Search for standard model production of four top quarks with same-sign and multilepton final states in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports a search for four top quark production in proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV, using events with multiple leptons, and measures the cross section consistent with the Standard Model, also constraining the top-Higgs Yukawa coupling.

Contribution

First search for four top quark production in same-sign and multilepton final states at 13 TeV, providing a measurement of the cross section and constraints on the top-Higgs coupling.

Findings

Measured four top quark production cross section as 16.9 fb.

Observed signal significance of 1.6 standard deviations.

Constrained top-Higgs Yukawa coupling to less than 2.1 times the SM value.

Abstract

A search for standard model production of four top quarks ($\mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}\mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}})$ is reported using events containing at least three leptons (e, $\mu$) or a same-sign lepton pair. The events are produced in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC, and the data sample, recorded in 2016, corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. Jet multiplicity and flavor are used to enhance signal sensitivity, and dedicated control regions are used to constrain the dominant backgrounds. The observed and expected signal significances are, respectively, 1.6 and 1.0 standard deviations, and the $\mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}\mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}$ cross section is measured to be 16.9 $^{+13.8}_{-11.4}$ fb, in agreement with next-to-leading-order standard model predictions. These results are also used to constrain the Yukawa coupling between the top quark and the Higgs boson to be less than 2.1 times its expected standard model value at 95% confidence level.