Showing papers on "Parton published in 2003"

QCD and Collider Physics

Abstract: One of the triumphs of modern particle physics has been the extent to which Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) has successfully accounted for the strong interaction processes observed at high-energy particle colliders, for example the production of heavy quarks and jets of particles, and the short-distance parton structure of the proton. This book gives a detailed overview of collider physics with special emphasis on the study of QCD. After a general description of the QCD Lagrangian, and the properties of asymptotic freedom and colour confinement which derive from it, the most important applications at high-energy colliders are described in detail. These include the production of jets, heavy quarks, electroweak gauge bosons and Higgs bosons. The various methods of measuring the strong coupling constant are summarised. Many of the theoretical results are calculated from first principles, and the book will be both a textbook and a valuable source of reference material for all particle physicists.

Hadronization in Heavy-Ion Collisions: Recombination and Fragmentation of Partons

Abstract: We argue that the emission of hadrons with transverse momentum up to about 5 GeV/c in central relativistic heavy ion collisions is dominated by recombination, rather than fragmentation of partons. This mechanism provides a natural explanation for the observed constant baryon-to-meson ratio of about one and the apparent lack of a nuclear suppression of the baryon yield in this momentum range. Fragmentation becomes dominant at higher transverse momentum, but the transition point is delayed by the energy loss of fast partons in dense matter.

Soft-gluon resummation for Higgs boson production at hadron colliders

Abstract: We consider QCD corrections to Higgs boson production through gluon-gluon fusion in hadron collisions. We compute the cross section, performing the all-order resummation of multiple soft-gluon emission at next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic level. Known fixed-order results (up to next-to-next-to-leading order) are consistently included in our calculation. We give phenomenological predictions for Higgs boson production at the Tevatron and at the LHC. We estimate the residual theoretical uncertainty from perturbative QCD contributions. We also quantify the differences obtained by using the presently available sets of parton distributions.

Next-to-leading order calculation of three-jet observables in hadron-hadron collision

Abstract: The production of three jets in hadron-hadron collisions is the first complex process which allows us to define a branch of variables in order to make more precise measurements of the strong coupling and the parton distribution function of the proton. This process is also suitable for studying the geometrical properties of the hadronic final state at hadron colliders. This requires a next-to-leading order prediction of the three-jet observables. In this paper we describe the theoretical formalism of such a calculation with sufficient detail. We use the dipole method to construct a Monte Carlo program for calculating three-jet observables at next-to-leading order accuracy. We present a theoretical prediction for inclusive and exclusive cross sections and for some relevant event shape variables such as the transverse thrust, transverse jet broadening, and ${E}_{t3}$ variable.

Parton coalescence and the antiproton/pion anomaly at RHIC

Abstract: Coalescence of minijet partons with partons from the quark-gluon plasma formed in relativistic heavy ion collisions is suggested as the mechanism for production of hadrons with intermediate transverse momentum. The resulting enhanced antiproton and pion yields at intermediate transverse momenta give a plausible explanation for the observed large antiproton to pion ratio. With further increasing momentum, the ratio is predicted to decrease and approach the small value given by independent fragmentations of minijet partons after their energy loss in the quark-gluon plasma.

Deep Inelastic Scattering and Gauge/String Duality

Abstract: We study deep inelastic scattering in gauge theories which have dual string descriptions. As a function of gN we find a transition. For small gN, the dominant operators in the OPE are the usual ones, of approximate twist two, corresponding to scattering from weakly interacting partons. For large gN, double-trace operators dominate, corresponding to scattering from entire hadrons (either the original `valence' hadron or part of a hadron cloud.) At large gN we calculate the structure functions. As a function of Bjorken x there are three regimes: x of order one, where the scattering produces only supergravity states; x small, where excited strings are produced; and, x exponentially small, where the excited strings are comparable in size to the AdS space. The last regime requires in principle a full string calculation in curved spacetime, but the effect of string growth can be simply obtained from the world-sheet renormalization group.

Hadron production in heavy ion collisions: Fragmentation and recombination from a dense parton phase

Abstract: We discuss hadron production in heavy ion collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) We argue that hadrons at transverse momenta ${P}_{T}l5\phantom{\rule{03em}{0ex}}\text{GeV}$ are formed by recombination of partons from the dense parton phase created in central collisions at RHIC We provide a theoretical description of the recombination process for ${P}_{T}g2\phantom{\rule{03em}{0ex}}\text{GeV}$ Below ${P}_{T}=2\phantom{\rule{03em}{0ex}}\text{GeV}$ our results smoothly match a purely statistical description At high transverse momentum hadron production is well described in the language of perturbative QCD by the fragmentation of partons We give numerical results for a variety of hadron spectra, ratios, and nuclear suppression factors We also discuss the anisotropic flow ${v}_{2}$ and give results based on a flow in the parton phase Our results are consistent with the existence of a parton phase at RHIC hadronizing at a temperature of $175\phantom{\rule{03em}{0ex}}\text{MeV}$ and a radial flow velocity of $055c$

NNLO corrections to the total cross section for Higgs boson production in hadron-hadron collisions

Abstract: We present the next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) corrections to the total cross section for (pseudo-) scalar Higgs boson production using an alternative method than those used in previous calculations. All QCD partonic subprocesses have been included and the computation is carried out in the effective Lagrangian approach which emerges from the standard model by taking the limit $m_t \to \infty$ where $m_t$ denotes the mass of the top quark. Our results agree with those published earlier in the literature. We estimate the theoretical uncertainties by comparing the $K$-factors and the variation with respect to the mass factorization/renormalization scales with the results obtained by lower order calculations. We also investigate the dependence of the cross section on several parton density sets provided by different groups. Further we study which part of the coefficient functions dominates the cross section. This is of interest for the resummation of large corrections which occur near the boundary of phase space. It turns out that depending on the definition of the total cross section the latter is dominated by the the soft-plus-virtual gluon corrections represented by $\delta(1-x)$ and $(\ln^i(1-x)/(1-x))_+$ terms. PACS numbers: 12.38.-t, 12.38.Bx, 13.85.-t, 14.80.Gt.

The Color glass condensate and high-energy scattering in QCD

Abstract: At very high energies or small values of Bjorken x, the density of partons, per unit transverse area, in hadronic wavefunctions becomes very large leading to a saturation of partonic distributions. When the scale corresponding to the density per unit transverse area, the saturation scale Q_s, becomes large (Q_s\gg \Lambda_{QCD}), the coupling constant becomes weak (\alpha_S(Q_s)\ll 1) which suggests that the high energy limit of QCD may be studied using weak coupling techniques. This simple idea can be formalized in an effective theory, the Color Glass Condensate (CGC), which describes the behavior of the small x components of the hadronic wavefunction in QCD. The Green functions of the theory satisfy Wilsonian renormalization group equations which reduce to the standard linear QCD evolution equations in the limit of low parton densities. The effective theory has a rich structure that has been explored using analytical and numerical techniques. The CGC can be applied to study a wide range of high energy scattering experiments from Deep Inelastic Scattering at HERA and the proposed Electron Ion Collider (EIC) to proton/deuterium-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus experiments at the RHIC and LHC colliders.

Impact parameter space interpretation for generalized parton distributions

Abstract: The Fourier transform of generalized parton distribution functions at ξ = 0 describes the distribution of partons in the transverse plane. The physical significance of these impact parameter dependent parton distribution functions is discussed. In particular, it is shown that they satisfy positivity constraints which justify their physical interpretation as a probability density. The generalized parton distribution H is related to impact parameter distribution of unpolarized quarks for an unpolarized nucleon, $\tilde{H}$ is related to the distribution of longitudinally polarized quarks in a longitudinally polarized nucleon, and E is related to the distortion of the unpolarized quark distribution in the transverse plane when the nucleon has transverse polarization. The magnitude of the resulting transverse flavor dipole moment can be related to the anomalous magnetic moment for that flavor in a model independent way.

Inclusive Jet Production,Parton D istributions, and the Search for N ew Physics

Abstract: Jet production at the Tevatron probes some of the smallest distance scales currently accessible. A gluon distribution that is enhanced at large x compared to previous determinations provides a better description of the Run 1b jet data from both CDF and D?. However, considerable uncertainty still remains regarding the gluon distribution at high x. In this paper, we examine the effects of this uncertainty, and of the remaining uncertainties in the NLO QCD theory, on jet cross section comparisons to Run 1b data. We also calculate the range of contributions still possible from any new physics. Predictions are also made for the expanded kinematic range expected for the ongoing Run 2 at the Tevatron and for the LHC.

Uncertainties of predictions from parton distributions I : experimental errors.

Abstract: We determine the uncertainties on observables arising from the errors on the experimental data that are fitted in the global MRST2001 parton analysis. By diagonalizing the error matrix we produce sets of partons suitable for use within the framework of linear propagation of errors, which is the most convenient method for calculating the uncertainties. Despite the potential limitations of this approach we find that it can be made to work well in practice. This is confirmed by our alternative approach of using the more rigorous Lagrange multiplier method to determine the errors on physical quantities directly. As particular examples we determine the uncertainties on the predictions of the charged-current deep-inelastic structure functions, on the cross-sections for W production and for Higgs boson production via gluon-gluon fusion at the Tevatron and the LHC, on the ratio of W- to W+ production at the LHC and on the moments of the non-singlet quark distributions. We discuss the corresponding uncertainties on the parton distributions in the relevant x,Q2 domains. Finally, we briefly look at uncertainties related to the fit procedure, stressing their importance and using $\sigma_W$ , $\sigma_H$ and extractions of $\alpha_S(M_Z^2)$ as examples. As a by-product of this last point we present a slightly updated set of parton distributions, MRST2002.

Next-to-leading order jet distributions for Higgs boson production via weak-boson fusion

Abstract: The weak-boson fusion process is expected to provide crucial information on Higgs boson couplings at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. The achievable statistical accuracy demands comparison with next-to-leading order QCD calculations, which are presented here in the form of a fully flexible parton Monte Carlo program. QCD corrections are determined for jet distributions and are shown to be modest, of the order of 5%--10% in most cases, but reaching 30% occasionally. Remaining scale uncertainties range from the order of 5% or less for distributions to below $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2%$ for the Higgs boson cross section in typical weak-boson fusion search regions.

Parton coalescence at RHIC

Abstract: Using a covariant coalescence model, we study hadron production in relativistic heavy ion collisions from both soft partons in the quark-gluon plasma and hard partons in minijets. Including transverse flow of soft partons and independent fragmentation of minijet partons, the model is able to describe available experimental data on pion, kaon, and antiproton spectra. The resulting antiproton to pion ratio is seen to increase at low transverse momenta and reaches a value of about one at intermediate transverse momenta, as observed in experimental data at RHIC. A similar dependence of the antikaon to pion ratio on transverse momentum is obtained, but it reaches a smaller value at intermediate transverse momenta. At high transverse momenta, the model predicts that both the antiproton to pion and the antikaon to pion ratio decrease and approach those given by the perturbative QCD. Both collective flow effect and coalescence of minijet partons with partons in the quark-gluon plasma affect significantly the spectra of hadrons with intermediate transverse momenta. Elliptic flows of protons, Lambdas, and Omegas have also been evaluated from partons with elliptic flows extracted from fitting measured pion and kaon elliptic flows, and they are found to be consistent with available experimental data.

New formalism for QCD parton showers

Abstract: We present a new formalism for parton shower simulation of QCD jets, which incorporates the following features: covariant kinematics, improved treatment of heavy quark fragmentation, angular-ordered evolution with soft gluon coherence, more accurate soft gluon angular distributions, and better coverage of phase space. It is implemented in the new Herwig++ event generator.

Measurement and QCD analysis of neutral and charged current cross-sections at HERA

Abstract: The inclusive e(+)p single and double differential cross sections for neutral and charged current processes axe measured with the H1 detector at HERA. The data were taken in 1999 and 2000 at a centre-of-mass energy of roots = 319 GeV and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 65.2 pb(-1). The cross sections are measured in the range of four-momentum transfer squared Q(2) between 100 and 30 000 GeV2 and Bjorken x between 0.0013 and 0.65. The neutral current analysis for the new e(+)p data and the earlier e-p data taken in 1998 and 1999 is extended to small energies of the scattered electron and therefore to higher values of inelasticity y, allowing a determination of the longitudinal structure function F-L at high Q(2) (110 - 700 GeV2). A new measurement of the structure function x (F) over tilde (3) is obtained using the new e(+)p and previously published e p neutral current cross section data at high Q(2). These data together with H1 low Q(2) precision data are further used to perform new next-to-leading order QCD analyses in the framework of the Standard Model to extract flavour separated parton distributions in the proton.

ZEUS next-to-leading-order QCD analysis of data on deep inelastic scattering

Abstract: Next-to-leading-order QCD analyses of the ZEUS data on deep inelastic scattering together with fixed-target data have been performed, from which the gluon and quark densities of the proton and the value of the strong coupling constant alpha(s)(M-Z) were extracted. The study includes a full treatment of the experimental systematic uncertainties including point-to-point correlations. The resulting uncertainties in the parton density functions are presented. A combined fit for alpha(s)(M-Z) and the gluon and quark densities yields a value for alpha(s)(M-Z) in agreement with the world average. The parton density functions derived from ZEUS data alone indicate the importance of HERA data in determining the sea quark and gluon distributions at low x. The limits of applicability of the theoretical formalism have been explored by comparing the fit predictions to ZEUS data at very low Q(2).

Unintegrated parton distributions and inclusive jet productionat HERA

Abstract: We describe how unintegrated parton distributions can be calculated from conventional integrated distributions. We extend and improve the “last-step” evolution approach, and explain why doubly unintegrated parton distributions are necessary. We generalise k t-factorisation to (z,k t)-factorisation. We apply the formalism to inclusive jet production in deep-inelastic scattering, mainly at leading order, but we also study the extension to next-to-leading order. We compare the predictions with recent HERA data.

Viewing the proton through 'color' filters

Abstract: While the form factors and parton distributions provide separately the shape of the proton in coordinate and momentum spaces, a more powerful imaging of the proton structure can be obtained through phase-space distributions. Here we introduce the Wigner-type quark and gluon distributions which depict a full-3D proton at every fixed light-cone momentum, like what is seen through momentum ("color") filters. After appropriate phase-space reductions, the Wigner distributions are related to the generalized parton distributions (GPDs) and transverse-momentum dependent parton distributions, which are measurable in high-energy experiments. The new interpretation of GPDs provides a classical way to visualize the orbital motion of the quarks, which is known to be the key to the spin and magnetic moment of the proton.

Moments of nucleon generalized parton distributions in lattice QCD

Abstract: Calculation of the moments of generalized parton distributions in lattice QCD requires more powerful techniques than those previously used to calculate the moments of structure functions. Hence, we present a novel approach that exploits the full information content from a given lattice configuration by measuring an overdetermined set of lattice observables to provide maximal statistical constraints on the generalized form factors at a given virtuality t. In an exploratory investigation using unquenched QCD configurations at intermediate sea quark masses, we demonstrate that our new technique is superior to conventional methods and leads to reliable numerical signals for the $n=2$ flavor singlet generalized form factors up to $3{\mathrm{GeV}}^{2}.$ The contribution from connected diagrams in the flavor singlet sector to the total quark angular momentum is measured to an accuracy of the order of 1%.

Uncertainties of predictions from parton distributions. I: Theoretical errors

Abstract: We study the uncertainties in parton distributions, determined in global fits to deep inelastic and related hard scattering data, due to so-called theoretical errors. Amongst these, we include potential errors due to the change of perturbative order (NLO to NNLO), ln(1/x) and ln(1-x) effects, absorptive corrections and higher-twist contributions. We investigate these uncertainties both by including explicit corrections to our standard global analysis and by examining the sensitivity to changes of the x,Q^2,W^2 cuts on the data that are fitted. In this way we expose those kinematic regions where the conventional DGLAP description is inadequate. As a consequence we obtain a set of NLO, and of NNLO, conservative partons where the data are fully consistent with DGLAP evolution, but over a restricted kinematic domain. We also examine the potential effects of such issues as the choice of input parameterization, heavy target corrections, assumptions about the strange quark sea and isospin violation. Hence we are able to compare the theoretical errors with those uncertainties due to errors on the experimental measurements, which we studied previously. We use W and Higgs boson production at the Tevatron and the LHC as explicit examples of the uncertainties arising from parton distributions. For many observables the theoretical error is dominant, but for the cross section for W production at the Tevatron both the theoretical and experimental uncertainties are small, and hence the NNLO prediction may serve as a valuable luminosity monitor.

Generalized Parton Distributions

Abstract: We give an overview of the theory for generalized parton distributions. Topics covered are their general properties and physical interpretation, the possibility to explore the three-dimensional structure of hadrons at parton level, their potential to unravel the spin structure of the nucleon, their role in small-x physics, and efforts to model their dynamics. We review our understanding of the reactions where generalized parton distributions occur, to leading power accuracy and beyond, and present strategies for phenomenological analysis. We emphasize the close connection between generalized parton distributions and generalized distribution amplitudes, whose properties and physics we also present. We finally discuss the use of these quantities for describing soft contributions to exclusive processes at large energy and momentum transfer.

The t-tbar cross-section at 1.8 and 1.96 TeV: a study of the systematics due to parton densities and scale dependence

Abstract: We update the theoretical predictions for the t-tbar production cross-section at the Tevatron, taking into account the most recent determinations of systematic uncertainties in the extraction of the proton parton densities.

CHARYBDIS: a black hole event generator

Abstract: CHARYBDIS is an event generator which simulates the production and decay of miniature black holes at hadronic colliders as might be possible in certain extra dimension models. It interfaces via the Les Houches accord to general purpose Monte Carlo programs like HERWIG and PYTHIA which then perform the parton evolution and hadronization. The event generator includes the extra-dimensional `grey-body' effects as well as the change in the temperature of the black hole as the decay progresses. Various options for modelling the Planck-scale terminal decay are provided.

What exactly is a parton density

Abstract: I give an account of the definitions of parton densities, both the conventional ones, integrated over parton transverse momentum, and unintegrated transverse-momentum-dependent densities. The aim is to get a precise and correct definition of a parton density as the target expectation value of a suitable quantum mechanical operator, so that a clear connection to non-perturbative QCD is provided. Starting from the intuitive ideas in the parton model that predate QCD, we will see how the simplest operator definitions suffer from divergences. Corrections to the definition are needed to eliminate the divergences. An improved definition of unintegrated parton densities is proposed.

Unintegrated parton distributions and inclusive jet production at HERA

Abstract: We describe how unintegrated parton distributions can be calculated from conventional integrated distributions. We extend and improve the 'last-step' evolution approach, and explain why doubly-unintegrated parton distributions are necessary. We generalise k_t-factorisation to (z,k_t)-factorisation. We apply the formalism to inclusive jet production in deep-inelastic scattering, mainly at leading-order, but we also study the extension to next-to-leading order. We compare the predictions with recent HERA data.