Model-independent analysis of forward-backward asymmetry of top quark production at the Tevatron

Abstract

We perform a model independent analysis on $q \bar{q} \rightarrow t \bar{t}$ using an effective lagrangian with dim-6 four-quark operators, and derive necessary conditions on new physics that are consistent with the $t\bar{t}$ production cross section %($\sigma_{t\bar{t}}$) and and the forward-backward (FB) asymmetry ($A_{\rm FB}$) measured at the Tevatron. We also propose a new FB spin-spin correlation that is strongly correlated with the $A_{\rm FB}$, and discuss possible new physics scenarios that could generate such dim-6 operators.