Search for vector-like quarks in events with two oppositely charged leptons and jets in proton–proton collisions at s=13Te.

A search for the pair production of heavy vector-like partners T and B of the top and bottom quarks has been performed by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC using proton–proton collisions at s = 13 Te . The data sample was collected in 2016 and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb - 1 . Final states studied for T T ¯ production include those where one of the T quarks decays via T → t Z and the other via T → b W , t Z , or t H , where H is a Higgs boson. For the B B ¯ case, final states include those where one of the B quarks decays via B → b Z and the other B → t W , b Z , or b H . Events with two oppositely charged electrons or muons, consistent with coming from the decay of a Z boson, and jets are investigated. The number of observed events is consistent with standard model background estimations. Lower limits at 95% confidence level are placed on the masses of the T and B quarks for a range of branching fractions. Assuming 100% branching fractions for T → t Z , and B → b Z , T and B quark mass values below 1280 and 1130 Ge , respectively, are excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]