Georg Viehhauser

Abstract:

Using data recorded in 2011 with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider, a search for evidence of extra spatial dimensions has been performed through an analysis of the diphoton final state. The analysis uses data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.12fb-1 of s=7TeV proton-proton collisions. The diphoton invariant mass (mγγ) spectrum is observed to be in good agreement with the expected Standard Model background. In the large extra dimension scenario of Arkani-Hamed, Dimopoulos and Dvali, the results provide 95% CL lower limits on the fundamental Planck scale between 2.27 and 3.53 TeV, depending on the number of extra dimensions and the theoretical formalism used. The results also set 95% CL lower limits on the lightest Randall-Sundrum graviton mass of between 0.79 and 1.85 TeV, for values of the dimensionless coupling k/-1 Pl varying from 0.01 to 0.1. Combining with previously published ATLAS results from the dielectron and dimuon final states, the 95% CL lower limit on the Randall-Sundrum graviton mass for k/M-1Pl=0.01 (0.1) is 0.80 (1.95) TeV. © 2012 CERN.

Abstract:

The ATLAS experiment at the LHC has measured the centrality dependence of charged particle pseudorapidity distributions over |η|<2 in lead-lead collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of √s NN=2.76 TeV. In order to include particles with transverse momentum as low as 30 MeV, the data were recorded with the central solenoid magnet off. Charged particles were reconstructed with two algorithms (2-point "tracklets" and full tracks) using information from the pixel detector only. The lead-lead collision centrality was characterized by the total transverse energy in the forward calorimeter in the range 3.2<|η|<4.9. Measurements are presented of the per-event charged particle pseudorapidity distribution, dN ch/dη, and the average charged particle multiplicity in the pseudorapidity interval |η|<0.5 in several intervals of collision centrality. The results are compared to previous mid-rapidity measurements at the LHC and RHIC. The variation of the mid-rapidity charged particle yield per colliding nucleon pair with the number of participants is consistent with lower sNN results. The shape of the dN ch/dη distribution is found to be independent of centrality within the systematic uncertainties of the measurement. © 2012 CERN.

Abstract:

This Letter presents a search for the Standard Model Higgs boson in the decay channel H→ZZ(*)→ℓ+ℓ-ℓ'+ℓ'-, where ℓ, ℓ'=e or μ, using proton-proton collisions at √s=7 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.8 fb-1. The four-lepton invariant mass distribution is compared with Standard Model background expectations to derive upper limits on the cross section of a Standard Model Higgs boson with a mass between 110 GeV and 600 GeV. The mass ranges 134-156 GeV, 182-233 GeV, 256-265 GeV and 268-415 GeV are excluded at the 95% confidence level. The largest upward deviations from the background-only hypothesis are observed for Higgs boson masses of 125 GeV, 244 GeV and 500 GeV with local significances of 2.1, 2.2 and 2.1 standard deviations, respectively. Once the look-elsewhere effect is considered, none of these excesses are significant. © 2012 CERN.

Abstract:

The χb(nP) quarkonium states are produced in proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider at √s=7TeV and recorded by the ATLAS detector. Using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.4fb-1, these states are reconstructed through their radiative decays to Υ(1S,2S) with Υ→μ+μ-. In addition to the mass peaks corresponding to the decay modes χ b(1P,2P)→Υ(1S)γ, a new structure centered at a mass of 10.530±0.005(stat)±0.009(syst)GeV is also observed, in both the Υ(1S)γ and Υ(2S)γ decay modes. This structure is interpreted as the χb(3P) system. © 2012 CERN.

Abstract:

A search is presented for same-sign top-quark production and down-type heavy quarks of charge -1/3 in events with two isolated leptons (e or μ) that have the same electric charge, at least two jets and large missing transverse momentum. The data are selected from pp collisions at ps = 7 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 1.04 fb-1. The observed data are consistent with expectations from Standard Model processes. Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level on the cross section of new sources of same-sign top-quark pair production of 1.4-2.0 pb depending on the assumed mediator mass. Upper limits are also set on the pair-production cross-section for new heavy down-type quarks; a lower limit of 450 GeV is set at 95% confidence level on the mass of heavy down-type quarks under the assumption that they decay 100% of the time to Wt. Copyright CERN.