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CMS Collaboration

Publications and source records attributed to CMS Collaboration.

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arXiv2021

Measurement of differential $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ production cross sections using top quarks at large transverse momenta in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV

A measurement is reported of differential top quark pair ($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$) production cross sections, where top quarks are produced at large transverse momenta. The data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC are from pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The measurement uses events where at least one top quark decays as t $\to$ Wb $\to$ qq'b and is reconstructed as a large-radius jet with transverse momentum in excess of 400 GeV. The second top quark is required to decay either in a similar way, or leptonically, as inferred from a reconstructed electron or muon, a bottom quark jet, and a missing transverse momentum due to the undetected neutrino. The cross section is extracted as a function of kinematic variables of individual top quarks or of the $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ system. The results are presented at the particle level, within a region of phase space close to that of the experimental acceptance, and at the parton level, and are compared to various theoretical models. In both decay channels the observed absolute cross sections are significantly lower than the predictions from theory, while the normalized differential measurements are well described.

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arXiv2021

Search for new physics in top quark production with additional leptons in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV using effective field theory

Events containing one or more top quarks produced with additional prompt leptons are used to search for new physics within the framework of an effective field theory (EFT). The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 41.5 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC, collected by the CMS experiment in 2017. The selected events are required to have either two leptons with the same charge or more than two leptons; jets, including identified bottom quark jets, are also required, and the selected events are divided into categories based on the multiplicities of these objects. Sixteen dimension-six operators that can affect processes involving top quarks produced with additional charged leptons are considered in this analysis. Constructed to target EFT effects directly, the analysis applies a novel approach in which the observed yields are parameterized in terms of the Wilson coefficients (WCs) of the EFT operators. A simultaneous fit of the 16 WCs to the data is performed and two standard deviation confidence intervals for the WCs are extracted; the standard model expectations for the WC values are within these intervals for all of the WCs probed.

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arXiv2021

Search for dark photons in Higgs boson production via vector boson fusion in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV

A search is presented for a Higgs boson that is produced via vector boson fusion and that decays to an undetected particle and an isolated photon. The search is performed by the CMS Collaboration at the LHC, using a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 130 fb$^{-1}$, recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV in 2016-2018. No significant excess of events above the expectation from the standard model background is found. The results are interpreted in the context of a theoretical model in which the undetected particle is a massless dark photon. An upper limit is set on the product of the cross section for production via vector boson fusion and the branching fraction for such a Higgs boson decay, as a function of the Higgs boson mass. For a Higgs boson mass of 125 GeV, assuming the standard model production rates, the observed (expected) 95% confidence level upper limit on the branching fraction is 3.5 (2.8)%. This is the first search for such decays in the vector boson fusion channel. Combination with a previous search for Higgs bosons produced in association with a Z boson results in an observed (expected) upper limit on the branching fraction of 2.9 (2.1)% at 95% confidence level.

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arXiv2021

Measurement of the $CP$-violating phase $ϕ_\mathrm{s}$ in the B$^0_\mathrm{s}$ $\to$ J$/ψ\, ϕ$(1020) $\to$ $μ^+μ^-$K$^+$K$^-$ channel in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV

The $CP$-violating weak phase $ϕ_\mathrm{s}$ and the decay width difference $ΔΓ_\mathrm{s}$ between the light and heavy B$^0_\mathrm{s}$ mass eigenstates are measured with the CMS detector at the LHC in a sample of 48 500 reconstructed B$^0_\mathrm{s}$ $\to$ J$/ψ\, ϕ$(1020) $\to$ $μ^+μ^-$K$^+$K$^-$ events. The measurement is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 96.4 fb$^{-1}$, collected in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV in 2017-2018. To extract the values of $ϕ_\mathrm{s}$ and $ΔΓ_\mathrm{s}$, a time-dependent and flavor-tagged angular analysis of the $μ^+μ^-$K$^+$K$^-$ final state is performed. The analysis employs a dedicated tagging trigger and a novel opposite-side muon flavor tagger based on machine learning techniques. The measurement yields $ϕ_\mathrm{s} = -$11 $\pm$ 50 (stat) $\pm$ 10 (syst) mrad and $ΔΓ_\mathrm{s} =$ 0.114 $\pm$ 0.014 (stat) $\pm$ 0.007 (syst) ps$^{-1}$, in agreement with the standard model predictions. When combined with the previous CMS measurement at $\sqrt{s} =$ 8 TeV, the following values are obtained: $ϕ_\mathrm{s} = -$21 $\pm$ 44 (stat) $\pm$ 10 (syst) mrad, $ΔΓ_\mathrm{s} =$ 0.1032 $\pm$ 0.0095 (stat) $\pm$ 0.0048 (syst) ps$^{-1}$, a significant improvement over the 8 TeV result.

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arXiv2021

Measurement of the inclusive and differential Higgs boson production cross sections in the leptonic WW decay mode at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV

Measurement of the fiducial inclusive and differential production cross sections of the Higgs boson in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV are performed using events where the Higgs boson decays into a pair of W bosons that subsequently decay into a final state with an electron, a muon, and a pair of neutrinos. The analysis is based on data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC during 2016-2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. Production cross sections are measured as a function of the transverse momentum of the Higgs boson and the associated jet multiplicity. The Higgs boson signal is extracted and simultaneously unfolded to correct for selection efficiency and resolution effects using maximum-likelihood fits to the observed distributions in data. The integrated fiducial cross section is measured to be 86.5 $\pm$ 9.5 fb, consistent with the Standard Model expectation of 82.5 $\pm$ 4.2 fb. No significant deviation from the Standard Model expectations is observed in the differential measurements.

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arXiv2021

The CMS Precision Proton Spectrometer at the HL-LHC -- Expression of Interest

The CMS Collaboration intends to pursue the study of central exclusive production (CEP) events, pp $\to$ pXp, at the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) by means of a new near-beam proton spectrometer. In CEP events, the state X is produced at central rapidities, and the scattered protons do not leave the beam pipe. The kinematics of X can be fully reconstructed from that of the protons, which gives access to final states otherwise not visible. CEP allows unique sensitivity to physics beyond the standard model, e.g. in the search for anomalous quartic gauge couplings, axion-like particles, and in general new resonances. CMS has been successfully operating the Precision Proton Spectrometer (PPS), initially a joint CMS and TOTEM project, since 2016. The present document outlines the physics interest of a new PPS at the HL-LHC, and explores its feasibility and expected performance. Discussions with the machine groups led to the identification of four locations suitable for the installation of movable proton detectors: at 196, 220, 234, and 420 m from the interaction point, on both sides. Acceptance studies indicate that having the beams cross in the vertical plane at the interaction point, as implemented after Long Shutdown 3, is preferable over the present horizontal crossing. This gives access to states X in the mass range 133 GeV$-$2.7 TeV with the stations at 196, 220, and 234 m. The lower mass limit becomes 43 GeV if the 420 m station is included, which makes it possible to study central exclusive production of the 125 GeV Higgs boson. This is a major improvement with respect to the current mass range of 350 GeV$-$2 TeV. The project and its costs can easily be staged; the 420 m station can be addressed in a second step. In summary, a new near-beam proton spectrometer for operation at the HL-LHC appears feasible. It would greatly extend the CMS physics reach with a limited investment.

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arXiv2021

Measurements of pp $\to$ ZZ production cross sections and constraints on anomalous triple gauge couplings at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV

The production of Z boson pairs in proton-proton (pp) collisions, pp $\to$ (Z/$γ^*$)(Z/$γ^*$) $\to$ 2$\ell$ 2$\ell'$, where $\ell,\ell'$ = e or $μ$, is studied at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$, collected during 2016-2018. The ZZ production cross section, $σ_{\text{tot}}$ (pp $\to$ ZZ) = 17.2 $\pm$ 0.3 (stat) $\pm$ 0.5 (syst) $\pm$ 0.4 (theo) $\pm$ 0.3 (lumi) pb, measured for events with two pairs of opposite-sign, same-flavor leptons produced in the mass region 60 $\lt$ $m_{\ell^+\ell^-}$ $\lt $ 120 GeV is consistent with standard model predictions. Differential cross sections are also measured and agree with theoretical predictions. The invariant mass distribution of the four-lepton system is used to set limits on anomalous ZZZ and ZZ$γ$ couplings.

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arXiv2021

The very forward CASTOR calorimeter of the CMS experiment

The physics motivation, detector design, triggers, calibration, alignment, simulation, and overall performance of the very forward CASTOR calorimeter of the CMS experiment are reviewed. The CASTOR Cherenkov sampling calorimeter is located very close to the LHC beam line, at a radial distance of about 1 cm from the beam pipe, and at 14.4 m from the CMS interaction point, covering the pseudorapidity range of $-$6.6 $\lt$ $η$ $\lt$ $-$5.2. It was designed to withstand high ambient radiation and strong magnetic fields. The performance of the detector in measurements of forward energy density, jets, and processes characterized by rapidity gaps, is reviewed using data collected in proton and nuclear collisions at the LHC.

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arXiv2021

Evidence for Higgs boson decay to a pair of muons

Evidence for Higgs boson decay to a pair of muons is presented. This result combines searches in four exclusive categories targeting the production of the Higgs boson via gluon fusion, via vector boson fusion, in association with a vector boson, and in association with a top quark-antiquark pair. The analysis is performed using proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$, recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. An excess of events over the background expectation is observed in data with a significance of 3.0 standard deviations, where the expectation for the standard model (SM) Higgs boson with mass of 125.38 GeV is 2.5. The combination of this result with that from data recorded at $\sqrt{s} =$ 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 5.1 and 19.7 fb$^{-1}$, respectively, increases both the expected and observed significances by 1%. The measured signal strength, relative to the SM prediction, is 1.19 $^{+0.40}_{-0.39}$ (stat) $^{+0.15}_{-0.14}$ (syst). This result constitutes the first evidence for the decay of the Higgs boson to second generation fermions and is the most precise measurement of the Higgs boson coupling to muons reported to date.

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arXiv2021

Search for the lepton flavor violating decay $τ$ $\to$ 3$μ$ in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV

Results are reported from a search for the lepton flavor violating decay $τ$ $\to$ 3$μ$ in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 33.2 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016. The search exploits $τ$ leptons produced in both W boson and heavy-flavor hadron decays. No significant excess above the expected background is observed. An upper limit on the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}(τ$ $\to$ 3$μ)$ of 8.0 $\times$ 10$^{-8}$ at 90% confidence level is obtained, with an expected upper limit of 6.9 $\times$ 10$^{-8}$.

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arXiv2021

Correlations of azimuthal anisotropy Fourier harmonics with subevent cumulants in pPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} =$ 8.16 TeV

Event-by-event correlations of azimuthal anisotropy Fourier coefficients ($v_n$) in 8.16 TeV pPb collision data, collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, are extracted using a subevent four-particle cumulant technique. Each combination of four charged particles are selected from either two, three, or four distinct subevent regions of a pseudorapidity range from $-$2.4 to 2.4 of the CMS tracker, and with transverse momentum between 0.3 and 3.0 GeV. Using the subevent cumulant technique, correlations between $v_n$ of different orders are measured as functions of particle multiplicity and compared to the standard cumulant method without subevents over a wide event multiplicity range. At high multiplicity, the $v_2$ and $v_3$ coefficients exhibit an anticorrelation; this behavior is observed consistently using various methods. The $v_2$ and $v_4$ correlation strength is found to depend on the number of subevents used in the calculation. As the event multiplicity decreases, the results from different subevent methods diverge because of different contributions of non-collective or few-particle correlations. Correlations extracted with the four-subevent method exhibit a tendency to diminish monotonically toward the lowest multiplicity region (about 20 charged tracks) investigated. These findings extend previous studies to a significantly lower event multiplicity range and establish the evidence for the onset of long-range collective multiparticle correlations in small system collisions.

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arXiv2021

Search for dark matter produced in association with a leptonically decaying Z boson in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV

A search for dark matter particles is performed using events with a Z boson candidate and large missing transverse momentum. The analysis is based on proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016-2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. The search uses the decay channels Z $\to$ ee and Z $\to$ $μμ$. No significant excess of events is observed over the background expected from the standard model. Limits are set on dark matter particle production in the context of simplified models with vector, axial-vector, scalar, and pseudoscalar mediators, as well as on a two-Higgs-doublet model with an additional pseudoscalar mediator. In addition, limits are provided for spin-dependent and spin-independent scattering cross sections and are compared to those from direct-detection experiments. The results are also interpreted in the context of models of invisible Higgs boson decays, unparticles, and large extra dimensions.

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arXiv2021

Studies of charm and beauty hadron long-range correlations in pp and pPb collisions at LHC energies

Measurements of the second Fourier harmonic coefficient ($v_2$) of the azimuthal distributions of prompt and nonprompt D$^0$ mesons produced in pp and pPb collisions are presented. Nonprompt D$^0$ mesons come from beauty hadron decays. The data samples are collected by the CMS experiment at nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energies of 13 and 8.16 TeV, respectively. In high multiplicity pp collisions, $v_2$ signals for prompt charm hadrons are reported for the first time, and are found to be comparable to those for light-flavor hadron species over a transverse momentum ($p_\mathrm{T}$) range of 2-6 GeV. Compared at similar event multiplicities, the prompt D$^0$ meson $v_2$ values in pp and pPb collisions are similar in magnitude. The $v_2$ values for open beauty hadrons are extracted for the first time via nonprompt D$^0$ mesons in pPb collisions. For $p_\mathrm{T}$ in the range of 2-5 GeV, the results suggest that $v_2$ for nonprompt D$^0$ mesons are smaller than those for prompt D$^0$ mesons. These new measurements indicate a positive charm hadron $v_2$ in pp collisions and suggest a mass dependence in $v_2$ between charm and beauty hadrons in the pPb system. These results provide insights into the origin of heavy-flavor quark collectivity in small systems.

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arXiv2021

Search for top squark pair production using dilepton final states in pp collision data collected at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV

A search is presented for supersymmetric partners of the top quark (top squarks) in final states with two oppositely charged leptons (electrons or muons), jets identified as originating from b quarks, and missing transverse momentum. The search uses data from proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV collected with the CMS detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. Hypothetical signal events are efficiently separated from the dominant top quark pair production background with requirements on the significance of the missing transverse momentum and on 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 lightest top squarks. For top squarks decaying exclusively to a top quark and a lightest neutralino, lower limits are placed at 95% confidence level on the masses of the top squark and the neutralino up to 925 and 450 GeV, respectively. If the decay proceeds via an intermediate chargino, the corresponding lower limits on the mass of the lightest top squark are set up to 850 GeV for neutralino masses below 420 GeV. For top squarks undergoing a cascade decay through charginos and sleptons, the mass limits reach up to 1.4 TeV and 900 GeV respectively for the top squark and the lightest neutralino.

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arXiv2020

Measurements of production cross sections of polarized same-sign W boson pairs in association with two jets in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV

The first measurements of production cross sections of polarized same-sign W$^\pm$W$^\pm$ boson pairs in proton-proton collisions are reported. The measurements are based on a data sample collected with the CMS detector at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. Events are selected by requiring exactly two same-sign leptons, electrons or muons, moderate missing transverse momentum, and two jets with a large rapidity separation and a large dijet mass to enhance the contribution of same-sign W$^\pm$W$^\pm$ scattering events. An observed (expected) 95% confidence level upper limit of 1.17 (0.88) fb is set on the production cross section for longitudinally polarized same-sign W$^\pm$W$^\pm$ boson pairs. The electroweak production of same-sign W$^\pm$W$^\pm$ boson pairs with at least one of the W bosons longitudinally polarized is measured with an observed (expected) significance of 2.3 (3.1) standard deviations.

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arXiv2020

Evidence for electroweak production of four charged leptons and two jets in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV

Evidence is presented for the electroweak (EW) production of two jets (jj) in association with two Z bosons and constraints on anomalous quartic gauge couplings are set. The analysis is based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = $ 13 TeV collected with the CMS detector in 2016-2018, and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. The search is performed in the fully leptonic final state ZZ $\to$ $\ell\ell\ell'\ell'$, where $\ell,\ell' = $ e, $μ$. The EW production of two jets in association with two Z bosons is measured with an observed (expected) significance of 4.0 (3.5) standard deviations. The cross sections for the EW production are measured in three fiducial volumes and the result is $σ_{\mathrm{EW}}$(pp $\to$ ZZjj $\to$ $\ell\ell\ell'\ell'$jj) = 0.33 $^{+0.11}_{-0.10}$ (stat) $^{+0.04}_{-0.03}$ (syst) fb in the most inclusive volume, in agreement with the standard model prediction of 0.275 $\pm$ 0.021 fb. Measurements of total cross sections for jj production in association with two Z bosons are also reported. Limits on anomalous quartic gauge couplings are derived in terms of the effective field theory operators T0, T1, T2, T8, and T9.

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arXiv2020

Dependence of inclusive jet production on the anti-$k_\mathrm{T}$ distance parameter in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV

The dependence of inclusive jet production in proton-proton collisions with a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV on the distance parameter $R$ of the anti-$k_\mathrm{T}$ algorithm is studied using data corresponding to integrated luminosities up to 35.9 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the CMS experiment in 2016. The ratios of the inclusive cross sections as functions of transverse momentum $p_\mathrm{T}$ and rapidity $y$, for $R$ in the range 0.1 to 1.2 to those using $R = $ 0.4 are presented in the region 84 $\lt$ $p_\mathrm{T}$ $\lt$ 1588 GeV and $|y|$ $\lt$ 2.0. The results are compared to calculations at leading and next-to-leading order in the strong coupling constant using different parton shower models. The variation of the ratio of cross sections with $R$ is well described by calculations including a parton shower model, but not by a leading-order quantum chromodynamics calculation including nonperturbative effects. The agreement between the data and the theoretical predictions for the ratios of cross sections is significantly improved when next-to-leading order calculations with nonperturbative effects are used.

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arXiv2020

Inclusive search for highly boosted Higgs bosons decaying to bottom quark-antiquark pairs in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV

A search for standard model Higgs bosons (H) produced with transverse momentum ($p_\mathrm{T}$) greater than 450 GeV and decaying to bottom quark-antiquark pairs ($\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$) is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. The search is inclusive in the Higgs boson production mode. Highly Lorentz-boosted Higgs bosons decaying to $\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$ are reconstructed as single large-radius jets, and are identified using jet substructure and a dedicated b tagging technique based on a deep neural network. The method is validated with Z $\to$ $\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$ decays. For a Higgs boson mass of 125 GeV, an excess of events above the background assuming no Higgs boson production is observed with a local significance of 2.5 standard deviations ($σ$), while the expectation is 0.7. The corresponding signal strength and local significance with respect to the standard model expectation are $μ_\mathrm{H}$ $=$ 3.7 $\pm$ 1.2 (stat) $^{+0.8}_{-0.7}$ (syst) $^{+0.8}_{-0.5}$ (theo) and 1.9 $σ$. Additionally, an unfolded differential cross section as a function of Higgs boson $p_\mathrm{T}$ for the gluon fusion production mode is presented, assuming the other production modes occur at the expected rates.

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