Search for quantum black holes in lepton+jet final states using proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13.6$ TeV with the ATLAS detector

Abstract

A search for quantum black holes in electron+jet or muon+jet final states with high invariant mass is performed. The analysis uses data from $\sqrt{s}=13.6~\textrm{TeV}$ $pp$ collisions recorded by the ATLAS detector between 2022 and 2024 during Run~3 of the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $164~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. This search is strongly motivated by a dramatic increase of the production cross-section by up to an order of magnitude for the highest masses considered, thanks to the small increase of $0.6~\textrm{TeV}$ in centre-of-mass energy between Run~2 and Run~3. No significant excess above the Standard Model background is observed, and 95\% CL upper limits are set on the production cross-section times branching ratio in several benchmark models, reaching a mass scale of $9.4~\textrm{TeV}$. These represent the strongest exclusion limits to date on quantum black hole production.