_{{\mathrm{W}}_{\mathrm{R}}},{m}_{{\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{R}}}\right) $ mass plane excluded at 95% confidence level extends to approximately $ {m}_{{\mathrm{W}}_{\mathrm{R}}}=4.4 $ TeV and covers a large range of right-handed neutrino masses below the W$_{R}$ boson mass. This analysis provides the most stringent limits on the W$_{R}$ mass to date.
A search for an exotic decay of the Higgs boson to a pair of light pseudoscalar bosons is performed for the first time in the final state with two b quarks and two $\tau$ leptons. The search is ...motivated in the context of models of physics beyond the standard model (SM), such as two Higgs doublet models extended with a complex scalar singlet (2HDM+S), which include the next-to-minimal supersymmetric SM (NMSSM). The results are based on a data set of proton-proton collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$, accumulated by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. Masses of the pseudoscalar boson between 15 and 60 GeV are probed, and no excess of events above the SM expectation is observed. Upper limits between 3 and 12% are set on the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}$(h $\to$ aa $\to$ 2$\tau$2b) assuming the SM production of the Higgs boson. Upper limits are also set on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson to two light pseudoscalar bosons in different 2HDM+S scenarios. Assuming the SM production cross section for the Higgs boson, the upper limit on this quantity is as low as 20% for a mass of the pseudoscalar of 40 GeV in the NMSSM.
A search for pair production of supersymmetric particles in events with two oppositely charged leptons (electrons or muons) and missing transverse momentum is reported. The data sample corresponds to ...an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$ of proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV collected with the CMS detector during the 2016 data taking period at the LHC. No significant deviation is observed from the predicted standard model background. The results are interpreted in terms of several simplified models for chargino and top squark pair production, assuming R-parity conservation and with the neutralino as the lightest supersymmetric particle. When the chargino is assumed to undergo a cascade decay through sleptons, with a slepton mass equal to the average of the chargino and neutralino masses, exclusion limits at 95% confidence level are set on the masses of the chargino and neutralino up to 800 and 320 GeV, respectively. For top squark pair production, the search focuses on models with a small mass difference between the top squark and the lightest neutralino. When the top squark decays into an off-shell top quark and a neutralino, the limits extend up to 420 and 360 GeV for the top squark and neutralino masses, respectively.
A search for physics beyond the standard model in events with one or more high-momentum Higgs bosons, H, decaying to pairs of b quarks in association with missing transverse momentum is presented. ...The data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$, were collected with the CMS detector at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at the center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV. The analysis utilizes a new b quark tagging technique based on jet substructure to identify jets from $H → b\bar{b}$. Events are categorized by the multiplicity of H-tagged jets, jet mass, and the missing transverse momentum. No significant deviation from standard model expectations is observed. In the context of supersymmetry (SUSY), limits on the cross sections of pair-produced gluinos are set, assuming that gluinos decay to quark pairs, H (or Z), and the lightest SUSY particle, LSP, through an intermediate next-to-lightest SUSY particle, NLSP. With large mass splitting between the NLSP and LSP, and 100% NLSP branching fraction to H, the lower limit on the gluino mass is found to be 2010 GeV.
