Single Top Production Research Articles

Top quark production through flavor violating neutral currents within the 2HDM type-III

In this paper, we explore the parameter space for processes with fermionic flavor violation within the Two Higgs Doublets Model (2HDM) type III, processes of Flavor Changing Neutral Currents (FCNCs) are present at Leading Order (LO) as dynamics beyond the Standard Model (SM) are included. We analyze the possible Yukawa couplings beyond the SM involving the quark top, as the experimental signatures would be a clear signal to conclude about the model. The processes we analyzed are same sign top pair production at the [Formula: see text] collisions, and single top quark production in [Formula: see text] collisions, through Deep Inelastic Scattering (DIS). To examine the scenarios that could exhibit such exotic events, we perform a scan in the parameter space to determine the observation possibilities for FCNC. We show the results considering the model parameters, coming from modified Yukawa interactions, [Formula: see text] of the order one. In addition, we explore the order of magnitude of possible single top production via [Formula: see text], at the proposed muon–proton collider. We found scattering values for these exotic processes of up to [Formula: see text].

Precision-machine learning for the matrix element method

The matrix element method is the LHC inference method of choice for limited statistics. We present a dedicated machine learning framework, based on efficient phase-space integration, a learned acceptance and transfer function. It is based on a choice of INN and diffusion networks, and a transformer to solve jet combinatorics. We showcase this setup for the CP-phase of the top Yukawa coupling in associated Higgs and single-top production.

Flavoured Majorana Dark Matter then and now: from freeze-out scenarios to LHC signatures

We study a simplified Dark Matter model in the Dark Minimal Flavour Violation framework. Our model complements the Standard Model with a flavoured Dark Matter Majorana triplet and a coloured scalar mediator that share a Yukawa coupling with the right-handed up-type quarks with the coupling matrix λ. We extend previous work on this topic by exploring a large range of cosmologically viable parameter space, including the coannihilation region and, in particular, the region of conversion-driven freeze-out, while considering constraints from D0–D¯0\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ {D}^0\\hbox{--} {\\overline{D}}^0 $$\\end{document} mixing as well as constraints from direct and indirect Dark Matter searches. We find various realisations of conversion-driven freeze-out within the model, that open up allowed windows of parameter space towards small mass splittings and very weak Dark Matter couplings. Finally, we probe the model by reinterpreting current LHC searches for missing energy and long-lived particles. We point out gaps in the coverage of current constraints as well as new opportunities to search for the model at the LHC, in particular, the charge asymmetry in single-top production associated with jets and missing energy.

Two invertible networks for the matrix element method

The matrix element method is widely considered the ultimate LHC inference tool for small event numbers. We show how a combination of two conditional generative neural networks encodes the QCD radiation and detector effects without any simplifying assumptions, while keeping the computation of likelihoods for individual events numerically efficient. We illustrate our approach for the CP-violating phase of the top Yukawa coupling in associated Higgs and single-top production. Currently, the limiting factor for the precision of our approach is jet combinatorics.

Associated production of Higgs and single top at the LHC in presence of the SMEFT operators

We analyse the single top production in association with the Higgs at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) using Standard Model (SM) effective operators upto dimension six. We show that the presence of effective operators can significantly alter the existing bound on the top-Higgs Yukawa coupling. We analyse events at the LHC with 35.9 and 137(140) fb−1 integrated luminosities using both cut-based and machine learning techniques to probe new physics (NP) scale and operator coefficients addressing relevant SM background reduction. The four fermi effective operator(s) that contribute to the signal, turn out to be crucial and a limit on the top-Higgs Yukawa interaction in presence of them is obtained from the present data and for future sensitivities.

Search for flavour-changing neutral current interactions of the top quark and the Higgs boson in events with a pair of τ-leptons in pp collisions at sqrt{s} = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for flavour-changing neutral current (FCNC) tqH interactions involving a top quark, another up-type quark (q = u, c), and a Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson decaying into a τ-lepton pair (H → τ+τ−) is presented. The search is based on a dataset of pp collisions at sqrt{s} = 13 TeV that corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb−1 recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Two processes are considered: single top quark FCNC production in association with a Higgs boson (pp → tH), and top quark pair production in which one of top quarks decays into Wb and the other decays into qH through the FCNC interactions. The search selects events with two hadronically decaying τ-lepton candidates (τhad) or at least one τhad with an additional lepton (e, μ), as well as multiple jets. Event kinematics is used to separate signal from the background through a multivariate discriminant. A slight excess of data is observed with a significance of 2.3σ above the expected SM background, and 95% CL upper limits on the t → qH branching ratios are derived. The observed (expected) 95% CL upper limits set on the t → cH and t → uH branching ratios are 9.4times {10}^{-4}left({4.8}_{-1.4}^{+2.2}times {10}^{-4}right) and 6.9times {10}^{-4}left({3.5}_{-1.0}^{+1.5}times {10}^{-4}right) , respectively. The corresponding combined observed (expected) upper limits on the dimension-6 operator Wilson coefficients in the effective tqH couplings are Ccϕ< 1.35 (0.97) and Cuϕ< 1.16 (0.82).

Evaluating master integrals in non-factorizable corrections to t-channel single-top production at NNLO QCD

We studied the two-loop non-factorizable Feynman diagrams for the t-channel single-top production process in quantum chromodynamics. We present a systematic computation of master integrals of the two-loop Feynman diagrams with one internal massive propagator in which a complete uniform transcendental basis can be built. The master integrals are derived by means of canonical differential equations and uniform transcendental integrals. The results are expressed in the form of Goncharov polylogarithm functions, whose variables are the scalar products of external momenta, as well as the masses of the top quark and the W boson. We also gave a discussion on the diagrams with potential elliptic sectors.

CT18 global PDF fit at leading order in QCD

In this paper, we present a CT18 PDFs fitted with Leading-Order QCD perturbation theory. The CT18 LO PDFs is obtained within the general CT18 framework, along with two additional treatments being imposed to improve the quality of the fit. We take the $W$-boson charge asymmetry and inclusive single-top production at LHC as examples to illustrate the implication of the CT18 LO PDFs.

Linear power corrections to single top production processes at the LHC

We discuss the linear power corrections to the electroweak production of top quarks at the LHC using renormalon calculus. We show how such non-perturbative corrections can be obtained using the Low-Burnett-Kroll theorem, which provides the first subleading term to the expansion of the real-emission amplitudes around the soft limit. We demonstrate that there are no linear power corrections to the total cross sections of arbitrary processes of a single top production type provided that these cross sections are expressed in terms of a short-distance top quark mass. We also derive a universal formula for the linear power corrections to generic observables that involve the top-quark momentum.

Two-loop master integrals for a planar and a non-planar topology relevant for single top production

We provide analytic results for two-loop four-point master integrals with one massive propagator and one massive leg relevant to single top production. Canonical bases of master integrals are constructed and the Simplified Differential Equations approach is employed for their analytic solution. The necessary boundary terms are computed in closed form in the dimensional regulator, allowing us to obtain analytic results in terms of multiple polylogarithms of arbitrary transcendental weight. We provide explicit solutions of all two-loop master integrals up to transcendental weight six and discuss their numerical evaluation for Euclidean and physical phase-space points.

On soft gluon resummation for associated single top production with a Higgs boson at the LHC

We investigate threshold resummation of soft gluon corrections for the s-channel process of a single top quark production in association with a Higgs boson in the Standard Model. We choose to work in the three-particle invariant mass kinematics in direct QCD, i.e. in the space of Mellin moments. Our results take into account terms of up to next-to-leading logarithmic (NLL) precision, as well as {mathcal {O}} (alpha _{textrm{s}}) non-logarithmic terms which do not vanish at threshold. After presenting analytical expressions, we discuss the corresponding numerical results for the total cross section and the invariant mass distribution at the LHC.

Infrared Singularities of Multileg QCD Amplitudes with a Massive Parton at Three Loops

We derive the structure of three-loop anomalous dimensions governing infrared singularities of QCD amplitudes with one massive and an arbitrary number of massless external partons. The contributions of tripole and quadrupole correlations involving a massive parton are studied in detail. The analytical expression of tripole correlations between one massive and two massless partons is obtained at three loops for the first time. We regularize the infrared divergences in the soft matrix element in a novel approach, where no extra scale dependence is involved, and the calculation can be performed in momentum space. Our results are essential to improve the theoretical predictions of single top and top quark pair productions at hadron colliders.

Three-loop soft anomalous dimensions for top-quark processes

I present results for soft anomalous dimensions through three loops for several processes involving the production of top quarks. In particular, I discuss single-top and top-pair production. I also present some numerical results for double-differential distributions in t{\bar t}tt‾ production through approximate N^33LO.

The ALPs from the top: searching for long lived axion-like particles from exotic top decays

We propose a search for long lived axion-like particles (ALPs) in exotic top decays. Flavour-violating ALPs appear as low energy effective theories for various new physics scenarios such as t-channel dark sectors or Froggatt-Nielsen models. In this case the top quark may decay to an ALP and an up- or charm-quark. For masses in the few GeV range, the ALP is long lived across most of the viable parameter space, suggesting a dedicated search. We propose to search for these long lived ALPs in toverline{t} events, using one top quark as a trigger. We focus on ALPs decaying in the hadronic calorimeter, and show that the ratio of energy deposits in the electromagnetic and hadronic calorimeters as well as track vetoes can efficiently suppress Standard Model backgrounds. Our proposed search can probe exotic top branching ratios smaller than 10−4 with a conservative strategy at the upcoming LHC run, and potentially below the 10−7 level with more advanced methods. Finally we also show that measurements of single top production probe these branching ratios in the very short and very long lifetime limit at the 10−3 level.

Non-factorisable contribution to t-channel single-top production

We compute the non-factorisable mathcal{O} ( {alpha}_s^2 ) corrections to t-channel single-top quark production at the LHC. These peculiar corrections arise because of interactions between the heavy- and the light-quark lines and appear for the very first time at next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative QCD. We find that the non-factorisable corrections change the single-top production cross section and the relevant kinematic distributions in this process by about half a percent.

Lepton universality and lepton flavor conservation tests with dineutrino modes

SU(2)_L-invariance links charged dilepton and dineutrino couplings. Phenomenological implications are worked out for flavor changing neutral currents involving strange, charm, beauty and top quark transitions in a model-independent way. We put forward novel tests of lepton universality and lepton flavor conservation in |varDelta c|= |varDelta u|=1 and |varDelta b|= |varDelta q|=1, q=d,s, transitions suitable for the experiments Belle II and BES III. Single top production plus dileptons uniquely probes semileptonic four-fermion |varDelta t|= |varDelta q'|=1, q'=u,c, couplings and further study at the LHC is encouraged. Tests with single top production associated with dileptons and missing energy are suitable for study at future e^+ e^- or muon colliders.

Single top production in association with a WZ pair at the LHC in the SMEFT

We study single top quark production in association with a WZ pair at the LHC in the context of the Standard Model (SM) and the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT). A significant advantage of tWZ compared to other EW top production processes is its sensitivity to unitarity-violating behaviour induced in its 2 → 2 sub-amplitudes through modified EW interactions. At NLO in QCD, tWZ interferes with t overline{t} Z and t overline{t} and a method to meaningfully separate it from these overlapping processes needs to be employed. In order to define tWZ production for total rates and differential distributions, we consider the approaches proposed in the literature for similar cases and find that diagram-removal procedures provide reliable results both for the SM and the SMEFT in a suitably defined phase-space region. We provide robust results for total and differential cross sections for tWZ at 13 TeV, including the six relevant dimension-6 operators ( mathcal{O} tW, mathcal{O} tZ, mathcal{O} tG, {mathcal{O}}_{varphi Q}^{left(-right)} , {mathcal{O}}_{varphi Q}^{(3)} , mathcal{O} φt), also matching short-distance events to parton shower.

On non-factorisable contributions to t-channel single-top production

We compute the non-factorisable contribution to the two-loop helicity amplitude for t-channel single-top production, the last missing piece of the two-loop virtual corrections to this process. Our calculation employs analytic reduction to master integrals and the auxiliary mass flow method for their fast numerical evaluation. We study the impact of these corrections on basic observables that are measured experimentally in the single-top production process.

Reduction of the planar double-box diagram for single-top production via auxiliary mass flow

The single-top production is an important process at the LHC to test the Standard Model (SM) and search for the new physics beyond the SM. Although the complete next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) QCD correction to the single-top production is crucial, this calculation is still challenging at present. In order to efficiently reduce the NNLO single-top amplitude, we improve the auxiliary mass flow (AMF) method by introducing the $\epsilon$ truncation. For demonstration we choose one typical planar double-box diagram for the $tW$ production. It is shown that one coefficient of the form factors on its amplitude can be systematically reduced into the linear combination of 198 scalar integrals.

New flavor physics in di- and trilepton events from single-top production at the LHC and beyond

The associated production of a single-top with opposite-sign same-flavor (OSSF) di-leptons, $pp \to t \ell^+ \ell^-$ and $ pp \to t \ell^+ \ell^- + j$ ($j=$light jet), can lead to striking tri-lepton $pp \to \ell^\prime \ell^+ \ell^- + X$ and di-lepton $pp \to \ell^+ \ell^- + j_b + X$ ($j_b=b$-jet) events at the LHC, after the top decays. Although these rather generic multi-lepton signals are flavor-blind, they can be generated by new 4-Fermi flavor changing (FC) $u_i t \ell \ell$ scalar, vector and tensor interactions ($u_i \in u,c$), which we study in this paper; we match the FC $u_i t \ell \ell$ 4-Fermi terms to the SMEFT operators and also to different types of FC underlying heavy physics. The main backgrounds to these di- and tri-lepton signals arise from $t \bar t$, $Z$+jets and $VV$ ($V=W,Z$) production, but they can be essentially eliminated with a sufficiently high invariant mass selection on the OSSF di-leptons, $m_{\ell^+ \ell^-}^{\tt min}(OSSF) > 1$ TeV; the use of $b$-tagging as an additional selection in the di-lepton final state case also proves very useful. We find, for example, that the expected 95\% CL bounds on the scale of a tensor(vector) $u t \mu \mu$ interaction, with the current $\sim 140$ fb$^{-1}$ of LHC data, are $\Lambda < 5(3.2) $ TeV or $\Lambda < 4.1(2.7)$ TeV, if analyzed via the di-muon $\mu^+ \mu^- + j_b$ signal or the $e \mu^+ \mu^-$ tri-lepton one, respectively. The expected reach at the HL-LHC with 3000 fb$^{-1}$ of data is $\Lambda < 7.1(4.7)$ TeV and $\Lambda < 2.4(1.5)$ TeV for the corresponding $u t \mu \mu$ and $c t \mu \mu$ operators. We also study the potential sensitivity at future 27 TeV and 100 TeV high-energy LHC successors and also discuss the possible implications of this class of FC 4-Fermi effective interactions on lepton non-universality tests at the LHC.