/ hep-ex arXiv:1307.0731

Evidence for s-channel single top quark production in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV

Pages: 11

Abstract: We present measurements of the cross sections for the two main production modes of single top quarks in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 1.96$\;TeV in the Run II data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9.7\;fb$^{-1}$. The s-channel cross section is measured to be $\sigma({\ppbar}{\rargap}tb+X) = 1.10^{+0.33}_{-0.31}$\;pb with no assumptions on the value of the t-channel cross section. Similarly, the t-channel cross section is measured to be $\sigma({\ppbar}{\rargap}tqb+X) = 3.07^{+0.54}_{-0.49}$\;pb. We also measure the $s+t$ combined cross section as $\sigma({\ppbar}{\rargap}tb+X, tqb+X) = 4.11^{+0.60}_{-0.55}$\;pb and set a lower limit on the CKM matrix element $|V_{tb}| > 0.92 at 95% C.L., assuming$m_t=172.5$\;GeV. The probability to measure a cross section for the s channel at the observed value or higher in the absence of signal is$1.0\times 10^{-4}\$, corresponding to a significance of 3.7 standard deviations.

Note: Submitted to Phys. Lett. B. 11 pages, 4 figures; *Temporary entry*

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