Search for new resonances in events with one lepton and missing transverse momentum in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector

TL;DR

This paper reports a search for new $W'$ bosons in proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV, finding no excess and setting mass exclusion limits up to 4.07 TeV, extending previous bounds.

Contribution

First search for $W'$ bosons at 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector, establishing new mass exclusion limits and improving upon previous results.

Findings

No significant excess observed in the transverse mass distribution.

Excluded $W'$ masses below 4.07 TeV at 95% confidence level.

Extended previous mass exclusion limits by approximately 800 GeV.

Abstract

A search for $W^\prime$ bosons in events with one lepton (electron or muon) and missing transverse momentum is presented. The search uses 3.2 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data collected at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC in 2015. The transverse mass distribution is examined and no significant excess of events above the level expected from Standard Model processes is observed. Upper limits on the $W^\prime$ boson cross-section times branching ratio to leptons are set as a function of the $W^\prime$ mass. Assuming a $W^\prime$ boson as predicted by the Sequential Standard Model, $W^\prime$ masses below 4.07 TeV are excluded at the 95% confidence level. This extends the limit set using LHC data at $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV by around 800 GeV.