Decay Topology Research Articles

Applications of Lipschitz neural networks to the Run 3 LHCb trigger system

The operating conditions defining the current data taking campaign at the Large Hadron Collider, known as Run 3, present unparalleled challenges for the real-time data acquisition workflow of the LHCb experiment at CERN. To address the anticipated surge in luminosity and consequent event rate, the LHCb experiment is transitioning to a fully software-based trigger system. This evolution necessitated innovations in hardware configurations, software paradigms, and algorithmic design. A significant advancement is the integration of monotonic Lipschitz Neural Networks into the LHCb trigger system. These deep learning models offer certified robustness against detector instabilities, and the ability to encode domain-specific inductive biases. Such properties are crucial for the inclusive heavy-flavour triggers and, most notably, for the topological triggers designed to inclusively select b-hadron candidates by exploiting the unique kinematic and decay topologies of beauty decays. This paper describes the recent progress in integrating Lipschitz Neural Networks into the topological triggers, highlighting the resulting enhanced sensitivity to highly displaced multi-body candidates produced within the LHCb acceptance.

A new LHC search for dark matter produced via heavy Higgs bosons using simplified models

Searches for dark matter produced via scalar resonances in final states consisting of Standard Model (SM) particles and missing transverse momentum are of high relevance at the LHC. Motivated by dark-matter portal models, most existing searches are optimized for unbalanced decay topologies for which the missing momentum recoils against the visible SM particles. In this work, we show that existing searches are also sensitive to a wider class of models, which we characterize by a recently presented simplified model framework. We point out that searches for models with a balanced decay topology can be further improved with more dedicated analysis strategies. For this study, we investigate the feasibility of a new search for bottom-quark associated neutral Higgs production with a boverline{b}Z+{p}_{textrm{T}}^{textrm{miss}} final state and perform a detailed collider analysis. Our projected results in the different simplified model topologies investigated here can be easily reinterpreted in a wide range of models of physics beyond the SM, which we explicitly demonstrate for the example of the Two-Higgs-Doublet model with an additional pseudoscalar Higgs boson.

Measurements of W^{+}W^{-} production in decay topologies inspired by searches for electroweak supersymmetry

This paper presents a measurement of fiducial and differential cross-sections for W^{+}W^{-} production in proton–proton collisions at sqrt{s}=13 TeV with the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb^{-1}. Events with exactly one electron, one muon and no hadronic jets are studied. The fiducial region in which the measurements are performed is inspired by searches for the electroweak production of supersymmetric charginos decaying to two-lepton final states. The selected events have moderate values of missing transverse momentum and the ‘stransverse mass’ variable m_{textrm{T2}}, which is widely used in searches for supersymmetry at the LHC. The ranges of these variables are chosen so that the acceptance is enhanced for direct W^{+}W^{-} production and suppressed for production via top quarks, which is treated as a background. The fiducial cross-section and particle-level differential cross-sections for six variables are measured and compared with two theoretical SM predictions from perturbative QCD calculations.

Simplified models for resonant neutral scalar production with missing transverse energy final states

Additional Higgs bosons appear in many extensions of the Standard Model (SM). While most existing searches for additional Higgs bosons concentrate on final states consisting of SM particles, final states containing beyond the SM (BSM) particles play an important role in many BSM models. In order to facilitate future searches for such final states, we develop a simplified model framework for heavy Higgs boson decays to a massive SM boson as well as one or more invisible particles. Allowing one kind of BSM mediator in each decay chain, we classify the possible decay topologies for each final state, taking into account all different possibilities for the spin of the mediator and the invisible particles. Our comparison of the kinematic distributions for each possible model realization reveals that the distributions corresponding to the different simplified model topologies are only mildly affected by the different spin hypotheses, while there is significant sensitivity for distinguishing between the different decay topologies. As a consequence, we point out that expressing the results of experimental searches in terms of the proposed simplified model topologies will allow one to constrain wide classes of different BSM models. The application of the proposed simplified model framework is explicitly demonstrated for the example of a mono-Higgs search. For each of the simplified models that are proposed in this paper we provide all necessary ingredients for performing Monte-Carlo simulations such that they can readily be applied in experimental analyses.

On the polarization of the non-prompt contribution to inclusive J/ψ production in pp collisions

Of the J/ψ mesons (inclusively) produced in pp collisions, a big fraction results from B decays, increasing with transverse momentum and exceeding 50% for pT> 20 GeV. These events must be subtracted in measurements of the polarization of prompt J/ψ mesons. While several studies have addressed the ψ(2S) and χc impact on the determination of the polarization of the directly-produced J/ψ mesons, the theoretical and experimental knowledge of the non-prompt polarization is very poor. Furthermore, non-prompt J/ψ polarization measurements can provide interesting information on quarkonium hadroproduction, complementing the studies of prompt production. We review the method of measuring the polarization of non-prompt J/ψ mesons (produced in decays of unreconstructed B mesons and detected in the dilepton channel), in conditions typical of LHC experiments studying J/ψ production. Realistic model-independent scenarios are validated with data from experiments studying e+e− → Υ(4S) interactions, converted to the high-momentum regime using B differential cross sections measured at the LHC. The non-prompt J/ψ polarization measurements are seen to remain dependent on the event selection criteria, even after correcting for the dilepton acceptance and efficiencies. This implies that reproducible definitions of all relevant analysis choices must be reported with the polarization result, for rigorous comparisons with other measurements and/or theoretical calculations. We also discuss how the non-prompt J/ψ polarization significantly depends on the relative importance of two complementary B → J/ψ decay topologies, two-body (reasonably dominated by singlet production) and multi-body (including octet contributions), providing, hence, valuable information for studies of the charmonium formation mechanisms.

Triple-leptoquark interactions for tree- and loop-level proton decays

We study the impact of triple-leptoquark interactions on matter stability for two specific proton decay topologies that arise at the tree- and one-loop level if and when they coexist. We demonstrate that the one-loop level topology is much more relevant than the tree-level one when it comes to the proton decay signatures despite the usual loop-suppression factor. We subsequently present detailed analysis of the triple-leptoquark interaction effects on the proton stability within one representative scenario to support our claim, where the scenario in question simultaneously features a tree-level topology that yields three-body proton decay p → e+e+e− and a one-loop level topology that induces two-body proton decays p → π0e+ and p → π+ overline{nu} . We also provide a comprehensive list of the leading-order proton decay channels for all non-trivial cubic and quartic contractions involving three scalar leptoquark multiplets that generate triple-leptoquark interactions of our interest, where in the latter case one of the scalar multiplets is the Standard Model Higgs doublet.

Modelling vector-like quarks in partial compositeness framework

Composite Higgs models, together with partial compositeness, predict the existence of new scalars and vector-like quarks (partners) at and above the TeV scale. Generically, the presence of these additional scalars opens up new decay topologies for the partners. In this paper we show how to systematically construct the general low energy Lagrangian to capture this feature. We emphasize the specific pattern in the top-partner spectrum arising in this class of models. We then present a concrete realization in the context of the SU(5)/SO(5) coset. We show that the top-partners in this model can have significant branching ratios to the additional scalars and a third generation quark, compared to the usual Standard Model channels. Amongst the most promising signatures at the LHC are final states containing a diphoton resonance along with a top quark.

Machine Learning Application for Λ Hyperon Reconstruction in CBM at FAIR

The Compressed Baryonic Matter experiment at FAIR will investigate the QCD phase diagram in the region of high net-baryon densities. Enhanced production of strange baryons, such as the most abundantly produced Λ hyperons, can signal transition to a new phase of the QCD matter. In this work, the CBM performance for reconstruction of the Λ hyperon via its decay to proton and π−is presented. Decay topology reconstruction is implemented in the Particle-Finder Simple (PFSimple) package with Machine Learning algorithms providing effcient selection of the decays and high signal to background ratio.

Could MT2 be a singularity variable?

The algebraic singularity method is a framework for analyzing collider events with missing energy. It provides a way to draw out a set of singularity variables that can catch singular features originating from the projection of full phase space onto the observable phase space of measured particle momenta. It is a promising approach applicable to various physics processes with missing energy but still requires more studies for use in practice. Meanwhile, in the double-sided decay topology with an invisible particle on each side, the MT2 variable has been known to be a useful collider observable for measuring particle masses from missing energy events or setting signal regions of collider searches. We investigate the relation between the two different types of kinematic variables in double-sided decay topology. We find that the singularity variables contain the MT2 variable in many cases, although the former is not a strict superset of the latter.

Physics potential for the Hrightarrow hbox {ZZ}^{*} decay at the CEPC

The precision of the yield measurement of the Higgs boson decaying into a pair of Z bosons process at the Circular Electron Positron Collider is evaluated. Including the recoil Z boson associated with the Higgs production (Higgsstrahlung) a total of three Z bosons are involved for this channel, from which final states characterized by the presence of a pair of leptons, quarks, and neutrinos are chosen for the signal. Two analysis approaches are compared and the final statistical precision of {sigma }_{mathrm {ZH}}{cdot }BR(H rightarrow ZZ^{*}) is estimated to be 6.9% using a multivariate analysis technique, based on boosted decision trees. The relative precision of the Higgs boson width, using this H rightarrow ZZ^{*} decay topology, is estimated by combining the obtained result with the precision of the inclusive ZH cross section measurement.

A singular way to search for heavy resonances in missing energy events

The phase space of visible particles in missing energy events may have singularity structures. The singularity variables are devised to capture the singularities effectively for given event topology. They can greatly improve the discovery potential of new physics signals as well as to extract the mass spectrum information at hadron colliders. Focusing on the antler decay topology of resonance, we derive a novel singularity variable whose distribution has endpoints directly correlated with the resonance mass. As a practical application, we examine the applicability of the singularity variable to the searches for heavy neutral Higgs bosons in the two-Higgs doublet model.

Study of tau neutrino production in proton-nucleus interactions

Tau neutrino properties are not so well known in comparison to those of muon or electron neutrinos. The tau neutrino interaction cross-section was directly measured by the DONUT experiment in 2008 on a basis of 9 registered tau neutrinos, and with a large systematical error of 50% due to a poor knowledge of the tau neutrino flux in this beam dump experiment. However, more accurate measurement of the cross section is needed for future neutrino experiments. It would also allow testing the Lepton Universality (LU) of Standard Model in neutrino interactions. Recently several results for B-meson decays (LHCb, Babar) demonstrated hints of possible LU violation. The tau neutrinos are produced in the Ds meson decays to tau, Ds → τ vT, and the cascade decay of the tau τ → vT X. DsTau experiment has been proposed to study the tau neutrino production at CERN SPS. It will measure the Ds production differential cross-section in the proton-tungsten interactions. This will allow reducing of the uncertainty due to the tau neutrino flux in the DONUT result from 50% to 10%. The peculiar Ds cascade decay topology ("double kink") in a few mm range will be detected by nuclear emulsion tracker thanks to its excellent spatial resolution (∼50nm).In 2016 and 2017, we made test beam exposures of nuclear emulsion modules at CERN SPS 400GeV/c proton beam followed by the pilot run in August 2018. A physics run in 2021 is scheduled. The status and prospects of the DsTau project as well as a review of the modern nuclear emulsion technique and the methods of its data analysis are presented.

Studies of Beauty Suppression via Nonprompt D^{0} Mesons in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV.

The transverse momentum spectra of D^{0} mesons from b hadron decays are measured at midrapidity (|y|<1) in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center of mass energy of 5.02TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC. The D^{0} mesons from b hadron decays are distinguished from prompt D^{0} mesons by their decay topologies. In Pb-Pb collisions, the B→D^{0} yield is found to be suppressed in the measured p_{T} range from 2 to 100 GeV/c as compared to pp collisions. The suppression is weaker than that of prompt D^{0} mesons and charged hadrons for p_{T} around 10 GeV/c. While theoretical calculations incorporating partonic energy loss in the quark-gluon plasma can successfully describe the measured B→D^{0} suppression at higher p_{T}, the data show an indication of larger suppression than the model predictions in the range of 2<p_{T}<5 GeV/c.

Revisiting the dark photon explanation of the muon anomalous magnetic moment

A massive $U(1)^{\prime}$ gauge boson known as a "dark photon" or $A^{\prime}$, has long been proposed as a potential explanation for the discrepancy observed between the experimental measurement and theoretical determination of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, ($g_{\mu} - 2$) anomaly. Recently, experimental results have excluded this possibility for a dark photon exhibiting exclusively visible or invisible decays. In this work, we revisit this idea and consider a model where $A^{\prime}$ couples inelastically to dark matter and an excited dark sector state, leading to a more exotic decay topology we refer to as a semi-visible decay. We show that for large mass splittings between the dark sector states this decay mode is enhanced, weakening the previous invisibly decaying dark photon bounds. As a consequence, $A^{\prime}$ resolves the $g_{\mu} - 2$ anomaly in a region of parameter space the thermal dark matter component of the Universe is readily explained. Interestingly, it is possible that the semi-visible events we discuss may have been vetoed by experiments searching for invisible dark photon decays. A re-analysis of the data and future searches may be crucial in uncovering this exotic decay mode or closing the window on the dark photon explanation of the $g_{\mu} - 2$ anomaly.

Theory predictions for the pull angle

Pull is a jet observable that is sensitive to color flow between dipoles. It has seen wide use for discrimination of particles with similar decay topologies but carrying different color representations and has been measured on W bosons from top quark decays by the D$\emptyset$ and ATLAS experiments. In this paper, we present the first theoretical predictions of pull, focusing on a color-singlet decaying in two jets. The pull angle observable is particularly sensitive to color flow, but is not infrared and collinear safe and so cannot be calculated in fixed-order perturbation theory. Nevertheless, all-orders resummation renders its distribution finite, a property referred to as Sudakov safety. In our prediction of the pull angle we also include an estimation of the effects from hadronization, and directly compare our results to simulation and experimental data.

Enhancing the discovery prospects for SUSY-like decays with a forgotten kinematic variable

The lack of a new physics signal thus far at the Large Hadron Collider motivates us to consider how to look for challenging final states, with large Standard Model backgrounds and subtle kinematic features, such as cascade decays with compressed spectra. Adopting a benchmark SUSY-like decay topology with a four-body final state proceeding through a sequence of two-body decays via intermediate resonances, we focus our attention on the kinematic variable Δ4 which previously has been used to parameterize the boundary of the allowed four-body phase space. We highlight the advantages of using Δ4 as a discovery variable, and present an analysis suggesting that the pairing of Δ4 with another invariant mass variable leads to a significant improvement over more conventional variable choices and techniques.

Charm physics at BESIII

The study of mesons and baryons which contain at least one charm quark is referred to as open charm physics. It offers the possibility to study up-type quark transitions. Since the quark can not be treated in any mass limit, theoretical predictions are difficult and experimental input is crucial. BESIII collected large data samples of e+e− collisions at several charm thresholds. The at-threshold decay topology offers special opportunities to study open charm decays.We present a selection of recent BESIII results: The measurement of the branching fraction , the form factor of neutral D decays to K−µ+νµ as well as the search for rare decays D → h(h′)e+e−. Recent results on decays are presented in [1].

Two Higgs doublets and a complex singlet: disentangling the decay topologies and associated phenomenology

We present a systematic study of an extension of the Standard Model (SM) with two Higgs doublets and one complex singlet (2HDM+S). In order to gain analytical understanding of the parameter space, we re-parameterize the 27 parameters in the Lagrangian by quantities more closely related to physical observables: physical masses, mixing angles, trilinear and quadratic couplings, and vacuum expectation values. Embedding the 125 GeV SM-like Higgs boson observed at the LHC places stringent constraints on the parameter space. In particular, the mixing of the SM-like interaction state with the remaining states is severely constrained, requiring approximate alignment without decoupling in the region of parameter space where the additional Higgs bosons are light enough to be accessible at the LHC. In contrast to 2HDM models, large branching ratios of the heavy Higgs bosons into two lighter Higgs bosons or a light Higgs and a Z boson, so-called Higgs cascade decays, are ubiquitous in the 2HDM+S. Using currently available limits, future projections, and our own collider simulations, we show that combining different final states arising from Higgs cascades would allow to probe most of the interesting region of parameter space with Higgs boson masses up to 1 TeV at the LHC with L = 3000 fb−1 of data.

Probing anomalous top-Higgs couplings at the HL-LHC via H→WW* decay channels

We study the prospects of probing the anomalous tHq (q = u, c) couplings via SS2L or 3L signatures at the High Luminosity (HL-LHC) run of the 14 TeV CERN collider. We focus on signals of the tH associated production followed by the decay modes t → bℓ+νℓ and H → WW*, and production followed by the decay modes t → bℓ+νℓ and , where ℓ = e,μ. Based on two types of H → WW* decay topologies, one assuming the semileptonic decay mode H → WW*→ℓ+νjj and the other the fully leptonic decay mode , we perform a full simulation for signals and backgrounds. It is shown that, at the future HL-LHC, the branching ratio Br(t → uh) (Br(t → ch)) can be probed to 1.17 (1.56) × 10−3 for the same-sign di-lepton channel, and to 7.1 × 10−4 (1.39 × 10−3) for the 3L channel at 3σ sensitivity.

Actual Physics behind Mono-X

Mono-X searches are standard dark matter search strategies at the LHC. First, we show how in the case of initial state radiation they essentially collapse to mono-jet searches. Second, we systematically study mono-X signatures from decays of heavier dark matter states. Direct detection constraints strongly limit our MSSM expectations, but largely vanish for mono-Z and mono-Higgs signals once we include light NMSSM mediators. Finally, the decay topology motivates mono-W-pair and mono-Higgs-pair searches, strengthening and complementing their mono-X counterparts.