SearcharxivSearch

arXiv · 2101.11808

Top-quark pair production in association with a $W^\pm$ gauge boson in the POWHEG-BOX

Abstract

We present a new Monte Carlo event generator for the production of a top-quark pair in association with a $W^\pm$ boson at hadron colliders in the POWHEG-BOX framework. We consider the next-to-leading-order QCD corrections to the $pp\to t\bar{t} W^\pm$ cross section, corresponding to the $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s^3\alpha)$ and $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s\alpha^3)$ terms in the perturbative expansion of the parton-level cross section, and model the decays of $W$ and top quarks at leading order retaining spin correlations. The fixed-order QCD calculation is further interfaced with the Pythia8 parton-shower event generator via the POWHEG method as implemented in the POWHEG-BOX. The corresponding code is now part of the public repository of the POWHEG-BOX. We perform a comparison of different event generators for both the case of inclusive production and the case of the two same-sign leptons signature at the Large Hadron Collider operating at a center-of-mass energy of $13$ TeV. We investigate theoretical uncertainties in the modelling of the fiducial volume stemming from missing higher-order corrections, the different parton shower matching schemes, and the modelling of decays. We find that the subleading contribution at $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s\alpha^3)$ is particularly sensitive to differences in the matching scheme and higher-order parton shower effects. We observe that in particular jet observables can differ quite visibly although these differences play only a subordinate role in the description of physical observables once all contributions are combined.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

BibTeXRIS

F. Febres Cordero, M. Kraus, L. Reina. 2021-01-28. Top-quark pair production in association with a $W^\pm$ gauge boson in the POWHEG-BOX. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.103.094014

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Axionic Wormholes in Metric-Affine Gravity

The axion is a promising candidate for solving the strong CP problem. To solve this problem, the global U(1) symmetry must be preserved to a high degree of accuracy. However, it is well known that global symmetries are explicitly violated by quantum gravity effects, giving rise to what is referred to as the axion quality problem. In this paper, we investigate axionic wormholes as a source of explicit U(1) violation in Metric-Affine Gravity. This framework allows for spacetime torsion and non-metricity, which accommodate additional curvature-like and topological terms, such as the Holst and Nieh--Yan terms, that are absent from the metric and Palatini formalisms. We show that non-minimal couplings to these terms modify the wormhole dynamics and enhance the Euclidean wormhole action, thereby alleviating the axion quality problem. We also find that the viable parameter space is enlarged when two of these couplings are simultaneously present. We further identify representative parameter regions where the alleviation of the axion quality problem is compatible with inflationary constraints.

hep-ph

Qubit-Qutrit Quantum Tomography of hadronic $\Lambda\phi$ and $\Lambda K^{\ast 0}$ systems

Quantum-information observables have emerged in recent years as new tools in nuclear and particle physics, from entanglement in top-quark pairs to spin correlations in $\Lambda\bar{\Lambda}$ production. Extending these studies to unequal-spin hadronic final states poses a fundamental challenge: the $6\times6$ density matrix of a qubit-qutrit system contains 35 independent spin parameters, but the decays of $\Lambda V$ pairs, with $V=\phi$ or $K^{*0}$, provide access to only 23 due to the hidden vector polarization from the strong decay. In this Letter, we formulate a qubit-qutrit quantum tomography (QQQT) technique for these spin-$\tfrac{1}{2}\otimes1$ systems and establish exact criteria for entanglement certification from the \textit{incomplete} density matrix. Compared with the $\Lambda\bar{\Lambda}$ system, QQQT of $\Lambda\phi$ and $\Lambda K^{*0}$ provides a new probe of nonperturbative QCD hadronization, enabling a direct comparison of the spin evolution of entangled quark pairs produced from the vacuum as they hadronize into a baryon or a vector meson.

hep-ph

Twist decomposition of exclusive heavy meson production cross sections

We study the twist decomposition of the total cross sections for exclusive heavy vector meson electroproduction and photoproduction in the $\gamma^\ast p$ processes, within the leading logarithmic $1/x$ BFKL formalism. The Mellin transforms of the impact factors of the vector meson are calculated. We show that the higher twist contributions are strongly suppressed in the low-$x$ kinematical regime. Possible enhancement of the higher twists effects for nuclei targets is discussed.

hep-ph