Combination of searches for $WW$, $WZ$, and $ZZ$ resonances in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV with the ATLAS detector

TL;DR

This paper combines multiple searches for heavy resonances decaying into WW, WZ, and ZZ boson pairs at 8 TeV using ATLAS data, setting limits on new physics models like extended gauge and Randall–Sundrum models.

Contribution

It provides the first combined analysis of various diboson decay channels at 8 TeV, improving constraints on models predicting heavy vector bosons and gravitons.

Findings

No significant excess observed in any channel.

Stringent upper limits set on production cross sections.

Constraints placed on extended gauge and extra-dimensional models.

Abstract

The ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider has performed searches for new, heavy bosons decaying to $WW$, $WZ$ and $ZZ$ final states in multiple decay channels using 20.3 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data at $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV. In the current study, the results of these searches are combined to provide a more stringent test of models predicting heavy resonances with couplings to vector bosons. Direct searches for a charged diboson resonance decaying to WZ in the $\ell\nu\ell'\ell'$ ($\ell = \mu, e$) , $\ell\ell q \bar{q}$, $\ell \nu q \bar{q}$ and fully hadronic final states are combined and upper limits on the rate of production times branching ratio to the $WZ$ bosons are compared with predictions of an extended gauge model with a heavy $W'$ boson. In addition, direct searches for a neutral diboson resonance decaying to $WW$ and $ZZ$ in the $\ell \ell q \bar{q}$, $\ell \nu q \bar{q}$, and fully hadronic final states are combined and upper limits on the rate of production times branching ratio to the $WW$ and $ZZ$ bosons are compared with predictions for a heavy, spin-2 graviton in an extended Randall--Sundrum model where the Standard Model fields are allowed to propagate in the bulk of the extra dimension.