Nicolas Tonon

A bstract A search for new top quark interactions is performed within the framework of an effective field theory using the associated production of either one or two top quarks with a Z boson in multilepton final states. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb − 1 of proton-proton collisions at $$ \sqrt{s} $$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msqrt> <mml:mi>s</mml:mi> </mml:msqrt> </mml:math> = 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. Five dimension-six operators modifying the electroweak interactions of the top quark are considered. Novel machine-learning techniques are used to enhance the sensitivity to effects arising from these operators. Distributions used for the signal extraction are parameterized in terms of Wilson coefficients describing the interaction strengths of the operators. All five Wilson coefficients are simultaneously fit to data and 95% confidence level intervals are computed. All results are consistent with the SM expectations.

A new CMS tracker detector will be installed for operation at the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC). This detector comprises modules with two closely spaced parallel sensor plates and front-end ASICs capable of transmitting tracking information to the CMS Level-1 (L1) trigger at the 40 MHz beam crossing rate. The inclusion of tracking information in the L1 trigger decision will be essential for selecting events of interest efficiently at the HL-LHC. The CMS Binary Chip (CBC) has been designed to read out and correlate hits from pairs of tracker sensors, forming so-called track stubs. For the first time, a prototype irradiated module and a full-sized module, both equipped with the version 2 of the CBC, have been operated in test beam facilities. The efficiency of the stub finding logic of the modules for various angles of incidence has been studied. The ability of the modules to reject tracks with transverse momentum less than 2 GeV has been demonstrated. For modules built with irradiated sensors, no significant drop in the stub finding performance has been observed. Results from the beam tests are described in this paper.

During the high-luminosity phase of the LHC (HL-LHC), planned to start in 2027, the accelerator is expected to deliver an instantaneous peak luminosity of up to 7.5×1034 cm−2 s−1. A total integrated luminosity of 0300 or even 0400 fb−1 is foreseen to be delivered to the general purpose detectors ATLAS and CMS over a decade, thereby increasing the discovery potential of the LHC experiments significantly. The CMS detector will undergo a major upgrade for the HL-LHC, with entirely new tracking detectors consisting of an Outer Tracker and Inner Tracker. However, the new tracking system will be exposed to a significantly higher radiation than the current tracker, requiring new radiation-hard sensors. CMS initiated an extensive irradiation and measurement campaign starting in 2009 to systematically compare the properties of different silicon materials and design choices for the Outer Tracker sensors. Several test structures and sensors were designed and implemented on 18 different combinations of wafer materials, thicknesses, and production technologies. The devices were electrically characterized before and after irradiation with neutrons, and with protons of different energies, with fluences corresponding to those expected at different radii of the CMS Outer Tracker after 0300 fb−1. The tests performed include studies with β sources, lasers, and beam scans. This paper compares the performance of different options for the HL-LHC silicon sensors with a focus on silicon bulk material and thickness.

In 2017 a new pixel detector was installed in the CMS detector. This so-called Phase-1 pixel detector features four barrel layers in the central region and three disks per end in the forward regions. The upgraded pixel detector requires an upgraded data acquisition (DAQ) system to accept a new data format and larger event sizes. A new DAQ and control system has been developed based on a combination of custom and commercial microTCA parts. Custom mezzanine cards on standard carrier cards provide a front-end driver for readout, and two types of front-end controller for configuration and the distribution of clock and trigger signals. Before the installation of the detector the DAQ system underwent a series of integration tests, including readout of the pilot pixel detector, which was constructed with prototype Phase-1 electronics and operated in CMS from 2015 to 2016, quality assurance of the CMS Phase-1 detector during its assembly, and testing with the CMS Central DAQ. This paper describes the Phase-1 pixel DAQ and control system, along with the integration tests and results. A description of the operational experience and performance in data taking is included.

Evidence is presented for standard model production of a Z boson in association with a single top quark. The analysis uses a data sample of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV recorded in 2016 by the CMS detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. Final states containing three leptons (electrons or muons) and at least two jets are investigated, and the measured cross section is $\sigma($pp $\rightarrow$ tZq $\rightarrow $Wb$\ell^{+}\ell^{-}$q) = 123$^{+44}_{-39}$ fb, where $\ell$ stands for electrons, muons or taus. The corresponding observed (expected) significance is 3.7 (3.1) standard deviations.

Evidence is presented for standard model production of a Z boson in association with a single top quark. The analysis uses a data sample of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV recorded in 2016 by the CMS detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. Final states containing three leptons (electrons or muons) and at least two jets are investigated, and the measured cross section is $σ($pp $\rightarrow$ tZq $\rightarrow $Wb$\ell^{+}\ell^{-}$q) = 123$^{+44}_{-39}$ fb, where $\ell$ stands for electrons, muons or taus. The corresponding observed (expected) significance is 3.7 (3.1) standard deviations.

This thesis presents 4 different studies based on the data collected by CMS during the Run 2 of the LHC. Firstly, a search for the production of a single top quark and a Z boson (tZq) is conducted. This rare process probes Standard Model couplings, and may be sensitive to new physics processes. This search targets the trilepton final state and resulted in an evidence for the tZq process. A second analysis targets the production of a single top quark and a Higgs boson (tH) in multileptonfinal states. It is the only process sensitive at LO to the sign of the top quark Yukawa coupling. Constraints are placed on the value of the top quark Yukawa, and on the tH cross section. In addition, the analysis is re-adapted to search for FCNC processes with similar final states. Finally, a study of the ageing due to irradiation of the strip tracker is presented.

Measurements carried out or reinterpreted within the framework of effective field theory (EFT) will constitute a key component of the LHC legacy in the quest towards physics beyond the standard model. Numerous EFT measurements were already published by the CMS Collaboration. In the top quark sector, four distinct approaches to EFT have been identified, each successfully applied in several analyses. We review the pros and cons of each approach, while illustrating them with recent analyses in which they were adopted.

Recent inclusive and differential cross section measurements of the associated production of top quark pairs with gauge bosons or heavy-flavor jets are reported. A search for physics beyond the standard model in the top quark sector is also presented. All measurements are based on data samples of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV collected by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the CERN LHC. No significant deviation from the standard model predictions is observed.