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At least 163 records · Page 9

Measurement of forward W and Z boson production in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV

Measurements are presented of electroweak boson production using data from pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV. The analysis is based on an integrated luminosity of 2.0 fb –1 recorded with the LHCb detector. The bosons are identified in the W → μν and Z → μ + μ – decay channels. The cross-sections are measured for muons in the pseudorapidity range 2.0 < η < 4.5, with transverse momenta p T >20 GeV/c and, in the case of the Z boson, a dimuon mass within 60 < M$_{μ^{+}μ–}$ < 120 GeV/c. The results are σ$_{W^{+}→μ^{+}ν}$ = 1093.6 ± 2.1 ± 7.2 ± 10.9 ± 12.7 pb, σ$_{W^{–}→μ^{–}\bar{ν}}$ = 818.4 ± 1.9 ± 5.0 ± 7.0 ± 9.5 pb, σ$_{Z→μ^{+}μ–}$ = 95.0 ± 0.3 ± 0.7 ± 1.1 ± 1.1 pb, where the first uncertainties are statistical, the second are systematic, the third are due to the knowledge of the LHC beam energy and the fourth are due to the luminosity determination. The evolution of the W and Z boson cross-sections with centre-of-mass energy is studied using previously reported measurements with 1.0 fb –1 of data at 7 TeV. Differential distributions are also presented. Results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions at next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Prospects for a measurement of the W boson mass in the all-jets final state at hadron colliders

Precise measurements of the mass of the W boson are important to test the overall consistency of the Standard Model of particle physics. The current best measurements of the W boson mass come from single production measurements at hadron colliders in its decay mode to a lepton (electron or muon) and a neutrino and pair production of W bosons at lepton colliders, where both the leptonic and hadronic decay modes of the W boson have been considered. In this study, prospects for a measurement of the W boson mass in the all-jet final state at hadron colliders are presented. The feasibility of this measurement takes advantage of numerous recent developments in the field of jet substructure. Compared to other methods for measuring the W mass, a measurement in the all-jets final state would be complementary in methodology and have systematic uncertainties orthogonal to previous measurements. We have estimated the main experimental and theoretical uncertainties affecting a measurement in the all-jet final state. With new trigger strategies, a statistical uncertainty for the measurement of the mass difference between the Z and W bosons of 30 MeV could be reached with HL-LHC data corresponding to 3000 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. However, in order to reach that precision, the current understanding of non-perturbative contributions to the invariant mass of W → $ q\overline{q}^{\prime } $ and Z → $ b\overline{b} $ jets will need to be refined. Similar strategies will also allow the reach for generic boosted resonances searches in hadronic channels to be extended.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of the inclusive WZ production cross section in pp collisions at $\sqrt{\textrm{s}}$ = 13.6 TeV

The inclusive WZ production cross section is measured in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13.6 TeV, using data collected during 2022 with the CMS detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 34.7 fb −1 . The measurement uses multileptonic final states and a simultaneous likelihood fit to the number of events in four different lepton flavour categories: eee, ee μ , μμ e, and μμμ . The selection is optimized to minimize the number of background events, and relies on an efficient prompt lepton discrimination strategy. The WZ production cross section is measured in a phase space defined within a 30 GeV window around the Z boson mass, as σ total (pp → WZ) = 55.2 ± 1.2 (stat) ± 1.2 (syst) ± 0.8 (lumi) ± 0.3 (theo) pb. In addition, the cross section is measured in a fiducial phase space closer to the detector-level requirements. All the measurements presented in this paper are in agreement with standard model predictions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of forward W and Z boson production in association with jets in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV

The production of W and Z bosons in association with jets is studied in the forward region of proton-proton collisions collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.98 ± 0.02 fb –1 . The W boson is identified using its decay to a muon and a neutrino, while the Z boson is identified through its decay to a muon pair. Total cross-sections are measured and combined into charge ratios, asymmetries, and ratios of W +jet and Z+jet production cross-sections. Differential measurements are also performed as a function of both boson and jet kinematic variables. All results are in agreement with Standard Model predictions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of the very rare K+ → $ {\pi}^{+}\nu \overline{\nu} $ decay

The NA62 experiment reports the branching ratio measurement BR K + → π + ν ν ¯ = 10.6 - 3.4 + 4.0 stat ± 0.9 syst × 10 - 11 at 68% CL, based on the observation of 20 signal candidates with an expected background of 7.0 events from the total data sample collected at the CERN SPS during 2016–2018. This provides evidence for the very rare K + → π + ν ν ¯ decay, observed with a significance of 3.4 σ . The experiment achieves a single event sensitivity of (0 . 839 ± 0 . 054) × 10 - 11 , corresponding to 10.0 events assuming the Standard Model branching ratio of (8 . 4 ± 1 . 0) × 10 - 11 . This measurement is also used to set limits on BR( K + → π + X ), where X is a scalar or pseudo-scalar particle. Details are given of the analysis of the 2018 data sample, which corresponds to about 80% of the total data sample.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of the Z boson production cross-section in proton-lead collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}}$ = 8.16 TeV

This article presents the first measurement of the differential Z-boson production cross-section in the forward region using proton-lead collisions with the LHCb detector. The dataset was collected at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV in 2016, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 30.8 nb –1 . The forward-backward ratio and the nuclear modification factors are measured together with the differential cross-section as functions of the Z boson rapidity in the centre-of-mass frame, the transverse momentum of the Z boson and a geometric variable $\phi$*. The results are in good agreement with the predictions from nuclear parton distribution functions, providing strong constraining power at small Bjorken-x.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Studies of Zγ production in association with a high-mass dijet system in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV with the ATLAS detector

The production of a Z boson and a photon in association with a high-mass dijet system is studied using 20.2 fb -1 of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 8 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector in 2012 at the Large Hadron Collider. Final states with a photon and a Z boson decaying into a pair of either electrons, muons, or neutrinos are analysed. Electroweak and total pp → Zγjj cross-sections are extracted in two fiducial regions with different sensitivities to electroweak production processes. Quartic couplings of vector bosons are studied in regions of phase space with an enhanced contribution from pure electroweak production, sensitive to vector-boson scattering processes VV → Zγ. Finally, no deviations from Standard Model predictions are observed and constraints are placed on anomalous couplings parameterized by higher-dimensional operators using effective field theory.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Analysis of the Wtb vertex from the measurement of triple-differential angular decay rates of single top quarks produced in the t -channel at $ \sqrt{s}=8 $ TeV with the ATLAS detector

The electroweak production and subsequent decay of single top quarks in the t-channel is determined by the properties of the Wtb vertex, which can be described by the complex parameters of an effective Lagrangian. We use an analysis of a triple-differential decay rate in t-channel production to simultaneously determine five generalised helicity fractions and phases, as well as the polarisation of the produced top quark. The complex parameters are then constrained. This analysis is based on 20.2 fb -1 of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The fraction of decays containing transversely polarised W bosons is measured to be f 1 = 0.30 ± 0.05. The phase between amplitudes for transversely and longitudinally polarised W bosons recoiling against left-handed b-quarks is measured to be δ - = 0.002π + 0.017π + 0.016π , giving no indication of CP violation. The fractions of longitudinal or transverse W bosons accompanied by right-handed b-quarks are also constrained. Based on these measurements, limits are placed at 95% CL on the ratio of the complex coupling parameters Re [g R /V L ϵ [-0.12, 0.17] and Im [g R /V L ϵ [-0.07, 0.06]. Constraints are also placed on the ratios |V R /V L | and |g L /V L |. Additionally, the polarisation of single top quarks in the t-channel is constrained to be P > 0.72 (95% CL). None of the above measurements make assumptions about the value of any of the other parameters or couplings and all of them are in agreement with the Standard Model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

First evaluation of meson and τ lepton spectra and search for heavy neutral leptons at ILC beam dump

A beam dump experiment can be seamlessly added to the proposed Inter- national Linear Collider (ILC) program because the high energy electron beam should be dumped after the collision point. The ILC beam dump experiment will provide an excellent opportunity to search for new long-lived particles. Since many of them can be produced by a rare decay of standard model particles, we evaluate spectra of the mesons and τ lepton at the decay based on the PHITS and PYTHIA8 simulations. As a motivated physics case, we study the projected sensitivity of heavy neutral leptons at the ILC beam dump experiment. The heavy neutral leptons can also be produced via deep inelastic scattering and Z boson decay at the ILC main detector, which we include in the projection. With the multi-track signal, the reach would be greatly extended in mass and coupling, even compared with the other proposed searches.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Evidence of pair production of longitudinally polarised vector bosons and study of CP properties in ZZ → 4ℓ events with the ATLAS detector at $ \sqrt{s} $ = 13 TeV

A study of the polarisation and CP properties in ZZ production is presented. The used data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb –1 of proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The ZZ candidate events are reconstructed using two same-flavour opposite-charge electron or muon pairs. The production of two longitudinally polarised Z bosons is measured with a significance of 4.3 standard deviations, and its cross-section is measured in a fiducial phase space to be 2.45 ± 0.60 fb, consistent with the next-to-leading-order Standard Model prediction. The inclusive differential cross-section as a function of a CP-sensitive angular observable is also measured. The results are used to constrain anomalous CP-odd neutral triple gauge couplings.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Magnetic properties versus interface density in rigid-exchange-coupled amorphous multilayers with induced uniaxial anisotropy

We demonstrate the possibility to tune the saturation magnetization, coercivity, and uniaxial in-plane anisotropy constant in amorphous bilayers and multilayers of Co 85 (Al 70 Zr 30 ) 15 and Sm 11 Co 82 Ti 7 through the interface density. From magnetometry and x-ray circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements, we conclude that the easy-axis coercivity μ 0 H c increases four times when the number of bilayer repetitions, N, increases from 1 to 10 within a constant total sample thickness of 20 nm. At the same time, the anisotropy constant K u also increases by a factor four, whereas the saturation magnetization M s decreases slightly. The Co spin and orbital moments, m s and m l , are found to be approximately constant within the sample series. The average total Co moment is only 0.8-0.9 μ B /atom, but the m l /m s ratio is strongly enhanced compared to pure Co. Magnetization curves extracted from XMCD measurements show that the Co and Sm moments are ferromagnetically coupled for all samples.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Sensitivity of nEXO to 136 Xe charged-current interactions: Background-free searches for solar neutrinos and fermionic dark matter

We study the sensitivity of nEXO to solar neutrino charged-current interactions, 𝜈 𝑒 + 136 Xe → 136 Cs*+𝑒 − , as well as analogous interactions predicted by models of fermionic dark matter. Due to the recently observed low-lying isomeric states of 136 Cs, these interactions will create a time-delayed coincident signal observable in the scintillation channel. Here we develop a detailed Monte Carlo simulation of scintillation emission, propagation, and detection in the nEXO detector to model these signals under different assumptions about the timing resolution of the photosensor readout. We show this correlated signal can be used to achieve background discrimination on the order of 10 −9 , enabling nEXO to make background-free measurements of solar neutrinos above the reaction threshold of 0.668 MeV. We project that nEXO could measure the flux of neutrinos from the carbon-nitrogen-oxygen cycle with a statistical uncertainty of 25%, thus contributing a novel and competitive measurement toward addressing the solar metallicity problem. Additionally, nEXO could measure the mean energy of the 7 Be neutrinos with a precision of 𝜎 ≤ 1.5 keV and could determine the survival probability of 7 Be and pep solar 𝜈𝑒 with precision comparable to the state of the art. These quantities are sensitive to the Sun’s core temperature and to nonstandard neutrino interactions, respectively. Here, the strong background suppression would allow nEXO to search for charged-current interactions of fermionic dark matter in the mass range 𝑚 𝜒 = 0.668–7 MeV with a sensitivity up to three orders of magnitude better than current limits.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

New physics particles mixing with mesons: Production in the fragmentation chain

A class of extensions to the Standard Model adds hypothetical long-lived particles (LLPs) that have mass- or kinetic-mixing with neutral mesons, such as pions or rho mesons. The mixing can contribute significantly to the production of LLPs at proton accelerator experiments, and no consistent description of these production modes exists in the literature. In this paper, we develop a framework for studying different LLPs—dark photons, vector mediators coupled to the baryon current, and axionlike particles with different coupling patterns. In particular, we implement the production mechanisms in PYTHIA 8, study how the overall flux and kinematic distributions depend on the LLP’s mass, and compare various subprocesses where the mixing contributes—proton bremsstrahlung, meson decay, and production in the fragmentation chain. We find that our new description of LLP production predicts an integrated flux that differs from current approaches by one to two orders of magnitude, and highlight the unavoidable theoretical uncertainties coming from poor knowledge of the properties of heavy mesons.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗