Showing papers by "Armen Tumasyan published in 2018"

Identification of heavy-flavour jets with the CMS detector in pp collisions at 13 TeV

Abstract: Many measurements and searches for physics beyond the standard model at the LHC rely on the efficient identification of heavy-flavour jets, i.e. jets originating from bottom or charm quarks. In this paper, the discriminating variables and the algorithms used for heavy-flavour jet identification during the first years of operation of the CMS experiment in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, are presented. Heavy-flavour jet identification algorithms have been improved compared to those used previously at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. For jets with transverse momenta in the range expected in simulated events, these new developments result in an efficiency of 68% for the correct identification of a b jet for a probability of 1% of misidentifying a light-flavour jet. The improvement in relative efficiency at this misidentification probability is about 15%, compared to previous CMS algorithms. In addition, for the first time algorithms have been developed to identify jets containing two b hadrons in Lorentz-boosted event topologies, as well as to tag c jets. The large data sample recorded in 2016 at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV has also allowed the development of new methods to measure the efficiency and misidentification probability of heavy-flavour jet identification algorithms. The b jet identification efficiency is measured with a precision of a few per cent at moderate jet transverse momenta (between 30 and 300 GeV) and about 5% at the highest jet transverse momenta (between 500 and 1000 GeV).

Performance of the CMS muon detector and muon reconstruction with proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV

Abstract: The CMS muon detector system, muon reconstruction software, and high-level trigger underwent significant changes in 2013–2014 in preparation for running at higher LHC collision energy and instantaneous luminosity. The performance of the modified system is studied using proton-proton collision data at center-of-mass energy √s=13 TeV, collected at the LHC in 2015 and 2016. The measured performance parameters, including spatial resolution, efficiency, and timing, are found to meet all design specifications and are well reproduced by simulation. Despite the more challenging running conditions, the modified muon system is found to perform as well as, and in many aspects better than, previously. We dedicate this paper to the memory of Prof. Alberto Benvenuti, whose work was fundamental for the CMS muon detector.

Search for Heavy Neutral Leptons in Events with Three Charged Leptons in Proton-Proton Collisions at √s = 13 TeV

Abstract: A search for a heavy neutral lepton N of Majorana nature decaying into a W boson and a charged lepton is performed using the CMS detector at the LHC. The targeted signature consists of three prompt charged leptons in any flavor combination of electrons and muons. The data were collected in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, with an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb^(−1). The search is performed in the N mass range between 1 GeV and 1.2 TeV. The data are found to be consistent with the expected standard model background. Upper limits are set on the values of |V_(eN)|^2and |V_(μN)|^2, where V_(lN) is the matrix element describing the mixing of N with the standard model neutrino of flavor l. These are the first direct limits for N masses above 500 GeV and the first limits obtained at a hadron collider for N masses below 40 GeV.

Search for narrow and broad dijet resonances in proton-proton collisions at √s=13 TeV and constraints on dark matter mediators and other new particles

Abstract: Searches for resonances decaying into pairs of jets are performed using proton-proton collision data collected at s√=13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of up to 36 fb−1. A low-mass search, for resonances with masses between 0.6 and 1.6 TeV, is performed based on events with dijets reconstructed at the trigger level from calorimeter information. A high-mass search, for resonances with masses above 1.6 TeV, is performed using dijets reconstructed offline with a particle-flow algorithm. The dijet mass spectrum is well described by a smooth parameterization and no 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 7.7 TeV, scalar diquarks below 7.2 TeV, axigluons and colorons below 6.1 TeV, excited quarks below 6.0 TeV, color-octet scalars below 3.4 TeV, W′ bosons below 3.3 TeV, Z′ bosons below 2.7 TeV, Randall-Sundrum gravitons below 1.8 TeV and in the range 1.9 to 2.5 TeV, and dark matter mediators below 2.6 TeV. The limits on both vector and axial-vector mediators, in a simplified model of interactions between quarks and dark matter particles, are presented as functions of dark matter particle mass and coupling to quarks. Searches are also presented for broad resonances, including for the first time spin-1 resonances with intrinsic widths as large as 30% of the resonance mass. The broad resonance search improves and extends the exclusions of a dark matter mediator to larger values of its mass and coupling to quarks.

Combined search for electroweak production of charginos and neutralinos in proton-proton collisions at √s=13 TeV

Abstract: A statistical combination of several searches for the electroweak production of charginos and neutralinos is presented. All searches use proton-proton collision data at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV, recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2016 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$. In addition to the combination of previous searches, a targeted analysis requiring three or more charged leptons (electrons or muons) is presented, focusing on the challenging scenario in which the difference in mass between the two least massive neutralinos is approximately equal to the mass of the Z boson. The results are interpreted in simplified models of chargino-neutralino or neutralino pair production. For chargino-neutralino production, in the case when the lightest neutralino is massless, the combination yields an observed (expected) limit at the 95% confidence level on the chargino mass of up to 650 (570) GeV, improving upon the individual analysis limits by up to 40 GeV. If the mass difference between the two least massive neutralinos is approximately equal to the mass of the Z boson in the chargino-neutralino model, the targeted search requiring three or more leptons obtains observed and expected exclusion limits of around 225 GeV on the second neutralino mass and 125 GeV on the lightest neutralino mass, improving the observed limit by about 60 GeV in both masses compared to the previous CMS result. In the neutralino pair production model, the combined observed (expected) exclusion limit on the neutralino mass extends up to 650–750 (550–750) GeV, depending on the branching fraction assumed. This extends the observed exclusion achieved in the individual analyses by up to 200 GeV. The combined result additionally excludes some intermediate gaps in the mass coverage of the individual analyses.

Search for electroweak production of charginos and neutralinos in multilepton final states in proton-proton collisions at √s=13 TeV

Abstract: Results are presented from a search for the direct electroweak production of charginos and neutralinos in signatures with either two or more leptons (electrons or muons) of the same electric charge, or with three or more leptons, which can include up to two hadronically decaying tau leptons. The results are based on a sample of proton-proton collision data collected at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV, recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$. The observed event yields are consistent with the expectations based on the standard model. The results are interpreted in simplified models of supersymmetry describing various scenarios for the production and decay of charginos and neutralinos. Depending on the model parameters chosen, mass values between 180 GeV and 1150 GeV are excluded at 95% CL. These results significantly extend the parameter space probed for these particles in searches at the LHC. In addition, results are presented in a form suitable for alternative theoretical interpretations.

Search for new physics in final states with an energetic jet or a hadronically decaying W or Z boson and transverse momentum imbalance at s =13 TeV

Abstract: A search for new physics using events containing an imbalance in transverse momentum and one or more energetic jets arising from initial-state radiation or the hadronic decay of W or Z bosons is presented. A data sample of proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV, collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb-1, is used. The observed data are found to be in agreement with the expectation from standard model processes. The results are interpreted as limits on the dark matter production cross section in simplified models with vector, axial-vector, scalar, and pseudoscalar mediators. Interpretations in the context of fermion portal and nonthermal dark matter models are also provided. In addition, the results are interpreted in terms of invisible decays of the Higgs boson and set stringent limits on the fundamental Planck scale in the Arkani-Hamed, Dimopoulos, and Dvali model with large extra spatial dimensions.

Measurement of the inelastic proton-proton cross section at √s=13 TeV

Abstract: A measurement of the inelastic proton-proton cross section with the CMS detector at a center-of-mass energy of $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV is presented. The analysis is based on events with energy deposits in the forward calorimeters, which cover pseudorapidities of −6.6 4.1 GeV and/or M$_{Y}$ > 13 GeV, where M$_{X}$ and M$_{Y}$ are the masses of the diffractive dissociation systems at negative and positive pseudorapidities, respectively. The results are compared with those from other experiments as well as to predictions from high-energy hadron-hadron interaction models.

Observation of electroweak production of same-sign W boson pairs in the two jet and two same-sign lepton final state in proton-proton collisions at s√= 13 TeV

Abstract: The first observation of electroweak production of same-sign W boson pairs in proton-proton collisions is reported The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 359 fb^(−1) collected at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC Events are selected by requiring exactly two leptons (electrons or muons) of the same charge, moderate missing transverse momentum, and two jets with a large rapidity separation and a large dijet mass The observed significance of the signal is 55 standard deviations, where a significance of 57 standard deviations is expected based on the standard model The ratio of measured event yields to that expected from the standard model at leading order is 090 ± 022 A cross section measurement in a fiducial region is reported Bounds are given on the structure of quartic vector boson interactions in the framework of dimension-8 effective field theory operators and on the production of doubly charged Higgs bosons

Search for additional neutral MSSM Higgs bosons in the τ τ final state in proton-proton collisions at √s=13 TeV

Abstract: A search is presented for additional neutral Higgs bosons in the τ τ final state in proton-proton collisions at the LHC. The search is performed in the context of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model (MSSM), using the data collected with the CMS detector in 2016 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1. To enhance the sensitivity to neutral MSSM Higgs bosons, the search includes production of the Higgs boson in association with b quarks. No significant deviation above the expected background is observed. Model-independent limits at 95% confidence level (CL) are set on the product of the branching fraction for the decay into τ leptons and the cross section for the production via gluon fusion or in association with b quarks. These limits range from 18 pb at 90 GeV to 3.5 fb at 3.2 TeV for gluon fusion and from 15 pb (at 90 GeV) to 2.5 fb (at 3.2 TeV) for production in association with b quarks, assuming a narrow width resonance. In the m h hod + scenario these limits translate into a 95% CL exclusion of tan β > 6 for neutral Higgs boson masses below 250 GeV, where tan β is the ratio of the vacuum expectation values of the neutral components of the two Higgs doublets. The 95% CL exclusion contour reaches 1.6 TeV for tan β = 60.

Performance of reconstruction and identification of τ leptons decaying to hadrons and vτ in pp collisions at √s=13 TeV

Abstract: The algorithm developed by the CMS Collaboration to reconstruct and identify τ leptons produced in proton-proton collisions at √s=7 and 8 TeV, via their decays to hadrons and a neutrino, has been significantly improved. The changes include a revised reconstruction of π0 candidates, and improvements in multivariate discriminants to separate τ leptons from jets and electrons. The algorithm is extended to reconstruct τ leptons in highly Lorentz-boosted pair production, and in the high-level trigger. The performance of the algorithm is studied using proton-proton collisions recorded during 2016 at √s=13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb-1. The performance is evaluated in terms of the efficiency for a genuine τ lepton to pass the identification criteria and of the probabilities for jets, electrons, and muons to be misidentified as τ leptons. The results are found to be very close to those expected from Monte Carlo simulation.

Search for high-mass resonances in dilepton final states in proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV

Abstract: A search is presented for new high-mass resonances decaying into electron or muon pairs. The search uses proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 fb$^{−1}$. Observations are in agreement with standard model expectations. Upper limits on the product of a new resonance production cross section and branching fraction to dileptons are calculated in a model-independent manner. This permits the interpretation of the limits in models predicting a narrow dielectron or dimuon resonance. A scan of different intrinsic width hypotheses is performed. Limits are set on the masses of various hypothetical particles. For the $ {Z}_{\mathrm{SSM}}^{\prime}\left({Z}_{{}^{\psi}}^{\prime}\right) $ particle, which arises in the sequential standard model (superstring-inspired model), a lower mass limit of 4.50 (3.90) TeV is set at 95% confidence level. The lightest Kaluza-Klein graviton arising in the Randall-Sundrum model of extra dimensions, with coupling parameters k/M$_{Pl}$ of 0.01, 0.05, and 0.10, is excluded at 95% confidence level below 2.10, 3.65, and 4.25 TeV, respectively. In a simplified model of dark matter production via a vector or axial vector mediator, limits at 95% confidence level are obtained on the masses of the dark matter particle and its mediator.

Search for resonant and nonresonant Higgs boson pair production in the b(b)over-barl nu l nu final state in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

Abstract: Searches for resonant and nonresonant pair-produced Higgs bosons (HH) decaying respectively into l nu l nu, through either W or Z bosons, and b (b) over bar are presented The analyses are based on a sample of proton-proton collisions at root s = 13 TeV, collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 359 fb(-1) Data and predictions from the standard model are in agreement within uncertainties For the standard model HH hypothesis, the data exclude at 95% confidence level a product of the production cross section and branching fraction larger than 72 fb, corresponding to 79 times the standard model prediction Constraints are placed on different scenarios considering anomalous couplings, which could affect the rate and kinematics of HH production Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the production cross section of narrow-width spin-0 and spin-2 particles decaying to Higgs boson pairs, the latter produced with minimal gravity-like coupling

Inclusive Search for a Highly Boosted Higgs Boson Decaying to a Bottom Quark-Antiquark Pair

Abstract: An inclusive search for the standard model Higgs boson (H) produced with large transverse momentum (p_T) and decaying to a bottom quark-antiquark pair (bb) is performed using a data set of pp collisions at √s = 13 TeV collected with the CMS experiment at the LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb^(−1). A highly Lorentz-boosted Higgs boson decaying to bb is reconstructed as a single, large radius jet, and it is identified using jet substructure and dedicated b tagging techniques. The method is validated with Z → bb decays. The Z → bb process is observed for the first time in the single-jet topology with a local significance of 5.1 standard deviations (5.8 expected). For a Higgs boson mass of 125 GeV, an excess of events above the expected background is observed (expected) with a local significance of 1.5 (0.7) standard deviations. The measured cross section times branching fraction for production via gluon fusion of H → bb with reconstructed p_T > 450 GeV and in the pseudorapidity range −2.5 < η < 2.5 is 74 ± 48 (stat)^(+17)_(−10)(syst) fb, which is consistent within uncertainties with the standard model prediction.

Measurements of Higgs boson properties in the diphoton decay channel in proton-proton collisions at √s=13 TeV

Abstract: Measurements of Higgs boson properties in the H → γγ decay channel are reported. The analysis is based on data collected by the CMS experiment in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV during the 2016 LHC running period, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$. Allowing the Higgs mass to float, the measurement yields a signal strength relative to the standard model prediction of 1.18$_{− 0.14}^{+ 0.17}$ = 1.18$_{− 0.11}^{+ 0.12}$ (stat)$_{− 0.07}^{+ 0.09}$ (syst)$_{− 0.06}^{+ 0.07}$ (theo), which is largely insensitive to the exact Higgs mass around 125 GeV. Signal strengths associated with the different Higgs boson production mechanisms, couplings to bosons and fermions, and effective couplings to photons and gluons are also measured.

Search for low mass vector resonances decaying into quark-antiquark pairs in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV

Abstract: A search for narrow vector resonances decaying into quark-antiquark pairs is presented The analysis is based on data collected in proton-proton collisions at $$ \sqrt{s}=13 $$ TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 359 fb−1 The hypothetical resonance is produced with sufficiently high transverse momentum that its decay products are merged into a single jet with two-prong substructure A signal would be identified as a peak over a smoothly falling background in the distribution of the invariant mass of the jet, using novel jet substructure techniques No evidence for such a resonance is observed within the mass range of 50-300 GeV Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the production cross section, and presented in a mass-coupling parameter space The limits further constrain simplified models of dark matter production involving a mediator interacting between quarks and dark matter particles through a vector or axial-vector current In the framework of these models, the results are the most sensitive to date, extending for the first time the search region to masses below 100 GeV

Search for t(t)over-barH production in the all-jet final state in proton-proton collisions root s=13 TeV

Abstract: A search is presented for the associated production of a Higgs boson with a top quark pair in the all-jet final state. Events containing seven or more jets are selected from a sample of proton-proton collisions at $$ \sqrt{s}=13 $$ TeV collected with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2016, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1. To separate the $$ \mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}\mathrm{H} $$ signal from the irreducible $$ \mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}+\mathrm{b}\overline{\mathrm{b}} $$ background, the analysis assigns leading order matrix element signal and background probability densities to each event. A likelihood-ratio statistic based on these probability densities is used to extract the signal. The results are provided in terms of an observed ttH signal strength relative to the standard model production cross section μ = σ/σSM, assuming a Higgs boson mass of 125 GeV. The best fit value is $$ \widehat{\mu}=0.9\pm 0.7\left(\mathrm{stat}\right)\pm 1.3\left(\mathrm{syst}\right)=0.9\pm 1.5\left(\mathrm{tot}\right) $$ , and the observed and expected upper limits are, respectively, μ < 3.8 and < 3.1 at 95% confidence levels.

Constraints on models of scalar and vector leptoquarks decaying to a quark and a neutrino at s =13 TeV

Abstract: Marie-Curie program and the European Research Council and Horizon 2020 Grant, contract No. 675440 (EuropeanUnion);theLeventisFoundation;theA.P.Sloan Foundation; the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation; the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office; the Fonds pour la Formation `a la Recherche dans l’Industrie et dans l’Agriculture (FRIA-Belgium); the Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie (IWTBelgium); the F.R.S.-FNRS and FWO (Belgium) under the “Excellence of Science—EOS”—be.h Project No.30820817;theMinistryofEducation,YouthandSports (MEYS) of the Czech Republic; the Lendulet (“Momentum”) Program and the Janos Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the New National Excellence Program UNKP, the NKFIA research Grants Nos. 123842, 123959, 124845, 124850 and 125105 (Hungary); the Council of Science and Industrial Research, India; the HOMING PLUS program of the Foundation for Polish Science, cofinanced from European Union, Regional Development Fund, the Mobility Plus program of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the National Science Center (Poland), contractsHarmonia2014/14/M/ST2/00428,Opus2014/13/ B/ST2/02543, 2014/15/B/ST2/03998, and 2015/19/B/ST2/ 02861, Sonata-bis 2012/07/E/ST2/01406; the National Priorities Research Program by Qatar National Research Fund; the Programa Estatal de Fomento de la Investigacion Cientifica y T´ecnicade Excelencia Maria de Maeztu,Grant No. MDM-2015-0509 and the Programa Severo Ochoa del Principado de Asturias; the Thalis and Aristeia programs cofinanced by EU-ESF and the Greek NSRF; the Rachadapisek Sompot Fund for Postdoctoral Fellowship, Chulalongkorn University and the Chulalongkorn Academic into Its 2nd Century Project Advancement Project (Thailand); the Welch Foundation, Contract No. C-1845; and the Weston Havens Foundation (USA).

Measurement of the cross section for top quark pair production in association with a W or Z boson in proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV

Abstract: A measurement is performed of the cross section of top quark pair production in association with a W or Z boson using proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1, collected by the CMS experiment in 2016. The measurement is performed in the same-sign dilepton, three- and four-lepton final states. The production cross sections are measured to be $$ \sigma \left(\mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}\mathrm{W}\right)={0.77}_{-0.11}^{+0.12}{\left(\mathrm{stat}\right)}_{-0.12}^{+0.13}\left(\mathrm{syst}\right)\mathrm{p}\mathrm{b} $$ and $$ \sigma \left(\mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}\mathrm{Z}\right)={0.99}_{-0.08}^{+0.09}{\left(\mathrm{stat}\right)}_{-0.10}^{+0.12}\left(\mathrm{syst}\right)\mathrm{p}\mathrm{b} $$ . The expected (observed) signal significance for the $$ \mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}\mathrm{W} $$ production in same-sign dilepton channel is found to be 4.5 (5.3) standard deviations, while for the $$ \mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}\mathrm{Z} $$ production in three- and four-lepton channels both the expected and the observed significances are found to be in excess of 5 standard deviations. The results are in agreement with the standard model predictions and are used to constrain the Wilson coefficients for eight dimension-six operators describing new interactions that would modify $$ \mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}\mathrm{W} $$ and $$ \mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}\mathrm{Z} $$ production.

Constraints on the chiral magnetic effect using charge-dependent azimuthal correlations in pPb and PbPb collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider

Abstract: Charge-dependent azimuthal correlations of same- and opposite-sign pairs with respect to the second- and third-order event planes have been measured in pPb collisions at sNN=8.16TeV and PbPb collisions at 5.02 TeV with the CMS experiment at the LHC. The measurement is motivated by the search for the charge separation phenomenon predicted by the chiral magnetic effect (CME) in heavy ion collisions. Three- and two-particle azimuthal correlators are extracted as functions of the pseudorapidity difference, the transverse momentum (pT) difference, and the pT average of same- and opposite-charge pairs in various event multiplicity ranges. The data suggest that the charge-dependent three-particle correlators with respect to the second- and third-order event planes share a common origin, predominantly arising from charge-dependent two-particle azimuthal correlations coupled with an anisotropic flow. The CME is expected to lead to a v2-independent three-particle correlation when the magnetic field is fixed. Using an event shape engineering technique, upper limits on the v2-independent fraction of the three-particle correlator are estimated to be 13% for pPb and 7% for PbPb collisions at 95% confidence level. The results of this analysis, both the dominance of two-particle correlations as a source of the three-particle results and the similarities seen between PbPb and pPb, provide stringent constraints on the origin of charge-dependent three-particle azimuthal correlations and challenge their interpretation as arising from a chiral magnetic effect in heavy ion collisions.

Measurement of differential cross sections for the production of top quark pairs and of additional jets in lepton + jets events from p p collisions at s = 13 TeV

Abstract: Differential and double-differential cross sections for the production of top quark pairs in proton-proton collisions at root s = 13 TeV are measured as a function of kinematic variables of the top quarks and the top quark- antiquark (t (t) over bar) system. In addition, kinematic variables and multiplicities of jets associated with the t (t) over bar production are measured. This analysis is based on data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016 corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.8 fb(-1). The measurements are performed in the lepton + jets decay channels with a single muon or electron and jets in the final state. The differential cross sections are presented at the particle level, within a phase space close to the experimental acceptance, and at the parton level in the full phase space. The results are compared to several standard model predictions that use different methods and approximations. The kinematic variables of the top quarks and the t (t) over bar system are reasonably described in general, though none predict all the measured distributions. In particular, the transverse momentum distribution of the top quarks is more steeply falling than predicted. The kinematic distributions and multiplicities of jets are adequately modeled by certain combinations of next-to-leading-order calculations and parton shower models.

Search for a new scalar resonance decaying to a pair of Z bosons in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = $ 13 TeV

Abstract: A search for a new scalar resonance decaying to a pair of Z bosons is performed in the mass range from 130 GeV to 3 TeV, and for various width scenarios. The analysis is based on proton-proton collisions recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The Z boson pair decays are reconstructed using the 4l, 2l2q, and 2l2ν final states, where l = e or μ. Both gluon fusion and electroweak production of the scalar resonance are considered, with a free parameter describing their relative cross sections. A dedicated categorization of events, based on the kinematic properties of associated jets, and matrix element techniques are employed for an optimal signal and background separation. A description of the interference between signal and background amplitudes for a resonance of an arbitrary width is included. No significant excess of events with respect to the standard model expectation is observed and limits are set on the product of the cross section for a new scalar boson and the branching fraction for its decay to ZZ for a large range of masses and widths.

Search for top squarks and dark matter particles in opposite-charge dilepton final states at s = 13 TeV

Abstract: A search for new physics is presented in final states with two oppositely charged leptons (electrons or muons), jets identified as originating from b quarks, and missing transverse momentum (pTmiss). The search uses proton-proton collision data at s=13 TeV amounting to 35.9 fb-1 of integrated luminosity collected using the CMS detector in 2016. Hypothetical signal events are efficiently separated from the dominant tt¯ background with requirements on pTmiss and transverse-mass variables. No significant deviation is observed from the expected background. Exclusion limits are set in the context of simplified supersymmetric models with pair-produced top squarks. For top squarks, decaying exclusively to a top quark and a neutralino, exclusion limits are placed at 95% confidence level on the mass of the lightest top squark up to 800 GeV and on the lightest neutralino up to 360 GeV. These results, combined with searches in the single-lepton and all-jet final states, raise the exclusion limits up to 1050 GeV for the lightest top squark and up to 500 GeV for the lightest neutralino. For top squarks undergoing a cascade decay through charginos and sleptons, the mass limits reach up to 1300 GeV for top squarks and up to 800 GeV for the lightest neutralino. The results are also interpreted in a simplified model with a dark matter (DM) particle coupled to the top quark through a scalar or pseudoscalar mediator. For light DM, mediator masses up to 100 (50) GeV are excluded for scalar (pseudoscalar) mediators. The result for the scalar mediator achieves some of the most stringent limits to date in this model.