Leptonic top-quark asymmetry predictions at LHCb

Abstract

The forward LHCb acceptance offers the possibility of measuring the top-quark pair asymmetry in a kinematic region that does not receive overwhelming dilution from the symmetric gluon-fusion channel. To investigate this possibility, two leptonic final states are identified, and analysis strategies are proposed for each channel with 14~TeV data. Leading fixed-order predictions are then provided for the relevant leptonic asymmetry variables in each channel. If backgrounds can be experimentally constrained, statistically, a non-zero asymmetry is estimated to be observable beyond 5$σ$ confidence level with the full LHCb 14~TeV data.

7 pages, 4 figures, 6 tables. Directors cut: matches PRD version with updated references and comments