Early Top Physics at CMS Experiment

TL;DR

This paper discusses the early plans and prospects for top quark physics at CMS during initial LHC operation, focusing on establishing the top signal and initial measurements with limited data.

Contribution

It presents the first detailed strategy for top quark studies at CMS during early LHC data-taking, emphasizing realistic detector performance and initial measurement goals.

Findings

Initial top signal detection strategies

Projected measurements with 100 pb^{-1} data

Feasibility of early top physics analysis

Abstract

The top quark was discovered at the Tevatron in 1995. For the last decade the study of its properties has been a major theme in the worldwide experimental high energy physics program. The advent of the LHC opens up a new era in top quark physics; because of the large $t\bar{t}$ cross-section and the high luminosity, the LHC can be thought of as a top factory. Here we present the prospects and plans for ttbar physics at CMS at an early stage of the experiment, covering from the initial establishment of the top signal, to the first measurements that become possible for an integrated luminosity of 100 $pb^{-1}$, considering a realistic detector performance.