{
  "abstract": "A first dedicated search for pair production of new scalars predicted by the Inert Doublet Model is performed using proton-proton collisions. Data were collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC at $\\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV and 13.6 TeV, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 138 fb$^{-1}$ and 35 fb$^{-1}$, respectively. Within this model, four additional scalar bosons (H, A, H$^+$, and H$^-$) are predicted. Through an additional discrete symmetry, the lightest new scalar, H, is stable, rendering it a viable dark matter candidate. These candidates can originate from quark-antiquark annihilation producing an offshell Z boson that decays to a pair of the new scalars. The target final state consists of exactly two opposite-charge same-flavour leptons (electrons or muons), with missing transverse momentum due to the stable neutral scalars, and very little hadronic activity. A parameterised neural network is used to separate the signal from the standard model background. No significant excess of events is observed. Exclusion limits at 95% confidence level are set on the production cross section of the two new neutral scalars, H and A, expressed in terms of their masses, $m_\\mathrm{H}$ and $m_\\mathrm{A}$, in the $m_\\mathrm{H}$ vs. $m_\\mathrm{A} - m_\\mathrm{H}$ plane. The observed (expected) exclusion region reaches $m_\\mathrm{H}$ = 108 (106) GeV for $m_\\mathrm{A} - m_\\mathrm{H}$ = 78 (76) GeV and at $m_\\mathrm{H}$ = 70 GeV, covers the range of $m_\\mathrm{A} - m_\\mathrm{H}$ = 40$-$90 (35$-$90) GeV.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": "Journal reference: JHEP 10 (2026) 249",
  "arxiv": "2605.13614",
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "CMS Collaboration"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7wnfx4n36g31x.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2605.13614",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "7wnfx4n36g31x",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.13614",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "hep-ex"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2605.13614",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-02",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7wnfx4n36g31x.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T12:20:58Z",
      "native_id": "2605.13614",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.13614"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:hep-ex",
      "subfield": "high-energy"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Search for pair production of additional neutral scalars within the Inert Doublet Model in a final state with two electrons or two muons in proton-proton collisions at $\\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV and 13.6 TeV",
  "title_text": "Search for pair production of additional neutral scalars within the Inert Doublet Model in a final state with two electrons or two muons in proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV and 13.6 TeV",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-05T15:20:17Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7wnfx4n36g31x",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": [
    {
      "doi": "10.1007/jhep10(2026)249",
      "pid": "3kkrr4m8hv7dg",
      "relation": "published-as",
      "title": "Search for pair production of additional neutral scalars within the Inert Doublet Model in a final state with two electrons or two muons in proton-proton collisions at $$\\sqrt{s}=13$$ TeV and 13.6 TeV",
      "venue": "Journal of High Energy Physics"
    }
  ]
}