Abstract: This paper presents measurements of charged-hadron spectra obtained in pp, p+Pb, and Pb+Pb collisions at root s or root s(NN) = 5.02TeV, and in Xe+Xe collisions at root s(NN) = 5.44TeV. The data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC have total integrated luminosities of 25 pb(-1), 28 nb(-1), 0.50 nb(-1), and 3 μb(-1), respectively. The nuclear modification factors RpPb and R-AA are obtained by comparing the spectra in heavy-ion and pp collisions in a wide range of charged-particle transverse momenta and pseudorapidity. The nuclear modification factor RpPb shows a moderate enhancement above unity with a maximum at p(T) approximate to 3 GeV; the enhancement is stronger in the Pb-going direction. The nuclear modification factors in both Pb+Pb and Xe+Xe collisions feature a significant, centrality-dependent suppression. They show a similar distinct p(T)-dependence with a local maximum at p(T) approximate to 2 GeV and a local minimum at p(T) approximate to 7 GeV. This dependence is more distinguishable in more central collisions. No significant eta |-dependence is found. A comprehensive comparison with several theoretical predictions is also provided. They typically describe RAA better in central collisions and in the pT range from about 10 to 100 GeV.

Abstract: This paper presents direct searches for lepton flavour violation in Higgs boson decays, H -> e tau and H -> μtau, performed using data collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The searches are based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy root s = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb(-1). Leptonic (tau -> l nu(l)nu(tau)) and hadronic (tau -> hadrons nu(tau)) decays of the tau-lepton are considered. Two background estimation techniques are employed: the MC-template method, based on data-corrected simulation samples, and the Symmetry method, based on exploiting the symmetry between electrons and muons in the Standard Model backgrounds. No significant excess of events is observed and the results are interpreted as upper limits on lepton-flavour-violating branching ratios of the Higgs boson. The observed (expected) upper limits set on the branching ratios at 95% confidence level, B(H -> e tau) < 0.20% (0.12%) and B(H -> μtau ) < 0.18% (0.09%), are obtained with the MC-template method from a simultaneous measurement of potential H -> e tau and H -> μtau signals. The best-fit branching ratio difference, B(H -> μtau) -> B(H -> e tau), measured with the Symmetry method in the channel where the tau-lepton decays to leptons, is (0.25 0.10)%, compatible with a value of zero within 2.5 sigma.

Abstract: This paper presents combinations of inclusive and differential measurements of the charge asymmetry (A(C)) in top quark pair (t(t)over-bar) events with a lepton+jets signature by the ATLAS and CMS Collaborations, using data from LHC proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The data correspond to integrated luminosities of about 5 and 20 fb(-1) for each experiment, respectively. The resulting combined LHC measurements of the inclusive charge asymmetry are A(C)(LHC7) = 0.005 +/- 0.007 (stat) +/- 0.006 (syst) at 7 TeV and A(C)(LHC8) = 0.0055 +/- 0.0023 (stat) +/- 0.0025 (syst) at 8 TeV. These values, as well as the combination of A(C )measurements as a function of the invariant mass of the t(t)over-bar system at 8 TeV, are consistent with the respective standard model predictions.

Abstract: This paper presents a summary of beam-induced backgrounds observed in the ATLAS detector and discusses methods to tag and remove background contaminated events in data. Trigger-rate based monitoring of beam-related backgrounds is presented. The correlations of backgrounds with machine conditions, such as residual pressure in the beam-pipe, are discussed. Results from dedicated beam-background simulations are shown, and their qualitative agreement with data is evaluated. Data taken during the passage of unpaired, i.e. non-colliding, proton bunches is used to obtain background-enriched data samples. These are used to identify characteristic features of beam-induced backgrounds, which then are exploited to develop dedicated background tagging tools. These tools, based on observables in the Pixel detector, the muon spectrometer and the calorimeters, are described in detail and their efficiencies are evaluated. Finally an example of an application of these techniques to a monojet analysis is given, which demonstrates the importance of such event cleaning techniques for some new physics searches.

Abstract: This paper presents a study of WW gamma and WZ gamma triboson production using events from proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of root s = 8 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.2 fb(-1). The WW gamma production cross-section is determined using a final state containing an electron, a muon, a photon, and neutrinos (e upsilon μupsilon gamma). Upper limits on the production cross-section of the e upsilon μupsilon gamma final state and theWW gamma and WZ gamma final states containing an electron or a muon, two jets, a photon, and a neutrino (e upsilon j j gamma or μupsilon j j gamma) are also derived. The results are compared to the cross-sections predicted by the Standard Model at next-to-leading order in the strong-coupling constant. In addition, upper limits on the production cross-sections are derived in a fiducial region optimised for a search for newphysics beyond the Standard Model. The results are interpreted in the context of anomalous quartic gauge couplings using an effective field theory. Confidence intervals at 95% confidence level are derived for the 14 coupling coefficients to which WW gamma and WZ gamma production are sensitive.