Abstract: In order to study further the long-range correlations (“ridge”) observed recently in p + Pb collisions at root s(NN) = 5.02 TeV, the second-order azimuthal anisotropy parameter of charged particles, v(2), has been measured with the cumulant method using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. In a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 1 μb(-1), the parameter v(2) has been obtained using two- and four-particle cumulants over the pseudorapidity range vertical bar eta vertical bar < 2.5. The results are presented as a function of transverse momentum and the event activity, defined in terms of the transverse energy summed over 3.1 < eta < 4.9 in the direction of the Pb beam. They show features characteristic of collective anisotropic flow, similar to that observed in Pb + Pb collisions. A comparison is made to results obtained using two-particle correlation methods, and to predictions from hydrodynamic models of p + Pb collisions. Despite the small transverse spatial extent of the p + Pb collision system, the large magnitude of v(2) and its similarity to hydrodynamic predictions provide additional evidence for the importance of final-state effects in p + Pb reactions.

Abstract: Studies of the spin and parity quantum numbers of the Higgs boson are presented, based on protonproton collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. The Standard Model spin-parity J(P) = 0(+) hypothesis is compared with alternative hypotheses using the Higgs boson decays H -> gamma gamma, H -> ZZ* -> 4l and H -> WW* -> l nu l nu, as well as the combination of these channels. The analysed dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 20.7 fb(-1) collected at a centre-of-mass energy of root s = 8 TeV. For the H -> ZZ* -> 4l decay mode the dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 fb(-1) collected at root s = 7 TeV is included. The data are compatible with the Standard Model J(P) = 0+ quantum numbers for the Higgs boson, whereas all alternative hypotheses studied in this Letter, namely some specific J(P) = 0(-), 1(+), 1(-), 2(+) models, are excluded at confidence levels above 97.8%. This exclusion holds independently of the assumptions on the coupling strengths to the Standard Model particles and in the case of the J(P) = 2(+) model, of the relative fractions of gluon-fusion and quark-antiquark production of the spin-2 particle. The data thus provide evidence for the spin-0 nature of the Higgs boson, with positive parity being strongly preferred.

Abstract: An inclusive search is presented for new physics in events with two isolated leptons (e or mu) having the same electric charge. The data are selected from events collected from pp collisions at root s = 7 TeV by the ATLAS detector and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 34 pb^-1. The spectra in dilepton invariant mass, missing transverse momentum and jet multiplicity are presented and compared to Standard Model predictions. In this event sample, no evidence is found for contributions beyond those of the Standard Model. Limits are set on the cross-section in a ducial region for new sources of same-sign high-mass dilepton events in the ee, emu and mumu channels. Four models predicting same-sign dilepton signals are constrained: two descriptions of Majorana neutrinos, a cascade topology similar to supersymmetry or universal extra dimensions, and fourth generation d-type quarks. Assuming a new physics scale of 1 TeV, Majorana neutrinos produced by an effective operator V with masses below 460 GeV are excluded at 95% confidence level. A lower limit of 290 GeV is set at 95% confidence level on the mass of fourth generation d-type quarks.

Abstract: This letter reports the results of a search for top and bottom squarks from gluino pair production in 4.7 fb(-1) of pp collisions at root s = 7 TeV using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The search is performed in events with large missing transverse momentum and at least three jets identified as originating from a b-quark. Exclusion limits are presented for a variety of gluino-mediated models with gluino masses up to 1 TeV excluded.

Abstract: The results of a search for pair production of supersymmetric partners of the Standard Model third-generation quarks are reported. This search uses 20.1 fb(-1) of pp collisions at root s = 8 TeV collected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The lightest bottom and top squarks ((b) over tilde (1) and (t) over tilde (1) respectively) are searched for in a final state with large missing transverse momentum and two jets identified as originating from b-quarks. No excess of events above the expected level of Standard Model background is found. The results are used to set upper limits on the visible cross section for processes beyond the Standard Model. Exclusion limits at the 95% confidence level on the masses of the third-generation squarks are derived in phenomenological supersymmetric R-parity-conserving models in which either the bottom or the top squark is the lightest squark. The (b) over tilde (1) is assumed to decay via (b) over tilde (1) -> b (chi) over tilde (0)(1) and the (t) over tilde (1) via (t) over tilde (1) b (chi) over tilde (+/-)(1), with undetectable products of the subsequent decay of the (chi) over tilde (+/-)(1) due to the small mass splitting between the (chi) over tilde (+/-)(1) and the (chi) over tilde (0)(1)