Measurements of top quark cross-section using the ATLAS detector at the LHC

The long-established RHUL ATLAS group is renowned for its expertise in physics (Higgs, top quark and exotic signatures involving electrons), statistical methods as well as trigger and data acquisition systems. The group is also heavily involved in the upcoming upgrades of the detector in view of the High-Luminosity running of the LHC.

The successful candidate will make use of the Run 2 dataset at the LHC (13 TeV collisions) to perform measurements of the top quark cross-section. The top quark is the heaviest particle discovered so far and as such has a special relationship with the Higgs boson. Top quarks are also involved in many signatures of new and yet to be discovered particle physics models. In particular, differential measurements of the top quark pair production at the LHC provide crucial tests of QCD calculations, as well as probe kinematic regions for signs of physics beyond the standard model, which may evade direct model-dependent searches.

In addition, PhD students in the RHUL ATLAS group contribute to the development of the ATLAS trigger system, as well as to the operation of the ATLAS detector at CERN.