$$ t\overline{t}t\overline{t} $$ signatures through the lens of color-octet scalars

We reinterpret two recent LHC searches for events containing four top quarks $$ \left(t\overline{t}t\overline{t}\right) $$ t t ¯ t t ¯ in the context of supersymmetric models with Dirac gauginos and color-octet scalars (sgluons). We explore whether sgluon contributions to the four-top production cross section $$ \sigma \left( pp\to t\overline{t}t\overline{t}\right) $$ σ pp → t t ¯ t t ¯ can accommodate an excess of four-top events recently reported by the ATLAS collaboration. We also study constraints on these models from an ATLAS search for new phenomena with high jet multiplicity and significant missing transverse energy $$ \left({E}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{miss}}\right) $$ E T miss sensitive to signals with four top quarks. We find that these two analyses provide complementary constraints, with the jets + $$ {E}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{miss}} $$ E T miss search exceeding the four-top cross section measurement in sensitivity for sgluons heavier than about 800 GeV. We ultimately find that either a scalar or a pseudoscalar sgluon can currently fit the ATLAS excess in a range of reasonable benchmark scenarios, though a pseudoscalar in minimal Dirac gaugino models is ruled out. We finally offer sensitivity projections for these analyses at the HL-LHC, mapping the 5σ discovery potential in sgluon parameter space and computing exclusion limits at 95% CL in scenarios where no excess is found.

Forming molecular states with hadronic rescattering

A method for modelling the prompt production of molecular states using the hadronic rescattering framework of the general-purpose Pythia event generator is introduced. Production cross sections of possible exotic hadronic molecules via hadronic rescattering at the LHC are calculated for the $$\chi _{c1}(3872)$$ χ c 1 ( 3872 ) resonance, a possible tetraquark state, as well as three possible pentaquark states, $$P_c^+(4312)$$ P c + ( 4312 ) , $$P_c^+(4440)$$ P c + ( 4440 ) , and $$P_c^+(4457)$$ P c + ( 4457 ) . For the $$P_c^+$$ P c + states, the expected cross section from $$\Lambda _b$$ Λ b decays is compared to the hadronic-rescattering production. The $$\chi _{c1}(3872)$$ χ c 1 ( 3872 ) cross section is compared to the fiducial $$\chi _{c1}(3872)$$ χ c 1 ( 3872 ) cross-section measurement by LHCb and found to contribute at a level of $${\mathcal {O}({1\%})}$$ O ( 1 % ) . Finally, the expected yields of $$\mathrm {P_c^{+}}$$ P c + production from hadronic rescattering during Run 3 of LHCb are estimated. The prompt background is found to be significantly larger than the prompt $$\mathrm {P_c^{+}}$$ P c + signal from hadronic rescattering.

Physics potential for the H$$\rightarrow \hbox {ZZ}^{*}$$ decay at the CEPC

The precision of the yield measurement of the Higgs boson decaying into a pair of Z bosons process at the Circular Electron Positron Collider is evaluated. Including the recoil Z boson associated with the Higgs production (Higgsstrahlung) a total of three Z bosons are involved for this channel, from which final states characterized by the presence of a pair of leptons, quarks, and neutrinos are chosen for the signal. Two analysis approaches are compared and the final statistical precision of $${\sigma }_{\mathrm {ZH}}{\cdot }$$ σ ZH · BR($$H \rightarrow ZZ^{*}$$ H → Z Z ∗ ) is estimated to be 6.9% using a multivariate analysis technique, based on boosted decision trees. The relative precision of the Higgs boson width, using this $$H \rightarrow ZZ^{*}$$ H → Z Z ∗ decay topology, is estimated by combining the obtained result with the precision of the inclusive ZH cross section measurement.