Direct search for exotic spin zero particles in the di-lepton final state of Higgs-Z associated production in sqrt(s) = 13 TeV pp collisions

This thesis presents a search for a new exotic spin-0 particle a in 36.47 fb^(-1) of sqrt(s) = 13 TeV pp collisions recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. This analysis is part of a broader search for a H ==> aa ==> bbbb, which uses a Higgs produced in association with a weak vector boson to improve triggering on events. The channel considered here uses Higgs-Z---associated production with two leptons in the final state. The analysis uses a likelihood-fit profile of a multivariate discriminant to place 95% confidence limit upper bounds on the cross section of the proposed signal. A study of the performance of the ATLAS Tile Calorimeter in extremely energetic events is also presented.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physics

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2019

Author dc:creator

• Ferrante, Andrew

Contributors dc:contributor

• Errede, Steve
• Martinez Outschoorn, Verena
• Peng, Jen-Chief
• Cooper, Lance

• LHC
• ATLAS
• BSM
• Beyond the Standard Model
• Higgs Physics
• Exotic Search
• Scalar
• Pseudoscalar
• Z Boson
• Di-lepton

Statement dc:rights

• (C) 2018 by Andrew Ferrante. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/102492

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/102492