Search for the rare decay of the W boson into a pion and a photon in proton-proton collisions at s=13TeV

Document Type

Article

Abstract

A search is performed for the rare decay W±→π±γ in proton-proton collisions at s=13TeV. Data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137fb−1 were collected during 2016 to 2018 with the CMS detector. This analysis exploits a novel search strategy based on W boson production in top quark pair events. An inclusive search for the W±→π±γ decay is not optimal at the LHC because of the high trigger thresholds. Instead, a trigger selection is exploited in which the W boson originating from one of the top quarks is used to tag the event in a leptonic decay. The W boson emerging from the other top quark is used to search for the W±→π±γ signature. Such decays are characterized by an isolated track pointing to a large energy deposit, and by an isolated photon of large transverse momentum. The presence of b quark jets reduces the background from the hadronization of light-flavor quarks and gluons. The W±→π±γ decay is not observed. An upper exclusion limit is set to this branching fraction, corresponding to 1.50×10−5 at 95% confidence level, whereas the expected upper exclusion limit is 0.85−0.29+0.52×10−5.

Department(s)

Physics and Engineering

Publication Title

Physics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics

Volume

819

Publication Date

8-10-2021

DOI

10.1016/j.physletb.2021.136409

ISSN

03702693

Comments

The CMS Collaboration includes over 100 authors. This record includes the Bethel author and the first 5 authors listed. The full list of authors can be viewed on the downloaded document or at the original publisher's website - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2021.136409

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