Search for anomalous tqγ FCNC Couplings in direct single top quark production at the LHC

In this paper we propose and study direct single top quark production channel for probing the tq$\gamma$ flavor-changing neutral current (FCNC) interactions at the LHC. We reinterpret the experimental results of a search for direct single top quark production performed by ATLAS collaboration at 8 TeV to set upper bounds on the FCNC top quark decay branching fractions through the proposed channel, resulting in ${\cal B}$(t$\rightarrow$ u$\gamma$) $<$ 0.05\% and ${\cal B}$(t$\rightarrow$ c$\gamma$) $<$ 0.14\%. Finally, the expected sensitivity at 13 TeV for various integrated luminosity scenarios is estimated.