The $t{W}^{-}$ mode of single top quark production is proposed as an important means to study the weak interactions of the top quark. While the rate of this mode is most likely too small to be observed at run II of the Fermilab Tevatron, it is expected to be considerably larger at the CERN LHC. In this article the inclusive $t{W}^{-}$ rate is computed, including $\mathcal{O}(1/\log m_t^2{/m}_b^2)$ corrections, and when combined with detailed Monte Carlo simulations, including the top quark and W decay products, indicates that the $t{W}^{-}$ single top quark process may be extracted from the considerable $t\overline{t}$ and $W^{+}{W}^{-}j$ backgrounds at low luminosity runs of the LHC.

• Received 15 September 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.61.034001