Combination of searches for singly produced vector-like top quarks in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector

The ATLAS collaboration Aad, Georges ; Aakvaag, Erlend ; Abbott, Braden Keim ; et al.
Phys.Rev.D 111 (2025) 012012, 2025.
Inspire Record 2818839 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.153640

A combination of searches for the single production of vector-like top quarks ($T$) is presented. These analyses are based on proton$-$proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV recorded in 2015$-$2018 with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. The $T$-quark decay modes considered in this combination are into a top quark and either a Standard Model Higgs boson or a $Z$ boson ($T \to Ht$ and $T \to Zt$). The individual searches used in the combination are differentiated by the number of leptons ($e$, $\mu$) in the final state. The observed data are found to be in good agreement with the Standard Model background prediction. Interpretations are provided for a range of masses and couplings of the vector-like top quark for benchmark models and generalized representations in terms of 95% confidence level limits. For a benchmark signal prediction of a vector-like top quark SU2 singlet with electroweak coupling, $\kappa$, of 0.5, masses below 2.1 TeV are excluded, resulting in the most restrictive limits to date.

52 data tables

Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the total cross-section σ($pp$ → $T$ → $Ht/Zt$) as a function of $T$-quark mass in the SU(2) singlet representation assuming $\kappa$=0.3. The expected limits for the individual analyses are shown. The $HtZt$ analysis is only included in the limit calculation for $m_{\mathrm{T}}$ < 2.1 TeV.

Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the total cross-section σ($pp$ → $T$ → $Ht/Zt$) as a function of $T$-quark mass in the SU(2) singlet representation assuming $\kappa$=0.5. The expected limits for the individual analyses are shown. The $HtZt$ analysis is only included in the limit calculation for $m_{\mathrm{T}}$ < 2.1 TeV.

Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the total cross-section σ($pp$ → $T$ → $Ht/Zt$) as a function of $T$-quark mass in the SU(2) doublet representation assuming $\kappa$=0.3. The expected limits for the individual analyses are shown. The $HtZt$ analysis is only included in the limit calculation for $m_{\mathrm{T}}$ < 2.1 TeV.

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Search for invisible particles produced in association with single top quarks in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The ATLAS collaboration Aad, Georges ; Abbott, Braden Keim ; Abeling, Kira ; et al.
JHEP 05 (2024) 263, 2024.
Inspire Record 2762383 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.146896

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 $\sqrt{s}$=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. In the absence of a significant excess with respect 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 $m_\chi$=1 GeV and the model couplings $\lambda_q$=0.6 and $\lambda_\chi$=0.4 ($a$=0.5 and $g_\chi$=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 $\kappa_T$=0.5 and a branching ratio for $T\to Zt$ of 25%.

19 data tables

95% CL upper limits on the cross-section of the considered signal models as a function of the DM scalar mediator $\phi$ mass (for fixed model parameters of $\lambda_q =0.6$, $y_\chi=0.4$ and $m_\chi=1$ GeV).

95% CL upper limits on the cross-section of the considered signal models as a function of the DM vector mediator $V$ mass (for $a=0.5$, $g_\chi=1$ and $m_\chi=1$ GeV).

95% CL upper limits on the cross-section of the considered signal models as a function of the vector-like $T$ quark mass (for $\kappa_T=0.5$).

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Search for pair-produced vector-like top and bottom partners in events with large missing transverse momentum in pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

The ATLAS collaboration Aad, Georges ; Abbott, Braden Keim ; Abbott, D.C. ; et al.
Eur.Phys.J.C 83 (2023) 719, 2023.
Inspire Record 2613270 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.137656

A search for pair-produced vector-like quarks using events with exactly one lepton ($e$ or $\mu$), at least four jets including at least one $b$-tagged jet, and large missing transverse momentum is presented. Data from proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV, recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC from 2015 to 2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$, are analysed. Vector-like partners $T$ and $B$ of the top and bottom quarks are considered, as is a vector-like $X$ with charge +5/3, assuming their decay into a $W$, $Z$, or Higgs boson and a third-generation quark. No significant deviations from the Standard Model expectation are observed. Upper limits on the production cross-section of $T$ and $B$ quark pairs as a function of their mass are derived for various decay branching ratio scenarios. The strongest lower limits on the masses are 1.59 TeV assuming mass-degenerate VLQs and branching ratios corresponding to the weak-isospin doublet model, and 1.47 TeV (1.46 TeV) for exclusive $T \rightarrow Zt$ ($B/X \rightarrow Wt$) decays. In addition, lower limits on the $T$ and $B$ quark masses are derived for all possible branching ratios.

10 data tables

Expected and observed upper limits at 95% CL on the cross section of vector-like quark pair production for $T\bar{T}$ and $\mathcal{B}(T\rightarrow Zt) = 100$%.

Expected and observed upper limits at 95% CL on the cross section of vector-like quark pair production for $B\bar{B}$ and $\mathcal{B}(B\rightarrow Wt) = 100$%.

Expected and observed upper limits at 95% CL on the cross section of vector-like quark pair production for $T\bar{T}$ in the singlet model.

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Version 2
Search for pair-production of vector-like quarks in $pp$ collision events at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with at least one leptonically decaying $Z$ boson and a third-generation quark with the ATLAS detector

The ATLAS collaboration Aad, Georges ; Abbott, Braden Keim ; Abbott, Dale ; et al.
Phys.Lett.B 843 (2023) 138019, 2023.
Inspire Record 2172216 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.134010

A search for the pair-production of vector-like quarks optimized for decays into a $Z$ boson and a third-generation Standard Model quark is presented, using the full Run 2 dataset corresponding to 139 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV, collected in 2015-2018 with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The targeted final state is characterized by the presence of a $Z$ boson with high transverse momentum, reconstructed from a pair of same-flavour leptons with opposite-sign charges, as well as by the presence of $b$-tagged jets and high-transverse-momentum large-radius jets reconstructed from calibrated smaller-radius jets. Events with exactly two or at least three leptons are used, which are further categorized by the presence of boosted $W$, $Z$, and Higgs bosons and top quarks. The categorization is performed using a neural-network-based boosted object tagger to enhance the sensitivity to signal relative to the background. No significant excess above the background expectation is observed and exclusion limits at 95% confidence level are set on the masses of the vector-like partners $T$ and $B$ of the top and bottom quarks, respectively. In the singlet model, the limits allow $m_T > 1.27$ TeV and $m_B > 1.20$ TeV. In the doublet model, allowed masses are $m_T > 1.46$ TeV and $m_B >1.32$ TeV. In the case of 100% branching ratio for $T\rightarrow Zt$ and 100% branching ratio for $B\rightarrow Zb$, the limits allow $m_T > 1.60$ TeV and $m_B > 1.42$ TeV, respectively.

20 data tables

Expected and observed lower limits on B masses at 95% CL in the BR plane from the combination of the two analysis channels for all BR configurations when assuming a total BR of 100% for H, W and Z.

Expected and observed lower limits on T masses at 95% CL in the BR plane from the combination of the two analysis channels for all BR configurations when assuming a total BR of 100% for H, W and Z.

Expected and observed combined limits at 95% CL on the production cross-section of vector-like T for 100% $T\rightarrow Zt$.

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