Abstract: The reconstruction of photons in the ATLAS detector is studied with data taken during the 2004 Combined Test Beam, where a full slice of the ATLAS detector was exposed to beams of particles of known energy at the CERN SPS. The results presented show significant differences in the longitudinal development of the electromagnetic shower between converted and unconverted photons as well as in the total measured energy. The potential to use the reconstructed converted photons as a means to precisely map the material of the tracker in front of the electromagnetic calorimeter is also considered. All results obtained are compared with a detailed Monte-Carlo simulation of the test-beam setup which is based on the same simulation and reconstruction tools as those used for the ATLAS detector itself.

Abstract: This work presents a new inclusive search for supersymmetry (SUSY) by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy root s = 7 TeV in final states with jets, missing transverse momentum and one or more isolated electrons and/or muons. The search is based on data from the full 2011 data-taking period, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.7 fb(-1). Single-lepton and multilepton channels are treated together in one analysis. An increase in sensitivity is obtained by simultaneously fitting the number of events in statistically independent signal regions, and the shapes of distributions within those regions. A dedicated signal region is introduced to be sensitive to decay cascades of SUSY particles with small mass differences (“compressed SUSY”). Background uncertainties are constrained by fitting to the jet-multiplicity distribution in background control regions. Observations are consistent with Standard Model expectations, and limits are set or extended on a number of SUSY models.

Abstract: A study of W(+/-)Z production in proton-proton collisions at root s = 7 TeV is presented using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 fb(-1) collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in 2011. In total, 317 candidates, with a background expectation of 68 +/- 10 events, are observed in double-leptonic decay final states with electrons, muons and missing transverse momentum. The total cross-section is determined to be sigma(tot)(WZ) = 19.0(-1.3)(+1.4)(stat.) +/- 0.9(syst.) +/- 0.4(lumi.) pb, consistent with the Standard Model expectation of 17.6(-1.0)(+1.1) pb. Limits on anomalous triple gauge boson couplings are derived using the transverse momentum spectrum of Z bosons in the selected events. The cross-section is also presented as a function of Z boson transverse momentum and diboson invariant mass.

Abstract: A search for flavour changing neutral current (FCNC) processes in top-quark decays by the ATLAS Collaboration is presented. Data collected from pp collisions at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of root s = 7 TeV during 2011, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.1 fb(-1), were used. A search was performed for top-quark pair-production events, with one top quark decaying through the t -> Zq FCNC (q = u, c) channel, and the other through the Standard Model dominant mode t -> Wb. Only the decays of the Z boson to charged leptons and leptonic W-boson decays were considered as signal. Consequently, the final-state topology is characterised by the presence of three isolated charged leptons, at least two jets and missing transverse momentum from the undetected neutrino. No evidence for an FCNC signal was found. An upper limit on the t -> Zq branching ratio of BR(t -> Zq) < 0.73% is set at the 95% confidence level.

Abstract: A search for direct pair production of supersymmetric top squarks ((t) over tilde (1)) is presented, assuming the (t) over tilde (1) decays into a top quark and the lightest supersymmetric particle, (chi) over tilde (0)(1), and that both top quarks decay to purely hadronic final states. A total of 16 (4) events are observed compared to a predicted standard model background of 13.5(-3.6)(+3.7) (4.4(-1.3)(+1.7)) events in two signal regions based on integral Ldt = 4.7 fb(-1) of pp collision data taken at root s = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. An exclusion region in the (t) over tilde (1) versus (chi) over tilde (0)(1) mass plane is evaluated: 370 < m(<(t)over tilde>1) < 465 GeV is excluded for m(<(chi)over tilde>10) similar to 0 GeV while m((t) over tilde1) = 445 GeV is excluded for m((chi) over tilde 10) <= 50 GeV.