CR002 $pp \to T_{5/3} \bar{T}_{5/3} \to W^+ t W^- \bar{t}$

Pair production of exotic-charge $T_{5/3}$ custodial top partner
Status REVIEWED VERIFIED High Code: NO Priority Medium

PDG / equivalent values

Observable Value Year Experiment / source Provenance
m(t'(5/3)) lower limit for pair-produced vector-like X/B $ \to $ Wt > 1460
95% CL (lower_limit)
2023 ATLAS source ↑
strongest mass lower limit for mass-degenerate vector-like doublet benchmark > 1590
95% CL (lower_limit)
2023 ATLAS source ↑
$m(X_5/3$) lower limit, right-handed coupling > 1330
95% CL (lower_limit)
2019 CMS source ↑
$m(X_5/3$) lower limit, left-handed coupling > 1300
95% CL (lower_limit)
2019 CMS source ↑
$m(T_5/3$) lower limit from pair production > 1190
95% CL (lower_limit)
2018 ATLAS source ↑
$m(T_5/3$) lower limit when single production is included > 1600
95% CL (lower_limit)
2018 ATLAS source ↑
$m(X_5/3$) lower limit, right-handed coupling > 1020
95% CL (lower_limit)
2017 CMS source ↑
$m(X_5/3$) lower limit, left-handed coupling > 990
95% CL (lower_limit)
2017 CMS source ↑
$m(X_5/3$) lower limit from same-sign dilepton search > 800
95% CL (lower_limit)
2014 CMS source ↑

Why this constrains the RS scan

CR002 is a direct LHC constraint on the custodial top-partner spectrum, not a low-energy \(\Delta F=1\) or \(\Delta F=2\) observable. It is therefore most useful as a cross-check on non-anarchic or compressed custodial-RS spectra in which the lightest fermion partners can be much lighter than the KK gauge scale. In an anarchic-flavor RS scan, the repo-local this repository quark methodology already reports \[ M_{KK}^{\min,p50}(\,g_\ast=3\,)=47.26~\mathrm{TeV}, \] so a \(T_{5/3}\) direct-search reach near the \(1.5~\mathrm{TeV}\) scale is not the leading constraint on the default anarchic-flavor ensemble. The collider number constrains a physical custodial-partner mass under specific LHC simplified-model assumptions. Mapping it onto \(M_{KK}\) needs a model-dependent relation between the fermion-partner spectrum, top compositeness, and the gauge KK scale; it should not be treated as a direct cut on the same \(M_{KK}\) variable used by the quark-flavor scan.

What's changed since the original paper

The LHC program closely follows the Contino--Servant and Mrazek--Wulzer same-sign-dilepton motivation:
  • CMS arXiv:1312.2391 established the first LHC same-sign-dilepton charge-\(5/3\) limit, excluding masses below \(800~\mathrm{GeV}\) at \(\sqrt{s}=8~\mathrm{TeV}\) for exclusive \(tW\) decay.
  • CMS arXiv:1705.10967 moved the search to \(\sqrt{s}=13~\mathrm{TeV}\) and combined same-sign dilepton with single-lepton final states, reaching \(1.02~\mathrm{TeV}\) and \(0.99~\mathrm{TeV}\) for the right- and left-handed coupling benchmarks.
  • ATLAS arXiv:1807.11883 used same-charge leptons and \(b\)-jets to set the \(1.19~\mathrm{TeV}\) pair-production limit and to demonstrate the stronger but coupling-dependent single-production interpretation.
  • CMS arXiv:1810.03188 increased the dataset to \(35.9~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}\) and produced the \(1.33~\mathrm{TeV}\) / \(1.30~\mathrm{TeV}\) CMS Run-2 limits.
  • ATLAS arXiv:2212.05263 used the full Run-2 one-lepton plus missing-transverse-momentum search to provide the current PDG-leading \(1.46~\mathrm{TeV}\) exclusive \(B/X\to Wt\) limit.

Validity and model dependence

The pair-production cross section is QCD dominated, so the production rate is less sensitive to the \(T_{5/3}Wt\) electroweak coupling than single production. The acceptance and the quoted mass limit are nevertheless tied to the assumed prompt decay pattern, top-partner width, branching fractions, and event topology. If the \(T_{5/3}\) has sizable non-\(tW\) decays, cascade decays into other custodial states, a broad width, or a compressed spectrum, the simple PDG mass bound is not automatically applicable. The stronger single-production reinterpretation is explicitly coupling dependent and should be catalogued separately from the pair-production CR002 entry if it is ever implemented.

Code coverage in this repo

NO. A collider-specific grep over quarkConstraints/, qcd/, flavorConstraints/, neutrinos/, yukawa/, warpConfig/, solvers/, scanParams/, and tests/ found no \(T_{5/3}\), \(X_{5/3}\), VLQ, top-partner, collider, or LHC direct-search implementation. The adjacent code is low-energy RS machinery: quarkConstraints/modern/scan.py:1230 maps \(\Lambda_{\mathrm{IR}}\) to \(M_{KK}\), quarkConstraints/modern/scan.py:1254 stores that scan-point \(M_{KK}\), quarkConstraints/couplings.py:103 defines mass-basis KK-gluon couplings, quarkConstraints/couplings.py:116 describes the enhanced 5D KK-gluon coupling, and quarkConstraints/deltaf2.py:1 identifies the implemented exclusion slice as a tree-level KK-gluon-inspired \(\Delta F=2\) benchmark. The matching layer itself notes at quarkConstraints/modern/matching.py:240 that it is not a full operator-complete EFT/RG package.

Linked evidence (opens GitHub blob at flavor-catalog-website/2026q2):

Implementation difficulty

HIGH. A faithful implementation would need at least a recast pipeline: event generation for \(T_{5/3}\bar T_{5/3}\), decay and branching-ratio control, detector-level efficiencies or public likelihoods, and validation against ATLAS/CMS exclusion tables. External reinterpretation tools such as CheckMATE, MadAnalysis5, or SModelS would be more realistic than a hand-written scan cut.

Reason: A faithful LHC direct-search constraint needs event generation, detector-level efficiencies or recast likelihoods, branching-ratio scans, and/or external reinterpretation tools such as CheckMATE, MadAnalysis5, SModelS, or collaboration likelihood material.

Key references

PDGEncoderQ009\_TPrime5Over3; ATLAS2023\_VLQ\_MET; CMS2019\_X53\_Run2; ATLAS2018\_SameCharge\_BJets; CMS2017\_X53\_13TeV; CMS2014\_X53\_8TeV; ContinoServant2008\_TopPartners; MrazekWulzer2009\_TopPartners.
Source SHAs
9 snapshot(s) tracked in flavor_catalog/processes/collider_rs/CR002.yaml
Access dates
2026-05-17
Worklog
flavor_catalog/worklogs/CR002/
LaTeX source
flavor_catalog/processes/collider_rs/CR002.tex
Anchors generated
2026-05-17T21:55:00-04:00

PDG2026:CR002:ATLAS2023:X53_pair_Wt

https://pdg.lbl.gov/encoder_listings/q009.pdf
accessed 2026-05-17 sha 093c2771ed73... snapshot CR002/pdg_encoder_q009_tprime_5over3_2026.txt RESOLVED
display > 1460
RESOLVED
Match snapshot line 12
L9: 
L10: t' (5/3)-quark/hadron mass limits in p p and p p collisions
L11: VALUE (GeV)               CL%           DOCUMENT ID         TECN     COMMENT
L12: >1460                     95          1 AAD           23AG ATLS      t' (5/3) -> t W+
L13: >1330                     95          2 SIRUNYAN      19T CMS        t'_R (5/3) -> t W+
L14: >1300                     95          2 SIRUNYAN      19T CMS        t'_L (5/3) -> t W+
L15: >1190                     95          3 AABOUD        18CE ATLS      >= 2l + MET + >= 1 b-jet
Snapshots live under flavor_catalog/references/<process_id>/. Source-line anchoring is automated; the status pill reflects match confidence, not editorial review.

ATLAS2023:CR002:mass_degenerate_doublet

https://arxiv.org/abs/2212.05263
accessed 2026-05-17 sha fb8975d1d181... snapshot CR002/atlas_2023_arxiv2212_05263.txt RESOLVED
value_limit_converted_fallback > 1.59 TeV
RESOLVED
Match snapshot line 29
L26: No significant deviations from the Standard Model expectation are observed.
L27: Upper limits on the production cross-section of T and B quark pairs as a
L28: function of their mass are derived for various decay branching ratio scenarios.
L29: The strongest lower limits on the masses are 1.59 TeV assuming mass-degenerate
L30: VLQs and branching ratios corresponding to the weak-isospin doublet model, and
L31: 1.47 TeV (1.46 TeV) for exclusive T -> Zt (B/X -> Wt) decays. In addition,
L32: lower limits on the T and B quark masses are derived for all possible branching
Snapshots live under flavor_catalog/references/<process_id>/. Source-line anchoring is automated; the status pill reflects match confidence, not editorial review.

CMS2019:CR002:X53_RH

https://arxiv.org/abs/1810.03188
accessed 2026-05-17 sha e14cb8f94181... snapshot CR002/cms_2019_arxiv1810_03188.txt RESOLVED
value_limit_converted_fallback > 1.33 TeV
RESOLVED
Match snapshot line 28
L25: considered. Final states with either a pair of same-sign leptons or a single
L26: lepton are studied. No significant excess of events is observed above the
L27: expected standard model background. Lower limits at 95% confidence level on
L28: the X_5/3 quark mass are set at 1.33 and 1.30 TeV respectively for the case of
L29: right-handed and left-handed couplings to W bosons in a combination of the
L30: same-sign dilepton and single-lepton final states.
L31: 
Snapshots live under flavor_catalog/references/<process_id>/. Source-line anchoring is automated; the status pill reflects match confidence, not editorial review.

CMS2019:CR002:X53_LH

https://arxiv.org/abs/1810.03188
accessed 2026-05-17 sha e14cb8f94181... snapshot CR002/cms_2019_arxiv1810_03188.txt RESOLVED
value_limit_converted_fallback > 1.3 TeV
RESOLVED
Match snapshot line 28
L25: considered. Final states with either a pair of same-sign leptons or a single
L26: lepton are studied. No significant excess of events is observed above the
L27: expected standard model background. Lower limits at 95% confidence level on
L28: the X_5/3 quark mass are set at 1.33 and 1.30 TeV respectively for the case of
L29: right-handed and left-handed couplings to W bosons in a combination of the
L30: same-sign dilepton and single-lepton final states.
L31: 
Snapshots live under flavor_catalog/references/<process_id>/. Source-line anchoring is automated; the status pill reflects match confidence, not editorial review.

ATLAS2018:CR002:T53_pair_only

https://arxiv.org/abs/1807.11883
accessed 2026-05-17 sha 700e58bb4698... snapshot CR002/atlas_2018_arxiv1807_11883.txt RESOLVED
value_limit_converted_fallback > 1.19 TeV
RESOLVED
Match snapshot line 27
L24: T- and B-quark singlet are m_T > 0.98 (0.99) TeV and m_B > 1.00 (1.01) TeV
L25: respectively. Limits on the production of the vector-like T_5/3-quark are also
L26: derived considering both pair and single production; in the former case the
L27: lower limit on the mass of the T_5/3-quark is (expected to be) 1.19 (1.21)
L28: TeV. The Standard Model four-top-quark production cross-section upper limit is
L29: (expected to be) 69 (29) fb. Constraints are also set on exotic four-top-quark
L30: production models. Finally, limits are set on same-sign top-quark pair
Snapshots live under flavor_catalog/references/<process_id>/. Source-line anchoring is automated; the status pill reflects match confidence, not editorial review.

ATLAS2018:CR002:T53_pair_plus_single_unit_coupling

https://pdg.lbl.gov/encoder_listings/q009.pdf
accessed 2026-05-17 sha 093c2771ed73... snapshot CR002/pdg_encoder_q009_tprime_5over3_2026.txt RESOLVED
value_limit_converted_fallback > 1.6 TeV
RESOLVED
Match snapshot line 38
L35: 3 AABOUD 18CE based on 36.1 fb^-1 of proton-proton data taken at sqrt(s) =
L36: 13 TeV. Events including a same-sign lepton pair are used. The limit is for
L37: the pair-produced vector-like t'. With single t' production included,
L38: assuming t' t W coupling of one, the limit is m_t' > 1.6 TeV.
L39: 
L40: 4 SIRUNYAN 17J based on 2.3 fb^-1 of p p data at sqrt(s) = 13 TeV. Signals
L41: are searched in the final states of t' pair production, with same-sign leptons
Snapshots live under flavor_catalog/references/<process_id>/. Source-line anchoring is automated; the status pill reflects match confidence, not editorial review.

CMS2017:CR002:X53_RH

https://arxiv.org/abs/1705.10967
accessed 2026-05-17 sha 1757a76e808d... snapshot CR002/cms_2017_arxiv1705_10967.txt RESOLVED
display > 1020
RESOLVED
Match snapshot line 26
L23: same-sign leptons or a single lepton, along with jets, are considered. No
L24: significant excess is observed in the data above the expected standard model
L25: background contribution and an X_5/3 quark with right-handed (left-handed)
L26: couplings is excluded at 95% confidence level for masses below 1020 (990) GeV.
L27: These are the first limits based on a combination of the same-sign dilepton and
L28: the single-lepton final states, as well as the most stringent limits on the
L29: X_5/3 mass to date.
Snapshots live under flavor_catalog/references/<process_id>/. Source-line anchoring is automated; the status pill reflects match confidence, not editorial review.

CMS2017:CR002:X53_LH

https://arxiv.org/abs/1705.10967
accessed 2026-05-17 sha 1757a76e808d... snapshot CR002/cms_2017_arxiv1705_10967.txt RESOLVED
display > 990
RESOLVED
Match snapshot line 26
L23: same-sign leptons or a single lepton, along with jets, are considered. No
L24: significant excess is observed in the data above the expected standard model
L25: background contribution and an X_5/3 quark with right-handed (left-handed)
L26: couplings is excluded at 95% confidence level for masses below 1020 (990) GeV.
L27: These are the first limits based on a combination of the same-sign dilepton and
L28: the single-lepton final states, as well as the most stringent limits on the
L29: X_5/3 mass to date.
Snapshots live under flavor_catalog/references/<process_id>/. Source-line anchoring is automated; the status pill reflects match confidence, not editorial review.

CMS2014:CR002:X53_same_sign

https://arxiv.org/abs/1312.2391
accessed 2026-05-17 sha ffdb33839c2b... snapshot CR002/cms_2014_arxiv1312_2391.txt RESOLVED
display > 800
RESOLVED
Match snapshot line 23
L20: corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 19.5 inverse femtobarns and was
L21: collected at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV by the CMS experiment. No significant excess is
L22: observed in the data above the expected background and the existence of
L23: top-quark partners with masses below 800 GeV is excluded at a 95% confidence
L24: level, assuming they decay exclusively to tW. This is the first limit on these
L25: particles from the LHC, and it is significantly more restrictive than previous
L26: limits.
Snapshots live under flavor_catalog/references/<process_id>/. Source-line anchoring is automated; the status pill reflects match confidence, not editorial review.