A search for high-mass resonances decaying to tau+tau- in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

TL;DR

This paper reports a search for high-mass Z' resonances decaying into tau pairs at 7 TeV using ATLAS data, setting limits and excluding Z' masses below 1.40 TeV.

Contribution

First search for high-mass tau+tau- resonances at 7 TeV with ATLAS, establishing new exclusion limits on Z' bosons.

Findings

No significant excess observed

Excluded Z' masses below 1.40 TeV

Set upper limits on cross section times branching ratio

Abstract

This Letter presents a search for high-mass resonances decaying into tau+tau- final states using proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV produced by the Large Hadron Collider. The data were recorded with the ATLAS detector and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 inverse femtobarns. No statistically significant excess above the Standard Model expectation is observed; 95% credibility upper limits are set on the cross section times branching fraction of Z' resonances decaying into tau+tau- pairs as a function of the resonance mass. As a result, Z' bosons of the Sequential Standard Model with masses less than 1.40 TeV are excluded at 95% credibility.