Search for heavy resonances decaying to tau lepton pairs in proton-proton collisions at √s=13 TeV

A search for heavy resonances that decay to tau lepton pairs is performed using proton-proton collisions at √s=13 TeV. The data were collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 2.2 fb⁻¹. The observations are in agreement with standard model predictions. An upper limit at 95% confidence level on the product of the production cross section and branching fraction into tau lepton pairs is calculated as a function of the resonance mass. For the sequential standard model, the presence of Z^′ bosons decaying into tau lepton pairs is excluded for Z^′ masses below 2.1 TeV, extending previous limits for this final state. For the topcolor-assisted technicolor model, which predicts Z^′ bosons that preferentially couple to third-generation fermions, Z^′ masses below 1.7 TeV are excluded, representing the most stringent limit to date.