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
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 √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, mH and mA, in the mH vs. mA − mH plane. The observed (expected) exclusion region reaches mH = 108 (106) GeV for mA − mH = 78 (76) GeV and at mH = 70 GeV, covers the range of mA − mH = 40−90 (35−90) GeV.
Versions
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BibTeX
@misc{collaboration2026search,
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 $\sqrts$ = 13 TeV and 13.6 TeV}},
author = {CMS Collaboration},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2605.13614},
eprint = {2605.13614},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.13614},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - 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
AU - CMS Collaboration
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/02
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2605.13614
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.13614
AB - 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 √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_H and m_A, in the m_H vs. m_A − m_H plane. The observed (expected) exclusion region reaches m_H = 108 (106) GeV for m_A − m_H = 78 (76) GeV and at m_H = 70 GeV, covers the range of m_A − m_H = 40−90 (35−90) GeV.
ER -