Diagnosing the top-quark angular asymmetry using LHC intrinsic charge asymmetries
Abstract
Flavor-violating interactions involving new heavy particles are among proposed explanations for the t t forward-backward asymmetry observed at the Tevatron. Many of these models generate a t t-plus-jet signal at the LHC. In this paper we identify several new charge asymmetric variables in t tj events that can contribute to the discovery of such models at the LHC. We propose a data-driven method for the background, largely eliminating the need for a Monte Carlo prediction of t t-plus-jets, and thus reducing systematic errors. With a fast detector simulation, we estimate the statistical sensitivity of our variables for one of these models, finding that charge-asymmetric variables could materially assist in the exclusion of the Standard Model across much of the mass and coupling range, given 5 inverse fb of data. Should any signal appear, our variables will be useful in distinguishing classes of models from one another.