Searching for vectorlike $T$ quarks in the $T\to tZ$ channel at a future muon-proton collider
We investigate the discovery potential of a singly produced vector-like top quark $T$ via the $T\to tZ$ decay channel at future muon-proton ($\mu p$) colliders, considering three benchmark center-of-mass energies: $\sqrt{s}=5.29$, $6.48$, and $9.16$~TeV. The baseline signal final state consists of a semileptonic top decay $t\to bW\to b\ell\nu$ and a hadronic $Z\to q\bar{q}$ decay, where the collimated quark pair from the $Z$ boson is reconstructed as a single large-radius fat jet $J$. Full detector-level Monte Carlo simulations are performed for both the signal process and the dominant Standard Model backgrounds. We derive the $5\sigma$ discovery contours and the $95\%$ confidence level exclusion limits in the two-dimensional parameter space spanned by the VLQ mass $m_T$ and the effective coupling $g^*$. A comparison with the $T\to Wb$ channel and with searches at other collider facilities reveals that the $T\to tZ$ decay mode provides complementary sensitivity and offers unique advantages for probing high-mass vector-like $T$ quarks in the boosted jet topology. Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI. Article funded by SCOAP3 and published under licence by Chinese Physical Society and the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Science and the Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and IOP Publishing Ltd.