Abstract: The results of a search for electroweakino pair production pp -> (chi) over tilde (+/-)(1) (chi) over tilde (0)(2) in which the chargino ((chi) over tilde (+/-)(1)) decays into a W boson and the lightest neutralino ((chi) over tilde (0)(1)), while the heavier neutralino ((chi) over tilde (0)(2)) decays into the Standard Model 125 GeV Higgs boson and a second (chi) over tilde (0)(1) are presented. The signal selection requires a pair of b-tagged jets consistent with those from a Higgs boson decay, and either an electron or a muon from the W boson decay, together with missing transverse momentum from the corresponding neutrino and the stable neutralinos. The analysis is based on data corresponding to 139 fb(-1) of root s = 13 TeV pp collisions provided by the Large Hadron Collider and recorded by the ATLAS detector. No statistically significant evidence of an excess of events above the Standard Model expectation is found. Limits are set on the direct production of the electroweakinos in simplified models, assuming pure wino cross-sections. Masses of (chi) over tilde (+/-)(1) (chi) over tilde (0)(2) up to 740 GeV are excluded at 95% confidence level for a massless (chi) over tilde (0)(1).

Abstract: This paper describes a study of techniques for identifying Higgs bosons at high transverse momenta decaying into bottom-quark pairs, H -> b (b) over bar, for proton-proton collision data collected by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider at a centre-of-mass energy root s = 13 TeV. These decays are reconstructed from calorimeter jets found with the anti-k(t) R = 1.0 jet algorithm. To tag Higgs bosons, a combination of requirements is used: b-tagging of R = 0.2 track-jets matched to the large-R calorimeter jet, and requirements on the jet mass and other jet substructure variables. The Higgs boson tagging efficiency and corresponding multijet and hadronic top-quark background rejections are evaluated using Monte Carlo simulation. Several benchmark tagging selections are defined for different signal efficiency targets. The modelling of the relevant input distributions used to tag Higgs bosons is studied in 36 fb(-1) of data collected in 2015 and 2016 using g -> b (b) over bar and Z(-> b (b) over bar)gamma event selections in data. Both processes are found to be well modelled within the statistical and systematic uncertainties.

Abstract: This Letter presents direct searches for lepton flavour violation in Higgs boson decays, H -> e tau and H -> μtau, performed 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 36.1 fb(-1). No significant excess is observed above the expected background from Standard Model processes. The observed (median expected) 95% confidence-level upper limits on the lepton-flavour-violating branching ratios are 0.47%(0.34(-0.10)(+0.13)%) and 0.28%(0.37(-0.10)(+0.14)%) for H -> e tau and H -> μtau, respectively.

Abstract: This letter presents a combination of searches for Higgs boson pair production using up to 36.1 fb(-1) of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy root s = 13 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The combination is performed using six analyses searching for Higgs boson pairs decaying into the b (b) over barb (b) over bar, b (b) over barW(+)W(-), b (b) over bar tau(+)tau(-), W+W-W+W-, b (b) over bar gamma gamma and W+W-gamma gamma final states. Results are presented for non-resonant and resonant Higgs boson pair production modes. No statistically significant excess in data above the Standard Model predictions is found. The combined observed (expected) limit at 95% confidence level on the non-resonant Higgs boson pair production cross-section is 6.9 (10) times the predicted Standard Model cross-section. Limits are also set on the ratio (kappa(lambda)) of the Higgs boson self-coupling to its Standard Model value. This ratio is constrained at 95% confidence level in observation (expectation) to -5.0 < kappa(lambda) < 12.0 (-5.8 < kappa(lambda) < 12.0). In addition, limits are set on the production of narrow scalar resonances and spin-2 Kaluza-Klein Randall-Sundrum gravitons. Exclusion regions are also provided in the parameter space of the habemus Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model and the Electroweak Singlet Model.

Abstract: A measurement of W-+/- boson production in Pb+Pb collisions at root s(NN) = 5.02 TeV is reported using data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC in 2015, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 0.49 nb(-1). The W-+/- bosons are reconstructed in the electron or muon leptonic decay channels. Production yields of leptonically decaying W-+/- bosons, normalised by the total number of minimum-bias events and the nuclear thickness function, are measured within a fiducial region defined by the detector acceptance and the main kinematic requirements. These normalised yields are measured separately for W+ and W- bosons, and are presented as a function of the absolute value of pseudorapidity of the charged lepton and of the collision centrality. The lepton charge asymmetry is also measured as a function of the absolute value of lepton pseudorapidity. In addition, nuclear modification factors are calculated using the W-+/- boson production cross-sections measured in pp collisions. The results are compared with predictions based on next-to-leading-order calculations with CT14 parton distribution functions as well as with predictions obtained with the EPPS16 and nCTEQ15 nuclear parton distribution functions. No dependence of normalised production yields on centrality and a good agreement with predictions are observed for mid-central and central collisions. For peripheral collisions, the data agree with predictions within 1.7 (0.9) standard deviations for W- (W+) bosons.