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At least 19 records

Four-top quark physics at the LHC

The production of four top quarks presents a rare process in the Standard Model that provides unique opportunities and sensitivity to Standard Model observables including potential enhancement of many popular new physics extensions. This article summarises the latest experimental measurements of the four-top quark production cross section at the LHC. An overview is provided detailing interpretations of the experimental results regarding the top quark Yukawa coupling in addition to the limits on physics beyond the Standard Model. Further, prospects for future measurements and opportunities offered by this challenging final state are given herein.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Observation of four top quark production in proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV

The observation of the production of four top quarks in proton-proton collisions is reported, based on a data sample collected by the CMS experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV in 2016–2018 at the CERN LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb − 1 . Events with two same-sign, three, or four charged leptons (electrons and muons) and additional jets are analyzed. Compared to previous results in these channels, updated identification techniques for charged leptons and jets originating from the hadronization of b quarks, as well as a revised multivariate analysis strategy to distinguish the signal process from the main backgrounds, lead to an improved expected signal significance of 4.9 standard deviations above the background-only hypothesis. Four top quark production is observed with a significance of 5.6 standard deviations, and its cross section is measured to be 17.7 − 3.5 + 3.7 (stat) − 1.9 + 2.3 (syst) fb , in agreement with the available standard model predictions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Evidence for four-top quark production in proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV

The production of four top quarks ($\mathrm{t\bar{t}t\bar{t}}$) is studied with LHC proton-proton collision data samples collected by the CMS experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, and corresponding to integrated luminosities of up to 138 fb$^{-1}$. Events that have no leptons (all-hadronic), one lepton, or two opposite-sign leptons (where lepton refers only to prompt electrons or prompt muons) are considered. This is the first $\mathrm{t\bar{t}t\bar{t}}$ measurement that includes the all-hadronic final state. The observed significance of the $\mathrm{t\bar{t}t\bar{t}}$ signal in these final states of 3.9 standard deviations (1.5 expected) provides evidence for $\mathrm{t\bar{t}t\bar{t}}$ production, with a measured cross section of 36 $^{+12}_{-11}$ fb. Combined with earlier CMS results in other final states, the signal significance is 4.0 standard deviations (3.2 expected). The combination returns an observed cross section of 17 $\pm$ 4 (stat) $\pm$ 3 (syst) fb, which is consistent with the standard model prediction.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Observation of four-top-quark production in the multilepton final state with the ATLAS detector

This paper presents the observation of four-top-quark ($t$$\overline{t}$$t$$\overline{t}$) production in proton-proton collisions at the LHC. The analysis is performed using an integrated luminosity of 140 fb -1 at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected using the ATLAS detector. Events containing two leptons with the same electric charge or at least three leptons (electrons or muons) are selected. Event kinematics are used to separate signal from background through a multivariate discriminant, and dedicated control regions are used to constrain the dominant backgrounds. The observed (expected) significance of the measured $t$$\overline{t}$$t$$\overline{t}$ signal with respect to the standard model (SM) background-only hypothesis is 6.1 (4.3) standard deviations. The $t$$\overline{t}$$t$$\overline{t}$ production cross section is measured to be ${22.5}^{+6.6}_{-5.5}$, consistent with the SM prediction of 12.0 ± 2.4 fb within 1.8 standard deviations. Data are also used to set limits on the three-top-quark production cross section, being an irreducible background not measured previously, and to constrain the top-Higgs Yukawa coupling and effective field theory operator coefficients that affect $t$$\overline{t}$$t$$\overline{t}$ production.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Search for production of four top quarks in final states with same-sign or multiple leptons in proton–proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ ${TeV}$

The standard model (SM) production of four top quarks ($\text {t} {}{\overline{\text {t}}} \text {t} {}{\overline{\text {t}}} $) in proton–proton collisions is studied by the CMS Collaboration. The data sample, collected during the 2016–2018 data taking of the LHC, corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 137$\,\text {fb}^{-1}$ at a center-of-mass energy of 13$\,\text {TeV}$. The events are required to contain two same-sign charged leptons (electrons or muons) or at least three leptons, and jets. The observed and expected significances for the $\text {t} {}{\overline{\text {t}}} \text {t} {}{\overline{\text {t}}} $ signal are respectively 2.6 and 2.7 standard deviations, and the $\text {t} {}{\overline{\text {t}}} \text {t} {}{\overline{\text {t}}} $ cross section is measured to be $12.6^{+5.8}_{-5.2}\,\text {fb} $. The results are used to constrain the Yukawa coupling of the top quark to the Higgs boson, $y_{\text {t}}$, yielding a limit of $|y_{\text {t}}/y_{\text {t}}^{\mathrm {SM}} | < 1.7$ at $95\%$ confidence level, where $y_{\text {t}}^{\mathrm {SM}}$ is the SM value of $y_{\text {t}}$. They are also used to constrain the oblique parameter of the Higgs boson in an effective field theory framework, $\hat{H}<0.12$. Limits are set on the production of a heavy scalar or pseudoscalar boson in Type-II two-Higgs-doublet and simplified dark matter models, with exclusion limits reaching 350–470$\,\text {GeV}$ and 350–550$\,\text {GeV}$ for scalar and pseudoscalar bosons, respectively. Upper bounds are also set on couplings of the top quark to new light particles.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Constraint on the total width of the Higgs boson from Higgs boson and four-top-quark measurements in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This Letter presents a constraint on the total width of the Higgs boson (Γ H ) using a combined measurement of on-shell Higgs boson production and the production of four top quarks, which involves contributions from off-shell Higgs boson-mediated processes. This method relies on the assumption that the tree-level Higgs-top Yukawa coupling strength is the same for on-shell and off-shell Higgs boson production processes, thereby avoiding any assumptions about the relationship between on-shell and off-shell gluon fusion Higgs production rates, which were central to previous measurements. The result is based on up to 140 fb -1 of proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The observed (expected) 95% confidence level upper limit on Γ H is 450 MeV (75 MeV). Additionally, considering the constraint on the Higgs-top Yukawa coupling from loop-induced Higgs boson production and decay processes further yields an observed (expected) upper limit of 160 MeV (55 MeV).

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of the $t\bar{t} t\bar{t}$ production cross section in pp collisions at $ \sqrt{s} $ = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A measurement of four-top-quark production using proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb -1 is presented. Events are selected if they contain a single lepton (electron or muon) or an opposite-sign lepton pair, in association with multiple jets. The events are categorised according to the number of jets and how likely these are to contain b-hadrons. A multivariate technique is then used to discriminate between signal and background events. The measured four-top-quark production cross section is found to be 26$^{+17}_{-15}$ fb, with a corresponding observed (expected) significance of 1.9 (1.0) standard deviations over the background-only hypothesis. The result is combined with the previous measurement performed by the ATLAS Collaboration in the multilepton final state. The combined four-top-quark production cross section is measured to be 24$^{+7}_{-6}$ fb, with a corresponding observed (expected) signal significance of 4.7 (2.6) standard deviations over the background-only predictions. It is consistent within 2.0 standard deviations with the Standard Model expectation of 12.0 ± 2.4 fb.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

$t\overline{t}t\overline{t}$ signatures through the lens of color-octet scalars

We reinterpret two recent LHC searches for events containing four top quarks ($t\overline{t}t\overline{t}$) in the context of supersymmetric models with Dirac gauginos and color-octet scalars (sgluons). We explore whether sgluon contributions to the four-top production cross section σ ($pp$ → $t\overline{t}t\overline{t}$) can accommodate an excess of four-top events recently reported by the ATLAS collaboration. We also study constraints on these models from an ATLAS search for new phenomena with high jet multiplicity and significant missing transverse energy ($E^{miss}_{T}$) sensitive to signals with four top quarks. We find that these two analyses provide complementary constraints, with the jets + $E^{miss}_{T}$ search exceeding the four-top cross section measurement in sensitivity for sgluons heavier than about 800 GeV. We ultimately find that either a scalar or a pseudoscalar sgluon can currently fit the ATLAS excess in a range of reasonable benchmark scenarios, though a pseudoscalar in minimal Dirac gaugino models is ruled out. We finally offer sensitivity projections for these analyses at the HL-LHC, mapping the 5σ discovery potential in sgluon parameter space and computing exclusion limits at 95% CL in scenarios where no excess is found.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Search for heavy Higgs bosons with flavour-violating couplings in multi-lepton plus b-jets final states in pp collisions at 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for new heavy scalars with flavour-violating decays in final states with multiple leptons and b-tagged jets is presented. The results are interpreted in terms of a general two-Higgs-doublet model involving an additional scalar with couplings to the top-quark and the three up-type quarks (ρ tt , ρ tc , and ρ tu ). The targeted signals lead to final states with either a same-sign top-quark pair, three top-quarks, or four top-quarks. The search is based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector during Run 2 of the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb –1 . Events are categorised depending on the multiplicity of light charged leptons (electrons or muons), total lepton charge, and a deep-neural-network output to enhance the purity of each of the signals. Masses of an additional scalar boson m H between 200 – 630 GeV with couplings ρ tt = 0.4, ρ tc = 0.2, and ρ tu = 0.2 are excluded at 95% confidence level. Additional interpretations are provided in models of R-parity violating supersymmetry, motivated by the recent flavour and (g – 2) μ anomalies.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Evidence for $t\bar{t}t\bar{t}$ production in the multilepton final state in proton–proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ $\text {TeV}$ with the ATLAS detector

A search is presented for four-top-quark production using an integrated luminosity of 139 fb –1 of proton–proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Events are selected if they contain a same-sign lepton pair or at least three leptons (electrons or muons). Jet multiplicity, jet flavour and event kinematics are used to separate signal from the background through a multivariate discriminant, and dedicated control regions are used to constrain the dominant backgrounds. The four-top-quark production cross section is measured to be $24^{+7}_{–6}$ fb. This corresponds to an observed (expected) significance with respect to the background-only hypothesis of 4.3 (2.4) standard deviations and provides evidence for this process.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

γ 5 schemes and the interplay of SMEFT operators in the Higgs-gluon coupling

We calculate the four-top-quark operator contributions to Higgs production via gluon fusion in the Standard Model effective field theory. The four-top operators enter for the first time via two-loop diagrams. Owing to their chiral structure they contain γ 5 , so special care needs to be taken when using dimensional regularization for the loop integrals. We use two different schemes for the continuation of γ 5 to D space-time dimensions in our calculations and present a mapping for the parameters in the two schemes. This generically leads to an interplay of different operators, such as four-top operators, chromomagnetic operators, or Yukawa-type operators at the loop level. We validate our results by examples of matching onto UV models. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Di Noi, Stefano (ORCID:0000000211404073)↗

Parameter inference from event ensembles and the top-quark mass

One of the key tasks of any particle collider is measurement. In practice, this is often done by fitting data to a simulation, which depends on many parameters. Sometimes, when the effects of varying different parameters are highly correlated, a large ensemble of data may be needed to resolve parameter-space degeneracies. An important example is measuring the top-quark mass, where other physical and unphysical parameters in the simulation must be profiled when fitting the top-quark mass parameter. We compare four different methodologies for top-quark mass measurement: a classical histogram fit similar to one commonly used in experiment augmented by soft-drop jet grooming; a 2D profile likelihood fit with a nuisance parameter; a machine-learning method called DCTR; and a linear regression approach, either using a least-squares fit or with a dense linearly-activated neural network. Despite the fact that individual events are totally uncorrelated, we find that the linear regression methods work most effectively when we input an ensemble of events sorted by mass, rather than training them on individual events. Although all methods provide robust extraction of the top-quark mass parameter, the linear network does marginally best and is remarkably simple. For the top study, we conclude that the Monte-Carlo-based uncertainty on current extractions of the top-quark mass from LHC data can be reduced significantly (by perhaps a factor of 2) using networks trained on sorted event ensembles. More generally, machine learning from ensembles for parameter estimation has broad potential for collider physics measurements.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Multi-top signals of vectorlike quarks at the LHC

We point out that events with 6 or more top quarks may be observed at the LHC if certain particles exist at the TeV scale. In a model where a vectorlike quark of charge 2/3 decays into a top quark and a pseudoscalar particle, which subsequently decays into a top-antitop pair, the LHC production cross section for events with 6 top quarks may be above 10 fb. If the pseudoscalar is part of a complex scalar field, then longer cascade decays, involving the scalar partner, may lead to events with 8 or even 10 top quarks. We show that for a region of parameter space the dominant LHC signal in this model is 8 top quarks (i.e., four $t\bar{t}$ pairs). The ensuing signals would be spectacular, including many leptons and b jets. A discovery in that case would allow several cross section measurements that may determine the masses of all three new particles.

Specific BSM Phenomenology↗

Impact of Next-to-Leading-Order Weak Standard-Model-Effective-Field-Theory Corrections in e + e − → Z H

We present results from a complete next-to-leading order (NLO) calculation of e + e − → Z H in the standard model effective field theory (SMEFT) framework, including all contributions from dimension-six operators. At NLO, there are novel dependencies on CP violating parameters in the gauge sector, on modifications to the Higgs boson self-couplings, on alterations to the top quark Yukawa couplings, and on four-fermion operators involving the electron and the top quark, among others. We show that including only the logarithms resulting from renormalization group scaling can produce misleading results, and further, we explicitly demonstrate the constraining power of combining measurements from different energy scales. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Real corrections to Higgs boson pair production at NNLO in the large top quark mass limit

In this paper we consider the next-to-next-to-leading order total cross section of Higgs boson pair production in the large top quark mass limit and compute four expansion terms in 1 $ {m}_t^2 $ . To this end, we analytically compute the real-virtual and double-real contributions to the total cross section and combine them with the existing virtual contribution. Good convergence is observed below the top quark threshold, which makes our results a valuable input for approximation methods which aim for next-to-next-to-leading order corrections over the whole kinematic range. We present details on various steps of our calculation; in particular, we provide results for three- and four-particle phase-space master integrals and describe in detail the evaluation of the collinear counterterms.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

One-loop analysis of β decays in SMEFT

We perform a loop-level analysis of charged-current (CC) processes involving light leptons and quarks within the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT). This work is motivated by the high precision reached in experiment and Standard Model calculations for CC decays of mesons, neutron, and nuclei, and by a lingering tension in the Cabibbo universality test. We identify the SMEFT operators that induce the largest loop-level contributions to CC processes. These include four-quark and four-fermion semileptonic operators involving two third-generation quarks. We discuss the available constraints on the relevant effective couplings and along the way we derive new loop-level bounds from K → πν$\overline{v}$ on four-quark operators involving two top quarks. We find that low-energy CC processes are quite competitive with other probes, set constraints that do not depend on flavor-symmetry assumptions, and probe operators involving third-generation quarks up to effective scales of Λ ≃ 8 TeV. Finally, we briefly discuss single-field ultraviolet completions that could induce the relevant operators.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of the energy asymmetry in $t\bar{t} j$ production at 13 TeV with the ATLAS experiment and interpretation in the SMEFT framework

A measurement of the energy asymmetry in jet-associated top-quark pair production is presented using 139fb -1 of data collected by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider during pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ =13TeV. The observable measures the different probability of top and antitop quarks to have the higher energy as a function of the jet scattering angle with respect to the beam axis. The energy asymmetry is measured in the semileptonic $t\bar{t}$ decay channel, and the hadronically decaying top quark must have transverse momentum above 350GeV. The results are corrected for detector effects to particle level in three bins of the scattering angle of the associated jet. The measurement agrees with the SM prediction at next-to-leading-order accuracy in quantum chromodynamics in all three bins. In the bin with the largest expected asymmetry, where the jet is emitted perpendicular to the beam, the energy asymmetry is measured to be -0.043 ± 0.020, in agreement with the SM prediction of -0.037 ± 0.003. Interpreting this result in the framework of the Standard Model effective field theory (SMEFT), it is shown that the energy asymmetry is sensitive to the top-quark chirality in four-quark operators and is therefore a valuable new observable in global SMEFT fits.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗