Search for the production of an excited bottom quark decaying to tW in proton-proton collisions at √s = 8 TeV

A search is presented for a singly produced excited bottom quark (b^∗) decaying to a top quark and a W boson in the all-hadronic, lepton+jets, and dilepton final states in proton-proton collisions at √s = 8 TeV recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. Data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb^-1 are used. No significant excess of events is observed with respect to standard model expectations. We set limits at 95% confidence on the product of the b^∗ quark production cross section and its branching fraction to tW. The cross section limits are interpreted for scenarios including left-handed, right-handed, and vector-like couplings of the b^∗ quark and are presented in the two dimensional coupling plane based on the production and decay coupling constants. The masses of the left-handed, right-handed, and vector-like b^∗ quark states are excluded at 95% condence below 1390, 1430, and 1530 GeV, respectively, for benchmark couplings. This analysis gives the most stringent limits on the mass of the b^∗ quark to date.