Zero and one jet combined next-to-leading order analysis of the top quark forward-backward asymmetry

Abstract

We present an analysis of the forward-backward asymmetry in the production of top quark pairs at the Tevatron collider. We use novel Monte Carlo methods for merging matrix elements and parton showers to combine next-to-leading-order QCD predictions for $t\overline{t}$ and $t\overline{t}+\mathrm{\text{jet}}$ production. Theoretical uncertainties are quantified in detail. We find agreement with experimental data on the transverse-momentum dependence of the asymmetry.