Angular correlations in associated top-quark and dark matter production at Large Hadron Collider

TL;DR

This paper investigates angular correlations in single top-quark production associated with dark matter at the LHC, showing how scalar and pseudoscalar mediators affect observable distributions and can improve dark matter detection sensitivity.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of angular correlations in top-dark matter production, highlighting how scalar and pseudoscalar mediators alter these correlations for experimental distinction.

Findings

Scalar mediators significantly alter angular correlation distributions.

Angular variables can distinguish between Standard Model and dark matter contributions.

The method enhances future dark matter search sensitivity at the LHC.

Abstract

In the paper, we consider the processes of single top-quark production in association with dark matter particles through the t-channel in simplified models with scalar and pseudoscalar mediators. Within the framework of these models, we analyze the angular correlations that arise in the top quark production process in association with dark matter, comparing them with the production of a top quark in the Standard Model. We consider angular correlations of kinematic variables, which define admissible regions in momentum space and can be used experimentally to distinguish between the fraction of the total momentum carried away by the scalar or pseudoscalar mediator. We demonstrate that scalar mediator significantly changes the rest frame of the well-known angular correlation observable and changes the distributions. In this case, this variable provides clear separation between the SM and DM contribution and can be used to increase the sensitivity of future DM analyses.