T-odd observables from anomalous $tbW$ couplings in single-top W associated production at the LHC

Abstract

We investigate the possibility that an imaginary anomalous $tbW$ coupling can be measured in the process $pp \to tW^-X$ by means of T-odd observables. One such observable is the polarization of the top quark transverse to the production plane. Another is the asymmetry between the cross sections with a positive and with a negative value of a certain T-odd correlation constructed out of observable momenta when the top quark decays leptonically. The mean value of this correlation, which is also T-odd, is the third observable. These three T-odd observables are shown to be proportional to the imaginary part of only one of the $tbW$ anomalous couplings, the other couplings giving vanishing contributions. This imaginary part could signal either a CP-odd coupling, or an absorptive part in the effective coupling. We estimate the 1-$\sigma$ limits that might be derived in the case of each of these observables for centre-of-mass energies 7, 8, 13 and 14 TeV at the LHC.