arXiv subjects

Ansgar Denner

Publications and source records attributed to Ansgar Denner.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Higgs production in association with off-shell top-antitop pairs at NLO EW and QCD at the LHC

We present NLO electroweak corrections to Higgs production in association with off-shell top-antitop quark pairs. The full process $\text{p}\text{p}\to\text{e}^+ν_{\text{e}} μ^-\barν_μ\text{b}\bar{\text{b}} \text{H}$ is considered, and hence all interference, off-shell, and non-resonant contributions are taken into account. The electroweak corrections turn out to be below one per cent for the integrated cross section but can exceed $10\%$ in certain phase-space regions. In addition to its phenomenological relevance, the computation constitutes a major technical achievement as the full NLO virtual corrections involving up to 9-point functions have been computed exactly. The results of the full computation are supported by two calculations in the double-pole approximation. These also allow to infer the effect of off-shell contributions and emphasise their importance especially for the run II of the LHC. Finally, we present combined predictions featuring both NLO electroweak and QCD corrections in a common set-up that will help the experimental collaborations in their quest of precisely measuring the aforementioned process.

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arXiv2017

NLO electroweak corrections to off-shell top-antitop production with leptonic decays at the LHC

For the first time the next-to-leading-order electroweak corrections to the full off-shell production of two top quarks that decay leptonically are presented. This calculation includes all off-shell, non-resonant, and interference effects for the 6-particle phase space. While the electroweak corrections are below one per cent for the integrated cross section, they reach up to 15% in the high-transverse-momentum region of distributions. To support the results of the complete one-loop calculation, we have in addition evaluated the electroweak corrections in two different pole approximations, one requiring two on-shell top quarks and one featuring two on-shell W bosons. While the former deviates by up to 10% from the full calculation for certain distributions, the latter provides a very good description for most observables. The increased centre-of-mass energy of the LHC makes the inclusion of electroweak corrections extremely relevant as they are particularly large in the Sudakov regime where new physics is expected to be probed.

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arXiv2016

Collier: a fortran-based Complex One-Loop LIbrary in Extended Regularizations

We present the library Collier for the numerical evaluation of one-loop scalar and tensor integrals in perturbative relativistic quantum field theories. The code provides numerical results for arbitrary tensor and scalar integrals for scattering processes in general quantum field theories. For tensor integrals either the coefficients in a covariant decomposition or the tensor components themselves are provided. Collier supports complex masses, which are needed in calculations involving unstable particles. Ultraviolet and infrared singularities are treated in dimensional regularization. For soft and collinear singularities mass regularization is available as an alternative.

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arXiv2016

Next-to-leading-order electroweak corrections to the production of four charged leptons at the LHC

We present a state-of-the-art calculation of the next-to-leading-order electroweak corrections to ZZ production, including the leptonic decays of the Z bosons into $μ^+μ^-\mathrm{e}^+\mathrm{e}^-$ or $μ^+μ^-μ^+μ^-$ final states. We use complete leading-order and next-to-leading-order matrix elements for four-lepton production, including contributions of virtual photons and all off-shell effects of Z bosons, where the finite Z-boson width is taken into account using the complex-mass scheme. The matrix elements are implemented into Monte Carlo programs allowing for the evaluation of arbitrary differential distributions. We present integrated and differential cross sections for the LHC at 13 TeV both for an inclusive setup where only lepton identification cuts are applied, and for a setup motivated by Higgs-boson analyses in the four-lepton decay channel. The electroweak corrections are divided into photonic and purely weak contributions. The former show the well-known pronounced tails near kinematical thresholds and resonances; the latter are generically at the level of $\sim-5\%$ and reach several $-10\%$ in the high-energy tails of distributions. Comparing the results for $μ^+μ^-\mathrm{e}^+\mathrm{e}^-$ and $μ^+μ^-μ^+μ^-$ final states, we find significant differences mainly in distributions that are sensitive to the $μ^+μ^-$ pairing in the $μ^+μ^-μ^+μ^-$ final state. Differences between $μ^+μ^-\mathrm{e}^+\mathrm{e}^-$ and $μ^+μ^-μ^+μ^-$ channels due to interferences of equal-flavour leptons in the final state can reach up to $10\%$ in off-shell-sensitive regions. Contributions induced by incoming photons, i.e. photon-photon and quark-photon channels, are included, but turn out to be phenomenologically unimportant.

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arXiv2016

Gauge-independent $\overline{MS}$ renormalization in the 2HDM

We present a consistent renormalization scheme for the CP-conserving Two-Higgs-Doublet Model based on $\overline{MS}$ renormalization of the mixing angles and the soft-$Z_2$-symmetry-breaking scale $M_{sb}$ in the Higgs sector. This scheme requires to treat tadpoles fully consistently in all steps of the calculation in order to provide gauge-independent $S$-matrix elements. We show how bare physical parameters have to be defined and verify the gauge independence of physical quantities by explicit calculations in a general $R_ξ$-gauge. The procedure is straightforward and applicable to other models with extended Higgs sectors. In contrast to the proposed scheme, the $\overline{MS}$ renormalization of the mixing angles combined with popular on-shell renormalization schemes gives rise to gauge-dependent results already at the one-loop level. We present explicit results for electroweak NLO corrections to selected processes in the appropriately renormalized Two-Higgs-Doublet Model and in particular discuss their scale dependence.

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arXiv2016

Next-to-leading-order electroweak corrections to $pp \to W^+W^-\to$ 4 leptons at the LHC

We present results of the first calculation of next-to-leading-order electroweak corrections to W-boson pair production at the LHC that fully takes into account leptonic W-boson decays and off-shell effects. Employing realistic event selections, we discuss the corrections in situations that are typical for the study of W-boson pairs as a signal process or of Higgs-boson decays $H\to W W^*$, to which W-boson pair production represents an irreducible background. In particular, we compare the full off-shell results, obtained treating the W-boson resonances in the complex-mass scheme, to previous results in the so-called double-pole approximation, which is based on an expansion of the loop amplitudes about the W resonance poles. At small and intermediate scales, i.e. in particular in angular and rapidity distributions, the two approaches show the expected agreement at the level of fractions of a percent, but larger differences appear in the TeV range. For transverse-momentum distributions, the differences can even exceed the 10% level in the TeV range where "background diagrams" with one instead of two resonant W bosons gain in importance because of recoil effects.

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arXiv2016

RECOLA: REcursive Computation of One-Loop Amplitudes

We present the Fortran95 program Recola for the perturbative computation of next-to-leading-order transition amplitudes in the Standard Model of particle physics. The code provides numerical results in the 't Hooft-Feynman gauge. It uses the complex-mass scheme and allows for a consistent isolation of resonant contributions. Dimensional regularization is employed for ultraviolet and infrared singularities, with the alternative possibility of treating collinear and soft singularities in mass regularization. Recola supports various renormalization schemes for the electromagnetic and a dynamical Nf-flavour scheme for the strong coupling constant. The calculation of next-to-leading-order squared amplitudes, summed over spin and colour, is supported as well as the computation of colour- and spin-correlated leading-order squared amplitudes needed in the dipole subtraction formalism.

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arXiv2016

NLO QCD and electroweak corrections to $Z+γ$ production with leptonic Z-boson decays

The next-to-leading-order electroweak corrections to $pp\to l^+l^-/\barνν+γ+X$ production, including all off-shell effects of intermediate Z bosons in the complex-mass scheme, are calculated for LHC energies, revealing the typically expected large corrections of tens of percent in the TeV range. Contributions from quark-photon and photon-photon initial states are taken into account as well, but their impact is found to be moderate or small. Moreover, the known next-to-leading-order QCD corrections are reproduced. In order to separate hard photons from jets, both a quark-to-photon fragmentation function á la Glover/Morgan and Frixione's cone isolation are employed. The calculation is available in the form of Monte Carlo programs allowing for the evaluation of arbitrary differential cross sections. Predictions for integrated cross sections are presented for the LHC at 7 TeV, 8 TeV, and 14 TeV, and differential distributions are discussed at 14 TeV for bare muons and dressed leptons. Finally, we consider the impact of anomalous $ZZγ$ and $Zγγ$ couplings.

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arXiv2015

Precise predictions for Higgs-boson production in association with top quarks

We analyse the production of a Higgs boson in association with a top--antitop-quark pair in the Standard Model at the LHC. Considering the final state consisting of four b jets, two jets, one identified charged lepton and missing energy, we examine the irreducible background for the production rate and several kinematical distributions. While ttH production and decay is roughly a fourth of the full process for the final state specified above, ttbb production constitutes the main contribution with about $92\%$. Surprisingly, interference effects result in a reduction of the cross-section by five per cent. Furthermore, we consider NLO QCD corrections for the production of a Higgs boson, two charged leptons, two neutrinos, and two b jets. We discuss the size of the corrections and the scale dependence for the integrated cross section and different distributions. For the integrated cross section we find a $K$ factor of 1.17 and a reduction of the scale dependence from $30\%$ at leading order to $5\%$ at next-to-leading order.

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arXiv2015

NLO QCD corrections to off-shell top-antitop production with leptonic decays in association with a Higgs boson at the LHC

We compute the hadronic production of top-antitop pairs in association with a Higgs boson at next-to-leading-order QCD, including the decay of the top and antitop quark into bottom quarks and leptons. Our computation is based on full leading and next-to-leading-order matrix elements for $e^+ ν_e μ^-\barν_μb \bar{b} H(j)$ and includes all non-resonant contributions, off-shell effects and interferences. Numerical results for the integrated cross section and several differential distributions are given for the LHC operating at 13 TeV using a fixed and a dynamical factorization and renormalization scale. The use of the dynamical instead of the fixed scale improves the perturbative stability in high-energy tails of most distributions, while the integrated cross section is hardly affected differing by only about one per cent and leading to the same K factor of 1.17.

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arXiv2015

NLO QCD and electroweak corrections to W+γ production with leptonic W-boson decays

We present a calculation of the next-to-leading-order electroweak corrections to W+γ production, including the leptonic decay of the W boson and taking into account all off-shell effects of the W boson, where the finite width of the W boson is implemented using the complex-mass scheme. Corrections induced by incoming photons are fully included and find particular emphasis in the discussion of phenomenological predictions for the LHC. The corresponding next-to-leading-order QCD corrections are reproduced as well. In order to separate hard photons from jets, a quark-to-photon fragmentation function a la Glover and Morgan is employed. Our results are implemented into Monte Carlo programs allowing for the evaluation of arbitrary differential cross sections. We present integrated cross sections for the LHC at 7TeV, 8TeV, and 14TeV as well as differential distributions at 14TeV for bare muons and dressed leptons. Finally, we discuss the impact of anomalous WWγ couplings.

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arXiv2015

The Complex-Mass Scheme and Unitarity in perturbative Quantum Field Theory

We investigate unitarity within the Complex-Mass Scheme, a convenient universal scheme for perturbative calculations involving unstable particles in Quantum Field Theory which guarantees exact gauge invariance. Since this scheme requires to introduce complex masses and complex couplings, the Cutkosky cutting rules, which express perturbative unitarity in theories of stable particles, are no longer valid. We derive corresponding rules for scalar theories with unstable particles based on Veltman's Largest-Time Equation and prove unitarity in this framework.

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arXiv2014

Irreducible background and interference effects for Higgs-boson production in association with a top-quark pair

We present an analysis of Higgs-boson production in association with a top-quark pair at the LHC investigating in particular the final state consisting of four b jets, two jets, one identified charged lepton and missing energy. We consider the Standard Model prediction in three scenarios, the resonant Higgs-boson plus top-quark-pair production, the resonant production of a top-quark pair in association with a b-jet pair and the full process including all non-resonant and interference contributions. By comparing these scenarios we examine the irreducible background for the production rate and several kinematical distributions. With standard selection criteria the irreducible background turns out to be three times as large as the signal. For most observables we find a uniform deviation of eight percent between the scenario requiring two resonant top quarks and the full process. In particular phase-space regions the non-resonant contributions cause larger effects, and we observe shape changes for some distributions. Furthermore we investigate interference effects and find that neglecting interference contributions results in an over-estimate of the total cross-section of five percent.

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arXiv2014

HAWK 2.0: A Monte Carlo program for Higgs production in vector-boson fusion and Higgs strahlung at hadron colliders

The Monte Carlo integrator HAWK provides precision predictions for Higgs production at hadron colliders in vector-boson fusion and Higgs strahlung, i.e. in production processes where the Higgs boson is Attached to WeaK bosons. The fully differential predictions include the full QCD and electroweak next-to-leading-order corrections. Results are computed as integrated cross sections and as binned distributions for important hadron-collider observables.

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arXiv2014

Electroweak corrections to lepton pair production in association with two hard jets at the LHC

We compute the next-to-leading order corrections of $O(α_s^2α^3)$ to the hadronic production of two oppositely charged leptons and two hard jets, $p p \to j j l^- l^+$, using Recola and Collier. We include electroweak and QCD corrections at the given order and all off-shell effects. We provide detailed predictions for the LHC operating at 13 TeV and obtain per-cent-level corrections for the total cross section. For differential distributions we find significant non-uniform distortions in high-energy tails at the level of several ten per cent due to electroweak Sudakov logarithms and deformations at the level of a few per cent for angular variables.

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arXiv2014

COLLIER -- A fortran-library for one-loop integrals

We introduce the fortran-library COLLIER for the numerical evaluation of one-loop scalar and tensor integrals in perturbative relativistic quantum field theories. Important features are the implementation of dedicated methods to achieve numerical stability for 3- and 4-point tensor integrals, the support of complex masses for internal particles, and the possibility to choose between dimensional and mass regularization for infrared singularities. COLLIER supports one-loop N-point functions up to currently N=6 and has been tested in various NLO QCD and EW calculations.

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arXiv2013

EW and QCD One-Loop Amplitudes with RECOLA

We present the computer code RECOLA for the computation of EW and QCD amplitudes in the Standard Model at next-to-leading order. One-loop amplitudes are represented as linear combinations of tensor integrals whose coefficients are calculated by means of recursive relations similar to Dyson-Schwinger equations. A novel treatment of colour enables us to recursively construct the colour structure of the amplitude efficiently. RECOLA is linked with the library COLLIER for the computation of the tensor integrals.

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arXiv2013

Electroweak corrections to Z + 2 jets production at the LHC

We present results for the electroweak radiative corrections to the production of a leptonically decaying Z boson in association with two jets at the LHC. Tree-level and one-loop amplitudes have been obtained with the computer code Recola for the recursive generation of tree-level and one-loop amplitudes in the Standard Model. The one-loop integrals have been calculated with the tensor-integral library Collier. The electroweak corrections turn out to be small for inclusive cross sections but can become large in tails of distributions.

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