A search for lepton-flavor-violating Z→eτ and Z→μτ decays with pp collision data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC is presented. This analysis uses 139 fb-1 of Run 2 pp collisions at s=13 TeV and is combined with the results of a similar ATLAS search in the final state in which the τ lepton decays hadronically, using the same data set as well as Run 1 data. The addition of leptonically decaying τ leptons significantly improves the sensitivity reach for Z→ℓτ decays. The Z→ℓτ branching fractions are constrained in this analysis to B(Z→eτ)<7.0×10-6 and B(Z→μτ)<7.2×10-6 at 95% confidence level. The combination with the previously published analyses sets the strongest constraints to date: B(Z→eτ)<5.0×10-6 and B(Z→μτ)<6.5×10-6 at 95% confidence level.

Aad, G., Abbott, B., Abbott, D.C., Abed Abud, A., Abeling, K., Abhayasinghe, D.K., et al. (2021). Search for Lepton-Flavor Violation in Z -Boson Decays with τ Leptons with the ATLAS Detector. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS, 127(27), 271801 [10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.271801].

Search for Lepton-Flavor Violation in Z -Boson Decays with τ Leptons with the ATLAS Detector

Bashta I.;Camerlingo M. T.;D'Amico V.;Di Micco B.;Di Nardo R.;Orestano D.;Petrucci F.;Salamanna G.;