Top physics during the first LHC runs

At the LHC a large number of top quark pairs are produced and their unique experimental signature allows to select a clean sample already during the initial phase of LHC operation. Not only can the properties of the top quark be determined to a high precision, studying top quark production will also provide a window to new physics. And last but not least, top quark pairs allow to calibrate/understand the ATLAS detector in a complex experimental topology that is characteristic for those predicted by many extensions to the SM.