Predrag Milenović

The importance of the $H\ensuremath{\rightarrow}ZZ\ensuremath{\rightarrow}4\ensuremath{\ell}$ ``golden'' channel was shown by its major role in the discovery, by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations, of a Higgs-like boson with mass near 125 GeV. We analyze the discrimination power of the matrix element method both for separating the signal from the irreducible $ZZ$ background and for distinguishing various spin and parity hypotheses describing a signal in this channel. We show that the proper treatment of interference effects associated with permutations of identical leptons in the $4e$ and $4\ensuremath{\mu}$ final states plays an important role in achieving the best sensitivity in measuring the properties of the newly discovered boson. We provide a code, mekd, that calculates kinematic discriminants based on the full leading-order matrix elements and which will aid experimentalists and phenomenologists in their continuing studies of the $H\ensuremath{\rightarrow}ZZ\ensuremath{\rightarrow}4\ensuremath{\ell}$ channel.

We present a general procedure for measuring the tensor structure of the coupling of the scalar Higgs-like boson recently discovered at the LHC to two Z bosons, including the effects of interference among different operators. To motivate our concern with this interference, we explore the parameter space of the couplings in the effective theory describing these interactions and illustrate the effects of interference on the differential dilepton mass distributions. Kinematic discriminants for performing coupling measurements that utilize the effects of interference are developed and described. We present projections for the sensitivity of coupling measurements that use these discriminants in future LHC operation in a variety of physics scenarios.

Studies of Cathode Strip Chamber longevity, comparing Ar+CO2 gas mixtures with fractions of 5%, 2%, and 0% CF4, were performed using several small cathode strip prototype chambers. In each trial, a localized source of radiation was used to irradiate up to an accumulated charge of about 300 mC/cm. Additionally, longevity of a uniformly irradiated prototype operating with 2% CF4 was studied at the CERN Gamma Irradiation Facility GIF++. Post-hoc analysis of the chamber electrodes using spectroscopy techniques was also done.

Abstract Studies of cathode strip chamber longevity, comparing Ar+CO $$_2$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow /> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:msub> </mml:math> gas mixtures with fractions of 5%, 2%, and 0% CF $$_4$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow /> <mml:mn>4</mml:mn> </mml:msub> </mml:math> , were performed using several small cathode strip prototype chambers. In each trial, a localized source of radiation was used to irradiate up to an accumulated charge of about 300 mC/cm. Additionally, longevity of a uniformly irradiated prototype operating with 2% CF $$_4$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow /> <mml:mn>4</mml:mn> </mml:msub> </mml:math> was studied at the CERN Gamma Irradiation Facility GIF++. Post-hoc analysis of the chamber electrodes using spectroscopy techniques was also done.

Abstract A prototype of the safety system for the electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL) of the CMS detector at LHC has been implemented and tested in Super Modules SM0 and SM1 during the ECAL test-beam campaign in summer 2003. The aim was to examine the system performance thoroughly and to resolve several open issues regarding the final system design. The performed tests mainly focused on the readout system performance, its calibration and noise problems. Furthermore, irradiation tests of the readout electronics components with a 64 MeV proton beam up to an equivalent cumulative dose of 200 kGy and 3.2×10 14 neutron cm −2 have been performed at the Paul Scherrer Institute in spring 2004. The results of all these tests are very promising, leading to the conclusion that the tested prototype offers an excellent basis for the development of the safety system for the entire CMS ECAL.

The "golden" channel, in which the newly-discovered Higgs boson decays to four leptons by means of intermediate vector bosons, is important for determining the properties of the Higgs boson and for searching for subtle new physics effects. Different approaches exist for parametrizing the relevant Higgs couplings in this channel; here we relate the use of pseudo-observables to methods based on specifying the most general amplitude or Lagrangian terms for the $HVV$ interactions. We also provide projections for sensitivity in this channel in several novel scenarios, illustrating the use of pseudo-observables, and analyze the role of kinematic distributions and (ratios of) rates in such $H\to4\ell$ studies.

This document summarises the talks and discussions happened during the VBSCan Mid-Term Scientific Meeting workshop. The VBSCan COST action is dedicated to the coordinated study of vector boson scattering (VBS) from the phenomenological and experimental point of view, for the best exploitation of the data that will be delivered by existing and future particle colliders.

Simplified Template Cross Sections (STXS) have been adopted by the LHC experiments as a common framework for Higgs measurements. Their purpose is to reduce the theoretical uncertainties that are directly folded into the measurements as much as possible, while at the same time allowing for the combination of the measurements between different decay channels as well as between experiments. We report the complete, revised definition of the STXS kinematic bins (stage 1.1), which are to be used for the upcoming measurements by the ATLAS and CMS experiments using the full LHC Run 2 datasets. The main focus is on the three dominant Higgs production processes, namely gluon-fusion, vector-boson fusion, and in association with a vector boson. We also comment briefly on the treatment of other production modes.

This paper presents the Detector Control System (DCS) designed and implemented for the Electromagnetic Calorimeter (ECAL) of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at CERN. The focus is on its distributed controls software architecture, the deployment of the application into production and its integration into the overall CMS DCS. The knowledge acquired from operational issues during the detector commissioning and the first phase of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) physics runs is discussed and future improvements are presented.

The purpose and layout of the detector control system for the CMS electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL) are presented. The latest results from system prototype tests in the 2002-2004 ECAL testbeam programme, the current status of the system development and plans for its production, installation and commissioning are briefly discussed.

A full scale implementation of the Detector Control System (DCS) for the electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL) in the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment is presented. The operational experience from the ECAL commissioning at the CMS experimental cavern and from the first ECAL and global CMS data taking runs is discussed and summarized.

In this presentation we describe the main design objectives, the detailed specifications and the final layout of the Detector Control System (DCS) for the electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL) of the CMS experiment. Emphasis is put on the system implementation and specific hardware and software solutions in each of its sub-systems. The latest results from the tests of final prototypes of these subsystems during the 2006 ECAL test-beam programme, as well as the installation and commissioning of the whole DCS at the CMS experimental construction site are discussed.

Simplified Template Cross Sections (STXS) have been adopted by the LHC experiments as a common framework for Higgs measurements. Their purpose is to reduce the theoretical uncertainties that are directly folded into the measurements as much as possible, while at the same time allowing for the combination of the measurements between different decay channels as well as between experiments. We report the complete, revised definition of the STXS kinematic bins (stage 1.1), which are to be used for the upcoming measurements by the ATLAS and CMS experiments using the full LHC Run 2 datasets. The main focus is on the three dominant Higgs production processes, namely gluon-fusion, vector-boson fusion, and in association with a vector boson. We also comment briefly on the treatment of other production modes.

A group of Early-Career Researchers (ECRs) has been given a mandate from the European Committee for Future Accelerators (ECFA) to debate the topics of the current European Strategy Update (ESU) for Particle Physics and to summarise the outcome in a brief document [1]. A full-day debate with 180 delegates was held at CERN, followed by a survey collecting quantitative input. During the debate, the ECRs discussed future colliders in terms of the physics prospects, their implications for accelerator and detector technology as well as computing and software. The discussion was organised into several topic areas. From these areas two common themes were particularly highlighted by the ECRs: sociological and human aspects; and issues of the environmental impact and sustainability of our research.

This document summarises the talks and discussions happened during the VBSCan Mid-Term Scientific Meeting workshop. The VBSCan COST action is dedicated to the coordinated study of vector boson scattering (VBS) from the phenomenological and experimental point of view, for the best exploitation of the data that will be delivered by existing and future particle colliders.

The European Committee for Future Accelerators (ECFA) Early-Career Researchers (ECR) Panel was invited by the ECFA Detector R&amp;D Roadmap conveners to collect feedback from the European ECR community. A working group within the ECFA ECR panel held a Townhall Meeting to get first input, and then designed and broadly circulated a detailed survey to gather feedback from the larger ECR community. A total of 473 responses to this survey were received, providing a useful overview of the experiences of ECRs in instrumentation training and related topics. This report summarises the feedback received, and is intended to serve as an input to the ECFA Detector R&amp;D Roadmap process.

The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) is one of the general purpose particle detectors at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. The challenging constraints on the design of one of its sub-detectors, the Electromagnetic Calorimeter (ECAL), imposed the development of a complex Detector Control System (DCS). In this paper the evolution of the CMS ECAL DCS during the period of commissioning and cosmic running will be presented. The acquired experience and feedback from operators were used to trigger several upgrades of the system’s software in order to achieve a very robust, flexible and stable control system. A short description of the new features of all CMS ECAL DCS subsystems, including the relevant associated hardware, and their individual experiences will be discussed as well.

The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) is one of the general purpose particle detectors at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. The challenging constraints on the design of one of its sub-detectors, the Electromagnetic Calorimeter (ECAL), required the development of a complex Detector Control System (DCS). In this paper the general features of the CMS ECAL DCS during the period of commissioning and cosmic running will be presented. The feedback from the people involved was used for several upgrades of the system in order to achieve a robust, flexible and stable control system. A description of the newly implemented features for the CMS ECAL DCS subsystems will be given as well.

The Electromagnetic Calorimeter (ECAL) is one of the subdetectors of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS), a general-purpose particle detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The CMS ECAL Detector Control System (DCS) and the CMS ECAL Safety System (ESS) have supported the detector operations and ensured the detector’s integrity since the CMS commissioning phase, more than 10 years ago. Over this long period, several changes to both systems were necessary to correct issues, extend functionality and keep them in-line with current hardware technologies and the evolution of software platforms. Due to the constraints imposed on significant changes to a running system, major hardware and software upgrades were therefore deferred to the second LHC Long Shutdown (LS2). This paper presents the architectures of the CMS ECAL control and safety systems, discusses the ongoing and planned upgrades, details implementation processes and validation methods and highlights the expectations for the post-LS2 systems.

The purpose and layout of the detector control system for the CMS electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL) are presented. The latest results from system prototype tests in the 2002-2004 ECAL testbeam programme, the current status of the system development and plans for its production, installation and commissioning are briefly discussed.

During the second long shutdown (LS2) of the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the Detector Control System (DCS) of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) Electromagnetic Calorimeter (ECAL) is undergoing a large software upgrade at various levels. The ECAL DCS supervisory system has been reviewed and extended to migrate the underlying software toolkits and platform technologies to the latest versions. The resulting software will run on top of a new computing infrastructure, using the WinCC Open Architecture (OA) version 3.16 and newly developed communication drivers for some of the hardware. The ECAL DCS has been configured and managed from a different control version system and stored with more modern encoding and file formats. A new set of development guidelines has been prepared for this purpose, including conventions and recommendations from the CMS Central DCS and CERN Joint Controls Project (JCOP) framework groups. The large list of modifications also motivated the revision and reorganization of the software architecture, which is needed to resolve and satisfy additional software dependencies. Many modifications also aimed to improve the installation process, anticipating in some cases works for the next long shutdown upgrade.