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Anna Kulesza

Publications and source records attributed to Anna Kulesza.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

State-of-the-art cross sections for $t\bar{t}H$: NNLO+NNLL+EW predictions

The most precise theoretical predictions for the total cross section for the associated production of a Higgs boson with a top-antitop quark pair at the LHC, first presented in \cite{Balsach:2025tth}, are reported. The calculation combines NNLO QCD corrections that include an approximation of the two-loop virtual contribution, with soft-gluon resummation at NNLL accuracy in two independent frameworks (SCET and direct QCD), and complete NLO electroweak corrections.

hep-ph

Higher-spin effects in black hole and neutron star binary dynamics: worldline supersymmetry beyond minimal coupling

The inclusion of spin effects in the binary dynamics for black hole and neutron stars is crucial for the computation of gravitational wave observables. Worldline supersymmetric models have shown to be particularly efficient at this task up to quadratic order in spin, but progress at higher orders has been hampered by no-go-theorems. In this work we propose a novel approach to overcome this problem by extending the supersymmetry beyond minimal coupling. We demonstrate the potential of this approach by computing an all-order in spin and linear in curvature, manifestly supersymmetric Hamiltonian, as well as a cubic order in spin Hamiltonian in arbitrary spacetime dimensions. In doing so, we identify a criterion that uniquely determines the Kerr geometry in terms of worldline supersymmetry. Equipped with these Hamiltonians, we demonstrate the exponentiation of three-point and Compton amplitudes using the recently proposed Generalized Wilson line approach.

hep-th

Invariant-mass threshold resummation for the production of four top quarks at the LHC

Using invariant-mass threshold resummation, we compute the invariant-mass distribution and the total cross section for $t\bar{t}t\bar{t}$ production at the LHC with centre-of-mass energy of 13.6 TeV at NLL' accuracy. This accuracy includes next-to-leading logarithmic contributions together with relative $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s)$ non-logarithmic terms present in the threshold limit. We match the NLL' results to NLO in QCD and to complete NLO with electroweak corrections. We find that the inclusion of NLL' soft-gluon corrections significantly reduces the size of the theoretical uncertainties and greatly improves the convergence of the predictions when considering various choices of renormalisation and factorisation scales.

hep-ph

State-of-the-art cross sections for ttH: NNLO predictions matched with NNLL resummation and EW corrections

We present new, state-of-the-art predictions for the associated production of the SM Higgs boson with top quarks, computed in accordance with the recommendations of the LHC Higgs Working Group. The NNLO QCD predictions, derived through suitable approximations of the two-loop virtual contribution, are supplemented with soft-gluon resummation up to NNLL accuracy. Two distinct resummation frameworks are employed - one based on direct QCD and the other on soft-collinear effective theory - and their features are compared in detail. These results are further combined with the complete-NLO corrections, yielding the most precise SM predictions for this process to date. The relevant sources of theoretical uncertainties are thoroughly estimated and discussed.

hep-ph

Generalized Wilson lines and the gravitational scattering of spinning bodies

A generalization of Wilson line operators at subleading power in the soft expansion has been recently introduced as an efficient building block of gravitational scattering amplitudes for non-spinning objects. The classical limit in this picture corresponds to the strict Regge limit, where the Post-Minkowskian (PM) expansion corresponds to the soft expansion, interpreted as a sum over correlations of soft emissions. Building on the well-studied worldline model with ${\cal N}=1$ supersymmetry, in this work we extend the generalized Wilson line (GWL) approach to the case of spinning gravitating bodies. Specifically, at the quantum level we derive from first-principles a representation for the spin $1/2$ GWL that is relevant for the all-order factorization of next-to-soft gravitons with fermionic matter, thus generalizing the exponentiation of single-emission next-to-soft theorems. At the classical level, we identity the suitable generalization of Wilson line operators that enables the generation of classical spin observables at linear order in spin. Thanks to the crucial role played by the soft expansion, the map from Grassmann variables to classical spin is manifest. We also comment on the relation between the GWL approach and the Worldline Quantum Field Theory as well as the Heavy Mass Effective Theory formalism. We validate the approach by rederiving known results in the conservative sector at 2PM order.

hep-th

Squark production with R-symmetry beyond NLO at the LHC

The Minimal R-symmetric Supersymmetric Standard Model (MRSSM) provides a realisation of supersymmetry in which the parameter space is less constrained by the current LHC data than in the simplest supersymmetric scenarios. In the present paper, we obtain the most precise theoretical predictions in the MRSSM for squark production at the LHC, enabling accurate interpretations of LHC data in terms of the MRSSM. We perform threshold resummation of soft gluon corrections to the total cross sections for the production of squark-(anti)squark pairs at the LHC in the MRSSM framework. The resummation is carried out using the direct QCD method and reaches the next-to-next-to-leading-logarithmic (NNLL) accuracy, which requires calculating the one-loop matching coefficients in the relevant production channels. The resummed cross sections are then matched to the available NLO results and evaluated for $\sqrt{S}=13.6$ TeV. Compared with the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), the cross sections in the MRSSM can be significantly reduced, implying less stringent limits on squark and gluino masses. Our results carry significant implications for exploring the viability of supersymmetry at the LHC. The results of our calculation are publicly available as a numerical package.

hep-ph

NNLL-fast 2.0: Coloured Sparticle Production at the LHC Run 3 with $\sqrt{S}$ = 13.6 TeV

We report on updated precision predictions for total cross sections of coloured supersymmetric particle production at the LHC with a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt S$ = 13.6 TeV, computed with the modern PDF4LHC21 set. The cross sections are calculated at an approximated NNLO accuracy in QCD and contain corrections from the threshold resummation of soft-gluon emission up to NNLL accuracy as well as Coulomb-gluon contributions including bound-state terms. The corrections are found to increase the cross sections and reduce the theoretical uncertainty as compared to the best available fixed-order calculations. These predictions constitute the state-of-the-art calculations and update the existing results for $\sqrt S$ = 13 TeV. We make our new results publicly available in the version 2.0 update to the code package NNLL-fast.

hep-ph

The emission of soft-photons and the LBK theorem, revisited

Predictions for processes involving soft photons, up to next-to-leading power (NLP) in the photon energy, can be obtained using the Low-Burnett-Kroll (LBK) theorem. The consistency of the theorem has been a recent topic of investigation since it is traditionally formulated in terms of a non-radiative amplitude, which is evaluated with unphysical momenta. We address such questions and propose a formulation of the LBK theorem which relies on the evaluation of the non-radiative amplitude with on-shell, physical momenta. We use this form to numerically study the impact of NLP contributions to cross-sections for $pp$ and $e^-e^+$ processes involving soft-photon emission.

hep-ph

Soft-photon spectra and the LBK theorem

The study of next-to-leading-power (NLP) corrections in soft emissions continues to attract interest both in QCD and in QED. Soft-photon spectra in particular provide a clean case-study for the experimental verification of the Low-Burnett-Kroll (LBK) theorem. In this paper we study the consistency of the LBK theorem in the context of an ambiguity arising from momentum-conservation constraints in the computation of non-radiative amplitudes. We clarify that this ambiguity leads to various possible formulations of the LBK theorem, which are all equivalent up to power-suppressed effects (i.e. beyond the formal accuracy of the LBK theorem). We also propose a new formulation of the LBK theorem with a modified shifted kinematics which facilitates the numerical computation of non-radiative amplitudes with publicly available tools. Furthermore, we present numerical results for soft-photon spectra in the associated production of a muon pair with a photon, both in $e^+e^-$ annihilation and proton-proton collisions.

hep-ph

Soft photon bremsstrahlung at next-to-leading power

The emission of soft radiation provides a fundamental probe of the consistency of the underlying quantum field theory. Correspondingly, the measurement of the soft photon bremsstrahlung, such as the one proposed with the planned future upgrade of the ALICE experiment at the LHC, is of great interest. In this letter we explore the possibility to implement analytic techniques that have been recently developed for soft gluon resummation at Next-to-Leading-Power (NLP) in the context of the soft photon spectrum. We provide a formula for the differential cross-section with shifted kinematics that is particularly suitable for numerical implementations. We also discuss the impact of loop corrections to Low's theorem due to radiative jet functions.

hep-ph

Threshold resummation for the production of four top quarks at the LHC

We compute the total cross section for $t\bar{t}t\bar{t}$ production at next-to-leading logarithmic (NLL$^{\prime}$) accuracy. This is the first time resummation is performed for a hadron-collider process with four colored particles in the final state. The calculation is matched to the next-to-leading order strong and electroweak corrections. The NLL$^{\prime}$ corrections enhance the total production rate by 26\%. The size of the theoretical error due to scale variation is reduced by close to a factor of two, bringing the theoretical error significantly below the current experimental uncertainty of the measurement.

hep-ph

Scalar leptoquarks at the LHC and flavour anomalies: a comparison of pair-production modes at NLO-QCD

We analyse scalar leptoquark pair production at the LHC with predictions including $t$-channel lepton exchange contributions up to next-to-leading order (NLO) in QCD. In particular, we calculate NLO-QCD predictions for off-diagonal production channels, {\it i.e.}\ channels that involve two different leptoquark eigenstates and are driven solely by diagrams involving Standard Model leptons in the $t$-channel at leading order, as opposed to diagonal channels where a pair of the same leptoquark eigenstate is produced. We find that reliable theoretical predictions for both channels require NLO accuracy. The relative importance of the off-diagonal modes depends strongly on the considered scenario. In a generic model involving $R_2$ and $S_3$ leptoquarks, at large values of the Yukawa couplings off-diagonal contributions initiated by valence quarks can be up to an order of magnitude higher than the diagonal production. However, we also find that in phenomenologically viable scenarios addressing the flavour anomalies off-diagonal production is generally negligible, with a few exceptions of 10\%--30\% of the total rate depending on the treatment of the charm density in the proton.

hep-ph

Classical and quantum gravitational scattering with Generalized Wilson Lines

The all-order structure of scattering amplitudes is greatly simplified by the use of Wilson line operators, describing eikonal emissions from straight lines extending to infinity. A generalization at subleading powers in the eikonal expansion, known as Generalized Wilson Line (GWL), has been proposed some time ago, and has been applied both in QCD phenomenology and in the high energy limits of gravitational amplitudes. In this paper we revisit the construction of the scalar gravitational GWL starting from first principles in the worldline formalism. We identify the correct Hamiltonian that leads to a simple correspondence between the soft expansion and the weak field expansion. This allows us to isolate the terms in the GWL that are relevant in the classical limit. In doing so we devote special care to the regularization of UV divergences that were not discussed in an earlier derivation. We also clarify the relation with a parallel body of work that recently investigated the classical limit of scattering amplitudes in gravity in the worldline formalism.

hep-th

Scalar leptoquark pair production at the LHC: precision predictions in the era of flavour anomalies

We comprehensively examine precision predictions for scalar leptoquark pair production at the LHC. In particular, we investigate the impact of lepton $t$-channel exchange diagrams that are potentially relevant in the context of leptoquark scenarios providing an explanation for the flavour anomalies. We also evaluate the corresponding total rates at the next-to-leading order in QCD. Moreover, we complement this calculation with the resummation of soft-gluon radiation at the next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy, hence providing the most precise predictions for leptoquark pair production at the LHC to date. Relying on a variety of benchmark scenarios favoured by the anomalies, our results exhibit an interesting interplay between the $t$-channel diagram contributions, the flavour texture satisfied by the leptoquark Yukawa couplings, the leptoquark masses and their representations under the Standard Model gauge group, as well as the chosen set of parton densities used for the numerical evaluations. The net effect on a cross section turns out to be very non-generic and ranges up to about 60% with respect to the usual next-to-leading-order predictions in QCD (i.e. without any $t$-channel contribution) for some scenarios considered. Dedicated calculations are thus required for any individual leptoquark model that could be considered in a collider analysis in order to assess the size of the studied corrections. In order to facilitate such calculations we provide dedicated public numerical packages.

hep-ph

Precision predictions for scalar leptoquark pair production at the LHC

We present precision predictions for scalar leptoquark pair production at the LHC. Apart from QCD contributions, included are the lepton $t$-channel exchange diagrams relevant in the light of the recent $B$-flavour anomalies. All contributions are evaluated at next-to-leading order in QCD and improved by resummation, in the threshold regime, of the corrections from soft-gluon radiation at the next-to-next-to-leading-logarithmic accuracy. All corrections are found equally relevant. Furthermore, the impact of different sets of parton distribution functions is discussed. These predictions constitute the most precise leptoquark cross section calculations available to date and are necessary for the best exploitation of leptoquark LHC searches.

hep-ph

On soft gluon resummation for associated single top production with a Higgs boson at the LHC

We investigate threshold resummation of soft gluon corrections for the s-channel process of a single top quark production in association with a Higgs boson in the Standard Model. We choose to work in the three-particle invariant mass kinematics in direct QCD, i.e. in the space of Mellin moments. Our results take into account terms of up to next-to-leading logarithmic (NLL) precision, as well as $\mathcal{O} (α_s)$ non-logarithmic terms which do not vanish at threshold. After presenting analytical expressions we discuss the corresponding numerical results for the total cross section and the invariant mass distributions at the LHC.

hep-ph

Double parton scattering in four-jet production in proton-proton collisions at the LHC

We study the contribution from double parton scattering (DPS) to four-jet production at the LHC, both at the leading order accuracy and after incorporating the effects of QCD radiation. Apart from DPS, we also include and discuss the contribution from single parton scattering (SPS). We find that the QCD radiation impacts theoretical predictions significantly, with DPS contributions more affected than the SPS. We also examine a number of observables in regard to their effectiveness for discrimination between DPS and SPS events and propose sets of kinematical cuts to improve the prospects of measuring DPS in four-jet production.

hep-ph

Precision predictions for scalar leptoquark pair-production at hadron colliders

We revisit scalar leptoquark pair-production at hadron colliders and significantly improve the level of precision of the cross section calculations. Apart from QCD contributions, we include lepton t-channel exchange diagrams that turn out to be relevant in the light of the recent B-anomalies. We evaluate all contributions at next-to-leading-order accuracy in QCD and resum, in the threshold regime, soft-gluon radiation at next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy. Our predictions consist hence in the most precise leptoquark cross section calculations available to date, and are necessary for the best exploitation of leptoquark searches at the LHC.

hep-ph