Abstract: A search for the supersymmetric partners of the Standard Model bottom and top quarks is presented. The search uses 36.1 fb(-1) of pp collision data at root s = 13 TeV collected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. Direct production of pairs of bottom and top squarks ((b) over bar (1) and (t) over bar (1)) is searched for in final states with b-tagged jets and missing transverse momentum. Distinctive selections are defined with either no charged leptons (electrons or muons) in the final state, or one charged lepton. The zero-lepton selection targets models in which the (b) over bar (1) is the lightest squark and decays via (b) over bar (1) -> b((chi) over bar1)(0), where (chi) over bar (0)(1) is the lightest neutralino. The one-lepton final state targets models where bottom or top squarks are produced and can decay into multiple channels, (b) over bar (1) -> b((chi) over bar1)(0) and (b) over bar (1) -> b((chi) over bar1)(+/-), or (t) over bar (1) -> t((chi) over bar1)(0) and (t) over bar (1) -> b((chi) over bar1)(+/-), where (X) over bar (+/-)(1) is the lightest chargino and the mass difference m((chi) over bar1)(+/-) – m((chi) over bar1)(0) is set to 1 GeV. No excess above the expected Standard Model background is observed. Exclusion limits at 95% confidence level on the mass of third-generation squarks are derived in various supersymmetry-inspired simplified models.

Abstract: A search for vectorlike quarks is presented, which targets their decay into a Z boson and a third-generation Standard Model quark. In the case of a vectorlike quark T (B) with charge +2/3e (-1/3e), the decay searched for is T -> Zt (B -> Zb). Data for this analysis were taken during 2015 and 2016 with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb(-1) of pp collisions at root s = 13 TeV. The final state used is characterized by the presence of b-tagged jets, as well as a Z boson with high transverse momentum, which is reconstructed from a pair of opposite-sign same-flavor leptons. Pair and single production of vectorlike quarks are both taken into account and are each searched for using optimized dileptonic exclusive and trileptonic inclusive event selections. In these selections, the high scalar sum of jet transverse momenta, the presence of high-transverse-momentum large-radius jets, as well as-in the case of the single-production selections-the presence of forward jets are used. No significant excess over the background-only hypothesis is found and exclusion limits at 95% confidence level allow masses of vectorlike quarks of m(T) > 1030 GeV (m(T) > 1210 GeV) and m(B) > 1010 GeV (m(B) > 1140 GeV) in the singlet (doublet) model. In the case of 100% branching ratio for T -> Zt (B -> Zb), the limits are m(T) > 1340 GeV (m(B) > 1220 GeV). Limits at 95% confidence level are also set on the coupling to Standard Model quarks for given vectorlike quark masses.

Abstract: A search for W'-boson production in the W' -> t (b) over bar -> q (q) over bar 'b (b) over bar decay channel is presented using 36.1 fb(-1) of 13 TeV proton-proton collision data collected by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in 2015 and 2016. The search is interpreted in terms of both a left-handed and a right-handed chiral W' boson within the mass range 1-5 TeV. Identification of the hadronically decaying top quark is performed using jet substructure tagging techniques based on a shower deconstruction algorithm. No significant deviation from the Standard Model prediction is observed and the results are expressed as upper limits on the W' -> t (b) over bar production cross-section times branching ratio as a function of the W'-boson mass. These limits exclude W' bosons with right-handed couplings with masses below 3.0 TeV and W' bosons with left-handed couplings with masses below 2.9 TeV, at the 95% confidence level.