CP violation in top physics

CP violation in top physics is reviewed. The standard model has negligible effects, consequently CP violation searches involving the top quark may con stitute the best way to look for physics beyond the standard model. Non-sta ndard sources of CP violation due to an extended Higgs sector with and with out natural flavor conservation and supersymmetric theories are discussed. Experimental feasibility of detecting CP violation effects in top quark pro duction and decays in high energy e(+)e(-), gamma gamma, mu (+)mu (-), pp a nd p (p) over barp colliders are surveyed. Searches for the electric. elect ro-weak and the chrome-electric dipole moments of the top quark in e(+)e(-) --> t (t) over bar and in pp <-- t (t) over barX are described. In additio n, other mechanisms that appear promising for experiments, e.g., tree-level CP violation in e(+)e(-) --> t (t) over barh, t (t) over barZ, t (t) over bar nu (e)<(<nu>)over bar>(e) and in the top decay t --> b tau nu (tau) and CP violation driven by s-channel Higgs exchanges in pp,gamma gamma,mu (+)m u (-) --> t (t) over bar, etc. are also discussed. (C) 2001 Published by El sevier Science B.V.