Studying WWγWW\gamma and WZγWZ\gamma production in proton-proton collisions at s=8\sqrt{s} = 8 TeV with the ATLAS experiment

Quartic gauge couplings are tested by this study of the production of $WW\gamma$ and $WZ\gamma$ events in 20.2 fb$^{-1}$ of proton--proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The final state of $WW\gamma$ events containing an electron, a muon and a photon is analysed as well as the final states of $WW\gamma$ and $WZ\gamma$ production containing an electron or a muon, two jets and a photon. For all final states two different fiducial regions are defined: one yielding the best sensitivity to the production cross-section of the process and one optimised for the detection of new physical phenomena. In the former region, the $WW\gamma$ production cross-section is computed and in both regions, upper limits on the $WW\gamma$ and $WZ\gamma$ production cross-section are derived. The results obtained in the second phase space are combined for the interpretation in the context of anomalous quartic gauge couplings using an effective field theory.Comment: Proceedings of the Fifth AnnualLHC

Analysis of WWγ production with the ATLAS experiment

In this thesis, triboson final states containing two W bosons and a photon are studied using proton-proton collisions. The data set was recorded with the ATLAS detector at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 8 TeV and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb⁻¹. The fiducial cross-section of the process W W γ → eνμνγ is measured for the first time in hadron collisions and corresponds to σ = (1.89 ± 0.93(stat.) ± 0.41(syst.) ± 0.05(lumi.)) fb. It is in good agreement with the Standard Model prediction at next-to-leading order in the strong coupling constant. As no deviation from the Standard Model expectation is observed, frequentist limits at 95 % confidence level are computed to exclude contributions from anomalous quartic gauge couplings. This analysis is sensitive to fourteen coupling parameters of mass dimension eight and the limits are derived for all parameters with and without unitarisation

Overcoming limitations to ALP parameter inference using Neural Ratio Estimation

In the hunt for new physics phenomena, such as Axion-like particles (ALPs), it is crucial to compare experimental data to theoretical models. This involves inferring the most likely values of a model’s parameters — such as particle masses and cross sections. However, traditional likelihood-based inference techniques are oftentimes not practically feasible without making significant simplifying assumptions, which decrease the reliability of the inference. This is especially the case for ALP-searches with gamma-ray telescopes such as the upcoming Cherenkov Telescope Array. Recently however, new likelihood-free inference (LFI) techniques based on machine learning have emerged to help overcome these limitations. In particular, “Neural Ratio Estimation” (NRE) stands out with its reported accuracy and efficiency. In this contribution, we have applied NRE to simulated CTA-data of the active galactic nucleus NGC1275 in the Perseus Cluster, in order to probe the viability of this technique for ALP-searches with cosmic gamma-rays. Our example-inferences provide encouraging evidence that NRE will be applicable to deriving sensitive and accurate limits. We also identify some challenges in the practical execution of such an analysis, as well as concrete next steps towards deriving formal and reliable limits on the ALP mass and coupling to photons.publishedVersio

Reconstruction of primary vertices at the ATLAS experiment in Run 1 proton–proton collisions at the LHC

This paper presents the method and performance of primary vertex reconstruction in proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment during Run 1 of the LHC. The studies presented focus on data taken during 2012 at a centre-of-mass energy of √s=8 TeV. The performance has been measured as a function of the number of interactions per bunch crossing over a wide range, from one to seventy. The measurement of the position and size of the luminous region and its use as a constraint to improve the primary vertex resolution are discussed. A longitudinal vertex position resolution of about 30μm is achieved for events with high multiplicity of reconstructed tracks. The transverse position resolution is better than 20μm and is dominated by the precision on the size of the luminous region. An analytical model is proposed to describe the primary vertex reconstruction efficiency as a function of the number of interactions per bunch crossing and of the longitudinal size of the luminous region. Agreement between the data and the predictions of this model is better than 3% up to seventy interactions per bunch crossing

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements

Search for resonances decaying into photon pairs in 139 fb−1 of pp collisions at √s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Searches for new resonances in the diphoton final state, with spin 0 as predicted by theories with an extended Higgs sector and with spin 2 using a warped extra-dimension benchmark model, are presented using 139 fb−1 of √ s =13 TeV pp collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. No significant deviation from the Standard Model is observed and upper limits are placed on the production cross-section times branching ratio to two photons as a function of the resonance mass.publishedVersio

Measurement of the production cross section of pairs of isolated photons in pp collisions at 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A measurement of prompt photon-pair production in proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV is presented. The data were recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC with an integrated luminosity of 139 fb−1. Events with two photons in the well-instrumented region of the detector are selected. The photons are required to be isolated and have a transverse momentum of pT,γ1(2) > 40 (30) GeV for the leading (sub-leading) photon. The differential cross sections as functions of several observables for the diphoton system are measured and compared with theoretical predictions from state-of-the-art Monte Carlo and fixed-order calculations. The QCD predictions from next-to-next-to-leading-order calculations and multi-leg merged calculations are able to describe the measured integrated and differential cross sections within uncertainties, whereas lower-order calculations show significant deviations, demonstrating that higher-order perturbative QCD corrections are crucial for this process. The resummed predictions with parton showers additionally provide an excellent description of the low transverse-momentum regime of the diphoton system.publishedVersio

Search for chargino–neutralino pair production in final states with three leptons and missing transverse momentum in √s=13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for chargino–neutralino pair production in three-lepton final states with missing transverse momentum is presented. The study is based on a dataset of s√=13 TeV pp collisions recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb−1. No significant excess relative to the Standard Model predictions is found in data. The results are interpreted in simplified models of supersymmetry, and statistically combined with results from a previous ATLAS search for compressed spectra in two-lepton final states. Various scenarios for the production and decay of charginos (χ~±1) and neutralinos (χ~02) are considered. For pure higgsino χ~±1χ~02 pair-production scenarios, exclusion limits at 95% confidence level are set on χ~02 masses up to 210 GeV. Limits are also set for pure wino χ~±1χ~02 pair production, on χ~02 masses up to 640 GeV for decays via on-shell W and Z bosons, up to 300 GeV for decays via off-shell W and Z bosons, and up to 190 GeV for decays via W and Standard Model Higgs bosons.publishedVersio

Measurement of the Z(→ ℓ+ℓ−)γ production cross-section in pp collisions at √s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The production of a prompt photon in association with a Z boson is studied in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy s√ = 13 TeV. The analysis uses a data sample with an integrated luminosity of 139 fb−1 collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC from 2015 to 2018. The production cross-section for the process pp → ℓ+ℓ−γ + X (ℓ = e, μ) is measured within a fiducial phase-space region defined by kinematic requirements on the photon and the leptons, and by isolation requirements on the photon. An experimental precision of 2.9% is achieved for the fiducial cross-section. Differential cross-sections are measured as a function of each of six kinematic variables characterising the ℓ+ℓ−γ system. The data are compared with theoretical predictions based on next-to-leading-order and next-to-next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations. The impact of next-to-leading-order electroweak corrections is also considered.publishedVersio