Showing papers by "Cristina Riccardi published in 2019"

Combined measurements of Higgs boson couplings in proton–proton collisions at √s=13Te

Abstract: Combined measurements of the production and decay rates of the Higgs boson, as well as its couplings to vector bosons and fermions, are presented. The analysis uses the LHC proton–proton collision data set recorded with the CMS detector in 2016 at $\sqrt{s}=13\,\text {Te}\text {V} $ , corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 ${\,\text {fb}^{-1}} $ . The combination is based on analyses targeting the five main Higgs boson production mechanisms (gluon fusion, vector boson fusion, and associated production with a $\mathrm {W}$ or $\mathrm {Z}$ boson, or a top quark-antiquark pair) and the following decay modes: $\mathrm {H} \rightarrow \gamma \gamma $ , $\mathrm {Z}\mathrm {Z}$ , $\mathrm {W}\mathrm {W}$ , $\mathrm {\tau }\mathrm {\tau }$ , $\mathrm {b} \mathrm {b} $ , and $\mathrm {\mu }\mathrm {\mu }$ . Searches for invisible Higgs boson decays are also considered. The best-fit ratio of the signal yield to the standard model expectation is measured to be $\mu =1.17\pm 0.10$ , assuming a Higgs boson mass of $125.09\,\text {Ge}\text {V} $ . Additional results are given for various assumptions on the scaling behavior of the production and decay modes, including generic parametrizations based on ratios of cross sections and branching fractions or couplings. The results are compatible with the standard model predictions in all parametrizations considered. In addition, constraints are placed on various two Higgs doublet models.

Performance of missing transverse momentum reconstruction in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV using the CMS detector

Abstract: The performance of missing transverse momentum (Tmiss) reconstruction algorithms for the CMS experiment is presented, using proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected at the CERN LHC in 2016. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb-1. The results include measurements of the scale and resolution of Tmiss, and detailed studies of events identified with anomalous Tmiss. The performance is presented of a Tmiss reconstruction algorithm that mitigates the effects of multiple proton-proton interactions, using the "pileup per particle identification" method. The performance is shown of an algorithm used to estimate the compatibility of the reconstructed Tmiss with the hypothesis that it originates from resolution effects.

Combination of Searches for Higgs Boson Pair Production in Proton-Proton Collisions at √s = 13 TeV

Abstract: This Letter describes a search for Higgs boson pair production using the combined results from four final states: bbγγ, bbττ, bbbb, and bbVV, where V represents a W or Z boson. The search is performed using data collected in 2016 by the CMS experiment from LHC proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb-1. Limits are set on the Higgs boson pair production cross section. A 95% confidence level observed (expected) upper limit on the nonresonant production cross section is set at 22.2 (12.8) times the standard model value. A search for narrow resonances decaying to Higgs boson pairs is also performed in the mass range 250–3000 GeV. No evidence for a signal is observed, and upper limits are set on the resonance production cross section.

Search for supersymmetry in proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV in final states with jets and missing transverse momentum

Abstract: Results are reported from a search for supersymmetric particles in the final state with multiple jets and large missing transverse momentum. The search uses a sample of proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s} $ = 13 TeV collected with the CMS detector in 2016–2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{−1}$, representing essentially the full LHC Run 2 data sample. The analysis is performed in a four-dimensional search region defined in terms of the number of jets, the number of tagged bottom quark jets, the scalar sum of jet transverse momenta, and the magnitude of the vector sum of jet transverse momenta. No significant excess in the event yield is observed relative to the expected background contributions from standard model processes. Limits on the pair production of gluinos and squarks are obtained in the framework of simplified models for supersymmetric particle production and decay processes. Assuming the lightest supersymmetric particle to be a neutralino, lower limits on the gluino mass as large as 2000 to 2310 GeV are obtained at 95% confidence level, while lower limits on the squark mass as large as 1190 to 1630 GeV are obtained, depending on the production scenario.

Measurements of the Higgs boson width and anomalous HVV couplings from on-shell and off-shell production in the four-lepton final state

Abstract: Studies of on-shell and off-shell Higgs boson production in the four-lepton final state are presented, using data from the CMS experiment at the LHC that correspond to an integrated luminosity of 80.2 fb(-1) at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. Joint constraints are set on the Higgs boson total width and parameters that express its anomalous couplings to two electroweak vector bosons. These results are combined with those obtained from the data collected at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 5.1 and 19.7 fb(-1), respectively. Kinematic information from the decay particles and the associated jets are combined using matrix element techniques to identify the production mechanism and to increase sensitivity to the Higgs boson couplings in both production and decay. The constraints on anomalous HVV couplings are found to be consistent with the standard model expectation in both the on-shell and off-shell regions. Under the assumption of a coupling structure similar to that in the standard model, the Higgs boson width is constrained to be 3.2(-2.2)(+2.8)MeV while the expected constraint based on simulation is 4.1(-4.0)(+5.0) MeV. The constraints on the width remain similar with the inclusion of the tested anomalous HVV interactions.

Search for heavy Majorana neutrinos in same-sign dilepton channels in proton-proton collisions at √s=13 TeV

Abstract: A search is performed for a heavy Majorana neutrino (N), produced in leptonic decay of a W boson propagator and decaying into a W boson and a lepton, with the CMS detector at the LHC. The signature used in this search consists of two same-sign leptons, in any flavor combination of electrons and muons, and at least one jet. The data were collected during 2016 in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb(-1). The results are found to be consistent with the expected standard model background. Upper limits are set in the mass range between 20 and 1600 GeV in the context of a Type-I seesaw mechanism, on |V-eN|(2), |V-N|(2), and |VeNV *|(2)/(|V-eN|(2)+|V-N|(2)), where V-N is the matrix element describing the mixing of N with the standard model neutrino of flavor = e, . For N masses between 20 and 1600 GeV, the upper limits on |V-N|(2) range between 2.3 x 10(-5) and unity. These are the most restrictive direct limits for heavy Majorana neutrino masses above 430 GeV.

Observation of Two Excited B-c(+) States and Measurement of the B-c(+) (2S) Mass in pp Collisions at root s=13 TeV

Abstract: Signals consistent with the B-c(+)(2S) and B-c*(+)(2S) states are observed in proton-proton collisions at root s = 13 TeV, in an event sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 143 fb(-1), collected by the CMS experiment during the 2015-2018 LHC running periods. These excited (b) over barc states are observed in the B-c(+)pi(+)pi(-) invariant mass spectrum, with the ground state B-c(+) reconstructed through its decay to J/psi pi(+). The two states are reconstructed as two well-resolved peaks, separated in mass by 29.1 +/- 1.5(stat) +/- 0.7(syst) MeV. The observation of two peaks, rather than one, is established with a significance exceeding five standard deviations. The mass of the B-c(+)(2S) meson is measured to be 6871.0 +/- 1.2(stat) +/- 0.8(syst) +/- 0.8(B-c(+)) MeV, where the last term corresponds to the uncertainty in the world-average B-c(+) mass.

Search for charged Higgs bosons in the H-+/- -> tau(+/-)nu(tau) decay channel in proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV

Abstract: A search is presented for charged Higgs bosons in the H$^{±}$ → τ$^{±}$ν$_{τ}$ decay mode in the hadronic final state and in final states with an electron or a muon. The search is based on proton-proton collision data recorded by the CMS experiment in 2016 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$. The results agree with the background expectation from the standard model. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the production cross section times branching fraction to τ$^{±}$ν$_{τ}$ for an H$^{±}$ in the mass range of 80GeV to 3TeV, including the region near the top quark mass. The observed limit ranges from 6 pb at 80 GeV to 5 fb at 3 TeV. The limits are interpreted in the context of the minimal supersymmetric standard model m$_{h}^{hod −}$ scenario.

Measurements of differential Z boson production cross sections in proton-proton collisions at s√ = 13 TeV

Abstract: Measurements are presented of the differential cross sections for Z bosons produced in proton-proton collisions at $$ \sqrt{s} $$ = 13 TeV and decaying to muons and electrons. The data analyzed were collected in 2016 with the CMS detector at the LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1. The measured fiducial inclusive product of cross section and branching fraction agrees with next-to-next-to-leading order quantum chromodynamics calculations. Differential cross sections of the transverse momentum pT, the optimized angular variable $$ {\phi}_{\eta}^{\ast } $$ , and the rapidity of lepton pairs are measured. The data are corrected for detector effects and compared to theoretical predictions using fixed order, resummed, and parton shower calculations. The uncertainties of the measured normalized cross sections are smaller than 0.5% for $$ {\phi}_{\eta}^{\ast } $$ < 0.5 and for $$ {p}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{Z}} $$ < 50 GeV.

Search for pair production of vectorlike quarks in the fully hadronic final state

Abstract: The results of two searches for pair production of vectorlike T or B quarks in fully hadronic final states are presented, using data from the CMS experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data were collected at the LHC during 2016 and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb-1. A cut-based analysis specifically targets the bW decay mode of the T quark and allows for the reconstruction of the T quark candidates. In a second analysis, a multiclassification algorithm, the “boosted event shape tagger,” is deployed to label candidate jets as originating from top quarks, and W, Z, and H. Candidate events are categorized according to the multiplicities of identified jets, and the scalar sum of all observed jet momenta is used to discriminate signal events from the quantum chromodynamics multijet background. Both analyses probe all possible branching fraction combinations of the T and B quarks and set limits at 95% confidence level on their masses, ranging from 740 to 1370 GeV. These results represent a significant improvement relative to existing searches in the fully hadronic final state.

Search for heavy neutrinos and third-generation leptoquarks in hadronic states of two τ leptons and two jets in proton-proton collisions at √s=13 TeV

Abstract: A search for new particles has been conducted using events with two high transverse momentum τ leptons that decay hadronically and at least two energetic jets. The analysis is performed using data from proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV, collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb^(−1). The observed data are consistent with standard model expectations. The results are interpreted in the context of two physics models. The first model involves right-handed charged bosons, W_R, that decay to heavy right-handed Majorana neutrinos, N_l (l = e, μ, τ), arising in a left-right symmetric extension of the standard model. The model considers that N_e and N_μ are too heavy to be detected at the LHC. Assuming that the N_τ mass is half of the W_R mass, masses of the W_R boson below 3.50 TeV are excluded at 95% confidence level. Exclusion limits are also presented considering different scenarios for the mass ratio between N_τ and W_R, as a function of W_R mass. In the second model, pair production of third-generation scalar leptoquarks that decay into ττbb is considered, resulting in an observed exclusion region with leptoquark masses below 1.02 TeV, assuming a 100% branching fraction for the leptoquark decay to a τ lepton and a bottom quark. These results represent the most stringent limits to date on these models.

Measurement of the t(t)over-bar production cross section, the top quark mass, and the strong coupling constant using dilepton events in pp collisions at root s=13TeV

Abstract: A measurement of the top quark–antiquark pair production cross section $\sigma _{\mathrm {t}\overline{\mathrm {t}}} $ in proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 $\,\text {Te}\text {V}$ is presented. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of $35.9{\,\text {fb}^{-1}} $ , recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC in 2016. Dilepton events ( $\mathrm {e}^{\pm }$ $\mathrm {\mu }^{{\mp }}$ , $\mathrm {\mu ^+}\mathrm {\mu ^-}$ , $\mathrm {e}^+\mathrm {e}^-$ ) are selected and the cross section is measured from a likelihood fit. For a top quark mass parameter in the simulation of $ m_\mathrm {\mathrm {t}} ^{\mathrm {MC}} = 172.5 \,\text {Ge}\text {V} $ the fit yields a measured cross section $\sigma _{\mathrm {t}\overline{\mathrm {t}}} = 803 \pm 2 \,\text {(stat)} \pm 25 \,\text {(syst)} \pm 20 \,\text {(lumi)} \,\text {pb} $ , in agreement with the expectation from the standard model calculation at next-to-next-to-leading order. A simultaneous fit of the cross section and the top quark mass parameter in the powheg simulation is performed. The measured value of $m_\mathrm {\mathrm {t}} ^{\mathrm {MC}} = 172.33 \pm 0.14 \,\text {(stat)} \,^{+0.66-0.72} \,\text {(syst)} \,\text {Ge}\text {V} $ is in good agreement with previous measurements. The resulting cross section is used, together with the theoretical prediction, to determine the top quark mass and to extract a value of the strong coupling constant with different sets of parton distribution functions.

Measurements of tt¯differential cross sections in proton-proton collisions at √s=13 TeV using events containing two leptons

Abstract: Measurements of differential top quark pair $ \mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}} $ cross sections using events produced in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV containing two oppositely charged leptons are presented. The data were recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC in 2016 and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$. The differential cross sections are presented as functions of kinematic observables of the top quarks and their decay products, the $ \mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}} $ system, and the total number of jets in the event. The differential cross sections are defined both with particle-level objects in a fiducial phase space close to that of the detector acceptance and with parton-level top quarks in the full phase space. All results are compared with standard model predictions from Monte Carlo simulations with next-to-leading-order (NLO) accuracy in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) at matrix-element level interfaced to parton-shower simulations. Where possible, parton-level results are compared to calculations with beyond-NLO precision in QCD. Significant disagreement is observed between data and all predictions for several observables. The measurements are used to constrain the top quark chromomagnetic dipole moment in an effective field theory framework at NLO in QCD and to extract $ \mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}} $ and leptonic charge asymmetries.

Search for new particles decaying to a jet and an emerging jet

Abstract: A search is performed for events consistent with the pair production of a new heavy particle that acts as a mediator between a dark sector and normal matter, and that decays to a light quark and a new fermion called a dark quark. The search is based on data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 16.1 fb(-1) from proton-proton collisions at =13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016. The dark quark is charged only under a new quantum-chromodynamics-like force, and forms an emerging jet via a parton shower, containing long-lived dark hadrons that give rise to displaced vertices when decaying to standard model hadrons. The data are consistent with the expectation from standard model processes. Limits are set at 95% confidence level excluding dark pion decay lengths between 5 and 225 mm for dark mediators with masses between 400 and 1250 GeV. Decay lengths smaller than 5 and greater than 225 mm are also excluded in the lower part of this mass range. The dependence of the limit on the dark pion mass is weak for masses between 1 and 10 GeV. This analysis is the first dedicated search for the pair production of a new particle that decays to a jet and an emerging jet.

Search for vector-like quarks in events with two oppositely charged leptons and jets in proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV

Abstract: A search for the pair production of heavy vector-like partners T and B of the top and bottom quarks has been performed by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC using proton-proton collisions at . The data sample was collected in 2016 and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 production include those where one of the T quarks decays via TtZ and the other via TbW, tZ, or tH, where H is a Higgs boson. For the BB case, final states include those where one of the B quarks decays via BbZ and the other BtW, bZ, or bH. Events with two oppositely charged electrons or muons, consistent with coming from the decay of a Z boson, and jets are investigated. The number of observed events is consistent with standard model background estimations. Lower limits at 95% confidence level are placed on the masses of the T and B quarks for a range of branching fractions. Assuming 100% branching fractions for TtZ, and BbZ, T and B quark mass values below 1280 and 1130 respectively, are excluded.

Search for resonances decaying to a pair of Higgs bosons in the bb¯qq¯’ ℓν final state in proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV

Abstract: A search for new massive particles decaying into a pair of Higgs bosons in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV is presented. Data were collected with the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1. The search is performed for resonances with a mass between 0.8 and 3.5 TeV using events in which one Higgs boson decays into a bottom quark pair and the other decays into two W bosons that subsequently decay into a lepton, a neutrino, and a quark pair. The Higgs boson decays are reconstructed with techniques that identify final state quarks as substructure within boosted jets. The data are consistent with standard model expectations. Exclusion limits are placed on the product of the cross section and branching fraction for generic spin-0 and spin-2 massive resonances. The results are interpreted in the context of radion and bulk graviton production in models with a warped extra spatial dimension. These are the best results to date from searches for an HH resonance decaying to this final state, and they are comparable to the results from searches in other channels for resonances with masses below 1.5 TeV.

Search for a heavy pseudoscalar boson decaying to a Z and a Higgs boson at root s=13TeV

Abstract: A search is presented for a heavy pseudoscalar boson $\text {A}$ decaying to a Z boson and a Higgs boson with mass of 125 $\,\text {GeV}$ . In the final state considered, the Higgs boson decays to a bottom quark and antiquark, and the Z boson decays either into a pair of electrons, muons, or neutrinos. The analysis is performed using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 $\,\text {fb}^{-1}$ collected in 2016 by the CMS experiment at the LHC from proton–proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 $\,\text {Te}\text {V}$ . The data are found to be consistent with the background expectations. Exclusion limits are set in the context of two-Higgs-doublet models in the $\text {A}$ boson mass range between 225 and 1000 $\,\text {GeV}$ .

Search for vectorlike leptons in multilepton final states in proton-proton collisions at √ s = 13 TeV

Abstract: A search for vectorlike leptons in multilepton final states is presented. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 77.4 fb(-1) of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016 and 2017. Events are categorized by the multiplicity of electrons, muons, and hadronically decaying tau leptons. The missing transverse momentum and the scalar sum of the lepton transverse momenta are used to distinguish the signal from background. The observed results are consistent with the expectations from the standard model hypothesis. The existence of a vectorlike lepton doublet, coupling to the third-generation standard model leptons in the mass range of 120-790 GeV, is excluded at 95% confidence level. These are the most stringent limits yet on the production of a vectorlike lepton doublet, coupling to the third-generation standard model leptons.