# Search for associated production of a Z boson with a single top quark and for tZ flavour-changing interactions in pp collisions at √s=8 TeV

CMS Collaboration; Sirunyan, A. M.; Tumasyan, A.; Adam, W.; Asilar, E.; Bergauer, T.; Brandstetter, J.; Brondolin, E.; Dragicevic, M.; Erö, J.; Flechl, M.; Friedl, M.; Frühwirth, R.; Ghete, V. M.; Hartl, C.; Hörmann, N.; Hrubec, J.; Jeitler, M.; König, A.; Krätschmer, I.; Liko, D.; ... mehr

Abstract:
A search for the production of a single top quark in association with a Z boson is presented, both to identify the expected standard model process and to search for flavour-changing neutral current interactions. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb−1 recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at s√=8 TeV. Final states with three leptons (electrons or muons) and at least one jet are investigated. An events yield compatible with tZq standard model production is observed, and the corresponding cross section is measured to be σ(pp → tZq → ℓνbℓ+ℓ−q) = 10− 7+ 8 fb with a significance of 2.4 standard deviations. No presence of flavour-changing neutral current production of tZq is observed. Exclusion limits at 95% confidence level on the branching fractions of a top quark decaying to a Z boson and an up or a charm quark are found to be ℬ(t → Zu) < 0.022% and ℬ(t → Zc) < 0.049%.

 Zugehörige Institution(en) am KIT Institut für Experimentelle Kernphysik (IEKP) Publikationstyp Zeitschriftenaufsatz Jahr 2017 Sprache Englisch Identifikator ISSN: 1029-8479, 1126-6708 urn:nbn:de:swb:90-722085 KITopen-ID: 1000072208 Erschienen in Journal of high energy physics Band 2017 Heft 7 Seiten 1-43 Bemerkung zur Veröffentlichung Gefördert durch SCOAP3 Nachgewiesen in Web of ScienceScopus
KIT – Die Forschungsuniversität in der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft
KITopen Landing Page