Search for single vector-like quarks in ppbar collisions at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports a search for hypothetical vector-like quarks in proton-antiproton collisions at 1.96 TeV, using data from the D0 detector, finding no excess and setting new mass limits.

Contribution

It provides the most stringent mass limits to date for electroweak single vector-like quark production at hadron colliders.

Findings

No significant excess observed over background.

Set limits on production cross sections for vector-like quarks.

Established the most stringent mass limits for these particles.

Abstract

We present a search for hypothetical vector-like quarks in ppbar collisions at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV. The data were collected by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb^(-1). We select events with a final state composed of a W or Z boson and a jet consistent with a heavy object decay. We observe no significant excess in comparison to the background prediction and set limits on production cross sections for vector-like quarks decaying to W+jet and Z+jet. These are the most stringent mass limits for electroweak single vector-like quark production at hadron colliders.