Search for New Physics in Rare Top Decays

TL;DR

This paper investigates rare top quark decays, specifically $t o b ar b c$, to identify potential new physics effects that are not apparent in standard decay measurements.

Contribution

It introduces a method to analyze rare top decays and assesses the potential to detect new physics contributions through specific observables.

Findings

Identification of useful observables for rare top decay analysis

Prospects for measuring new physics parameters in top decays

Potential to detect new physics effects in suppressed decay modes

Abstract

Top physics provides a fertile ground for new-physics searches. At present, most top observables appear to be in good agreement with the respective Standard Model predictions. However, in the case of decay modes that are suppressed in the Standard Model, new-physics contributions of comparable magnitude may exist and yet go unnoticed because their impact on the total decay width is small. Hence it is interesting to probe rare top decays. This analysis focuses on the decay $t \to b \bar b c$. Useful observables are identified and prospects for measuring new-physics parameters are examined.