Abstract: A search for pair production of doubly charged Higgs bosons (H-+/-+/-), each decaying into a pair of prompt, isolated, and highly energetic leptons with the same electric charge, is presented. The search uses a proton-proton collision data sample at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb(-1) recorded by the ATLAS detector during Run 2 of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). This analysis focuses on same-charge leptonic decays, H-+/-+/- -> l(+/-)l'(+/-) where l, l' = e, mu, tau, in two-, three-, and four-lepton channels, but only considers final states which include electrons or muons. No evidence of a signal is observed. Corresponding upper limits on the production cross-section of a doubly charged Higgs boson are derived, as a function of its mass m(H-+/-+/-), at 95% confidence level. Assuming that the branching ratios to each of the possible leptonic final states are equal, B(H-+/-+/- -> e(+/-)e(+/-)) = B(H-+/-+/- -> e(+/-)mu(+/-)) = B(H-+/-+/- -> mu(+/-)mu(+/-)) = B(H-+/-+/- -> e(+/-)tau(+/-)) = B(H-+/-+/- -> mu(+/-)tau(+/-)) = B(H-+/-+/- -> tau(+/-)tau(+/-)) = 1/6, the observed (expected) lower limit on the mass of a doubly charged Higgs boson is 1080GeV(1065 GeV) within the left-right symmetric type-II seesaw model, which is the strongest limit to date produced by the ATLAS Collaboration. Additionally, this paper provides the first direct test of the Zee-Babu neutrino mass model at the LHC, yielding an observed (expected) lower limit of m(H-+/-+/-) = 900 GeV (880 GeV).

Abstract: A study of the charge conjugation and parity (CP) properties of the interaction between the Higgs boson and tau -leptons is presented. The study is based on a measurement of CP-sensitive angular observables defined by the visible decay products of t -leptons produced in Higgs boson decays. The analysis uses 139 fb(-1) of proton-proton collision data recorded at a centre-of-mass energy of root s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Contributions from CP-violating interactions between the Higgs boson and t -leptons are described by a single mixing angle parameter phi(tau) in the generalised Yukawa interaction. Without constraining the H -> tau tau signal strength to its expected value under the Standard Model hypothesis, the mixing angle ft is measured to be 9 degrees +/- 16 degrees, with an expected value of 0 degrees +/- 28 degrees at the 68% confidence level. The pure CPodd hypothesis is disfavoured at a level of 3.4 standard deviations. The results are compatible with the predictions for the Higgs boson in the Standard Model.

Abstract: Exclusive production of dielectron pairs, gamma gamma -> e(+) e(-), is studied using L-int = 1.72 nb(-1) of data from ultraperipheral collisions of lead nuclei at root s(NN) = 5.02TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The process of interest proceeds via photon-photon interactions in the strong electromagnetic fields of relativistic lead nuclei. Dielectron production is measured in the fiducial region defined by following requirements: electron transverse momentum p(T)(e) > 2.5 GeV, absolute electron pseudorapidity |eta(e)| < 2.5, dielectron invariant mass m(ee) > 5 GeV, and dielectron transverse momentum p(T)(ee) < 2 GeV. Differential cross-sections are measured as a function of mee, average peT, absolute dielectron rapidity |y(ee)|, and scattering angle in the dielectron rest frame, | cos theta* |, in the inclusive sample, and also with a requirement of no activity in the forward direction. The total integrated fiducial cross-section is measured to be 215 +/- 1(stat.) (+23)(-20)(syst.) +/- 4(lumi.) μb. Within experimental uncertainties the measured integrated cross-section is in good agreement with the QED predictions from the Monte Carlo programs Starlight and SuperChic, confirming the broad features of the initial photon fluxes. The differential cross-sections show systematic differences from these predictions which are more pronounced at high |y(ee)| and | cos theta* | values.

Abstract: A search for forward proton scattering in association with light-by-light scattering mediated by an axion-like particle is presented, using the ATLAS Forward Proton spectrometer to detect scattered protons and the central ATLAS detector to detect pairs of outgoing photons. Proton-proton collision data recorded in 2017 at a centre-of-mass energy of root s = 13TeV were analysed, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 14.6 fb(-1). A total of 441 candidate events were selected. A search was made for a narrow resonance in the diphoton mass distribution, corresponding to an axion-like particle (ALP) with mass in the range 150-1600 GeV. No excess is observed above a smooth background. Upper limits on the production cross section of a narrow resonance are set as a function of the mass, and are interpreted as upper limits on the ALP production coupling constant, assuming 100% decay branching ratio into a photon pair. The inferred upper limit on the coupling constant is in the range 0.04-0.09TeV-1 at 95% confidence level.

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.