Searching for an anomalous $\bar t q γ$ coupling via single top quark production at a $γγ$ collider

Abstract

We investigate the potential of a high-energy $γγ$ collider to detect an anomalous $\bar t q γ$ coupling from observation of the reaction $γγ\to t\bar q$, $\bar t q$, where $q=c$ or $u$. We find that with $b$-tagging and suitable kinematic cuts this process should be observable if the anomalous coupling $κ/Λ$ is no less than about 0.05/TeV, where $Λ$ is the scale of new physics associated with the anomalous interaction. This improves upon the bound possible from observation of top decays at the Tevatron.