Search for flavour-changing neutral currents in processes with one top quark and a photon using 81 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with the ATLAS experiment

TL;DR

This paper reports a search for flavor-changing neutral current events involving a top quark and a photon using 81 fb$^{-1}$ of 13 TeV proton-proton collision data from the ATLAS detector, setting new limits on the process.

Contribution

It introduces a neural network-based method to distinguish FCNC signals from background, providing the first limits on $tq\gamma$ couplings at 13 TeV with this dataset.

Findings

No significant excess over background observed.

Set 95% CL upper limits on $t ightarrow \gamma u$ and $t ightarrow \gamma c$ branching ratios.

Established constraints on FCNC $t\\gamma$ production cross sections.

Abstract

A search for flavour-changing neutral current (FCNC) events via the coupling of a top quark, a photon, and an up or charm quark is presented using 81 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data taken at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Events with a photon, an electron or muon, a $b$-tagged jet, and missing transverse momentum are selected. A neural network based on kinematic variables differentiates between events from signal and background processes. The data are consistent with the background-only hypothesis, and limits are set on the strength of the $tq\gamma$ coupling in an effective field theory. These are also interpreted as 95% CL upper limits on the cross section for FCNC $t\gamma$ production via a left-handed (right-handed) $tu\gamma$ coupling of 36 fb (78 fb) and on the branching ratio for $t\rightarrow \gamma u$ of $2.8\times 10^{-5}$ ($6.1\times 10^{-5}$). In addition, they are interpreted as 95% CL upper limits on the cross section for FCNC $t\gamma$ production via a left-handed (right-handed) $tc\gamma$ coupling of 40 fb (33 fb) and on the branching ratio for $t\rightarrow \gamma c$ of $22\times 10^{-5}$ ($18\times 10^{-5}$).