Five-flavour scheme predictions for $$t\bar{t}b\bar{b}$$ t t ¯ b b ¯ at next-to-leading order accuracy

Abstract

Abstract We compute top quark pair production in association with a bottom quark pair at the LHC within the five-flavour scheme, matched to a parton shower, employing the FxFx merging scheme for $$t\bar{t}+\text {jets}$$ t t ¯ + jets production with up to 2 jets at NLO accuracy. To enhance the selection efficiency for the events with b-jets within the inclusive five-flavour sample, we augment the generation probability of bottom quark flavours in the short-distance event generation. Our analysis reveals some differences from NLO predictions within the four-flavour scheme.