Search for scalar leptoquarks produced via muon-quark scattering in proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV
Abstract
The first search for TeV-scale scalar leptoquarks (LQs) produced in muon-quark (μq) interactions is presented. It is based on proton-proton collision data recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. Quantum fluctuations inside the proton generate charged-lepton components, enabling the study of lepton-induced processes. In particular, the interaction of a muon from one colliding proton with a quark from the other proton enables the study of resonant production of a single LQ and its subsequent decay. The final state includes one or two muons and a jet that can come from the hadronization of either a light quark (u) or a b quark. The primary observable is the invariant mass of the muon-jet system, whose distribution peaks at the LQ mass. The data are found to be in agreement with the background predictions. Upper limits are set on the product of the LQ production cross section and its decay branching fraction to the μq final state. The results exclude broad regions in the parameter plane of the LQ mass and the LQ-μq coupling, improving upon previous CMS searches by extending the coverage for LQs with masses between 1.5 and 3.6 TeV, and couplings between 0.2 and 0.6 for the LQ(uμ) scenario; and masses above 1.8 TeV, and couplings above 1 for the LQ(bμ) scenario.
Related
- Search for pair-produced vector-like top quarks decaying into Lorentz-boosted top quarks and scalar bosons in proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV
- Search for dark matter produced in association with a low-multiplicity jet in proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV
- Search for a new heavy scalar resonance decaying to a pair of Z bosons in the four-lepton final state in proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV
- Search for a new heavy scalar resonance decaying to a pair of Z bosons in the four-lepton final state in proton-proton collisions at √s=13 TeV
- Search for boosted vector boson scattering W±W±H production in final states with same-sign leptons and b-jets in proton-proton collisions at √s=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector
BibTeX
@misc{collaboration2026search,
title = {{Search for scalar leptoquarks produced via muon-quark scattering in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrts$ = 13 TeV}},
author = {CMS Collaboration},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2608.28377},
eprint = {2608.28377},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.28377},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Search for scalar leptoquarks produced via muon-quark scattering in proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV
AU - CMS Collaboration
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/28
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2608.28377
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.28377
AB - The first search for TeV-scale scalar leptoquarks (LQs) produced in muon-quark (μq) interactions is presented. It is based on proton-proton collision data recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb^−1. Quantum fluctuations inside the proton generate charged-lepton components, enabling the study of lepton-induced processes. In particular, the interaction of a muon from one colliding proton with a quark from the other proton enables the study of resonant production of a single LQ and its subsequent decay. The final state includes one or two muons and a jet that can come from the hadronization of either a light quark (u) or a b quark. The primary observable is the invariant mass of the muon-jet system, whose distribution peaks at the LQ mass. The data are found to be in agreement with the background predictions. Upper limits are set on the product of the LQ production cross section and its decay branching fraction to the μq final state. The results exclude broad regions in the parameter plane of the LQ mass and the LQ-μq coupling, improving upon previous CMS searches by extending the coverage for LQs with masses between 1.5 and 3.6 TeV, and couplings between 0.2 and 0.6 for the LQ(uμ) scenario; and masses above 1.8 TeV, and couplings above 1 for the LQ(bμ) scenario.
ER -