Probing top quark decay into light stop in the supersymmetric standard model at the upgraded Tevatron

Abstract

We investigate the possibility of observing the exotic decay mode of the top quark into the lightest stop ($\tilde t_1$) and neutralino ($\tilde\chi^0_1$) in the minimal supersymmetric standard model with R-parity at the upgraded Tevatron. First we determine the allowed range for the branching fraction $B(t\to \tilde t_1 \tilde\chi^0_1)$ in the region of parameter space allowed by the $R_b$ data and the CDF $ee\gamma\gamma+{\large \not} E_T$ event, and then consider all possible backgrounds and investigate the possibility of observing this final state at the Tevatron. We find that this final state is unobservable at Run 1. However, Run 2 can provide significant information on this new decay mode of the top quark: either discover it, or establish a strong constraint on the masses of $\tilde t_1$ and $\tilde\chi^0_1$ given approximately by $M_{\tilde \chi^0_1} > M_{\tilde t_1} - 6$ GeV.