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G. Bevilacqua

Publications and source records attributed to G. Bevilacqua.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2014

On the ratio of ttbb and ttjj cross sections at the CERN Large Hadron Collider

Triggered by ongoing experimental analyses, we report on a study of the cross section ratio sigma(pp -> ttbb)/sigma(pp -> ttjj) at the next-to-leading order in QCD, focusing on both present and future collider energies: sqrt{s}= 7, 8, 13 TeV. In particular, we provide a comparison between our predictions and the currently available CMS data for the 8 TeV run. We further analyse the kinematics and scale uncertainties of the two processes for a single set of parton distribution functions, with the goal of assessing possible correlations that might help to reduce the theoretical error of the ratio and thus enhance the predictive power of this observable. We argue that the different jet kinematics makes the ttbb and ttjj processes uncorrelated in several observables, and show that the scale uncertainty is not significantly reduced when taking the ratio of the cross sections.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2013

A room-temperature alternating current susceptometer - Data analysis, calibration, and test

An AC susceptometer operating in the range of 10 Hz to 100 kHz and at room temperature is designed, built, calibrated and used to characterize the magnetic behaviour of coated magnetic nanoparticles. Other weakly magnetic materials (in amounts of some millilitres) can be analyzed as well. The setup makes use of a DAQ-based acquisition system in order to determine the amplitude and the phase of the sample magnetization as a function of the frequency of the driving magnetic field, which is powered by a digital waveform generator. A specific acquisition strategy makes the response directly proportional to the sample susceptibility, taking advantage of the differential nature of the coil assembly. A calibration method based on conductive samples is developed.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2013

Complete Nagy-Soper subtraction for next-to-leading order calculations in QCD

We extend the Helac-Dipoles package with the implementation of a new subtraction formalism, first introduced by Nagy and Soper in the formulation of an improved parton shower. We discuss a systematic, semi-numerical approach for the evaluation of the integrated subtraction terms for both massless and massive partons, which provides the missing ingredient for a complete implementation. In consequence, the new scheme can now be used as part of a complete NLO QCD calculation for processes with arbitrary parton masses and multiplicities. We assess its overall performance through a detailed comparison with results based on Catani-Seymour subtraction. The importance of random polarization and color sampling of the external partons is also examined.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2013

Implementation of STIRAP in degenerate systems by dimensionality reduction

We consider the problem of the implementation of Stimulated Raman Adiabatic Passage (STIRAP) processes in degenerate systems, with a view to be able to steer the system wave function from an arbitrary initial superposition to an arbitrary target superposition. We examine the case a $N$-level atomic system consisting of $ N-1$ ground states coupled to a common excited state by laser pulses. We analyze the general case of initial and final superpositions belonging to the same manifold of states, and we cover also the case in which they are non-orthogonal. We demonstrate that, for a given initial and target superposition, it is always possible to choose the laser pulses so that in a transformed basis the system is reduced to an effective three-level $Λ$ system, and standard STIRAP processes can be implemented. Our treatment leads to a simple strategy, with minimal computational complexity, which allows us to determine the laser pulses shape required for the wanted adiabatic steering.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2013

Quantifying quark mass effects at the LHC: A study of pp -> b anti-b b anti-b + X at next-to-leading order

The production of four bottom quarks is an important benchmark channel for Higgs analyses and searches for new physics at the LHC. We report on the calculation of the next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the process pp -> b anti-b b anti-b + X with the HELAC-NLO automated framework, and present results for inclusive cross sections and differential distributions. We discuss the impact of the higher-order corrections and, in particular, the effect of the bottom quark mass. In addition, we provide an estimate of the theoretical uncertainty from the variation of the renormalisation and factorisation scales and the parton distribution functions. The results are obtained with a new subtraction formalism for real radiation at next-to-leading order, implemented in the HELAC-DIPOLES package.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2013

Helac-nlo

Based on the OPP technique and the HELAC framework, HELAC-1LOOP is a program that is capable of numerically evaluating QCD virtual corrections to scattering amplitudes. A detailed presentation of the algorithm is given, along with instructions to run the code and benchmark results. The program is part of the HELAC-NLO framework that allows for a complete evaluation of QCD NLO corrections.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2012

Constraining BSM Physics at the LHC: Four top final states with NLO accuracy in perturbative QCD

Many theories, from Supersymmetry to models of Strong Electroweak Symmetry Breaking, look at the production of four top quarks as an interesting channel to evidentiate signals of new physics beyond the Standard Model. The production of four-top final states requires large partonic energies, above the 4mt threshold, that are available at the CERN Large Hadron Collider and will become more and more accessible with increasing energy and luminosity of the proton beams. A good theoretical control on the Standard Model background is a fundamental prerequisite for a correct interpretation of the possible signals of new physics that may arise in this channel. In this paper we report on the calculation of the next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the Standard Model process pp -> tttt + X. As it is customary for such studies, we present results for both integrated and differential cross sections. A judicious choice of a dynamical scale allows us to obtain nearly constant K-factors in most distributions.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2012

Larmor frequency dressing by an anharmonic transverse magnetic field

We present a theoretical and experimental study of spin precession in the presence of both a static and an orthogonal oscillating magnetic field, which is nonresonant, not harmonically related to the Larmor precession, and of arbitrary strength. Due to the intrinsic nonlinearity of the system, previous models that account only for the simple sinusoidal case cannot be applied. We suggest an alternative approach and develop a model that closely agrees with experimental data produced by an optical-pumping atomic magnetometer. We demonstrate that an appropriately designed nonharmonic field makes it possible to extract a linear response to a weak dc transverse field, despite the scalar nature of the magnetometer, which normally causes a much weaker, second-order response.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2011

A new class of sum rules for products of Bessel functions

In this paper we derive a new class of sum rules for products of the Bessel functions of first kind. Using standard algebraic manipulations we extend some of the well known properties of $J_n$. Some physical applications of the results are also discussed. A comparison with the Newberger[J. Math. Phys. \textbf{23} (1982) 1278] sum rules is performed on a typical example.

math-ph↗
arXiv2011

Hadronic top-quark pair production in association with two jets at Next-to-Leading Order QCD

We report on the calculation of the next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the production of ttbar pairs in association with two hard jets at the Fermilab TeVatron and CERN Large Hadron Collider. Results for the integrated and differential cross sections are given. The corrections with respect to leading order are negative and moderate. A study of the scale dependence of our NLO predictions indicates that the residual theoretical uncertainty, due to higher order corrections, is 21% for the TeVatron and 15% for the LHC. In case of the TeVatron, the forward-backward asymmetry of the top quark is calculated for the first time at next-to-leading order. With the inclusive selection of cuts, this asymmetry amounts to A_FB = -10.3% at leading order and A_FB = -4.6% at next-to-leading order. All results presented in this paper have been obtained with the help of the HELAC-NLO package.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2010

NLO QCD calculations with HELAC-NLO

Achieving a precise description of multi-parton final states is crucial for many analyses at LHC. In this contribution we review the main features of the HELAC-NLO system for NLO QCD calculations. As a case study, NLO QCD corrections for tt + 2 jet production at LHC are illustrated and discussed.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2010

Dominant QCD Backgrounds in Higgs Boson Analyses at the LHC: A Study of pp -> t anti-t + 2 jets at Next-To-Leading Order

We report the results of a next-to-leading order simulation of top quark pair production in association with two jets. With our inclusive cuts, we show that the corrections with respect to leading order are negative and small, reaching 11%. The error obtained by scale variation is of the same order. Additionally, we reproduce the result of a previous study of top quark pair production in association with a single jet.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2009

Assault on the NLO Wishlist: pp -> tt bb

We present the results of a next-to-leading order calculation of QCD corrections to the production of an on-shell top-anti-top quark pair in association with two flavored b-jets. Besides studying the total cross section and its scale dependence, we give several differential distributions. Where comparable, our results agree with a previous analysis. While the process under scrutiny is of major relevance for Higgs boson searches at the LHC, we use it to demonstrate the ability of our system built around Helac-Phegas to tackle complete calculations at the frontier of current studies for the LHC. On the technical side, we show how the virtual corrections are efficiently computed with Helac-1Loop, based on the OPP method and the reduction code CutTools, using reweighting and Monte Carlo over color configurations and polarizations. As far as the real corrections are concerned, we use the recently published Helac-Dipoles package. In connection with improvements of the latter, we give the last missing integrated dipole formulae necessary for a complete implementation of phase space restriction dependence in the massive dipole subtraction formalism.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2009

Dual channel self-oscillating optical magnetometer

We report on a two-channel magnetometer based on nonlinear magneto-optical rotation in a Cs glass cell with buffer gas. The Cs atoms are optically pumped and probed by free running diode lasers tuned to the D$_2$ line. A wide frequency modulation of the pump laser is used to produce both synchronous Zeeman optical pumping and hyperfine repumping. The magnetometer works in an unshielded environment and spurious signal from distant magnetic sources is rejected by means of differential measurement. In this regime the magnetometer simultaneously gives the magnetic field modulus and the field difference. Rejection of the common-mode noise allows for high-resolution magnetometry with a sensitivity of \pthz{2}. This sensitivity, in conjunction with long-term stability and a large bandwidth, makes possible to detect water proton magnetization and its free induction decay in a measurement volume of 5 cm$^3$

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2009

Proceedings of the Workshop on Monte Carlo's, Physics and Simulations at the LHC PART II

These proceedings collect the presentations given at the first three meetings of the INFN "Workshop on Monte Carlo's, Physics and Simulations at the LHC", held at the Frascati National Laboratories in 2006. The first part of these proceedings contains pedagogical introductions to several basic topics of both theoretical and experimental high pT LHC physics. The second part collects more specialised presentations.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2009

Proceedings of the Workshop on Monte Carlo's, Physics and Simulations at the LHC PART I

These proceedings collect the presentations given at the first three meetings of the INFN "Workshop on Monte Carlo's, Physics and Simulations at the LHC", held at the Frascati National Laboratories in 2006. The first part of these proceedings contains pedagogical introductions to several basic topics of both theoretical and experimental high pT LHC physics. The second part collects more specialised presentations.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2009

PHANTOM: a Monte Carlo event generator for six parton final states at high energy colliders

PHANTOM is a tree level Monte Carlo for six parton final states at proton--proton, proton--antiproton and electron--positron collider at O(alpha_ew^6) and O(alpha_ew^4*alpha_s^2) including possible interferences between the two sets of diagrams. This comprehends all purely electroweak contribution as well as all contributions with one virtual or two external gluons. It can generate unweighted events for any set of processes and it is interfaced to parton shower and hadronization packages via the last Les Houches Accord protocol. It can be used to analyze the physics of boson boson scattering, Higgs boson production in boson boson fusion, t-tbar and three boson production.

hep-ph↗