Search for single-top production in ep collisions at HERA

TL;DR

This study searched for single-top production in electron-proton collisions at HERA using the ZEUS detector, finding no evidence and setting upper limits on the production cross section consistent with the Standard Model.

Contribution

First combined analysis of ZEUS data to set limits on single-top production via flavor-changing neutral currents at HERA.

Findings

No evidence for single-top production was observed.

A 95% credibility level upper limit of 0.13 pb was set on the cross section.

Results are consistent with Standard Model predictions.

Abstract

A search for single-top production, $ep \rightarrow etX$, has been performed with the ZEUS detector at HERA using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $0.37\fbi$. No evidence for top production was found, consistent with the expectation from the Standard Model. Limits were computed for single-top production via flavour changing neutral current transitions. The result was combined with a previous ZEUS result yielding a total luminosity of 0.50fb-1. A 95% credibility level upper limit of 0.13 pb was obtained for the cross section at the centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=315\gev$.