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DOE OSTI2026

Search for New Physics via EFT in collisions containing a top quark and a boosted Z or Higgs boson

We present a generator-level sensitivity study of physics beyond the Standard Model within the framework of Effective Field Theory (EFT). The targeted signal processes are single top quark production in association with a Lorentz-boosted Higgs or Z boson (tHq and tZq) in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13.6 TeV. Event selection requires one electron or muon, a high-transverse-momentum, large-radius (AK8) jet reconstructing hadronic H → b̄b or Z → b̄b decays, at least two distinct, non-overlapping small-radius (AK4) jets with one originating from a b quark, and a missing transverse energy greater than 30 GeV. Signal and background samples are generated via Monte Carlo simulation using MadGraph with MadJax to perform EFT matrix-element calculations. Deviations from the Standard Model are parametrized through dimension-six EFT operators that probe modified top quark interactions. This generator-level study identifies kinematic observables with enhanced sensitivity to EFT operators and motivates future reconstruction-level analyses of tHq and tZq channels.

Meshramkar, Daniel [Baylor U., Waco]↗
DOE OSTI2022

Direct constraint on the Higgs–charm coupling from a search for Higgs boson decays into charm quarks with the ATLAS detector

A search for the Higgs boson decaying into a pair of charm quarks is presented. The analysis uses proton–proton collisions to target the production of a Higgs boson in association with a leptonically decaying W or Z boson. The dataset delivered by the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV and recorded by the ATLAS detector corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb -1 . Flavour-tagging algorithms are used to identify jets originating from the hadronisation of charm quarks. The analysis method is validated with the simultaneous measurement of WW, WZ and ZZ production, with observed (expected) significances of 2.6 (2.2) standard deviations above the background-only prediction for the $(W/Z)Z( → c\bar{c})$ process and 3.8 (4.6) standard deviations for the $(W/Z)W(→cq)$ process. The $(W/Z)Z( → c\bar{c})$ search yields an observed (expected) upper limit of 26 (31) times the predicted Standard Model cross-section times branching fraction for a Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV, corresponding to an observed (expected) constraint on the charm Yukawa coupling modifier |$k_c$| < 8.5 (12.4), at the 95% confidence level. A combination with the ATLAS $(W/Z)H,H → b\bar{b}$ analysis is performed, allowing the ratio $k_c/k_b$ to be constrained to less than 4.5 at the 95% confidence level, smaller than the ratio of the b- and c-quark masses, and therefore determines the Higgs-charm coupling to be weaker than the Higgs-bottom coupling at the 95% confidence level.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Search for dark matter production in association with bottom quarks and a lepton pair in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV

A search is performed for dark matter produced in association with bottom quarks and a pair of electrons or muons in data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to 138 fb −1 of integrated luminosity of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. For the first time at the LHC, the associated production of a bottom quark-antiquark pair and a new heavy neutral Higgs boson (H) that subsequently decays into a leptonically decaying Z boson and a pseudoscalar (a) is explored. The latter acts as a dark matter mediator in the context of the two Higgs doublet model plus a pseudoscalar (2HDM+a). Multivariate techniques that target a wide range of mass configurations for the H and a particles are used. The observations are consistent with the expectations from standard model processes. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the product of cross section and branching fraction of the new particles, ranging from 10 −2 pb for an H mass of 400 GeV to 10 −3 pb for an H mass of 2000 GeV. Constraints on the parameter space of a benchmark 2HDM+a model are derived and compared with expectations in the context of cosmological predictions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Constraints on Higgs boson properties using $WW^*(→eνμν)jj$ production in 36.1fb -1 of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

This article presents the results of two studies of Higgs boson properties using the WW * (→eνμν)jj final state, based on a dataset corresponding to 36.1fb -1 of $\sqrt{s}$ =13 TeV proton–proton collisions recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The first study targets Higgs boson production via gluon–gluon fusion and constrains the CP properties of the effective Higgs–gluon interaction. Using angular distributions and the overall rate, a value of tan(α)=0.0±0.4(stat.)±0.3(syst.) is obtained for the tangent of the mixing angle for CP-even and CP-odd contributions. The second study exploits the vector-boson fusion production mechanism to probe the Higgs boson couplings to longitudinally and transversely polarised W and Z bosons in both the production and the decay of the Higgs boson; these couplings have not been directly constrained previously. The polarisation-dependent coupling-strength scale factors are defined as the ratios of the measured polarisation-dependent coupling strengths to those predicted by the Standard Model, and are determined using rate and kinematic information to be a L =0.91$^{+0.10}_{-0.18}$(stat.)$^{+0.09}_{-0.17}$(syst.) and a T =1.2±0.4(stat.)$^{+0.2}_{-0.3}$(syst.). These coupling strengths are translated into pseudo-observables, resulting in κ VV =0.91$^{+0.10}_{-0.18}$(stat.)$^{+0.09}_{-0.17}$(syst.) and ϵ VV =0.13$^{+0.28}_{-0.20}$ (stat.)$^{+0.08}_{-0.10}$(syst.). All results are consistent with the Standard Model predictions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Measurements of the Higgs boson production cross section and couplings in the W boson pair decay channel in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13\,\text {Te\hspace{-.08em}V} $

Production cross sections of the standard model Higgs boson decaying to a pair of W bosons are measured in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13$\,\text {Te\hspace{-.08em}V}$. The analysis targets Higgs bosons produced via gluon fusion, vector boson fusion, and in association with a W or Z boson. Candidate events are required to have at least two charged leptons and moderate missing transverse momentum, targeting events with at least one leptonically decaying W boson originating from the Higgs boson. Results are presented in the form of inclusive and differential cross sections in the simplified template cross section framework, as well as couplings of the Higgs boson to vector bosons and fermions. The data set collected by the CMS detector during 2016–2018 is used, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138$\,\text {fb}^{-1}$. The signal strength modifier $\mu $, defined as the ratio of the observed production rate in a given decay channel to the standard model expectation, is measured to be $\mu = 0.95^{+0.10}_{-0.09}$. All results are found to be compatible with the standard model within the uncertainties.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Constraints on anomalous Higgs boson couplings from its production and decay using the WW channel in proton–proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13~\text {TeV}$

A study of the anomalous couplings of the Higgs boson to vector bosons, including ${\textit{CP}}$-violation effects, has been conducted using its production and decay in the WW channel. This analysis is performed on proton–proton collision data collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC during 2016–2018 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138$\,\text {fb}^{-1}$. The different-flavor dilepton $({\textrm{e}} {{\upmu }})$ final state is analyzed, with dedicated categories targeting gluon fusion, electroweak vector boson fusion, and associated production with a W or Z boson. Kinematic information from associated jets is combined using matrix element techniques to increase the sensitivity to anomalous effects at the production vertex. A simultaneous measurement of four Higgs boson couplings to electroweak vector bosons is performed in the framework of a standard model effective field theory. All measurements are consistent with the expectations for the standard model Higgs boson and constraints are set on the fractional contribution of the anomalous couplings to the Higgs boson production cross section.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Measurement of multijet azimuthal correlations and determination of the strong coupling in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13\,\text {Te}\hspace{-.08em}\text {V} $

A measurement is presented of a ratio observable that provides a measure of the azimuthal correlations among jets with large transverse momentum $p_{\textrm{T}}$. This observable is measured in multijet events over the range of $p_{\textrm{T}} = 360$–$3170\,\text {Ge}\hspace{-.08em}\text {V} $ based on data collected by the CMS experiment in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13$\,\text {Te}\hspace{-.08em}\text {V}$, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 134$\,\text {fb}^{-1}$. 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 $\alpha _\textrm{S} (m_{{\textrm{Z}}}) =0.1177 \pm 0.0013\, \text {(exp)} _{-0.0073}^{+0.0116} \,\text {(theo)} = 0.1177_{-0.0074}^{+0.0117}$, where the total uncertainty is dominated by the scale dependence of the fixed-order predictions. A test of the running of $\alpha _\textrm{S}$ in the $\,\text {Te}\hspace{-.08em}\text {V}$ region shows no deviation from the expected NLO pQCD behaviour.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Measurement of vector boson production cross sections and their ratios using pp collisions at s = 13.6 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Fiducial and total W± and Z boson cross sections, their ratios and the ratio of top-antitop-quark pair and W-boson fiducial cross sections are measured in proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of s=13.6 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 29 fb−1 of data collected in 2022 by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The measured fiducial cross-section values for W+→ℓ+ν, W−→ℓ−ν¯, and Z→ℓ+ℓ− (ℓ=e or μ) boson productions are 4250±150 pb, 3310±120 pb, and 744±20 pb, respectively, where the uncertainty is the total uncertainty, including that arising from the luminosity of about 2.2%. The measurements are in agreement with Standard-Model predictions calculated at next-to-next-to-leading-order in αs, next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy and next-to-leading-order electroweak accuracy.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Measurement of the Zγ production cross section and search for anomalous neutral triple gauge couplings in pp collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV

A measurement of the fiducial cross section of the associated production of a Z boson and a high-p$_{T}$ photon, where the Z decays to two neutrinos, and a search for anomalous triple gauge couplings are reported. The results are based on data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV during 2016-2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{−1}$. The fiducial Zγ cross section, where a photon with a p$_{T}$ greater than 225 GeV is produced in association with a Z, and the Z decays to a $ \upnu \overline{\upnu} $ pair $ \left(\mathrm{Z}\left(\upnu \overline{\upnu}\right)\upgamma \right) $, is measured to be $ {23.3}_{-1.3}^{+1.4} $ fb, in agreement, within uncertainties, with the standard model prediction. The differential cross section as a function of the photon p$_{T}$ has been measured and compared with standard model predictions computed at next-to-leading and at next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics. Constraints have been placed on the presence of anomalous couplings that affect the ZZγ and Zγγ vertex using the p$_{T}$ spectrum of the photons. The observed 95% confidence level intervals for CP-conserving $ {h}_3^{\upgamma} $ and $ {h}_4^{\upgamma} $ are determined to be (−3.4, 3.5)×10$^{−4}$ and (−6.8, 6.8)×10$^{−7}$, and for $ {h}_3^{\mathrm{Z}} $ and $ {h}_4^{\mathrm{Z}} $ they are (−2.2, 2.2)×10$^{−4}$ and (−4.1, 4.2)×10$^{−7}$, respectively. These are the strictest limits to date on $ {h}_3^{\upgamma} $, $ {h}_3^{\mathrm{Z}} $ and $ {h}_4^{\mathrm{Z}} $.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

Hayrapetyan, Aram [Yerevan Phys. Inst.]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Measurement of multidifferential cross sections for dijet production in proton–proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

A measurement of the dijet production cross section is reported based on proton–proton collision data collected in 2016 at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of up to 36.3 fb –1 . Jets are reconstructed with the anti-$k$ T algorithm for distance parameters of R = 0.4 and 0.8. Cross sections are measured double-differentially (2D) as a function of the largest absolute rapidity |y| max of the two jets with the highest transverse momenta $p$ T and their invariant mass $m$ 1,2 , and triple-differentially (3D) as a function of the rapidity separation $y$*, the total boost $y$ b , and either $m$ 1,2 or the average $p$ T of the two jets. The cross sections are unfolded to correct for detector effects and are compared with fixed-order calculations derived at next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics. The impact of the measurements on the parton distribution functions and the strong coupling constant at the mass of the Z boson is investigated, yielding a value of $α$ S ($m$ Z ) = 0.1179 ± 0.0019.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Precise test of lepton flavour universality in W -boson decays into muons and electrons in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ =13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The ratio of branching ratios of the $W$ boson to muons and electrons, $R^{μ/e}_{W}$ = $\mathcal{B}$($W$ → $μν$)/$\mathcal{B}$($W$ → $eν$), has been measured using 140 fb -1 of pp collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC, probing the universality of lepton couplings. The ratio is obtained from measurements of the $t\overline{t}$ production cross section in the $ee$, $eμ$ and $μμ$ dilepton final states. To reduce systematic uncertainties, it is normalised by the square root of the corresponding ratio $R^{μμ/ee}_{Z}$ for the Z boson measured in inclusive $Z$ → $ee$ and $Z$ → $μμ$ events. By using the precise value of $R^{μμ/ee}_{Z}$ determined from $e^+$ $e^-$ colliders, the ratio $R^{μ/e}_{W}$ is determined to be $R^{μ/e}_{W}$ = 0.9995 ± 0.0022 (stat) ± 0.0036 (syst) ± 0.0014 (ext). The three uncertainties correspond to data statistics, experimental systematics and the external measurement of $R^{μμ/ee}_{Z}$, giving a total uncertainty of 0.0045, and confirming the Standard Model assumption of lepton flavour universality in $W$ boson decays at the 0.5% level.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Search for the decay of the Higgs boson to a pair of light pseudoscalar bosons in the final state with four bottom quarks in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{\textrm{s}} $ = 13 TeV

A search is presented for the decay of the 125 GeV Higgs boson (H) to a pair of new light pseudoscalar bosons (a), followed by the prompt decay of each a boson to a bottom quark-antiquark pair, $ \textrm{H}\to \textrm{aa}\to \textrm{b}\overline{\textrm{b}}\textrm{b}\overline{\textrm{b}} $. The analysis is performed using a data sample of proton-proton collisions collected with the CMS detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{−1}$. To reduce the background from standard model processes, the search requires the Higgs boson to be produced in association with a leptonically decaying W or Z boson. The analysis probes the production of new light bosons in a 15 < m$_{a}$ < 60 GeV mass range. Assuming the standard model predictions for the Higgs boson production cross sections for pp → WH and ZH, model independent upper limits at 95% confidence level are derived for the branching fraction $ \mathcal{B}\left(\textrm{H}\to \textrm{aa}\to \textrm{b}\overline{\textrm{b}}\textrm{b}\overline{\textrm{b}}\right) $. The combined WH and ZH observed upper limit on the branching fraction ranges from 1.10 for m$_{a}$ = 20 GeV to 0.36 for m$_{a}$ = 60 GeV, complementing other measurements in the μμττ, ττττ and bbℓℓ (ℓ = μ, τ) channels.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

High-precision measurement of the W boson mass with the CMS experiment

In the standard model of particle physics, the masses of the W and Z bosons, the carriers of the weak interaction, are uniquely related. A precise determination of their masses is important because quantum loops of heavy, undiscovered particles could modify this relationship. Although the Z mass is known to the remarkable precision of 22 parts per million (2.0 MeV), the W mass is known much less precisely. A global fit to measured electroweak observables predicts the W mass with 6 MeV uncertainty [1$-$3]. Reaching a comparable experimental precision would be a sensitive and fundamental test of the standard model, made even more urgent by a recent challenge to the global fit prediction by a measurement from the CDF Collaboration at the Fermilab Tevatron collider [4]. Here we report the measurement of the W mass by the CMS Collaboration at the CERN LHC, based on a large data sample of $W \to \mu \nu$ events collected in 2016 at the proton-proton collision energy of 13 TeV. The measurement exploits a high-granularity maximum likelihood fit to the kinematic properties of muons produced in W decays. By combining an accurate determination of experimental effects with marked in situ constraints of theoretical inputs, we reach a precise measurement of the W mass, of 80 360.2 $\pm$ 9.9 MeV, in agreement with the standard model prediction.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Search for a heavy resonance decaying into a Z and a Higgs boson in events with an energetic jet and two electrons, two muons, or missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

A search is presented for a heavy resonance decaying into a Z boson and a Higgs (H) boson. The analysis is based on data from proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{−1}$, recorded with the CMS experiment in the years 2016–2018. Resonance masses between 1.4 and 5 TeV are considered, resulting in large transverse momenta of the Z and H bosons. Final states that result from Z boson decays to pairs of electrons, muons, or neutrinos are considered. The H boson is reconstructed as a single large-radius jet, recoiling against the Z boson. Machine-learning flavour-tagging techniques are employed to identify decays of a Lorentz-boosted H boson into pairs of charm or bottom quarks, or into four quarks via the intermediate H → WW$^{*}$ and ZZ$^{*}$ decays. The analysis targets H boson decays that were not generally included in previous searches using the H → $ \textrm{b}\overline{\textrm{b}} $ channel. Compared with previous analyses, the sensitivity for high resonance masses is improved significantly in the channel where at most one b quark is tagged.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

A search for new physics in central exclusive production using the missing mass technique with the CMS detector and the CMS-TOTEM precision proton spectrometer

A generic search is presented for the associated production of a Z boson or a photon with an additional unspecified massive particle X, pp → pp + Z/γ + X, in proton-tagged events from proton–proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, recorded in 2017 with the CMS detector and the CMS-TOTEM precision proton spectrometer. The missing mass spectrum is analysed in the 600–1600 GeV range and a fit is performed to search for possible deviations from the background expectation. No significant excess in data with respect to the background predictions has been observed. Model-independent upper limits on the visible pro duction cross section of pp → pp + Z/γ + X are set

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Observation of gauge boson joint-polarisation states in W ± Z production from pp collisions at s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Measurements of joint-polarisation states of W and Z gauge bosons in W ± Z production are presented. The data set used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb -1 of proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The W ± Z candidate events are reconstructed using leptonic decay modes of the gauge bosons into electrons and muons. The simultaneous pair-production of longitudinally polarised vector bosons is measured for the first time with a significance of 7.1 standard deviations. The measured joint helicity fractions integrated over the fiducial region are $f$ 00 = 0.067 ± 0.010, $f$ 0T = 0.110 ± 0.029, $f$ T0 = 0.179 ± 0.023 and $f$ TT = 0.644 ± 0.032, in agreement with the next-to-leading-order Standard Model predictions. Individual helicity fractions of the W and Z bosons are also measured and found to be consistent with joint helicity fractions within the expected amounts of correlation. Both the joint and individual helicity fractions are also measured separately in W + Z and W - Z events. Inclusive and differential cross sections for several kinematic observables sensitive to polarisation are presented.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Search for new physics using effective field theory in 13 TeV pp collision events that contain a top quark pair and a boosted Z or Higgs boson

A data sample containing top quark pairs ($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$) produced in association with a Lorentz-boosted Z or Higgs boson is used to search for signs of new physics using effective field theory. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions produced at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC and collected by the CMS experiment. Selected events contain a single lepton and hadronic jets, including two identified with the decay of bottom quarks, plus an additional large-radius jet with high transverse momentum identified as a Z or Higgs boson decaying to a bottom quark pair. Machine learning techniques are employed to discriminate between $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$Z or $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$H events and events from background processes, which are dominated by $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ + jets production. No indications of new physics are observed. The signal strengths of boosted $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$Z and $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$H production are measured, and upper limits are placed on the $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$Z and $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$H differential cross sections as functions of the Z or Higgs boson transverse momentum. The effects of new physics are probed using a framework in which the standard model is considered to be the low-energy effective field theory of a higher energy scale theory. Eight possible dimension-six operators are added to the standard model Lagrangian and their corresponding coefficients are constrained via fits to the data.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Search for an Invisible Z ' in a Final State with Two Muons and Missing Energy at Belle II

The $L_μ – L_τ$ extension of the standard model predicts the existence of a lepton-flavor-universality-violating Z' boson that couples only to the heavier lepton families. We search for such a Z' through its invisible decay in the process $e^+e^– → μ^+μ^–$Z'. We use a sample of electron-positron collisions at a center- of-mass energy of 10.58 GeV collected by the Belle II experiment in 2019-2020, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 79.7 fb –1 . We find no excess over the expected standard-model background. We set 90%-confidence-level upper limits on the cross section for this process as well as on the coupling of the model, which ranges from 3 × 10 –3 at low Z' masses to 1 at Z' masses of 8 GeV=$c^2$.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗