Dr Elizabeth Gallas

Abstract:

The luminosity calibration for the ATLAS detector at the LHC during pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV in 2010 and 2011 is presented. Evaluation of the luminosity scale is performed using several luminosity-sensitive detectors, and comparisons are made of the long-term stability and accuracy of this calibration applied to the pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV. A luminosity uncertainty of δL/L= ± 3.5 % is obtained for the 47 pb^-1 of data delivered to ATLAS in 2010, and an uncertainty of δL/L= ± 1.8 % is obtained for the 5.5 fb^-1 delivered in 2011.

Abstract:

In order to study further the long-range correlations ("ridge") observed recently in p + Pb collisions at √sNN= 5.02 TeV, the second-order azimuthal anisotropy parameter of charged particles, v2, has been measured with the cumulant method using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. In a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 1 μb-1, the parameter v2has been obtained using two- and four-particle cumulants over the pseudorapidity range |η|<2.5. The results are presented as a function of transverse momentum and the event activity, defined in terms of the transverse energy summed over 3.1 < η <4.9 in the direction of the Pb beam. They show features characteristic of collective anisotropic flow, similar to that observed in Pb + Pb collisions. A comparison is made to results obtained using two-particle correlation methods, and to predictions from hydrodynamic models of p +Pb collisions. Despite the small transverse spatial extent of the p + Pb collision system, the large magnitude of v2and its similarity to hydrodynamic predictions provide additional evidence for the importance of final-state effects in p + Pb reactions. © 2013 CERN. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Abstract:

The inclusive jet cross-section has been measured in proton–proton collisions at √s = 2.76 TeV in a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.20 pb⁻¹ collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in 2011. Jets are identified using the anti-kt algorithm with two radius parameters of 0.4 and 0.6. The inclusive jet double-differential cross-section is presented as a function of the jet transverse momentum pT and jet rapidity y, covering a range of 20 ≤ pT < 430 GeV and |y| < 4.4. The ratio of the cross-section to the inclusive jet cross-section measurement at √s = 7 TeV, published by the ATLAS Collaboration, is calculated as a function of both transverse momentum and the dimensionless quantity xT = 2pT/ √s, in bins of jet rapidity. The systematic uncertainties on the ratios are significantly reduced due to the cancellation of correlated uncertainties in the two measurements. Results are compared to the prediction from next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculations corrected for non-perturbative effects, and next-to-leading order Monte Carlo simulation. Furthermore, the ATLAS jet cross-section measurements at √s = 2.76 TeV and √s = 7 TeV are analysed within a framework of next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculations to determine parton distribution functions of the proton, taking into account the correlations between the measurements.

Abstract:

A search for a charged Higgs boson (H⁺) in tt decays is presented, where one of the top quarks decays via t →H ⁺ b, followed by H ⁺ → two jets (cs). The other top quark decays to Wb, where the W boson then decays into a lepton (e/μ) and a neutrino. The data were recorded in pp collisions at √ s = 7 TeV by the ATLAS detector at the LHC in 2011, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.7 fb⁻¹. With no observation of a signal, 95 % confidence level (CL) upper limits are set on the decay branching ratio of top quarks to charged Higgs bosons varying between 5 % and 1 % for H ⁺ masses between 90 GeV and 150 GeV, assuming B(H ⁺→cs) = 100 %.

Abstract:

The integrated and differential fiducial cross sections for the production of a W or Z boson in association with a high-energy photon are measured using pp collisions at √s=7 TeV. The analyses use a data sample with an integrated luminosity of 4.6 fb-1 collected by the ATLAS detector during the 2011 LHC data-taking period. Events are selected using leptonic decays of the W and Z bosons [W(eν,μν) and Z(e+e-, μ+μ-,νν̄)] with the requirement of an associated isolated photon. The data are used to test the electroweak sector of the Standard Model and search for evidence for new phenomena. The measurements are used to probe the anomalous WWγ, ZZγ, and Zγγ triple-gauge-boson couplings and to search for the production of vector resonances decaying to Zγ and Wγ. No deviations from Standard Model predictions are observed and limits are placed on anomalous triple-gauge-boson couplings and on the production of new vector meson resonances. © 2013 CERN.