Engineering topics

Hörmann, Natascha

Publications and source records attributed to Hörmann, Natascha.

At least 19 records

DOE OSTI2017

Measurements of the associated production of a Z boson and b jets in pp collisions at ${\sqrt{s}} = 8\,\text {TeV} $

Measurements of the associated production of a Z boson with at least one jet originating from a b quark in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 8 TeV are presented. Differential cross sections are measured with data collected by the CMS experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.8 inverse femtobarns. Z bosons are reconstructed through their decays to electrons and muons. Cross sections are measured as a function of observables characterizing the kinematics of the b jet and the Z boson. Ratios of differential cross sections for the associated production with at least one b jet to the associated production with any jet are also presented. The production of a Z boson with two b jets is investigated, and differential cross sections are measured for the dijet system. Results are compared to theoretical predictions, testing two different flavour schemes for the choice of initial-state partons.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for associated production of dark matter with a Higgs boson decaying to $ \mathrm{b}\overline{\mathrm{b}} $ or $\gamma \gamma$ at $ \sqrt{s}=13$ TeV

A search for dark matter is performed looking for events with large missing transverse momentum and a Higgs boson decaying either to a pair of bottom quarks or to a pair of photons. The data from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected in 2015 with the CMS detector at the LHC, correspond to an integrated luminosity of 2.3 fb$^{−1}$. Results are interpreted in the context of a Z′-two-Higgs-doublet model, where the gauge symmetry of the standard model is extended by a U(1)$_{Z ′}$ group, with a new massive Z′ gauge boson, and the Higgs sector is extended with four additional Higgs bosons. In this model, a high-mass resonance Z′ decays into a pseudoscalar boson A and a light SM-like scalar Higgs boson, and the A decays to a pair of dark matter particles. No significant excesses are observed over the background prediction. Combining results from the two decay channels yields exclusion limits in the signal cross section in the m$_{Z ′}$ - m$_{A}$ phase space. For example, the observed data exclude the Z$^{′}$ mass range from 600 to 1860 GeV, for Z′ coupling strength g$_{Z ′}$ = 0.8, the coupling of A with dark matter particles g$_{χ}$ = 1, the ratio of the vacuum expectation values tan β = 1, and m$_{A}$ = 300 GeV. The results of this analysis are valid for any dark matter particle mass below 100 GeV.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for light bosons in decays of the 125 GeV Higgs boson in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=8 $ TeV

A search is presented for decays beyond the standard model of the 125 GeV Higgs bosons to a pair of light bosons, based on models with extended scalar sectors. Light boson masses between 5 and 62.5 GeV are probed in final states containing four τ leptons, two muons and two b quarks, or two muons and two τ leptons. The results are from data in proton-proton collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb$^{−1}$, accumulated by the CMS experiment at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. No evidence for such exotic decays is found in the data. Upper limits are set on the product of the cross section and branching fraction for several signal processes. The results are also compared to predictions of two-Higgs-doublet models, including those with an additional scalar singlet.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for new phenomena with multiple charged leptons in proton–proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}= 13$ $\,\text {TeV}$

Results are reported from a search for physics beyond the standard model in final states with at least three charged leptons, in any combination of electrons or muons. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 2.3 $\,\text {fb}^{-1}$ of proton–proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =13$ $\,\text {TeV}$ , recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2015. Two jets are required in each event, providing good sensitivity to strong production of gluinos and squarks. The search regions, sensitive to a range of different new physics scenarios, are defined using the number of jets tagged as originating from bottom quarks, the sum of the magnitudes of the transverse momenta of the jets, the imbalance in the overall transverse momentum in the event, and the invariant mass of opposite-sign, same-flavor lepton pairs. The event yields observed in data are consistent with the expected background contributions from standard model processes. These results are used to derive limits in terms of R-parity conserving simplified models of supersymmetry that describe strong production of gluinos and squarks. Model-independent limits are presented to facilitate the reinterpretation of the results in a broad range of scenarios for physics beyond the standard model.

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DOE OSTI2017

Measurement of the $t \bar t$ production cross section using events with one lepton and at least one jet in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

A measurement of the $ \mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}} $ production cross section at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV is presented using proton-proton collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.2 fb$^{−1}$, collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. Final states with one isolated charged lepton (electron or muon) and at least one jet are selected and categorized according to the accompanying jet multiplicity. From a likelihood fit to the invariant mass distribution of the isolated lepton and a jet identified as coming from the hadronization of a bottom quark, the cross section is measured to be $ {\sigma}_{\mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}}=888\pm 2,{\left(\mathrm{stat}\right)}_{-28}^{+26}\left(\mathrm{syst}\right)\pm 20\left(\mathrm{lumi}\right) $ pb, in agreement with the standard model prediction. Using the expected dependence of the cross section on the pole mass of the top quark (m$_{t}$), the value of m$_{t}$ is found to be 170.6 ± 2.7 GeV.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for a heavy resonance decaying to a top quark and a vector-like top quark at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV

A search is presented for massive spin-1 Z$^{′}$ resonances decaying to a top quark and a heavy vector-like top quark partner T. The search is based on a 2.6 fb$^{−1}$ sample of proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. The analysis is optimized for final states in which the T quark decays to a W boson and a bottom quark. The focus is on all-jet final states in which both the W boson and the top quark decay into quarks that evolve into jets. The decay products of the top quark and of the W boson are assumed to be highly Lorentz-boosted and cannot be reconstructed as separate jets, but are instead reconstructed as merged, wide jets. Techniques for the identification of jet substructure and jet flavour are used to distinguish signal from background events. Several models for Z$^{′}$ bosons decaying to T quarks are excluded at 95% confidence level, with upper limits on the cross section ranging from 0.13 to 10 pb, depending on the chosen hypotheses. This is the first search for a neutral spin-1 heavy resonance decaying to a top quark and a vector-like T quark in the all-hadronic final state.

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DOE OSTI2017

Measurement of the inclusive energy spectrum in the very forward direction in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV

The differential cross section for inclusive particle production as a function of energy in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV is measured in the very forward region of the CMS detector. The measurement is based on data collected with the CMS apparatus at the LHC, and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 0.34 μb$^{−1}$. The energy is measured in the CASTOR calorimeter, which covers the pseudorapidity region −6.6 < η < −5.2. The results are given as a function of the total energy deposited in CASTOR, as well as of its electromagnetic and hadronic components. The spectra are sensitive to the modeling of multiparton interactions in pp collisions, and provide new constraints for hadronic interaction models used in collider and in high energy cosmic ray physics.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for third-generation scalar leptoquarks and heavy right-handed neutrinos in final states with two tau leptons and two jets in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV

A search is performed for third-generation scalar leptoquarks and heavy right-handed neutrinos in events containing one electron or muon, one hadronically decaying τ lepton, and at least two jets, using a $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV pp collision data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 12.9 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2016. The number of observed events is found to be in agreement with the standard model prediction. A limit is set at 95% confidence level on the product of the leptoquark pair production cross section and β$^{2}$, where β is the branching fraction of leptoquark decay to a τ lepton and a bottom quark. Assuming β = 1, third-generation leptoquarks with masses below 850 GeV are excluded at 95% confidence level. An additional search based on the same event topology involves heavy right-handed neutrinos, N$_{R}$, and right-handed W bosons, W$_{R}$, arising in a left-right symmetric extension of the standard model. In this search, W$_{R}$ bosons are assumed to decay to a tau lepton and N$_{R}$ followed by the decay of the N$_{R}$ to a tau lepton and an off-shell W$_{R}$ boson. Assuming the mass of the right-handed neutrino to be half of the mass of the right-handed W boson, W$_{R}$ boson masses below 2.9 TeV are excluded at 95% confidence level. These results improve on the limits from previous searches for third-generation leptoquarks and heavy right-handed neutrinos with τ leptons in the final state.

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DOE OSTI2017

Measurement of double-differential cross sections for top quark pair production in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 8$ $\,\text {TeV}$ and impact on parton distribution functions

Normalized double-differential cross sections for top quark pair ( $\mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}$ ) production are measured in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 $\,\text {TeV}$ with the CMS experiment at the LHC. The analyzed data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 $\,\text {fb}^{-1}$ . The measurement is performed in the dilepton $\mathrm {e}^{\pm }\mu ^{\mp }$ final state. The $\mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}$ cross section is determined as a function of various pairs of observables characterizing the kinematics of the top quark and $\mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}$ system. The data are compared to calculations using perturbative quantum chromodynamics at next-to-leading and approximate next-to-next-to-leading orders. They are also compared to predictions of Monte Carlo event generators that complement fixed-order computations with parton showers, hadronization, and multiple-parton interactions. Overall agreement is observed with the predictions, which is improved when the latest global sets of proton parton distribution functions are used. The inclusion of the measured $\mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}$ cross sections in a fit of parametrized parton distribution functions is shown to have significant impact on the gluon distribution.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for dark matter produced with an energetic jet or a hadronically decaying W or Z boson at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV

A search for dark matter particles is performed using events with large missing transverse momentum, at least one energetic jet, and no leptons, in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 12.9 fb$^{−1}$. The search includes events with jets from the hadronic decays of a W or Z boson. The data are found to be in agreement with the predicted background contributions from standard model processes. The results are presented in terms of simplified models in which dark matter particles are produced through interactions involving a vector, axial-vector, scalar, or pseudoscalar mediator. Vector and axial-vector mediator particles with masses up to 1.95 TeV, and scalar and pseudoscalar mediator particles with masses up to 100 and 430 GeV respectively, are excluded at 95% confidence level. The results are also interpreted in terms of the invisible decays of the Higgs boson, yielding an observed (expected) 95% confidence level upper limit of 0.44 (0.56) on the corresponding branching fraction. The results of this search provide the strongest constraints on the dark matter pair production cross section through vector and axial-vector mediators at a particle collider. When compared to the direct detection experiments, the limits obtained from this search provide stronger constraints for dark matter masses less than 5, 9, and 550 GeV, assuming vector, scalar, and axial-vector mediators, respectively. The search yields stronger constraints for dark matter masses less than 200 GeV, assuming a pseudoscalar mediator, when compared to the indirect detection results from Fermi-LAT.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for associated production of a Z boson with a single top quark and for tZ flavour-changing interactions in pp collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=8 $ TeV

A search for the production of a single top quark in association with a Z boson is presented, both to identify the expected standard model process and to search for flavour-changing neutral current interactions. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb$^{−1}$ recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=8 $ TeV. Final states with three leptons (electrons or muons) and at least one jet are investigated. An events yield compatible with tZq standard model production is observed, and the corresponding cross section is measured to be σ(pp → tZq → ℓνbℓ$^{+}$ ℓ$^{−}$q) = 10$_{− 7}^{+ 8}$ fb with a significance of 2.4 standard deviations. No presence of flavour-changing neutral current production of tZq is observed. Exclusion limits at 95% confidence level on the branching fractions of a top quark decaying to a Z boson and an up or a charm quark are found to be ℬ(t → Zu) < 0.022% and ℬ(t → Zc) < 0.049%.

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DOE OSTI2017

Measurement of electroweak-induced production of W$\gamma$ with two jets in pp collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=8 $ TeV and constraints on anomalous quartic gauge couplings

A measurement of electroweak-induced production of Wγ and two jets is performed, where the W boson decays leptonically. The data used in the analysis correspond to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb$^{−1}$ collected by the CMS experiment in $ \sqrt{s}=8 $ TeV proton-proton collisions produced at the LHC. Candidate events are selected with exactly one muon or electron, missing transverse momentum, one photon, and two jets with large rapidity separation. An excess over the hypothesis of the standard model without electroweak production of Wγ with two jets is observed with a significance of 2.7 standard deviations. The cross section measured in the fiducial region is 10.8 ± 4.1(stat) ± 3.4(syst) ± 0.3(lumi) fb, which is consistent with the standard model electroweak prediction. The total cross section for Wγ in association with two jets in the same fiducial region is measured to be 23.2 ± 4.3(stat) ± 1.7(syst) ± 0.6(lumi) fb, which is consistent with the standard model prediction from the combination of electroweak and quantum chromodynamics-induced processes. No deviations are observed from the standard model predictions and experimental limits on anomalous quartic gauge couplings f$_{M,0−7}$ /Λ$^{4}$, f$_{T,0−2}$ /Λ$^{4}$, and f$_{T,5−7}$ /Λ$^{4}$ are set at 95% confidence level.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for dijet resonances in proton–proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV and constraints on dark matter and other models

A search is presented for narrow resonances decaying to dijet final states in proton–proton collisions at s=13TeV using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 12.9 fb −1 . The dijet mass spectrum is well described by a smooth parameterization and no significant evidence for the production of new particles is observed. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are reported on the production cross section for narrow resonances with masses above 0.6 TeV. In the context of specific models, the limits exclude string resonances with masses below 7.4 TeV, scalar diquarks below 6.9 TeV, axigluons and colorons below 5.5 TeV, excited quarks below 5.4 TeV, color-octet scalars below 3.0 TeV, W′ bosons below 2.7 TeV, Z′ bosons below 2.1 TeV and between 2.3 and 2.6 TeV, and RS gravitons below 1.9 TeV. These extend previous limits in the dijet channel. Vector and axial-vector mediators in a simplified model of interactions between quarks and dark matter are excluded below 2.0 TeV. The first limits in the dijet channel on dark matter mediators are presented as functions of dark matter mass and are compared to the exclusions of dark matter in direct detection experiments.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2017

Measurement of the top quark mass using single top quark events in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}= 8$ TeV

A measurement of the top quark mass is reported in events containing a single top quark produced via the electroweak t channel. The analysis is performed using data from proton-proton collisions collected with the CMS detector at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb$^{-1}$ . Top quark candidates are reconstructed from their decay to a $\mathrm {W}$ boson and a b quark, with the $\mathrm {W}$ boson decaying leptonically to a muon and a neutrino. The final state signature and kinematic properties of single top quark events in the t channel are used to enhance the purity of the sample, suppressing the contribution from top quark pair production. A fit to the invariant mass distribution of reconstructed top quark candidates yields a value of the top quark mass of $172.95 \pm 0.77\,\text {(stat)} ^{+0.97-0.93}\,\text {(syst)} \,\text {GeV} $ . This result is in agreement with the current world average, and represents the first measurement of the top quark mass in event topologies not dominated by top quark pair production, therefore contributing to future averages with partially uncorrelated systematic uncertainties and a largely uncorrelated statistical uncertainty.

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DOE OSTI2017

Searches for pair production of third-generation squarks in $\sqrt{s}=13$ $\,\text {TeV}$ pp collisions

Searches are presented for direct production of top or bottom squark pairs in proton–proton collisions at the CERN LHC. Two searches, based on complementary techniques, are performed in all-jet final states that are characterized by a significant imbalance in transverse momentum. An additional search requires the presence of a charged lepton isolated from other activity in the event. The data were collected in 2015 at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 $\,\text {TeV}$ with the CMS detector and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 2.3 $\,\text {fb}^{-1}$ . No statistically significant excess of events is found beyond the expected contribution from standard model processes. Exclusion limits are set in the context of simplified models of top or bottom squark pair production. Models with top and bottom squark masses up to 830 and 890 $\,\text {GeV}$ , respectively, are probed for light neutralinos. For models with top squark masses of 675 $\,\text {GeV}$ , neutralino masses up to 260 $\,\text {GeV}$ are excluded at 95% confidence level.

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DOE OSTI2017

A search for new phenomena in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13\,\text {TeV} $ in final states with missing transverse momentum and at least one jet using the $\alpha _{\mathrm {T}}$ variable

A search for new phenomena is performed in final states containing one or more jets and an imbalance in transverse momentum in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 $\,\text {TeV}$ . The analysed data sample, recorded with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC, corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 2.3 $\,\text {fb}^{-1}$ . Several kinematic variables are employed to suppress the dominant background, multijet production, as well as to discriminate between other standard model and new physics processes. The search provides sensitivity to a broad range of new-physics models that yield a stable weakly interacting massive particle. The number of observed candidate events is found to agree with the expected contributions from standard model processes, and the result is interpreted in the mass parameter space of fourteen simplified supersymmetric models that assume the pair production of gluinos or squarks and a range of decay modes. For models that assume gluino pair production, masses up to 1575 and 975 $\,\text {GeV}$ are excluded for gluinos and neutralinos, respectively. For models involving the pair production of top squarks and compressed mass spectra, top squark masses up to 400 $\,\text {GeV}$ are excluded.

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DOE OSTI2017

Search for single production of vector-like quarks decaying to a Z boson and a top or a bottom quark in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV

A search for single production of vector-like quarks, T and B, decaying into a Z boson and a top or a bottom quark, respectively, is presented. The search is performed using data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.3fb$^{−1}$. An exotic T quark production mode through the decay of a heavy Z′ resonance is also considered. The search is performed in events with a Z boson decaying leptonically, accompanied by a bottom or a top quark decaying hadronically. No excess of events is observed over the standard model background expectation. Products of production cross section and branching fraction for T and B quarks from 1.26 and 0.13 pb are excluded at 95% confidence level for the range of resonance mass considered, which is between 0.7 and 1.7 TeV. Limits on the product of the Z′ boson production cross section and branching fraction, with the Z′ boson decaying to the Tt final state, are set between 0.31 and 0.13 pb, for Z′ boson masses in the range from 1.5 to 2.5 TeV. This is the first search at 13 TeV for single production of vector-like quarks in events with a Z boson decaying leptonically accompanied by boosted jets.

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DOE OSTI2017

Observation of $\Upsilon$(1S) pair production in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=8 $ TeV

Pair production of Y(1S) mesons is observed at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=8 $ TeV by the CMS experiment in a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.7 fb$^{−1}$. Both Y(1S) candidates are fully reconstructed via their decays to μ$^{+}$ μ$^{−}$. The fiducial acceptance region is defined by an absolute Y(1S) rapidity smaller than 2.0. The fiducial cross section for the production of Y(1S) pairs, assuming that both mesons decay isotropically, is measured to be 68.8±12.7 (stat)±7.4 (syst)±2.8 ( $ \mathrm{\mathcal{B}} $ ) pb, where the third uncertainty comes from the uncertainty in the branching fraction of Y(1S) decays to μ$^{+}$ μ$^{−}$. Assuming instead that the Y(1S) mesons are produced with different polarizations leads to variations in the measured cross section in the range from −38% to +36%.

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