Search for the charged-lepton-flavor-violating decay Z → eμ in pp collisions at √s=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Abstract

A search for the charged-lepton-flavor-violating process Z -> e mu is presented, using 139 fb(-1) of root s = 13 TeV pp collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. An excess in the e mu invariant mass spectrum near the Z boson mass would be a striking signature of new physics. No excess is observed, and an upper limit B(Z -> e mu) < 2.62 x 10(-7) is placed on the branching fraction at 95% confidence level, which is the most stringent limit to date.