Top-philic heavy resonances in four-top final states and their EFT interpretation

TL;DR

This paper investigates the limitations of effective field theory interpretations for four-top final states at the LHC, using simplified models with heavy resonances, and proposes a new recasting strategy based on high transverse momentum top quarks.

Contribution

It demonstrates the inapplicability of EFT in certain four-top scenarios and provides updated experimental limits with simplified models, along with a novel recasting method.

Findings

EFT interpretations are not valid for the studied models.

Current CMS analyses set new limits on top-philic resonances.

A new recasting strategy enhances sensitivity to high-pT top quarks.

Abstract

With an expected rate of about one event per 100,000 top-quark pairs, four top-quark final states very rarely arise at the LHC. Though scarce, they offer a unique window onto top-quark compositeness, self-interactions and more generically, onto any top-philic new physics. By employing simplified models featuring heavy resonances, we study the range of validity of effective theory interpretations of current four top-quark analyses at the LHC and establish their future reach at the HL-LHC. We find that for the class of models under consideration, the effective field theory interpretations are not applicable. We therefore present the most up-to-date limits obtained from public CMS analyses using simplified models. Finally, we put forward a novel recasting strategy for the experimental results based on the production of top quarks with large transverse momentum.