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Abstract Despite the f₀(980) hadron having been discovered half a century ago, the question about its quark content has not been settled: it might be an ordinary quark-antiquark ($${{\rm{q}}}\overline{{{\rm{q}}}}$$ $q\overline{q}$) meson, a tetraquark ($${{\rm{q}}}\overline{{{\rm{q}}}}{{\rm{q}}}\overline{{{\rm{q}}}}$$ $q\overline{q}q\overline{q}$) exotic state, a kaon-antikaon ($${{\rm{K}}}\overline{{{\rm{K}}}}$$ $K\overline{K}$) molecule, or a quark-antiquark-gluon ($${{\rm{q}}}\overline{{{\rm{q}}}}{{\rm{g}}}$$ $q\overline{q}g$) hybrid. This paper reports strong evidence that the f₀(980) state is an ordinary$${{\rm{q}}}\overline{{{\rm{q}}}}$$ $q\overline{q}$meson, inferred from the scaling of elliptic anisotropies (v₂) with the number of constituent quarks (n_q), as empirically established using conventional hadrons in relativistic heavy ion collisions. The f₀(980) state is reconstructed via its dominant decay channel f₀(980) →π⁺π⁻, in proton-lead collisions recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC, and itsv₂is measured as a function of transverse momentum (p_T). It is found that then_q= 2 ($${{\rm{q}}}\overline{{{\rm{q}}}}$$ $q\overline{q}$state) hypothesis is favored overn_q= 4 ($${{\rm{q}}}\overline{{{\rm{q}}}}{{\rm{q}}}\overline{{{\rm{q}}}}$$ $q\overline{q}q\overline{q}$or$${{\rm{K}}}\overline{{{\rm{K}}}}$$ $K\overline{K}$states) by 7.7, 6.3, or 3.1 standard deviations in thep_T< 10, 8, or 6 GeV/cranges, respectively, and overn_q= 3 ($${{\rm{q}}}\overline{{{\rm{q}}}}{{\rm{g}}}$$ $q\overline{q}g$hybrid state) by 3.5 standard deviations in thep_T< 8 GeV/crange. This result represents the first determination of the quark content of the f₀(980) state, made possible by using a novel approach, and paves the way for similar studies of other exotic hadron candidates. 

Abstract The TOTEM Roman pot detectors are used to reconstruct the transverse momentum of scattered protons and to estimate the transverse location of the primary interaction. This paper presents new methods of track reconstruction, measurements of strip-level detection efficiencies, cross-checks of the LHC beam optics, and detector alignment techniques, along with their application in the selection of signal collision events. The track reconstruction is performed by exploiting hit cluster information through a novel method using a common polygonal area in the intercept-slope plane. The technique is applied in the relative alignment of detector layers with μm precision. A tag-and-probe method is used to extract strip-level detection efficiencies. The alignment of the Roman pot system is performed through time-dependent adjustments, resulting in a position accuracy of 3 μm in the horizontal and 60 μm in the vertical directions. The goal is to provide an optimal reconstruction tool for central exclusive physics analyses based on the high-β* data-taking period at √(s) = 13 TeV in 2018. 

A<sc>bstract</sc> A standard model effective field theory (SMEFT) analysis with dimension-six operators probing nonresonant new physics effects is performed in the Higgs-strahlung process, where the Higgs boson is produced in association with a W or Z boson, in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The final states in which the W or Z boson decays leptonically and the Higgs boson decays to a pair of bottom quarks are considered. The analyzed data were collected by the CMS experiment between 2016 and 2018 and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb⁻¹. An approach designed to simultaneously optimize the sensitivity to Wilson coefficients of multiple SMEFT operators is employed. Likelihood scans as functions of the Wilson coefficients that carry SMEFT sensitivity in this final state are performed for different expansions in SMEFT. The results are consistent with the predictions of the standard model. 

A<sc>bstract</sc> The production cross sections of$$ {\textrm{B}}_{\textrm{s}}^0 $$ $B_s^0$and B⁺mesons are reported in proton-proton (pp) collisions recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC with a center-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 302 pb⁻¹. The cross sections are based on measurements of the$$ {\textrm{B}}_{\textrm{s}}^0 $$ $B_s^0$→J/ψ(μ⁺μ⁻)ϕ(1020)(K⁺K⁻) and B⁺→J/ψ(μ⁺μ⁻)K⁺decay channels. Results are presented in the transverse momentum (p_T) range 7–50 GeV/cand the rapidity interval |y|<2.4 for the B mesons. The measuredp_T-differential cross sections of B⁺and$$ {\textrm{B}}_{\textrm{s}}^0 $$ $B_s^0$in pp collisions are well described by fixed-order plus next-to-leading logarithm perturbative quantum chromodynamics calculations. Using previous PbPb collision measurements at the same nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy, the nuclear modification factors,R_AA, of the B mesons are determined. Forp_T>10 GeV/c, both mesons are found to be suppressed in PbPb collisions (withR_AAvalues significantly below unity), with less suppression observed for the$$ {\textrm{B}}_{\textrm{s}}^0 $$ $B_s^0$mesons. In thisp_Trange, theR_AAvalues for the B⁺mesons are consistent with those for inclusive charged hadrons and D⁰mesons. Below 10 GeV/c, both B⁺and$$ {\textrm{B}}_{\textrm{s}}^0 $$ $B_s^0$are found to be less suppressed than either inclusive charged hadrons or D⁰mesons, with the$$ {\textrm{B}}_{\textrm{s}}^0 $$ $B_s^0$R_AAvalue consistent with unity. TheR_AAvalues found for the B⁺and$$ {\textrm{B}}_{\textrm{s}}^0 $$ $B_s^0$are compared to theoretical calculations, providing constraints on the mechanism of bottom quark energy loss and hadronization in the quark-gluon plasma, the hot and dense matter created in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions. 

A<sc>bstract</sc> Differential cross sections for top quark pair ($$ \textrm{t}\overline{\textrm{t}} $$ $t\overline{t}$) production are measured in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV using a sample of events containing two oppositely charged leptons. The data were recorded with the CMS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb⁻¹. The differential cross sections are measured as functions of kinematic observables of the$$ \textrm{t}\overline{\textrm{t}} $$ $t\overline{t}$system, the top quark and antiquark and their decay products, as well as of the number of additional jets in the event. The results are presented as functions of up to three variables and are corrected to the parton and particle levels. When compared to standard model predictions based on quantum chromodynamics at different levels of accuracy, it is found that the calculations do not always describe the observed data. The deviations are found to be largest for the multi-differential cross sections. 

A<sc>bstract</sc> Diboson production in association with jets is studied in the fully leptonic final states, pp → (Z/γ^*)(Z/γ^*) + jets → 2ℓ2ℓ′ + jets, (ℓ,ℓ′ = e orμ) in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb⁻¹collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. Differential distributions and normalized differential cross sections are measured as a function of jet multiplicity, transverse momentump_T, pseudorapidityη, invariant mass and ∆ηof the highest-p_Tand second-highest-p_Tjets, and as a function of invariant mass of the four-lepton system for events with various jet multiplicities. These differential cross sections are compared with theoretical predictions that mostly agree with the experimental data. However, in a few regions we observe discrepancies between the predicted and measured values. Further improvement of the predictions is required to describe the ZZ+jets production in the whole phase space. 

A search for long-lived particles (LLPs) decaying in the CMS muon detectors is presented. A data sample of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13\mathrm{TeV}$corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $138{\mathrm{fb}}^{-1}$, recorded at the LHC in 2016–2018, is used. The decays of LLPs are reconstructed as high multiplicity clusters of hits in the muon detectors. In the context of twin Higgs models, the search is sensitive to LLP masses from 0.4 to 55 GeV and a broad range of LLP decay modes, including decays to hadrons, $\tau$leptons, electrons, or photons. No excess of events above the standard model background is observed. The most stringent limits to date from LHC data are set on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson decay to a pair of LLPs with masses below 10 GeV. This search also provides the best limits for various intervals of LLP proper decay length and mass. Finally, this search sets the first limits at the LHC on a dark quantum chromodynamic sector whose particles couple to the Higgs boson through gluon, Higgs boson, photon, vector, and dark-photon portals, and is sensitive to branching fractions of the Higgs boson to dark quarks as low as $2\times {10}^{-3}$. © 2024 CERN, for the CMS Collaboration2024CERN 

The first observation of the decay ${\mathrm{\Xi }}_b^{-}\to \psi \left(2S\right){\mathrm{\Xi }}^{-}$and measurement of the branching ratio of ${\mathrm{\Xi }}_b^{-}\to \psi \left(2S\right){\mathrm{\Xi }}^{-}$to ${\mathrm{\Xi }}_b^{-}\to J/\psi {\mathrm{\Xi }}^{-}$are presented. The $J/\psi$and $\psi \left(2S\right)$mesons are reconstructed using their dimuon decay modes. The results are based on proton-proton colliding beam data from the LHC collected by the CMS experiment at $\sqrt{s}=13\mathrm{TeV}$in 2016–2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $140{\mathrm{fb}}^{-1}$. The branching fraction ratio is measured to be $\mathcal{B}\left({\mathrm{\Xi }}_b^{-}\to \psi \left(2S\right){\mathrm{\Xi }}^{-}\right)/\mathcal{B}\left({\mathrm{\Xi }}_b^{-}\to J/\psi {\mathrm{\Xi }}^{-}\right)=0.84_{-0.19}^{+0.21}\left(\mathrm{stat}\right)\pm 0.10\left(\mathrm{syst}\right)\pm 0.02\left(\mathcal{B}\right)$, where the last uncertainty comes from the uncertainties in the branching fractions of the charmonium states. New measurements of the ${\mathrm{\Xi }}_b(5945{)}^0$baryon mass and natural width are also presented, using the ${\mathrm{\Xi }}_b^{-}{\pi }^{+}$final state, where the ${\mathrm{\Xi }}_b^{-}$baryon is reconstructed through the decays $J/\psi {\mathrm{\Xi }}^{-}$, $\psi \left(2S\right){\mathrm{\Xi }}^{-}$, $J/\psi \mathrm{\Lambda }{K}^{-}$, and $J/\psi {\mathrm{\Sigma }}^0{K}^{-}$. Finally, the fraction of ${\mathrm{\Xi }}_b^{-}$baryons produced from ${\mathrm{\Xi }}_b(5945{)}^0$decays is determined. © 2024 CERN, for the CMS Collaboration2024CERN