GLYPH<A1> GLYPH<CV> GLYPH<CQ> GLYPH<AM> GLYPH<D8> GLYPH<D8> GLYPH<D8> GLYPH<CF> GLYPH<A1> GLYPH<CF> GLYPH<CF> GLYPH<CI> GLYPH<D9> GLYPH<CQ> GLYPH<CS> GLYPH<AM> GLYPH<D8> GLYPH<D8> GLYPH<D8> GLYPH<A1> GLYPH<CS> GLYPH<CF> GLYPH<CV> GLYPH<D9> GLYPH<CS> GLYPH<AM> GLYPH<CQ> GLYPH<D8> GLYPH<D8> GLYPH<AM> GLYPH<D8> (b) (a) (c) FIG. 1: Leading diagrams contributing to SM triple-top production at the LHC with √ s = 14 TeV corresponding to (a) 3 t + W ± (b) 3 t + jets (c) 3 t + b . The total number of unique diagrams (not summing over quark flavors or distinguishing between order of initial state partons) contributing to each process are (a) 236 (b) 144 and (c) 72. All of these are included in our calculations. vertex in every diagram and often involves a b -quark in the initial state of the hard process, both of which result in a significant suppression compared to the strong processes. Table I compares the total LO cross sections for 1,2,3, and 4 top production for the three center-of- mass energies. Figure 2 plots this information while summing over all possible channels and, in the case of single- and triple-tops, the contributions from both t / ¯ t and tt ¯ t / t ¯ t , respectively. At the design LHC energy of √ s = 14 TeV, the triple-top cross section, with σ = 1 . 9 fb, is five orders of magnitude less than that of top-pair production, the dominant mode of top creation at the LHC. This relatively low SM production is precisely what makes three tops an interesting channel for investigating new physics, as there may be possibilities for notable enhancements above the SM. 3