Evidence for top quark production in nucleus-nucleus collisions

Droplets of quark-gluon plasma (QGP), an exotic state of strongly interacting quantum chromodynamics (QCD) matter, are routinely produced in heavy nuclei high-energy collisions. Although the experimental signatures marked a paradigm shift away from expectations of a weakly coupled QGP, a challenge remains as to how the locally deconfined state with a lifetime of a few fm can be resolved. The only colored particle that decays mostly within the QGP is the top quark. Here we demonstrate, for the first time, that top quark decay products are identified, irrespective of whether interacting with the medium (bottom quarks) or not (leptonically decaying W bosons). Using $1.7 \pm 0.1\,\mathrm{nb^{-1}}$ of lead-lead ($A = 208$) collision data recorded by the CMS experiment at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV, we report evidence of top quark pair ($\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$) production. Dilepton final states are selected, and the cross section ($\sigma_\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$) is measured from a likelihood fit to a multivariate discriminator using lepton kinematic variables. The $\sigma_\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ measurement is additionally performed considering the jets originating from the hadronization of bottom quarks, which improve the sensitivity to the $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ signal process. After background subtraction and analysis corrections, the measured $\sigma_\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ is $2.56 \pm 0.82\,\rm{(tot)}$ and $2.02\pm 0.69\,\rm{(tot)}\,\mu\mathrm{b}$ in the two cases, respectively, consistent with predictions from perturbative QCD.Droplets of quark-gluon plasma (QGP), an exotic state of strongly interacting quantum chromodynamics (QCD) matter, are routinely produced in heavy nuclei high-energy collisions. Although the experimental signatures marked a paradigm shift away from expectations of a weakly coupled QGP, a challenge remains as to how the locally deconfined state with a lifetime of a few fm can be resolved. The only colored particle that decays mostly within the QGP is the top quark. Here we demonstrate, for the first time, that top quark decay products are identified, irrespective of whether interacting with the medium (bottom quarks) or not (leptonically decaying W bosons). Using 1.7±0.1 nb −1 of lead-lead ( A = 208) collision data recorded by the CMS experiment at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV, we report evidence of top quark pair ( tt¯ ) production. Dilepton final states are selected, and the cross section ( σtt¯ ) is measured from a likelihood fit to a multivariate discriminator using lepton kinematic variables. The σtt¯ measurement is additionally performed considering the jets originating from the hadronization of bottom quarks, which improve the sensitivity to the tt¯ signal process. After background subtraction and analysis corrections, the measured σtt¯ is 2.56 ± 0.82(tot) and 2.02 ± 0.69(tot) μ b in the two cases, respectively, consistent with predictions from perturbative QCD

Light-by-light Scattering Cross-section Measurements at the LHC

International audienceLight-by-light (LbyL) scattering, γγ → γγ, is a rare Standard Model(SM) process, also proposed as a sensitive channel to study physics beyondthe SM. In these proceedings, we perform a statistical combination of existingγγ → γγ cross section measurements at the LHC with the aim ofchecking the consistency with different SM predictions. Using a simplified set of assumptions, we find the averaged result of 115 ± 19 nb, consistentwith SM predictions within two standard deviations. For the first time,we also consider the contribution from the ηb(1S) meson production to thediphoton invariant mass distribution

Light-by-light scattering cross-section measurements at LHC

This note represents an attempt to gather the input related to light-by-light scattering ($\gamma\gamma$) cross-section measurements at LHC with the aim of checking the consistency with different standard model predictions. For the first time, we also consider the contribution from the $\eta_b(1S)$ meson production to the diphoton invariant mass distribution, by calculating its inclusive photoproduction cross-section. Using a simplified set of assumptions, we find a result of $115\pm 19\,\,\text{nb}$, consistent with standard model predictions within two standard deviations. Although an improved determination of the integrated fiducial $\textrm{PbPb}\,(\gamma\gamma)\to \textrm{Pb}^{(\ast)}\textrm{+}\textrm{Pb}^{(\ast)}\,\gamma\gamma$ cross-section by approximately 10% could be potentially achieved relative to current measurements, further improvements are expected with the inclusion of existing or forthcoming LHC nuclear data

Light-by-light scattering cross-section measurements at LHC

This note represents an attempt to gather the input related to light-by-light scattering ($\gamma\gamma$) cross-section measurements at LHC with the aim of checking the consistency with different standard model predictions. For the first time, we also consider the contribution from the $\eta_b(1S)$ meson production to the diphoton invariant mass distribution, by calculating its inclusive photoproduction cross-section. Using a simplified set of assumptions, we find a result of $115\pm 19\,\,\text{nb}$, consistent with standard model predictions within two standard deviations. Although an improved determination of the integrated fiducial $\textrm{PbPb}\,(\gamma\gamma)\to \textrm{Pb}^{(\ast)}\textrm{+}\textrm{Pb}^{(\ast)}\,\gamma\gamma$ cross-section by approximately 10% could be potentially achieved relative to current measurements, further improvements are expected with the inclusion of existing or forthcoming LHC nuclear data

Light-by-light scattering cross-section measurements at LHC

This note represents an attempt to gather the input related to light-by-light scattering ($\gamma\gamma$) cross-section measurements at LHC with the aim of checking the consistency with different standard model predictions. For the first time, we also consider the contribution from the $\eta_b(1S)$ meson production to the diphoton invariant mass distribution, by calculating its inclusive photoproduction cross-section. Using a simplified set of assumptions, we find a result of $115\pm 19\,\,\text{nb}$, consistent with standard model predictions within two standard deviations. Although an improved determination of the integrated fiducial $\textrm{PbPb}\,(\gamma\gamma)\to \textrm{Pb}^{(\ast)}\textrm{+}\textrm{Pb}^{(\ast)}\,\gamma\gamma$ cross-section by approximately 10% could be potentially achieved relative to current measurements, further improvements are expected with the inclusion of existing or forthcoming LHC nuclear data

Snowmass 2021 whitepaper: Proton structure at the precision frontier

International audienceAn overwhelming number of theoretical predictions for hadron colliders require parton distribution functions (PDFs), which are an important ingredient of theory infrastructure for the next generation of high-energy experiments. This whitepaper summarizes the status and future prospects for determination of high-precision PDFs applicable in a wide range of energies and experiments, in particular in precision tests of the Standard Model and in new physics searches at the high-luminosity Large Hadron Collider and Electron-Ion Collider. We discuss the envisioned advancements in experimental measurements, QCD theory, global analysis methodology, and computing that are necessary to bring unpolarized PDFs in the nucleon to the N2LO and N3LO accuracy in the QCD coupling strength. Special attention is given to the new tasks that emerge in the era of the precision PDF analysis, such as those focusing on the robust control of systematic factors both in experimental measurements and theoretical computations. Various synergies between experimental and theoretical studies of the hadron structure are explored, including opportunities for studying PDFs for nuclear and meson targets, PDFs with electroweak contributions or dependence on the transverse momentum, for incisive comparisons between phenomenological models for the PDFs and computations on discrete lattice, and for cross-fertilization with machine learning/AI approaches. [Submitted to the US Community Study on the Future of Particle Physics (Snowmass 2021).

Promising Technologies and R&D Directions for the Future Muon Collider Detectors

Among the post-LHC generation of particle accelerators, the muon collider represents a unique machine with capability to provide very high energy leptonic collisions and to open the path to a vast and mostly unexplored physics programme. However, on the experimental side, such great physics potential is accompanied by unprecedented technological challenges, due to the fact that muons are unstable particles. Their decay products interact with the machine elements and produce an intense flux of background particles that eventually reach the detector and may degrade its performance. In this paper, we present technologies that have a potential to match the challenging specifications of a muon collider detector and outline a path forward for the future R&D efforts

Simulated Detector Performance at the Muon Collider

In this paper we report on the current status of studies on the expected performance for a detector designed to operate in a muon collider environment. Beam-induced backgrounds (BIB) represent the main challenge in the design of the detector and the event reconstruction algorithms. The current detector design aims to show that satisfactory performance can be achieved, while further optimizations are expected to significantly improve the overall performance. We present the characterization of the expected beam-induced background, describe the detector design and software used for detailed event simulations taking into account BIB effects. The expected performance of charged-particle reconstruction, jets, electrons, photons and muons is discussed, including an initial study on heavy-flavor jet tagging. A simple method to measure the delivered luminosity is also described. Overall, the proposed design and reconstruction algorithms can successfully reconstruct the high transverse-momentum objects needed to carry out a broad physics program

Simulated Detector Performance at the Muon Collider

In this paper we report on the current status of studies on the expected performance for a detector designed to operate in a muon collider environment. Beam-induced backgrounds (BIB) represent the main challenge in the design of the detector and the event reconstruction algorithms. The current detector design aims to show that satisfactory performance can be achieved, while further optimizations are expected to significantly improve the overall performance. We present the characterization of the expected beam-induced background, describe the detector design and software used for detailed event simulations taking into account BIB effects. The expected performance of charged-particle reconstruction, jets, electrons, photons and muons is discussed, including an initial study on heavy-flavor jet tagging. A simple method to measure the delivered luminosity is also described. Overall, the proposed design and reconstruction algorithms can successfully reconstruct the high transverse-momentum objects needed to carry out a broad physics program

Promising Technologies and R&D Directions for the Future Muon Collider Detectors

Among the post-LHC generation of particle accelerators, the muon collider represents a unique machine with capability to provide very high energy leptonic collisions and to open the path to a vast and mostly unexplored physics programme. However, on the experimental side, such great physics potential is accompanied by unprecedented technological challenges, due to the fact that muons are unstable particles. Their decay products interact with the machine elements and produce an intense flux of background particles that eventually reach the detector and may degrade its performance. In this paper, we present technologies that have a potential to match the challenging specifications of a muon collider detector and outline a path forward for the future R&D efforts