Engineering topics

Araujo Ferraz, V. (ORCID:0000000311777563)

Publications and source records attributed to Araujo Ferraz, V. (ORCID:0000000311777563).

At least 19 records

DOE OSTI2024

Search for quantum black hole production in lepton + jet final states using proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for quantum black holes in electron + jet and muon + jet invariant mass spectra is performed with 140 fb -1 of data collected by the ATLAS detector in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ =13 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider. The observed invariant mass spectrum of lepton + jet pairs is consistent with Standard Model expectations. Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level on the production cross section times branching fractions for quantum black holes decaying into a lepton and a quark in a search region with invariant mass above 2.0 TeV. The resulting quantum black hole lower mass threshold limit is 9.2 TeV in the Arkani-Hamed-Dimopoulos-Dvali model, and 6.8 TeV in the Randall-Sundrum model.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Search for top-philic heavy resonances in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ $\text {TeV}$ with the ATLAS detector

A search for the associated production of a heavy resonance with a top-quark or a top-antitop-quark pair, and decaying into a $\overline{tt}$ pair is presented. The search uses the data recorded by the ATLAS detector in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider during the years 2015–2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb -1 . Events containing exactly one electron or muon are selected. The two hadronically decaying top quarks from the resonance decay are reconstructed using jets clustered with a large radius parameter of R = 1. The invariant mass spectrum of the two top quark candidates is used to search for a resonance signal in the range of 1.0 TeV to 3.2 TeV. The presence of a signal is examined using an approach with minimal model dependence followed by a model-dependent interpretation. No significant excess is observed over the background expectation. Upper limits on the production cross section times branching ratio at 95% confidence level are provided for a heavy Z' boson based on a simplified model, for Z' mass between 1.0 TeV and 3.0 TeV. The observed (expected) limits range from 21 (14) fb to 119 (86) fb depending on the choice of model parameters

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Tools for estimating fake/non-prompt lepton backgrounds with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

Measurements and searches performed with the ATLAS detector at the CERN LHC often involve signatures with one or more prompt leptons. Such analyses are subject to 'fake/non-prompt' lepton backgrounds, where either a hadron or a lepton from a hadron decay or an electron from a photon conversion satisfies the prompt-lepton selection criteria. These backgrounds often arise within a hadronic jet because of particle decays in the showering process, particle misidentification or particle interactions with the detector material. As it is challenging to model these processes with high accuracy in simulation, their estimation typically uses data-driven methods. Three methods for carrying out this estimation are described, along with their implementation in ATLAS and their performance.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2023

Search for pair production of third-generation leptoquarks decaying into a bottom quark and a $\tau $-lepton with the ATLAS detector

Abstract A search for pair-produced scalar or vector leptoquarks decaying into a b -quark and a $$\tau $$ τ -lepton is presented using the full LHC Run 2 (2015–2018) data sample of 139 fb $$^{-1}$$ - 1 collected with the ATLAS detector in proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $$\sqrt{s} =13$$ s = 13 TeV. Events in which at least one $$\tau $$ τ -lepton decays hadronically are considered, and multivariate discriminants are used to extract the signals. No significant deviations from the Standard Model expectation are observed and 95% confidence-level upper limits on the production cross-section are derived as a function of leptoquark mass and branching ratio $$\mathcal {B}$$ B into a $$\tau $$ τ -lepton and b -quark. For scalar leptoquarks, masses below 1460 GeV are excluded assuming $$\mathcal {B}=100$$ B = 100 %, while for vector leptoquarks the corresponding limit is 1650 GeV (1910 GeV) in the minimal-coupling (Yang–Mills) scenario.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Search for heavy long-lived multi-charged particles in the full LHC Run 2 pp collision data at s = 13 TeV using the ATLAS detector

A search for heavy long-lived multi-charged particles is performed using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Data collected in 2015-2018 at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV from pp collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb -1 are examined. Particles producing anomalously high ionization, consistent with long-lived spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ massive particles with electric charges from |q|=2e to |q|=7e are searched for. No statistically significant evidence of such particles is observed, and 95% confidence level cross-section upper limits are calculated and interpreted as the lower mass limits for a Drell-Yan plus photon-fusion production mode. The least stringent limit, 1060 GeV, is obtained for |q|=2e particles, and the most stringent one, 1600 GeV, is for |q|=6e particles.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Search for exclusive Higgs and Z boson decays to ωγ and Higgs boson decays to K*γ with the ATLAS detector

Searches for the exclusive decays of the Higgs boson to an ω meson and a photon or a Κ * meson and a photon can probe flavour-conserving and flavour-violating Higgs boson couplings to light quarks, respectively. Searches for these decays, along with the analogous Z boson decay to an ω meson and a photon, are performed with a pp collision data sample corresponding to integrated luminosities of up to 134 fb -1 collected at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The obtained 95% confidence-level upper limits on the respective branching fractions are $\mathscr{B}$(H → ω$\gamma$) < 5.5 x 10 -4 , $\mathscr{B}$(H → Κ *$\gamma$) < 2.2 x 10 -4 and $\mathscr{B}$(Z → ω$\gamma$) 3.9 x 10 -6 . The limits for H → ω$\gamma$ and Z → ω$\gamma$ are 370 times and 140 times the Standard Model expected values, respectively. The result for Z → ω$\gamma$ corresponds to a two-orders-of-magnitude improvement over the limit obtained by the DELPHI experiment at LEP.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Observation of Single-Top-Quark Production in Association with a Photon Using the ATLAS Detector

This Letter reports the observation of single top quarks produced together with a photon, which directly probes the electroweak coupling of the top quark. The analysis uses 139 fb -1 of 13 TeV proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Requiring a photon with transverse momentum larger than 20 GeV and within the detector acceptance, the fiducial cross section is measured to be 688±23(stat) $^{+75}_{-71}$(syst) fb, to be compared with the standard model prediction of 515$^{+36}_{-42}$ fb at next-to-leading order in QCD.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Measurement of Suppression of Large-Radius Jets and Its Dependence on Substructure in Pb+Pb Collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

This letter presents a measurement of the nuclear modification factor of large-radius jets in $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV Pb + Pb collisions by the ATLAS experiment. The measurement is performed using 1.72 nb –1 and 257 pb –1 of Pb + Pb and pp data, respectively. The large-radius jets are reconstructed with the anti-k t algorithm using a radius parameter of R = 1.0, by reclustering anti-k t R = 0.2 jets, and are measured over the transverse momentum (p T ) kinematic range of 158 < p T <1000 GeV and absolute pseudorapidity |y| < 2.0. The large-radius jet constituents are further reclustered using the k t algorithm in order to obtain the splitting parameters, $\sqrt{d_{12}}$ and Δ⁢R 12 , which characterize the transverse momentum scale and angular separation for the hardest splitting in the jet, respectively. The nuclear modification factor, R AA , obtained by comparing the Pb + Pb jet yields to those in pp collisions, is measured as a function of jet transverse momentum (p T ) and $\sqrt{d_{12}}$ or Δ⁢R 12 . A significant difference in the quenching of large-radius jets having single subjet and those with more complex substructure is observed. Systematic comparison of jet suppression in terms of R AA for different jet definitions is also provided. Presented results support the hypothesis that jets with hard internal splittings lose more energy through quenching and provide a new perspective for understanding the role of jet structure in jet suppression.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Observation of the $γγ → ττ$ Process in $\mathrm{Pb + Pb}$ Collisions and Constraints on the $\tau$-Lepton Anomalous Magnetic Moment with the ATLAS Detector

This Letter reports the observation of τ-lepton pair production in ultraperipheral lead-lead collisions, Pb+Pb→Pb(γγ→ττ)Pb, and constraints on the τ-lepton anomalous magnetic moment, a τ . The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.44 nb -1 of LHC Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ =5.02 TeV recorded by the ATLAS experiment in 2018. Selected events contain one muon from a τ-lepton decay, an electron or charged-particle track(s) from the other τ-lepton decay, little additional central-detector activity, and no forward neutrons. The γγ→ττ process is observed in Pb+Pb collisions with a significance exceeding 5 standard deviations, and a signal strength of μ ττ =1.03$^{+0.06}_{-0.05}$ assuming the Standard Model value for a τ . To measure a τ , a template fit to the muon transverse-momentum distribution from τ-lepton candidates is performed, using a dimuon (γγ→μμ) control sample to constrain systematic uncertainties. The observed 95% confidence-level interval for aτ is -0.057 < a τ < 0.024.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Evidence of off-shell Higgs boson production from ZZ leptonic decay channels and constraints on its total width with the ATLAS detector

This Letter reports on a search for off-shell production of the Higgs boson using 139 fb —1 of $pp$ collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The signature is a pair of $\overline{Z}$ bosons, with contributions from both the production and subsequent decay of a virtual Higgs boson and the interference of that process with other processes. The two observable final states are $\overline{Z}$ $\overline{Z}$ → 4$\ell$ and $\overline{Z}$ $\overline{Z}$ → 2$\ell$2$ν$ with $\ell$ = $e$ or $μ$. In the $\overline{Z}$ $\overline{Z}$ → 4$\ell$ final state, a dense Neural Network is used to enhance analysis sensitivity with respect to matrix element-based discrimination. The backgroundonly hypothesis is rejected with an observed (expected) significance of 3.3 (2.2) standard deviations, representing experimental evidence for off-shell Higgs boson production. Assuming that no new particles enter the production of the virtual Higgs boson, its total width can be deduced from the measurement of its off-shell production cross-section. The measured total width of the Higgs boson is ${4.5}_{—2.5}^{+3.3}$ MeV, and the observed (expected) upper limit on the total width is found to be 10.5 (10.9) MeV at 95% confidence level.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Anomaly detection search for new resonances decaying into a Higgs boson and a generic new particle $X$ in hadronic final states using $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV $pp$ collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search is presented for a heavy resonance $Y$ decaying into a Standard Model Higgs boson $H$ and a new particle $X$ in a fully hadronic final state. The full Large Hadron Collider run 2 dataset of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV collected by the ATLAS detector from 2015 to 2018 is used and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb –1 . The search targets the high $Y$-mass region, where the $H$ and $X$ have a significant Lorentz boost in the laboratory frame. A novel application of anomaly detection is used to define a general signal region, where events are selected solely because of their incompatibility with a learned background-only model. It is constructed using a jet-level tagger for signal-model-independent selection of the boosted $X$ particle, representing the first application of fully unsupervised machine learning to an ATLAS analysis. Two additional signal regions are implemented to target a benchmark $X$ decay into two quarks, covering topologies where the $X$ is reconstructed as either a single large-radius jet or two smallradius jets. The analysis selects Higgs boson decays into $b$$\overline{b}$, and a dedicated neural-network-based tagger provides sensitivity to the boosted heavy-flavor topology. No significant excess of data over the expected background is observed, and the results are presented as upper limits on the production cross section $σ$ ($pp$ → $Y$ → $XH$ → $q$$\overline{q}$$b$$\overline{b}$) for signals with $m_Y$ between 1.5 and 6 TeV and $m_X$ between 65 and 3000 GeV

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Search for flavor-changing neutral-current couplings between the top quark and the Z boson with proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for flavor-changing neutral-current couplings between a top quark, an up or charm quark, and a $Z$ boson is presented, using proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The analyzed data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb -1 . The search targets both single-top-quark events produced as $gq$ → $tZ$ (with $q$ = $u, c$) and top-quark-pair events, with one top quark decaying through the $t$ → $Zq$ channel. The analysis considers events with three leptons (electrons or muons), a $b$-tagged jet, possible additional jets, and missing transverse momentum. The data are found to be consistent with the background-only hypothesis and 95% confidence-level limits on the $t$ → $Zq$ branching ratios, assuming only tensor operators of the Standard Model effective field theory framework contribute to the $tZq$ vertices. These are 6.2 x 10 -5 (13 x 10 -5 ) for $t$ → $Zu$ ($t$ → $Zc$) for a left-handed $tZq$ coupling, and 6.6 x 10 -5 (12 x 10 -5 ) in the case of a right-handed coupling. These results are interpreted as 95% CL upper limits on the strength of the corresponding couplings, yielding limits for |${C}^{(13)*}_{uW}$| and |${C}^{(13)*}_{uB}$| (|${C}^{(31)}_{uW}$| and |${C}^{(31)}_{uB}$|) of 0.15 (0.16), and limits for |${C}^{(23)*}_{uW}$| and |${C}^{(23)*}_{uB}$| (|${C}^{(32)}_{uW}$| and |${C}^{(32)}_{uB}$|) of 0.22 (0.21), assuming a new-physics energy scale Λ NP of 1 TeV.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Search for displaced photons produced in exotic decays of the Higgs boson using 13 TeV p p collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search is performed for delayed and nonpointing photons originating from the displaced decay of a neutral long-lived particle (LLP). The analysis uses the full run 2 dataset of proton-proton collisions delivered by the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV between 2015 and 2018 and recorded by the ATLAS detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb -1 . The capabilities of the ATLAS electromagnetic calorimeter are exploited to precisely measure the arrival times and trajectories of photons. The results are interpreted in a scenario where the LLPs are pair produced in exotic decays of the 125 GeV Higgs boson, and each LLP subsequently decays into a photon and a particle that escapes direct detection, giving rise to missing transverse momentum. No significant excess is observed above the expectation due to Standard Model background processes. The results are used to set upper limits on the branching ratio of the exotic decay of the Higgs boson. A model-independent limit is also set on the production of photons with large values of displacement and time delay.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Measurement of the inclusive $t\bar{t}$ production cross section in the lepton + jets channel in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector using support vector machines

A measurement of the top quark pair-production cross section in the lepton + jets decay channel is presented. It is based on 4.6 fb -1 of $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV pp collision data collected during 2011 by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. A three-class, multidimensional event classifier based on support vector machines is used to differentiate $t\bar{t}$ events from backgrounds. The $t\bar{t}$ production cross section is found to be σ $t\bar{t}$ = 168.5 ± 0.7(stat)$^{+6.2}_{-5.9}$(syst)$^{+ 3.4}_{-3.2}$(lumi) pb. In conclusion, the result is consistent with the Standard Model prediction based on QCD calculations at next-to-next-to-leading order.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Strong Constraints on Jet Quenching in Centrality-Dependent p + Pb Collisions at 5.02 TeV from ATLAS

Jet quenching is the process of color-charged partons losing energy via interactions with quark-gluon plasma droplets created in heavy-ion collisions. The collective expansion of such droplets is well described by viscous hydrodynamics. Similar evidence of collectivity is consistently observed in smaller collision systems, including p p and p + Pb collisions. In contrast, while jet quenching is observed in Pb + Pb collisions, no evidence has been found in these small systems to date, raising fundamental questions about the nature of the system created in these collisions. The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider has measured the yield of charged hadrons correlated with reconstructed jets in 0.36 nb -1 of p + Pb and 3.6 pb -1 of pp collisions at 5.02 TeV. The yields of charged hadrons with ${p}^{ch}_{T}$ > 0.5 GeV near and opposite in azimuth to jets with ${p}^{jet}_{T}$ > 30 or 60 GeV, and the ratios of these yields between p + Pb and pp collisions, I pPb , are reported. The collision centrality of p + Pb events is categorized by the energy deposited by forward neutrons from the struck nucleus. The I pPb values are consistent with unity within a few percent for hadrons with ${p}^{ch}_{T}$ > 4 GeV at all centralities. These data provide new, strong constraints that preclude almost any parton energy loss in central p + Pb collisions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Measurements of $W^{+}W^{-}$ production in decay topologies inspired by searches for electroweak supersymmetry

This paper presents a measurement of fiducial and differential cross-sections for $W$ + $W$ - production in proton–proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = $13$ TeV with the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb -1 . Events with exactly one electron, one muon and no hadronic jets are studied. The fiducial region in which the measurements are performed is inspired by searches for the electroweak production of supersymmetric charginos decaying to two-lepton final states. The selected events have moderate values of missing transverse momentum and the ‘stransverse mass’ variable $m$ T2 , which is widely used in searches for supersymmetry at the LHC. The ranges of these variables are chosen so that the acceptance is enhanced for direct $W$ + $W$ - production and suppressed for production via top quarks, which is treated as a background. The fiducial cross-section and particle-level differential cross-sections for six variables are measured and compared with two theoretical SM predictions from perturbative QCD calculations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Search for pair-produced vector-like top and bottom partners in events with large missing transverse momentum in $pp$ collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for pair-produced vector-like quarks using events with exactly one lepton ($e$ or $μ$), at least four jets including at least one $b$-tagged jet, and large missing transverse momentum is presented. Data from proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC from 2015 to 2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb –1 , are analysed. Vector-like partners $T$ and $B$ of the top and bottom quarks are considered, as is a vector-like $X$ with charge +5/3, assuming their decay into a $W$, $Z$, or Higgs boson and a third-generation quark. No significant deviations from the Standard Model expectation are observed. Upper limits on the production cross-section of $T$ and $B$ quark pairs as a function of their mass are derived for various decay branching ratio scenarios. The strongest lower limits on the masses are 1.59 assuming mass-degenerate vector-like quarks and branching ratios corresponding to the weak-isospin doublet model, and 1.47 TeV (1.46 TeV) for exclusive $T$→$Zt$ ($B/X$→$Wt$) decays. In addition, lower limits on the $T$ and $B$ quark masses are derived for all possible branching ratios.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Measurements of the suppression and correlations of dijets in Xe+Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s{NN}}$ = 5.44 TeV

Measurements of the suppression and correlations of dijets is performed using 3 µb –1 of Xe+Xe data at $\sqrt{s{NN}}$ = 5.44 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. Dijets with jets reconstructed using the R = 0.4 anti- k t algorithm are measured differentially in jet p T over the range of 32 to 398 GeV and the centrality of the collisions. Significant dijet momentum imbalance is found in the most central Xe+Xe collisions, which decreases in more peripheral collisions. Results from the measurement of per-pair normalized and absolutely normalized dijet p T balance are compared with previous Pb + Pb measurements at $\sqrt{s{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV. The differences between the dijet suppression in Xe+Xe and Pb + Pb are further quantified by the ratio of pair nuclear-modification factors. The results are found to be consistent with those measured in Pb + Pb data when compared in classes of the same event activity and when taking into account the difference between the center-of-mass energies of the initial parton scattering process in Xe+Xe and Pb + Pb collisions. These results should provide input for a better understanding of the role of energy density, system size, path length, and fluctuations in the parton energy loss.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗