Search for anomalous production of prompt like-sign lepton pairs with the ATLAS detector

An inclusive search for anomalous production of two prompt, isolated leptons with the same electric charge is presented. The search is performed in a data sample corresponding to 4.7 \ifb\ of integrated luminosity collected in 2011 at $\sqrt{s}=7$~TeV by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Pairs of high-$\pt$ leptons ($\ee$ and $\mm$) are selected and the dilepton invariant mass distribution is examined for any deviation from the Standard Model background expectation. No excess is found and upper limits on the production of like-sign lepton pairs due to contributions from physics beyond the Standard Model are placed as a function of the dilepton mass within a fiducial region close to the experimental selection cuts. The 95\% confidence level upper limits on the cross section of anomalous $\ell^{\pm}\ell^{\pm}$ production range between 1.7~fb and 45.7~fb depending on the dilepton mass and flavor combination.