NLO QCD and EW corrections to off-shell $\mathrm{tZj}$ production at the LHC

Abstract

The production of a single top quark in association with a $\mathrm{Z}$ boson ($\mathrm{tZj}$ production) at the LHC is a relevant probe of the electroweak sector of the Standard Model as well as a window to possible new-physics effects. The growing experimental interest in performing differential measurements for this process demands an improved theoretical modelling in realistic fiducial regions. In this article we present an NLO-accurate $\mathrm{tZj}$ calculation that includes complete off-shell effects and spin correlations, combining QCD and electroweak radiative corrections to the LO signal. Integrated and differential cross-sections are shown for a fiducial setup characterized by three charged leptons, two jets, and missing energy.

Comments: 24 pages, 10 figures, some extra comments added, version to appear in JHEP