$t \to cWW$ and $WW \to \bar{t}c + t\bar{c}$ in Extended Models

Abstract

Jenkins has pointed out that the process $t\to cW^+W^-$ is GIM suppressed in the standard model. In this note, we calculate the branching ratio for a wide range of models, in which the decay occurs at tree level through exchange of a scalar, fermion or vector. In the case of scalar exchange, a scalar mass between $2m_W$ and 200 GeV leads to a resonant enhancement, giving a branching ratio as high as a few tenths of a percent. We then note that all of these models will also allow $W^+W^-\to \bar{t}c+t\bar{c}$, and we calculate the single-top/single-charm production rate at the LHC. The rates aren't negligibly small, but the background from single-top/single-bottom production will probably swamp the signal.