Search for neutral resonances decaying into a Z boson and a pair of b jets or tau leptons

TL;DR

This paper reports a search for new neutral resonances decaying into a Z boson and either tau lepton pairs or b-quark pairs, using CMS data at 8 TeV, setting limits on certain theoretical models.

Contribution

It introduces a search strategy for neutral resonances decaying into a Z boson plus a lighter resonance, with novel analysis of tau and b-jet channels at 8 TeV.

Findings

No significant deviations from the Standard Model.

Limits set on production cross sections.

Constraints on two-Higgs-doublet model parameters.

Abstract

A search is performed for a new resonance decaying into a lighter resonance and a Z boson. Two channels are studied, targeting the decay of the lighter resonance into either a pair of oppositely charged tau leptons or a b b-bar pair. The Z boson is identified via its decays to electrons or muons. The search exploits data collected by the CMS experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.8 inverse femtobarns. No significant deviations are observed from the standard model expectation and limits are set on production cross sections and parameters of two-Higgs-doublet models.