Thirty years after the discovery of the top quark: the field enters an age of refinement and subtlety

TL;DR

This paper reviews three decades of top quark research, emphasizing recent advances in experimental techniques, precision measurements, and the exploration of subtle effects in top-quark physics.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent experimental results and methodological refinements in top-quark physics since its discovery.

Findings

Observation of new scattering processes involving top quarks

Precision measurements of top-quark properties

Detection of subtle effects using refined techniques

Abstract

Thirty years after the first observation of on-shell top quarks the investigation of the heaviest elementary particle remains a thriving field of basic research, as was illustrated by the 18th edition of the annual Workshop on Top-Quark Physics hosted by Hanyang University in Seoul, Korea. Observing new scattering processses involving top quarks, precision measurements of top-quark properties, and the usage of top quarks as a means of exploration remain key elements of research, but are most recently complemented by the observation of even more subtle effects based on the application of refined experimental techniques. Based on the selection made in the experimental summary talk, this article highlights the most striking experimental results presented at the conference.