Electroweak production of the top quark is measured for the first time in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7\mathrm{TeV}$, using a data set collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $36{\mathrm{pb}}^{-1}$. With an event selection optimized for $t$-channel production, two complementary analyses are performed. The first one exploits the special angular properties of the signal, together with background estimates from the data. The second approach uses a multivariate analysis technique to probe the compatibility with signal topology expected from electroweak top-quark production. The combined measurement of the cross section is $83.6\pm 29.8(\mathrm{stat}+\mathrm{syst})\pm 3.3(\mathrm{lumi})\mathrm{pb}$, consistent with the standard model expectation.

• Received 16 June 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.091802

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© 2011 CERN, for the CMS Collaboration