The production of a single top quark in association with a $\mathrm{ Z}$ boson ($\mathrm{ t}\mathrm{ Z}\mathrm{ j}$ production) at the LHC is a relevant probe of the electroweak sector of the Standard Model as well as a window to possible new-physics effects. The growing experimental interest in performing differential measurements for this process demands an improved theoretical modelling in realistic fiducial regions. In this article we present an NLO-accurate $\mathrm{ t}\mathrm{ Z}\mathrm{ j}$ calculation that includes complete off-shell effects and spin correlations, combining QCD and electroweak radiative corrections to the LO signal. Integrated and differential cross-sections are shown for a fiducial setup characterized by three charged leptons, two jets, and missing energy.
Categories: hep-ph