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Kirill Melnikov

Publications and source records attributed to Kirill Melnikov.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Higgs boson production at hadron colliders in NNLO QCD

We compute the total cross-section for direct Higgs boson production in hadron collisions at NNLO in perturbative QCD. A new technique which allows us to perform an algorithmic evaluation of inclusive phase-space integrals is introduced, based on the Cutkosky rules, integration by parts and the differential equation method for computing master integrals. Finally, we discuss the numerical impact of the O(alpha_s^2) QCD corrections to the Higgs boson production cross-section at the LHC and the Tevatron.

hep-ph↗

Pseudoscalar Higgs boson production at hadron colliders in NNLO QCD

We compute the total cross-section for direct production of the pseudoscalar Higgs boson in hadron collisions at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) in perturbative QCD. The O(alpha_s^2) QCD corrections increase the NLO production cross-section by approximately 20-30 per cent.

hep-ph↗

The Asymptotic Expansion of Lattice Loop Integrals Around the Continuum Limit

We present a method of computing any one-loop integral in lattice perturbation theory by systematically expanding around its continuum limit. At any order in the expansion in the lattice spacing, the result can be written as a sum of continuum loop integrals in analytic regularization and a few genuine lattice integrals (``master integrals''). These lattice master integrals are independent of external momenta and masses and can be computed numerically. At the one-loop level, there are four master integrals in a theory with only bosonic fields, seven in HQET and sixteen in QED or QCD with Wilson fermions.

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On Unitary Evolution of a Massless Scalar Field In A Schwarzschild Background: Hawking Radiation and the Information Paradox

We develop a Hamiltonian formalism which can be used to discuss the physics of a massless scalar field in a gravitational background of a Schwarzschild black hole. Using this formalism we show that the time evolution of the system is unitary and yet all known results such as the existence of Hawking radiation can be readily understood. We then point out that the Hamiltonian formalism leads to interesting observations about black hole entropy and the information paradox.

hep-th↗

O(α^2 \ln(m_μ/m_e)) Corrections to Electron Energy Spectrum in Muon Decay

O(α^2 \ln(m_μ/m_e)) corrections to electron energy spectrum in muon decay are computed using perturbative fragmentation function approach. The magnitude of these corrections is comparable to anticipated precision of the TWIST experiment at TRIUMF where Michel parameters will be extracted from the measurement of the electron energy spectrum in muon decay.

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Expansion of bound state energies in powers of m/M and (1-m/M)

Elaborating on a previous letter, we use a new approach to compute energy levels of a non-relativistic bound-state of two constituents, with masses m and M, by systematic expansions - one in powers of m/M and another in powers of (1-m/M). Technical aspects of the calculations are described in detail. Theoretical predictions are given for O(alpha(Z*alpha)^5) radiative recoil and O((Z*alpha)^6) pure recoil corrections to the average energy shift and hyperfine splitting relevant for hydrogen, muonic hydrogen, and muonium.

hep-ph↗

Semileptonic b --> u decays: lepton invariant mass spectrum

We compute O(alpha_s^2) QCD corrections to the lepton invariant mass spectrum in the decay b --> u l nu_l, relevant for the determination of the CKM matrix element |V_{ub}|. Our method can also be used to evaluate moments of the lepton energy distribution with an O(alpha_s^2) accuracy. The abelian part of our result gives the neutrino invariant mass spectrum in the muon decay and, upon integration, the O(alpha^2) correction to the muon lifetime.

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A Canonical Hamiltonian Derivation of Hawking Radiation

We present a derivation of Hawking radiation based on canonical quantization of a massless scalar field in the background of a Schwarzschild black hole using Lemaitre coordinates and show that in these coordinates the Hamiltonian of the massless field is time-dependent. This result exhibits the non-static nature of the problem and shows it is better to talk about the time dependence of physical quantities rather than the existence of a time-independent vacuum state for the massless field. We then demonstrate the existence of Hawking radiation and show that despite the fact that the flux looks thermal to an outside observer, the time evolution of the massless field is unitary.

hep-th↗

Charmonium decays: J/psi --> e+e- and eta_c --> gamma gamma

We compute the O(alpha_s^2) correction to the decay rate eta_c --> gamma gamma and discuss its implications for precision quarkonium physics. We study the suitability of the ratio Gamma(J/psi --> e+e-)/Gamma(eta_c --> gamma gamma), in which the non-perturbative or soft effects cancel at O(alpha_s^{0,1}), for extracting fundamental parameters of QCD at low energies. We show that the QCD-based theory of charmonia is not capable of predicting this ratio with any degree of confidence.

hep-ph↗

On the theoretical uncertainties in the muon anomalous magnetic moment

I present a fairly detailed discussion of various contributions to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon a_mu. I try to give an unbiased evaluation of the validity of the SM prediction for this quantity and to point out some delicate issues involved in its calculation. I conclude that the theory uncertainties in the SM prediction for the muon anomalous magnetic moment are underestimated and a great deal of work will be required to reduce these uncertainties to the level required by experiment.

hep-ph↗

Radiative corrections to the Casimir force and effective field theories

Radiative corrections to the Casimir force between two parallel plates are considered in both scalar field theory of one massless and one massive field and in QED. Full calculations are contrasted with calculations based on employing ``boundary-free'' effective field theories. The difference between two previous results on QED radiative corrections to the Casimir force between two parallel plates is clarified and the low-energy effective field theory for the Casimir effect in QED is constructed.

hep-ph↗

Expansion of bound-state energies in powers of m/M

We describe a new approach to computing energy levels of a non-relativistic bound-state of two constituents with masses M and m, by a systematic expansion in powers of m/M. After discussing the method, we demonstrate its potential with an example of the radiative recoil corrections to the Lamb shift and hyperfine splitting relevant for the hydrogen, muonic hydrogen, and muonium. A discrepancy between two previous calculations of O(alpha(Zalpha)^5 m^2/M) radiative recoil corrections to the Lamb shift is resolved and several new terms of O(alpha(Zalpha)^5 m^4/M^3) and higher are obtained.

hep-ph↗

O(alpha^3 ln alpha) corrections to muonium and positronium hyperfine splitting

We compute O(alpha^3 ln alpha) relative corrections to the ground state hyperfine splitting of a QED two body bound state with different masses of constituents. The general result is then applied to muonium and positronium. In particular, a new value of the muon to electron mass ratio is derived from the muonium ground state hyperfine splitting.

hep-ph↗

O(alpha^3 ln alpha) corrections to positronium decay rates

We compute O(alpha^3 ln alpha) corrections to the decay rates of para- and orthopositronium into two and three photons, respectively. For this calculation we employ the nonrelativistic QED regularized dimensionally and we explain how in this framework the logarithms of the fine structure constant can be extracted.

hep-ph↗

Anomalous magnetic moment of a bound electron

We study binding corrections to the gyromagnetic factor g_e of an electron in hydrogen-like ions. We argue that the leading order binding effects in radiative corrections Delta g_rad are universal to all orders in alpha/pi and the complete result reads Delta g_rad = (g_free - 2) [1+(Z alpha)^2/6] + O[alpha/pi (Zalpha)^4]. The theoretical uncertainty in the prediction for the experimentally interesting carbon ion is decreased by a factor of about 3.

hep-ph↗