Flavor changing neutral currents in top quark production and decay

Abstract

Top quark flavor changing neutral current (FCNC) interactions are highly suppressed in the Standard Model. Therefore, any large signal of FCNCs will indicate the existence of new interactions. In this paper, searches for FCNC interactions in top quark production and decay at the Tevatron and LHC are presented. FCNC searches in $t\rightarrow qZ$ and $t\rightarrow Hq$ decays, and in top quark production in $pp\rightarrow t+j$, $pp\rightarrow t+Z$ are summarized. Effect of top quark FCNCs on single top quark cross-section, and the searches for same-sign top quark pair production through FCNCs are also described. None of the searches yielded positive results and exclusion limits on branching rations, coupling strengths and cross-sections are obtained. Future prospects of FCNC searches are also briefly discussed.