Single Top Quark Research Articles

Probing effective operators in single top quark production in association with a lepton-neutrino pair

We study single top quark production in association with a lepton-neutrino pair at the LHC within the framework of the Standard Model effective field theory (SMEFT). We focus on relevant two-quark-two-lepton operators (Olq3, Olequ1, and Olequ3). It is known that these operators have tiny effects on the inclusive cross section of standard model tW production and are thus typically ignored in the SMEFT searches. However, we show that by employing smart observables, such as mT2, the pp→tℓν process is significantly sensitive to these operators. We set the most stringent limit on the coupling strength of the Olq3 operator by reinterpreting the results of a search for new phenomena with two opposite-charge leptons, jets and missing transverse momentum at s=13 TeV performed by the ATLAS collaboration. The limits derived on the Olequ1 and Olequ3 operators are comparable to those obtained from probing EFT effects in pp→tt¯ℓν and pp→tt¯ℓℓ processes at the LHC. Consequently, we propose to include the effects of these three operators on the pp→tℓν process in future global SMEFT analyses to increase the sensitivity and to reduce possible degeneracies. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

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].

Measurement of single top-quark production in association with a W boson in pp collisions at s=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The inclusive cross section for the production of a single top quark in association with a W boson is measured using 140 fb−1 of proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at s=13 TeV. Events containing two charged leptons and at least one jet identified as originating from a b-quark are selected. A multivariate discriminant is constructed to separate the tW signal from the tt¯ background. The cross section is extracted using a profile likelihood fit to the signal and control regions and it is measured to be σtW=75−14+15 pb, in good agreement with the Standard Model prediction. The measured cross section is used to extract a value for the left-handed form factor at the Wtb vertex times the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |fLVVtb| of 0.97±0.10. © 2024 CERN, for the ATLAS Collaboration 2024 CERN

Probing bottom-associated production of a TeV scale scalar decaying to a top quark and dark matter at the LHC

A minimal non-thermal dark matter model that can explain both the existence of dark matter and the baryon asymmetry in the universe is studied. It requires two color-triplet, iso-singlet scalars with OTeV\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mathcal{O}\\left(\ extrm{TeV}\\right) $$\\end{document} masses and a singlet Majorana fermion with a mass of OGeV\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mathcal{O}\\left(\ extrm{GeV}\\right) $$\\end{document}. The fermion becomes stable and can play the role of the dark matter candidate. We consider the fermion to interact with a top quark via the exchange of QCD-charged scalar fields coupled dominantly to third generation fermions. The signature of a single top quark production associated with a bottom quark and large missing transverse momentum opens up the possibility to search for this type of model at the LHC in a way complementary to existing monotop searches.

Exploring axionlike particle couplings through single top tW -channel and top pair production at the LHC

In this paper, we explore the interactions between light axionlike particles (ALPs) and top quarks, gluons, and W-bosons. Utilizing high-energy probes at the LHC, we probe these couplings in the context of single top quark production associated with a W-boson and an ALP. We analyze the latest LHC Run II data on tt¯ spin correlation measurements to establish constraints on these couplings. Additionally, we compare these constraints with those derived from loop-induced couplings and indirect searches involving B-meson decays. Furthermore, we derive two-dimensional limits on the ALP couplings with top quarks and gluons. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Full quantum tomography of top quark decays

Quantum tomography in high-energy physics processes has usually been restricted to the spin degrees of freedom. We address the case of top quark decays t→Wb, in which the orbital angular momentum (L) and the spins of W and b are intertwined into a 54-dimensional LWb density operator. The entanglement between L and the W or b spin is large and could be determined for decays of single top quarks produced at the Large Hadron Collider with Run 2 data. With the foreseen statistical and systematic uncertainties, the significance is well above 5σ from the separability hypothesis for L-W entanglement, and 3.2σ for L-b. These would be the first entanglement measurements between orbital and spin angular momenta in high-energy physics. Likewise, the genuine tripartite entanglement between L and the two spins could be established with more than 5σ. The method presented paves the way for similar measurements in other processes.

Combination of Measurements of the Top Quark Mass from Data Collected by the ATLAS and CMS Experiments at sqrt[s]=7 and 8TeV.

A combination of fifteen top quark mass measurements performed by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the LHC is presented. The datasets used correspond to an integrated luminosity of up to 5 and 20 fb^{-1} of proton-proton collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8TeV, respectively. The combination includes measurements in top quark pair events that exploit both the semileptonic and hadronic decays of the top quark, and a measurement using events enriched in single top quark production via the electroweak t channel. The combination accounts for the correlations between measurements and achieves an improvement in the total uncertainty of 31% relative to the most precise input measurement. The result is m_{t}=172.52±0.14(stat)±0.30(syst) GeV, with a total uncertainty of 0.33GeV.

Search for Baryon Number Violation in Top Quark Production and Decay Using Proton-Proton Collisions at s=13 TeV

A search is presented for baryon number violating interactions in top quark production and decay. The analysis uses data from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected with the CMS detector at the LHC with an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. Candidate events are selected by requiring two oppositely charged leptons (electrons or muons) and exactly one jet identified as originating from a bottom quark. Multivariate discriminants are used to separate the signal from the background. No significant deviation from the standard model prediction is observed. Upper limits are placed on the strength of baryon number violating couplings. For the first time the production of single top quarks via baryon number violating interactions is studied. This allows the search to set the most stringent constraints to date on the branching fraction of the top quark decay to a lepton, an up-type quark (u or c), and a down-type quark (d, s, or b). The results improve the previous bounds by 3 to 6 orders of magnitude based on the fermion flavor combination of the baryon number violating interactions. © 2024 CERN, for the CMS Collaboration 2024 CERN

Using Artificial Neural Networks to Search for the Production of the Higgs Boson Together with a Single Top Quark

Using Artificial Neural Networks to Search for the Production of the Higgs Boson Together with a Single Top Quark

Measurement of t-channel production of single top quarks and antiquarks in pp collisions at 13 TeV using the full ATLAS Run 2 data sample

The production of single top quarks and top antiquarks via the t-channel exchange of a virtual W boson is measured in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC using 140 fb−1 of ATLAS data. The total cross-sections are determined to be σtq=137−8+8\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\sigma (tq)={137}_{-8}^{+8} $$\\end{document} pb and σt¯q=84−5+6\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\sigma \\left(\\overline{t}q\\right)={84}_{-5}^{+6} $$\\end{document} pb for top-quark and top-antiquark production, respectively. The combined cross-section is found to be σtq+t¯q=221−13+13\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\sigma \\left( tq+\\overline{t}q\\right)={221}_{-13}^{+13} $$\\end{document} pb and the cross-section ratio is Rt=σtq/σt¯q=1.636−0.034+0.036\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ {R}_t=\\sigma (tq)/\\sigma \\left(\\overline{t}q\\right)={1.636}_{-0.034}^{+0.036} $$\\end{document}. The predictions at next-to-next-to-leading-order in quantum chromodynamics are in good agreement with these measurements. The predicted value of Rt using different sets of parton distribution functions is compared with the measured value, demonstrating the potential to further constrain the functions when using this result in global fits. The measured cross-sections are interpreted in an effective field theory approach, setting limits at the 95% confidence level on the strength of a four-quark operator and an operator coupling the third quark generation to the Higgs boson doublet: −0.37<CQq3,1/Λ2<0.06\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ -0.37<{C}_{Qq}^{3,1}/{\\Lambda}^2<0.06 $$\\end{document} and −0.87<CϕQ3/Λ2<1.42\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ -0.87<{C}_{\\phi Q}^3/{\\Lambda}^2<1.42 $$\\end{document}. The constraint |Vtb| > 0.95 at the 95% confidence level is derived from the measured value of σtq+t¯q\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\sigma \\left( tq+\\overline{t}q\\right) $$\\end{document}, assuming that the Wtb interaction is a left-handed weak coupling and that |Vtb| ≫ |Vtd|, |Vts|. In a more general approach, pairs of CKM matrix elements involving top quarks are simultaneously constrained, leading to confidence contours in the corresponding two-dimensional parameter spaces.

Search for new particles in final states with a boosted top quark and missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at s\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\sqrt{s} $$\\end{document} = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for events with one top quark and missing transverse momentum in the final state is presented. The fully hadronic decay of the top quark is explored by selecting events with a reconstructed boosted top-quark topology produced in association with large missing transverse momentum. The analysis uses 139 fb−1 of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of s\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\sqrt{s} $$\\end{document} = 13 TeV recorded during 2015-2018 by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The results are interpreted in the context of simplified models for Dark Matter particle production and the single production of a vector-like T quark. Without significant excess relative to the Standard Model expectations, 95% confidence-level upper limits on the corresponding cross-sections are obtained. The production of Dark Matter particles in association with a single top quark is excluded for masses of a scalar (vector) mediator up to 4.3 (2.3) TeV, assuming mχ = 1 GeV and the model couplings λq = 0.6 and λχ = 0.4 (a = 0.5 and gχ = 1). The production of a single vector-like T quark is excluded for masses below 1.8 TeV assuming a coupling to the top quark κT = 0.5 and a branching ratio for T → Zt of 25%.

Search for flavor changing neutral current interactions of the top quark in final states with a photon and additional jets in proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV

A search for the production of a top quark in association with a photon and additional jets via flavor changing neutral current interactions is presented. The analysis uses proton-proton collision data recorded by the CMS detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. The search is performed by looking for processes where a single top quark is produced in association with a photon, or a pair of top quarks where one of the top quarks decays into a photon and an up or charm quark. Events with an electron or a muon, a photon, one or more jets, and missing transverse momentum are selected. Multivariate analysis techniques are used to discriminate signal and standard model background processes. No significant deviation is observed over the predicted background. Observed (expected) upper limits are set on the branching fractions of top quark decays: B(t→uγ)&lt;0.95×10−5 (1.20×10−5) and B(t→cγ)&lt;1.51×10−5 (1.54×10−5) at 95% confidence level, assuming a single nonzero coupling at a time. The obtained limit for B(t→uγ) is similar to the current best limit, while the limit for B(t→cγ) is significantly tighter than previous results. © 2024 CERN, for the CMS Collaboration 2024 CERN

New physics in single resonant top quarks

Searches for new physics in the top quark sector are of great theoretical interest, yet some powerful avenues for discovery remain unexplored. We characterize the expected statistical power of the LHC dataset to constrain the single production of heavy top partners T decaying to a top quark and a photon or a top quark and a gluon. We describe an effective interaction which could generate such production, though the limits apply to a range of theoretical models. We find sensitivity to cross sections in the 102 − 105 fb range, for T masses between 300 and 1000 GeV, depending on decay mode.

Separation of pair and single top quark production in tWb-associated final state using a neural network

The paper presents a method for separating the contribution of pair and single top quark production in tWb-associated final state using a neural network. The proposed method makes possible to calculate such processes in a gauge-invariant way with fully taking into account interference contributions and dividing the phase space into single-resonant and double-resonant regions, which is necessary to increase the accuracy of the search for possible deviations from the predictions of the Standard Model in these processes. To train the neural network, the optimized set of observables is used to separate single-resonance and double-resonance contributions to the overall process. The use of this method allows us to avoid the disadvantages inherent in the schemes used in collider physics for calculating the processes of tWb-associated top quark production with the removal of Feynman diagrams, which leads to violation of gauge invariance, or the addition of a subtraction scheme, which leads to the appearance of negative weights for the part of simulated events. The proposed method can be used to increase the efficiency of searching for deviations from the predictions of the Standard Model in the interaction of the top quark with the W boson and b quark.

Observability of parameter space for charged Higgs boson in its bosonic decays in two Higgs doublet model Type-1

This study explores the possibility of discovering through its bosonic decays, i.e., (where ϕ = h or A), within the Type-I two Higgs doublet model (2HDM). The main objective is to demonstrate the available parameter space after applying recent experimental and theoretical exclusion limits. We suggest that = 150 GeV is the most probable mass for the decay channel in collisions at = 8, 13, and 14 TeV. We also report on the application of a modern machine learning approach to a multivariate technique for heavy charged Higgs production in association with a single top quark through weak interaction to demonstrate its observability in comparison with the most relevant Standard Model backgrounds using the neural networks of boosted decision Tree (BDT), likelihood (LH), and multilayer perceptron (MLP).

Separation of Pair and Single Top Quark Production in tWb Associated Final State Using a Neural Network

Separation of Pair and Single Top Quark Production in tWb Associated Final State Using a Neural Network

Application of Machine Learning for the Analysis of Higgs Boson Production in Association with Single Top-Quark

Application of Machine Learning for the Analysis of Higgs Boson Production in Association with Single Top-Quark

Single-Top Quark Physics at the LHC: From Precision Measurements to Rare Processes and Top Quark Properties

Since the initial measurements of single-top quark production at the Tevatron in 2009, tremendous progress has been made at the LHC. While LHC Run 1 marked the beginning of a precision era for the single-top quark measurements in some of the main production mechanisms, LHC Run 2 witnessed the emergence and exploration of new processes associating top quark production with a neutral boson. In this paper, we review the measurements of the three main production mechanisms (t-channel, s-channel, and tW production), and of the associated production with a photon, a Z boson, or a Higgs boson. Differential cross-sections are measured for several of these processes and compared with theoretical predictions. The top quark properties that can be measured in single-top quark processes are scrutinized, such as Wtb couplings and top quark couplings with neutral bosons, and the polarizations of both the W boson and top quark. The effective field theory framework is emerging as a standard for interpreting property measurements. Perspectives for LHC Run 3 and the HL-LHC are discussed in the conclusions.

Application of deep learning in top pair and single top quark production at the LHC

Application of deep learning in top pair and single top quark production at the LHC

Search for dark matter produced in association with a single top quark and an energetic W boson in sqrt{s}= 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

This paper presents a search for dark matter, chi , using events with a single top quark and an energetic W boson. The analysis is based on proton–proton collision data collected with the ATLAS experiment at sqrt{s}= 13 TeV during LHC Run 2 (2015–2018), corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb^{-1}. The search considers final states with zero or one charged lepton (electron or muon), at least one b-jet and large missing transverse momentum. In addition, a result from a previous search considering two-charged-lepton final states is included in the interpretation of the results. The data are found to be in good agreement with the Standard Model predictions and the results are interpreted in terms of 95% confidence-level exclusion limits in the context of a class of dark matter models involving an extended two-Higgs-doublet sector together with a pseudoscalar mediator particle. The search is particularly sensitive to on-shell production of the charged Higgs boson state, H^{pm }, arising from the two-Higgs-doublet mixing, and its semi-invisible decays via the mediator particle, a: H^{pm } rightarrow W^pm a (rightarrow chi chi ). Signal models with H^{pm } masses up to 1.5 TeV and a masses up to 350 GeV are excluded assuming a tan beta value of 1. For masses of a of 150 (250) GeV, tan beta values up to 2 are excluded for H^{pm } masses between 200 (400) GeV and 1.5 TeV. Signals with tan beta values between 20 and 30 are excluded for H^{pm } masses between 500 and 800 GeV.