This thesis presents a neural network search for combined as well as separate s- and t-channel single top-quark production with the CDF II experiment at the Tevatron using 3.2 fb-1 of collision data. It is the twelfth thesis dealing with single top-quark production performed within the CDF Collaboration, whereas three have been done in Run I [53-55] and eight in Run II [23, 25, 28, 39, 56-59].

Fermilab's Tevatron accelerator is recently performing at record luminosities that enables a program systematically addressing the physics of top quarks. The CDF collaboration has analyzed up to 5 fb−1 of proton anti-proton collisions from the Tevatron at a center of mass energy of 1.96 TeV. The large datasets available allow to push top quark measurements to higher and higher precision and have lead to the recent observation of electroweak single top quark production at the Tevatron. This article reviews recent results on top quark physics from the CDF experiment.

Abstract Not Provided.

The standard model of elementary particle physics (SM) predicts, besides the top-quark pair production via the strong interaction, also the electroweak production of single top-quarks [19]. Up to now, the Fermilab Tevatron proton-antiproton-collider is the only place to produce and study top quarks emerging from hadron-hadron-collisions. Top quarks were directly observed in 1995 during the Tevatron Run I at a center-of-mass energy of √s = 1.8 TeV simultaneously by the CDF and D0 Collaborations via the strong production of top-quark pairs. Run II of the Tevatron data taking period started 2001 at √s = 1.96 TeV after a five year upgrade of the Tevatron accelerator complex and of both experiments. One main component of its physics program is the determination of the properties of the top quark including its electroweak production. Even though Run II is still ongoing, the study of the top quark is already a successful endeavor, confirmed by dozens of publications from both Tevatron experiments. A comprehensive review of top-quark physics can be found in reference. The reasons for searching for single top-quark production are compelling. As the electroweak top-quark production proceeds via a Wtb vertex, it provides the unique opportunity of the direct measurement of the CKM matrix element.

In this thesis two searches for electroweak single top quark production with the CDF experiment have been presented, a cutbased search and an iterated discriminant analysis. Both searches find no significant evidence for electroweak single top production using a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 162 pb{sup -1} collected with CDF. Therefore limits on s- and t-channel single top production are determined using a likelihood technique. For the cutbased search a likelihood function based on lepton charge times pseudorapidity of the non-bottom jet was used if exactly one bottom jet was identified in the event. In case of two identified bottom jets a likelihood function based on the total number of observed events was used. The systematic uncertainties have been treated in a Bayesian approach, all sources of systematic uncertainties have been integrated out. An improved signal modeling using the MadEvent Monte Carlo program matched to NLO calculations has been used. The obtained limits for the s- and t-channel single top production cross sections are 13.6 pb and 10.1 pb, respectively. To date, these are most stringent limits published for the s- and the t-channel single top quark production modes.