Novel Interpretation Strategy for Searches of Singly Produced Vector-like Quarks at the LHC

Abstract

Vector-like Quarks (VLQs) are potential signatures of physics beyond the Standard Model at the TeV energy scale and major efforts have been put forward at both ATLAS and CMS experiments in search of these particles. In order to make these search results more relatable in the context of most plausible theories of VLQs, it is deemed important to present the analysis results in a general fashion. We investigate the challenges associated with such interpretations of singly produced VLQ searches and propose a generalized, semi-analytical framework that allows a model-independent casting of the results in terms of unconstrained, free parameters of the VLQ Lagrangian. We also propose a simple parameterization of the correction factor to the single VLQ production cross-section at large decay widths. We illustrate how the proposed framework can be used to conveniently represent statistical limits by numerically reinterpreting results from benchmark ATLAS and CMS analyses.