Top quark physics at the LHC

The proton proton collider LHC will operate at square root s=14 TeV center of mass energy which gives rise to a cross section of about 800 pb for the production of tt events. This leads, already for a start-up luminosity of L=10/sup 33/ cm/sup -2/ s/sup -1/, to the huge production rate of 8.10/sup 6/ tt events per year, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 10 fb/sup -1/. Simulations including the CMS detector response show the expected precision in the determination of the top quark mass. Moreover, the measurement of the tt spin correlation and the W boson helicity will allow to test the standard model interactions. Higgs scenarios and rare top decays are also considered. (5 refs)