Sensitivity analysis of the top-quark sector.

Area of Science:

• High Energy Physics
• Particle Physics
• Collider Physics

Background:

• The Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT) extends the Standard Model by incorporating higher-dimension operators.
• Top-quark interactions are sensitive probes of new physics beyond the Standard Model.
• Understanding top-quark SMEFT operators is crucial for precision physics at colliders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the sensitivity of current and future collider observables to individual top-quark SMEFT operators.
• To identify specific measurements that yield the strongest constraints on these operators.
• To forecast the impact of future collider facilities on top-quark SMEFT precision.

Main Methods:

• A one-operator-at-a-time analysis was performed.
• Data from past (Tevatron, LEP) and current (LHC Run 2) colliders were utilized.
• Projections for future colliders, including the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) and lepton colliders, were incorporated.

Main Results:

• Specific observables were identified as providing the strongest individual constraints on top-quark SMEFT operators.
• The analysis clarifies the utility of different measurements within the top-quark SMEFT program.
• A significant improvement in sensitivity is expected with future collider experiments.

Conclusions:

• The one-operator-at-a-time approach effectively pinpoints crucial observables for top-quark SMEFT studies.
• Future colliders, such as the HL-LHC and lepton colliders, will dramatically enhance sensitivity to top-quark SMEFT operators.
• This work provides a roadmap for precision top-quark physics in the SMEFT framework.