<b>High Energy-Astrophysics</b><br><i>Observation of single top quark production at the Tevatron</i>

Speaker: Reinhard Schwienhorst (Michigan State University)

After 15 years of searching, the D0 and CDF collaborations at the Fermilab Tevatron have recently observed single top quark production for the first time. Advanced analysis techniques are employed to extract the single top signal out of the large backgrounds. The single top cross section provides a direct measurement of the CKM matrix element Vtb and is sensitive to many models of new physics. Professor Schwienhorst will present the exciting new results with a focus on the D0 analysis. Professor Schwienhorst will also present single top prospects for the LHC.