Search for a Heavy Bottom-like Quark in pp Collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports a search for heavy bottom-like quarks in proton-proton collisions at 7 TeV using CMS data, finding no evidence and setting mass exclusion limits between 255 and 361 GeV/c^2.

Contribution

First search for bottom-like quarks decaying to tW in pp collisions at 7 TeV with CMS, establishing mass exclusion limits.

Findings

No excess above background observed.

Excluded b' quark masses between 255 and 361 GeV/c^2.

Used 34 pb^-1 of data.

Abstract

A search for pair-produced bottom-like quarks in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV is conducted with the CMS experiment at the LHC. The decay b' to tW is considered in this search. The b' b'-bar to tW^- t-bar W^+ process can be identified by the distinctive signature of trileptons and same-sign dileptons. With a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 34 inverse picobarns, no excess above the standard model background predictions is observed and a b' quark with a mass between 255 and 361 GeV/c^2 is excluded at the 95% confidence level.