Single-top-quark production at hadron colliders

Single-top-quark production probes the charged-current weak interaction of the top quark, and provides a direct measurement of the CKM matrix element Vtb. We perform two independent analyses to quantify the accuracy with which the W-gluon fusion (gq→t bar bq) and q bar q→t bar b signals can be extracted from the backgrounds at both the Fermilab Tevatron and the CERN LHC. Although perturbation theory breaks down at low transverse momentum for the W-gluon fusion bar b differential cross section, we show how to obtain a reliable cross section integrated over low bar b transverse momenta up to a cutoff. We estimate the accuracy with which Vtb can be measured in both analyses, including theoretical and statistical uncertainties. We also show that the polarization of the top quark in W-gluon fusion can be detected at the Fermilab Tevatron and the CERN LHC. copyright 1998 The American Physical Society