Search for production of resonant states in the photon-jet mass distribution using $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV collected by the ATLAS detector

This Letter describes a model-independent search for production of new resonant states in photon-jet events in 2.11 fb^-1 of proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV. We compare the photon-jet mass distribution to a data-driven background estimate and find consistency with the background hypothesis. Given the lack of evidence for a signal, we set 95% CL limits on generic Gaussian-shape signals and on a benchmark excited-quark (q*) model, excluding 2 TeV Gaussian resonances with cross section times branching ratio times acceptance times efficiency near 5 fb and excluding q* masses below 2.46 TeV, respectively.