Title: Study of fake-tau background with the ATLAS experiment Author: Gabriela Martinovicová Institute: Institute of Particle and Nuclear Physics Supervisor: Mgr. Vojtěch Pleskot, Ph.D., Institute of Particle and Nuclear Physics Abstract: The τ-leptons are the important final-state components, not only in the Standard Model processes but also in the processes beyond the Standard Model studied at the ATLAS experiment at CERN. They are characterized by mostly decaying into hadrons with one or three charged particles and, in most cases, with at least one neutral pion in the final-state. Due to their short decay length, only their decay products are observed in the detector. Jets naturally fake hadronically decaying τ leptons, so it is necessary to estimate such a fake-τ background. The Fake Factor method uses a correction factor, called fake factor (FF), measured from the data and applied to the data to estimate the fake-τ background in a given signal region. One of the complications is that FF differs for τ candidates faked by jets derived from quarks or gluons and thus must be measured in the control region with the same fraction of quark jets as in the signal region. The solution to this problem is the universal FF method, which proposed that from the FFs measured in samples with a large difference in the...

The analysis of the Higgs boson decay into the pairs of tau leptons H → ττ is presented. In the scope of this thesis, only the tau leptons decaying purely lep- tonically are considered. This analysis is performed using data recorded from the proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy √ s = 13 TeV by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider and correspond to the integrated lumi- nosity of 36.1 fb−1 . The Boosted Decision Trees (BDT) multivariate technique was used in order to provide a classification of events. Datasets considered in this analysis consisted of the triggered, reconstructed and calibrated events. In addition, events had to pass the pre-selection criteria and were separated into four categories. Our main contribution to this analysis is based on developing and incorporating techniques used in the process of BDT training and evaluation. The performed analysis presented in this thesis is blinded. Therefore, the Monte Carlo simulation was used instead of real data in the Maximum Likelihood Fit in order to determine the expected significance. For the H → ττ leptonic channel, the expected signal significance was measured to be 1.16 σ. 1

This thesis describes a measurement of the Standard Model Higgs boson coupling to fermions in decays to two τ-leptons, a search for charged Higgs bosons in decays to a τ-lepton and a neutrino, as well as the reconstruction, identification and triggering of hadronically decaying τ-leptons. The data considered are collected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The reconstruction and identification of hadronically decaying τ-leptons in the ATLAS experiment during Run 2 of the Large Hadron Collider are described, and the performance of the τ trigger is measured in events with top–antitop-quark pairs using data from 13 TeV proton–proton collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.2 fb-1, collected in 2015, and 11.5 fb-1, collected in 2016. Hadronically decaying τ-leptons are of importance to many physical processes involving Higgs bosons. The coupling of the Standard Model Higgs boson to fermions is measured in decays to two τ-leptons using 7 TeV data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.5 fb-1, collected in 2011, and 8 TeV data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb-1, collected in 2012. The signal strength is measured to be μ = 1.4, corresponding to an excess over the background-only model of 4.5σ. Charged Higgs bosons are searched for in decays to a τ-lepton and a neutrino, where the τ-lepton decays hadronically. 13 TeV data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 14.7 fb-1, collected in 2015 and 2016, are used. No excess over the Standard Model background is observed, and the 95 % confidence-level exclusion limits on σ(pp → [b]tH+) × (H+ → τν) are set to 2.0 pb–8 fb in the range 200–2000 GeV.

La thèse décrit une étude de l'état final en paire de leptons tau dans le mode de désintégration semi-leptonique en muons et hadrons en utilisant des données proton-proton collisions à une énergie de centre de masse de 7 TeV avec le détecteur CMS au CERN Large Hadron Collider. La performance de l'algorithme de reconstruction et d'identification des leptons tau est étudiée en utilisant un échantillon de données de collisions proton-proton à $ \ sqrt $ = 7 TeV, ce qui correspond à une luminosité intégrée de 36 pb $ ^ {-1} $. Les leptons tau qui se désintègrent en un seul hadron chargé, avec ou sans hadrons neutres sont reconstruits à l'aide de la technique dite du flot de particules pour la reconstruction des objets en utilisant un nouvel algorithme adapté aux leptons tau et appelé le Hadrons Plus Strips (HPS) qui utilise le trajectographe et le calorimètre électromagnétique de CMS. L'efficacité de l'algorithme de reconstruction est mesurée en utilisant les leptons taus produits lors de la désintégration de bosons Z. Le taux de mauvaise identification de leptons tau se désintégrant de manière hadronique pour les jets produits en association avec un boson W est également déterminé. La première mesure inclusive de production Z $ \ rightarrow \ tau \ tau $ dans les collisions pp au le LHC est présentée dans les états finals muon+jets en utilisant un échantillon de données de 36 pb $ ^ {-1} $. La section efficace mesurée est en bon accord avec les prédictions QCD à l'ordre doublement suivant l'ordre dominant (NNLO). Après avoir identifié le boson Z dans le mode de désintégration di-tau, une recherche inclusive de bosons de Higgs neutres du modèle supersymétrique standard minimal (MSSM) dans les collisions pp est réalisée à une énergie dans le centre de masse de 7 TeV. Les résultats sont basés sur un échantillon de données correspondant à une luminosité intégrée de 36 pb $ ^ {-1} $ et de 4,6 $ fb ^ {-1} $ enregistré par l'expérience CMS dans l'année 2010 et 2011 respectivement. La recherche utilise les désintégrations de bosons de Higgs en paire de leptons tau. Aucun excès n'est observée dans le spectre de masse invariante de paires de leptons tau. Les limites supérieures sur le produit de la section efficace de production de boson de Higgs par le rapport de branchement de la désintégration en paire de leptons tau en fonction de la masse du boson de Higgs pseudoscalaire permettent de donner des limites strictes dans l'espace des paramètres du MSSM. / The thesis describes a study of the tau-pair final state in the semi-leptonic decay mode into muon and hadrons using proton-proton collisions data at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV using the CMS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The performance of tau-lepton reconstruction and identification algorithm is studied using a data sample of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 pb$^{-1}$. The tau leptons that decay into one charged hadron with or without the association of neutral hadrons is reconstructed using Particle-Flow object reconstruction technique with a novel tau identification algorithm called the Hadron Plus Strips (HPS) algorithm in the CMS tracker and electromagnetic calorimeter. The reconstruction efficiency of the algorithm is measured using $\tau$ leptons produced in Z-boson decays. The hadronically decaying tau lepton misidentification rate for jets produced in association with a W boson is also determined. The first measurement of inclusive Z$\rightarrow\tau\tau$ production in pp collisions at the LHC is presented in muon+hadrons final state using a data sample of 36 pb$^{-1}$. The measured cross-section is in good agreement with the next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) QCD prediction. After establishing the Z boson in di-tau decay mode, an inclusive search for neutral minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) Higgs bosons in pp collisions is performed at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. The results are based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 pb$^{-1}$ and 4.6 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the CMS experiment in the year 2010 and 2011 respectively. The search uses decays of the Higgs bosons to tau pairs. No excess is observed in the tau-pair invariant-mass spectrum. The resulting upper limits on the Higgs boson production cross-section times the branching fraction to tau pairs, as a function of the pseudoscalar Higgs boson mass, yield stringent bounds in the MSSM parameter space.

No description available.

A search for the neutral Higgs bosons predicted by the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) is presented. The analysis is performed on data from proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of sqrt{s}=8 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider recorded by the ATLAS detector. The data were collected in 2012, correspond to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb-1 and represent the full 8 TeV dataset. This search is performed in the tau-tau final state, with one tau lepton decaying leptonically and the other hadronically. The analysis is optimized in three categories, addressing low-mass Higgs bosons which are accompanied by a bottom quark induced jet or not and high-mass Higgs bosons. No deviations from Standard Model predictions are observed, and therefore no evidences of new Higgs bosons are found. Exclusion limits are set on the cross-section times branching fraction of the Higgs bosons and for parameters m_A and tan{beta} of MSSM benchmark scenarios. / In dieser Arbeit wird die Suche nach neutralen Higgs-Bosonen im Rahmen des Minimalen Supersymmetrischen Standardmodells (MSSM) vorgestellt. Die Analyse basiert auf dem kompletten Datensatz von Proton-Proton-Kollisionen des Large Hadron Colliders, LHC, die mit dem ATLAS-Detektor bei einer Schwerpunktsenergie von sqrt{s}=8 TeV im Jahr 2012 aufgenommen wurden. Die Daten entsprechen einer Luminosität 20.3 fb-1. Die Suche fokussiert auf den Tau-Tau Endzustand, wobei ein Tau-Lepton hadronisch zerfällt und das andere leptonisch, entweder in ein Elektron oder in ein Muon. Die Analyse wurde in drei Kategorien optimiert, um sowohl für Higgs-Bosonen im niedrigen Massenbereich von 90-200 GeV als auch im hohen Massenbereich von 200 GeV bis 1 TeV sensitiv zu sein. Der niedrige Massenbereich wurde dabei in zwei Unterkategorien geteilt, entsprechend der Anwesenheit bzw. Abwesenheit von zusätzlichen, durch b-Quarks induzierten Jets, um die Empfindlichkeit für spezielle Higgs-Boson-Produktionsmodi zu erhöhen. Im Rahmen dieser Analyse wurden keine Hinweise auf neue Higgs-Bosonen gefunden und daher Ausschlussgrenzen auf den Wirkungsquerschnitt x Verzweigungsverhältnis gesetzt. Ebenfalls wurden die Resultate in MSSM-Benchmark-Szenarien interpretiert.

A search for the neutral Higgs bosons predicted by the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) is presented. The analysis is performed on data from proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of sqrt{s}=8 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider recorded by the ATLAS detector. The data were collected in 2012, correspond to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb-1 and represent the full 8 TeV dataset. This search is performed in the tau-tau final state, with one tau lepton decaying leptonically and the other hadronically. The analysis is optimized in three categories, addressing low-mass Higgs bosons which are accompanied by a bottom quark induced jet or not and high-mass Higgs bosons. No deviations from Standard Model predictions are observed, and therefore no evidences of new Higgs bosons are found. Exclusion limits are set on the cross-section times branching fraction of the Higgs bosons and for parameters m_A and tan{beta} of MSSM benchmark scenarios. / In dieser Arbeit wird die Suche nach neutralen Higgs-Bosonen im Rahmen des Minimalen Supersymmetrischen Standardmodells (MSSM) vorgestellt. Die Analyse basiert auf dem kompletten Datensatz von Proton-Proton-Kollisionen des Large Hadron Colliders, LHC, die mit dem ATLAS-Detektor bei einer Schwerpunktsenergie von sqrt{s}=8 TeV im Jahr 2012 aufgenommen wurden. Die Daten entsprechen einer Luminosität 20.3 fb-1. Die Suche fokussiert auf den Tau-Tau Endzustand, wobei ein Tau-Lepton hadronisch zerfällt und das andere leptonisch, entweder in ein Elektron oder in ein Muon. Die Analyse wurde in drei Kategorien optimiert, um sowohl für Higgs-Bosonen im niedrigen Massenbereich von 90-200 GeV als auch im hohen Massenbereich von 200 GeV bis 1 TeV sensitiv zu sein. Der niedrige Massenbereich wurde dabei in zwei Unterkategorien geteilt, entsprechend der Anwesenheit bzw. Abwesenheit von zusätzlichen, durch b-Quarks induzierten Jets, um die Empfindlichkeit für spezielle Higgs-Boson-Produktionsmodi zu erhöhen. Im Rahmen dieser Analyse wurden keine Hinweise auf neue Higgs-Bosonen gefunden und daher Ausschlussgrenzen auf den Wirkungsquerschnitt x Verzweigungsverhältnis gesetzt. Ebenfalls wurden die Resultate in MSSM-Benchmark-Szenarien interpretiert.

The Standard Model predicts existence of one Higgs boson with combined parity CP = +1. In MSSM there exist Higgs boson with CP = −1 in addition. The work develops one method of Higgs boson CP determination on the basis of angular correlations of pions and ρ-mesons born in cascade decay H/A → τ− τ+ → ρ− /π− ντ ρ+ /π+ ¯ντ . The calculations are done in the leading order of perturbation theory. Further, the possibility of signal (Higgs boson decay) and background (Z boson decay) differentiation is studied. The processes in question are simulated using Monte Carlo generators Pythia and Tauola. Simulation outputs are compared with calculated theoretical results. 1

This research project searches for new physics in the τ sector that would resolve the tension between BABAR measurement for the pion-photon transition form factor Fπ0(Q^2)and the standard model asymptotic prediction. This behaviour could be explained by a new light pseudo-scalar state that mixes with the π 0 and enhances its coupling to the c and b quarks or the τ lepton, or by a new spin-0 particle with mass very close to the π 0 . We examine one channel to test for existence of such objects: their creation in association with τ pairs in e+ e− collisions. The analysis uses a typical cut-based approach as the large predicted cross-sections and the kinematics of the final states allow for a direct selection of signal events and background suppression. Current simulation studies predict a 90% CL limit on the production cross-section on the order of 100 fb in case of no signal, while the theory predicts production cross-sections on the order of 1 pb to 100 pb depending on the model. / Graduate / 0798 / beaa@uvic.ca

The measurement of the ratio of the branching fractions of Υ (3S) decays into τ leptons over dimuons (R τ /μ = B(Υ (3S) → τ + τ − )/B(Υ (3S) → μ + μ − )) is a test of lepton universality. A violation of lepton universality would be evidence of new physics (and possibly of a light CP-odd Higgs boson). A sample of Υ (3S) decays (2.408 fb −1 ) collected with the B A B AR detector at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory was used to determine that the ratio R τ /μ is R τ /μ = 1.0385 ± 0.034 ± 0.019. Using the remaining blinded data sample (corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 25.6 fb −1 ) the estimated statistical sensitivity will be 1.1 % and the estimated systematic uncertainty of R τ /μ is 1.9 %. Prior to this work, previous measurements of R τ /μ had an estimated total precision of 10 %. / Graduate