This Letter describes the observation of the light-by-light scattering process, γγ→γγ, in Pb+Pb collisions at √sNN=5.02 TeV. The analysis is conducted using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.73 nb−1, collected in November 2018 by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. Light-by-light scattering candidates are selected in events with two photons produced exclusively, each with transverse energy EγT>3 GeV and pseudorapidity |ηγ|<2.4, diphoton invariant mass above 6 GeV, and small diphoton transverse momentum and acoplanarity. After applying all selection criteria, 59 candidate events are observed for a background expectation of 12±3 events. The observed excess of events over the expected background has a significance of 8.2 standard deviations. The measured fiducial cross section is 78±13(stat)±7(syst)±3(lumi) nb.
Observation of Light-by-Light Scattering in Ultraperipheral Pb+Pb Collisions with the ATLAS Detector
De Castro , S.;Fabbri , L.;Gabrielli , A.;Rinaldi , L.;Semprini Cesari , N.;Sioli , M.;Villa , M.;Zoccoli , A.;Bellagamba , L.;Boscherini , D.;Bruni , A.;D’Amen , G.;Giacobbe , B.;Polini , A.;Sbarra , C.;Franchini , M.;Mengarelli , A.;Romano , M.;Valentinetti , S.;Alberghi , G. L.;Biondi , S.;Fabbri , F.;Lasagni Manghi , F;Massa , L.;Ucchielli , G.;Vittori , C.;Alfonsi , F:;Cabras , G.;Giangiacomi , N.;
2019
Abstract
This Letter describes the observation of the light-by-light scattering process, γγ→γγ, in Pb+Pb collisions at √sNN=5.02 TeV. The analysis is conducted using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.73 nb−1, collected in November 2018 by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. Light-by-light scattering candidates are selected in events with two photons produced exclusively, each with transverse energy EγT>3 GeV and pseudorapidity |ηγ|<2.4, diphoton invariant mass above 6 GeV, and small diphoton transverse momentum and acoplanarity. After applying all selection criteria, 59 candidate events are observed for a background expectation of 12±3 events. The observed excess of events over the expected background has a significance of 8.2 standard deviations. The measured fiducial cross section is 78±13(stat)±7(syst)±3(lumi) nb.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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