Abstract
We present an in-depth analysis of axions and axion-like particles in top-pair production at the LHC. Our main goal is to probe the axion coupling to top quarks at high energies. To this end, we calculate the top-antitop cross section and differential distributions including ALP effects up to one-loop level. By comparing these predictions with LHC precision measurements, we constrain the top coupling of axion-like particles with masses below the top-antitop threshold. Our results apply to all UV completions of the ALP effective theory with dominant couplings to top quarks, in particular to DFSZ-like axion models.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Wim Beenakker, Simone Blasi, Sascha Caron, Jochem Kip, Alberto Mariotti, Ken Mimasu, Davide Pagani, Marieke Postma and Simone Tentori for helpful discussions.
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Phan, A.V., Westhoff, S. Precise tests of the axion coupling to tops. J. High Energ. Phys. 2024, 75 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP05(2024)075
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP05(2024)075