A Search For New Physics Using tt(bar) Resonances in the Lepton Plus Jets Channel at √(s) = 8 TeV in 20 fb⁻¹ of pp Collision Data at the ATLAS Experiment

Many Beyond Standard Model theories predict particles that couple strongly to top/anti-top quark pairs. This makes tt(bar) a promising signature for new physics searches. The analysis presented in this dissertation uses 20.3 fb⁻¹ of √s = 8 TeV pp collision data from the ATLAS experiment to search for evidence of new physics in the single-lepton plus jets tt(bar) decay channel. This is done by requiring one electron or muon, large missing transverse momentum and additional hadronic jets. The tt(bar) system is reconstructed using techniques optimized for either resolved or boosted event topologies. The results of the analysis are used to set upper limits on the production cross-section times branching ratio for heavy resonances decaying to tt(bar). These limits are interpreted in the context of several benchmark models including the leptophobic topcolor Z', the Randall-Sundrum Kaluza-Klein gluon (gKK), the Randall-Sundrum Kaluza-Klein graviton (GKK) and a spin-0 scalar particle.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Graduate College

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Arizona.

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Veatch, Jason Robert

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Johns, Kenneth A.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Johns, Kenneth A.
• Cheu, Elliot C.
• Shupe, Michael A.
• Toussaint, William D.
• Varnes, Erich W.

• resonances
• ttbar
• Physics
• ATLAS

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10150/578734

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/578734