Top channel for early supersymmetry discovery at the LHC

Abstract

Arguably the best-motivated channel for early LHC discovery is events including a high multiplicity of third generation quarks, such as four top quarks. For example generic string theories compactified to four dimensions with stabilized moduli typically have light gluinos with large branching ratios to $t$- and $b$-quarks. We analyze signals and background at 7 TeV LHC energy for $1\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{fb}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ integrated luminosity, suggesting a reach for gluinos of about 650 GeV. A non-standard model signal from counting $b$-jets and leptons is robust, and provides information on the gluino mass, cross section, and spin.