High pT production of bb[overbar] at LHC and new SU(3)_c bosons

Abstract

We discuss the potential of measurements of σ(pp → bb[overbar]) to constrain new bosonic degrees of freedom at the LHC when p_T ≳ √s/11 TeV for a pseudorapidity cut |η| < 2.4. By suppressing the NLO QCD production of bb[overbar]pairs through simple kinematic constraints we show how to more efficiently exploit CMS’s reach out to 1.5TeV in p_T for B mesons in searches for new physics. Using this technique we investigate the potential for discovery of new massive spin one and spin zero SU(3)_c octet bosons by analyzing their effect on the dσ(pp → bb[overbar])/dp^2_T distribution. In some cases, the tree level contributions are small and the largest effect of new physics on the p_T tail of the distribution is due to one-loop resonant s-channel production or interference effects with the LO standard model production mechanisms qq[overbar], gg → bb[overbar]. We explore this possibility in some detail when the standard model is extended with an (8, 2)_(1/2) scalar motivated by Minimal Flavor Violation.