Calculation of Associated Production of a Top Quark and a W' at the LHC

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential to discover a top-philic W' boson at the LHC through its associated production with a top quark, emphasizing the importance of bottom quark tagging to distinguish the signal from backgrounds.

Contribution

It provides a detailed simulation and analysis method for detecting a W' boson that couples only to third-generation quarks at the LHC.

Findings

Discovery of W' is promising despite large backgrounds

Bottom quark tagging significantly suppresses backgrounds

Full simulation supports feasibility of detection

Abstract

We investigate collider signatures of a top-philic W' model, in which the W' boson couples only to the third-generation quarks of the standard model. The main discovery channel for this W' is through associated production of the W' and top quark, yielding a top-quark pair plus an extra bottom quark jet as a signal. We do a full simulation of the signal and relevant backgrounds. We develop a method of analysis that allows us to conclude that discovery of the W' is promising at the LHC despite large standard model backgrounds. Bottom quark tagging of the extra jet is key to suppressing the backgrounds.