Search for $W^{\prime} \to tb$ decays in the fully hadronic final state with the ATLAS experiment

TL;DR

This paper reports a search for a hypothetical heavy $W^{\u2032}$ boson decaying into a top and bottom quark pair in fully hadronic final states, using ATLAS Run 2 data and advanced machine learning techniques.

Contribution

It introduces a novel search strategy employing DNN-based boosted-object identification for $W^{\u2032}$ bosons in hadronic decay channels at high energies.

Findings

Set upper limits on $W^{\u2032}$ production cross-section for masses 1.5-5 TeV.

Utilized data-driven background estimation with minimal systematic uncertainties.

Achieved sensitivity to $W^{\u2032}$ signals in the fully hadronic channel.

Abstract

A search for a new heavy boson $W^{\prime}$ in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV is presented. The search focuses on the decay of the $W^{\prime}$ to a hadronic top quark and a bottom quark, using the full Run 2 dataset of the ATLAS detector. The hadronic decay of the top quark is identified using DNN-based boosted-object techniques. The dominant background is obtained by a data-driven method with small systematic uncertainties. The results are presented as upper limits on the production cross-section times decay branching ratio for the $W^{\prime}$ boson with right-handed couplings that decays to a top quark and a bottom quark, for several $W^{\prime}$ masses between 1.5 to 5 TeV.