arXiv subjects

Leonardo Vernazza

Publications and source records attributed to Leonardo Vernazza.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Two-parton scattering in the high-energy limit: climbing two- and three-Reggeon ladders

We review recent progress on the calculation of scattering amplitudes in the high-energy limit. We start by illustrating the shockwave formalism, which allows one to calculate amplitudes as iterated solutions of rapidity evolution equations. We then focus on our recent results regarding $2\to 2$ parton scattering. We present the calculation of the imaginary part of the amplitude, at next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy in the high-energy logarithms, formally to all orders, and in practice to 13 loops. We then discuss the computation of the real part of the amplitude at next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy and through four loops. Both computations are carried in full colour, and provide new insight into the analytic structure of scattering amplitudes and their infrared singularity structure.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Threshold resummation of new partonic channels at next-to-leading power

Collider observables involving heavy particles are subject to large logarithmic terms near threshold, which must be summed to all orders in perturbation theory to obtain sensible results. Relatively recently, this resummation has been extended to next-to-leading power in the threshold variable, using a variety of approaches. In this paper, we consider partonic channels that turn on only at next-to-leading power, and show that it is possible to resum leading logarithms using well-established diagrammatic techniques in Quantum Chromodynamics. We first consider deep inelastic scattering, where we reproduce the results of a recent study using an effective theory approach. Next, we consider the quark-gluon channel in both Drell-Yan and Higgs boson production, showing that an explicit all-order form for the leading logarithmic partonic cross section can be obtained. Our results agree with previous conjectures based on fixed-order results.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Next-to-leading power two-loop soft functions for the Drell-Yan process at threshold

We calculate the generalized soft functions at $\mathcal{O}(α_s^2)$ at next-to-leading power accuracy for the Drell-Yan process at threshold. The operator definitions of these objects contain explicit insertions of soft gauge and matter fields, giving rise to a dependence on additional convolution variables with respect to the leading power result. These soft functions constitute the last missing ingredient for the validation of the bare factorization theorem to NNLO accuracy. We carry out the calculations by reducing the soft squared amplitudes into a set of canonical master integrals and we employ the method of differential equations to evaluate them. We retain the exact $d$-dimensional dependence of the convolution variables at the integration boundaries in order to regulate the fixed-order convolution integrals. After combining our soft functions with the relevant collinear functions, we perform checks of the results at the cross-section level against the literature and expansion-by-regions calculations, at NNLO and partly at N$^3$LO, finding agreement.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Next-to-leading power threshold corrections for finite order and resummed colour-singlet cross sections

We study next-to-leading-power (NLP) threshold corrections in colour-singlet production processes, with particular emphasis on Drell-Yan (DY) and single-Higgs production. We assess the quality of the partonic and hadronic threshold expansions for each process up to NNLO. We determine numerically the NLP leading-logarithmic (LL) resummed contribution in addition to the leading-power next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic (LP NNLL) resummed DY and Higgs cross sections, matched to NNLO. We find that the inclusion of NLP logarithms is numerically more relevant than increasing the precision to N$^3$LL at LP for these processes. We also perform an analytical and numerical comparison of LP NNLL + NLP LL resummation in soft-collinear effective theory and direct QCD, where we achieve excellent analytical and numerical agreement once the NLP LL terms are included in both formalisms. Our results underline the phenomenological importance of understanding the NLP structure of QCD cross sections.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Climbing three-Reggeon ladders: four-loop amplitudes in the high-energy limit in full colour

Using an iterative solution of rapidity evolution equations, we compute partonic $2\to 2$ gauge theory amplitudes at four loops in full colour up to the Next-to-Next-to-Leading Logarithms (NNLL) in the Regge limit. By contrasting the resulting amplitude with the exponentiation properties of soft singularities we determine the four-loop correction to the soft anomalous dimension at this logarithmic accuracy, which universally holds in any gauge theory. We find that the latter features quartic Casimir contributions beyond those appearing in the cusp anomalous dimension. Finally, in the case of ${\cal N}=4$ super Yang-Mills, we also determine the finite hard function at four loops through NNLL in full colour.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Large-x resummation of off-diagonal deep-inelastic parton scattering from d-dimensional refactorization

The off-diagonal parton-scattering channels $g+γ^*$ and $q+ϕ^*$ in deep-inelastic scattering are power-suppressed near threshold $x\to 1$. We address the next-to-leading power (NLP) resummation of large double logarithms of $1-x$ to all orders in the strong coupling, which are present even in the off-diagonal DGLAP splitting kernels. The appearance of divergent convolutions prevents the application of factorization methods known from leading power resummation. Employing $d$-dimensional consistency relations from requiring $1/ε$ pole cancellations in dimensional regularization between momentum regions, we show that the resummation of the off-diagonal parton-scattering channels at the leading logarithmic order can be bootstrapped from the recently conjectured exponentiation of NLP soft-quark Sudakov logarithms. In particular, we derive a result for the DGLAP kernel in terms of the series of Bernoulli numbers found previously by Vogt directly from algebraic all-order expressions. We identify the off-diagonal DGLAP splitting functions and soft-quark Sudakov logarithms as inherent two-scale quantities in the large-$x$ limit. We use a refactorization of these scales and renormalization group methods inspired by soft-collinear effective theory to derive the conjectured soft-quark Sudakov exponentiation formula.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Threshold factorization of the Drell-Yan process at next-to-leading power

We present a factorization theorem valid near the kinematic threshold $z=Q^2/\hat{s}\to 1$ of the partonic Drell-Yan process $q\bar q\toγ^*+X$ for general subleading powers in the $(1-z)$ expansion. We then consider the specific case of next-to-leading power. We discuss the emergence of collinear functions, which are a key ingredient to factorization starting at next-to-leading power. We calculate the relevant collinear functions at $\mathcal{O}(α_s)$ by employing an operator matching equation and we compare our results to the expansion-by-regions computation up to the next-to-next-to-leading order, finding agreement. Factorization holds only before the dimensional regulator is removed, due to a divergent convolution when the collinear and soft functions are first expanded around $d=4$ before the convolution is performed. This demonstrates an issue for threshold resummation beyond the leading-logarithmic accuracy at next-to-leading power.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Two-parton scattering amplitudes in the Regge limit to high loop orders

We study two-to-two parton scattering amplitudes in the high-energy limit of perturbative QCD by iteratively solving the BFKL equation. This allows us to predict the imaginary part of the amplitude to leading-logarithmic order for arbitrary $t$-channel colour exchange. The corrections we compute correspond to ladder diagrams with any number of rungs formed between two Reggeized gluons. Our approach exploits a separation of the two-Reggeon wavefunction, performed directly in momentum space, between a soft region and a generic (hard) region. The former component of the wavefunction leads to infrared divergences in the amplitude and is therefore computed in dimensional regularization; the latter is computed directly in two transverse dimensions and is expressed in terms of single-valued harmonic polylogarithms of uniform weight. By combining the two we determine exactly both infrared-divergent and finite contributions to the two-to-two scattering amplitude order-by-order in perturbation theory. We study the result numerically to 13 loops and find that finite corrections to the amplitude have a finite radius of convergence which depends on the colour representation of the $t$-channel exchange.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

The High-Energy Limit of 2-to-2 Partonic Scattering Amplitudes

Recently, there has been significant progress in computing scattering amplitudes in the high-energy limit using rapidity evolution equations. We describe the state-of-the-art and demonstrate the interplay between exponentiation of high-energy logarithms and that of infrared singularities. The focus in this talk is the imaginary part of 2 to 2 partonic amplitudes, which can be determined by solving the BFKL equation. We demonstrate that the wavefunction is infrared finite, and that its evolution closes in the soft approximation. Within this approximation we derive a closed-form solution for the amplitude in dimensional regularization, which fixes the soft anomalous dimension to all orders at NLL accuracy. We then turn to finite contributions of the amplitude and show that the remaining hard contributions can be determined algorithmically, by iteratively solving the BFKL equation in exactly two dimensions within the class of single-valued harmonic polylogarithms. To conclude we present numerical results and analyse large-order behaviour of the amplitude.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

Leading-logarithmic threshold resummation of Higgs production in gluon fusion at next-to-leading power

We sum the leading logarithms $α_s^n \ln^{2 n-1}(1-z)$, n=1,2,... near the kinematic threshold $z=m_H^2/\hat{s}\to 1$ at next-to-leading power in the expansion in (1-z) for Higgs production in gluon fusion. We highlight the new contributions compared to Drell-Yan production in quark-antiquark annihilation and show that the final result can be obtained to all orders by the substitution of the colour factor $C_F\to C_A$, confirming previous fixed-order results and conjectures. We also provide a numerical analysis of the next-to-leading power leading logarithms, which indicates that they are numerically relevant.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

$Z^\prime$ models with less-minimal flavour violation

We study the phenomenology of simplified $Z^\prime$ models with a global $U(2)^3$ flavour symmetry in the quark sector, broken solely by the Standard Model Yukawa couplings. This flavour symmetry, known as less-minimal flavour violation, protects $ΔF=2$ processes from dangerously large new physics (NP) effects, and at the same time provides a free complex phase in $b\to s$ transitions, allowing for an explanation of the hints for additional direct CP violation in kaon decays ($ε^\prime/ε$) and in hadronic $B$-decays ($B\to Kπ$ puzzle). Furthermore, once the couplings of the $Z^\prime$ boson to the leptons are included, it is possible to address the intriguing hints for NP (above the 5$\,σ$ level) in $b\to s \ell^+\ell^-$ transitions. Taking into account all flavour observables in a global fit, we find that $ε^\prime/ε$, the $B\to Kπ$ puzzle and $b\to s \ell^+\ell^-$ data can be explained simultaneously. Sizeable CP violation in $b\to s \ell^+\ell^-$ observables, in particular $A_8$, is predicted, which can be tested in the near future, and an explanation of the $B\to Kπ$ and $ε^\prime/ε$ puzzles leads to effects in di-jet tails at the LHC, that are not far below the current limits. Once $b\to s \ell^+\ell^-$ is included, cancellations in di-muon tails, possibly by a second $Z^\prime$, are required by LHC data.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

Correlating $ε^\prime/ε$ to hadronic $B$ decays via $U(2)^3$ flavour symmetry

There are strong similarities between charge-parity (CP) violating observables in hadronic $B$ decays (in particular $ΔA^-_{\rm CP}$ in $B\to Kπ$) and direct CP violation in Kaon decays ($ε^\prime$): All these observables are very sensitive to new physics (NP) which is at the same time CP and isospin violating (i.e. NP with complex couplings which are different for up quarks and down quarks). Intriguingly, both the measurements of $ε^\prime$ and $ΔA^-_{\rm CP}$ show deviations from their Standard Model predictions, calling for a common explanation (the latter is known as the $B\to Kπ$ puzzle). For addressing this point, we parametrize NP using a gauge invariant effective field theory approach combined with a global $U(2)^3$ flavor symmetry in the quark sector (also known as less-minimal flavour violation). We first determine the operators which can provide a common explanation of $ε^\prime$ and $ΔA^-_{\rm CP}$ and then perform a global fit of their Wilson coefficients to the data from hadronic $B$ decays. Here we also include e.g. the recently measured CP asymmetry in $B_s\to KK$ as well as the purely isospin violating decay $B_s\toϕρ^0$, finding a consistent NP pattern providing a very good fit to data. Furthermore, we can at the same time explain $ε^\prime/ε$ for natural values of the free parameters within our $U(2)^3$ flavour approach, and this symmetry gives interesting predictions for hadronic decays involving $b\to d$ transitions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

Leading-logarithmic threshold resummation of the Drell-Yan process at next-to-leading power

We resum the leading logarithms $α_s^n \ln^{2 n-1}(1-z)$, $n=1,2,\ldots$ near the kinematic threshold $z=Q^2/\hat{s}\to 1$ of the Drell-Yan process at next-to-leading power in the expansion in $(1-z)$. The derivation of this result employs soft-collinear effective theory in position space and the anomalous dimensions of subleading-power soft functions, which are computed. Expansion of the resummed result leads to the leading logarithms at fixed loop order, in agreement with exact results at NLO and NNLO and predictions from the physical evolution kernel at N$^3$LO and N$^4$LO, and to new results at the five-loop order and beyond.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

On next-to-leading power threshold corrections in Drell-Yan production at N$^3$LO

The cross-section for Drell-Yan production of a vector boson has been previously calculated at next-to-next-to-leading order, supplemented by enhanced logarithmic terms associated with the threshold region. In this paper, we calculate a large set of enhanced terms associated with the colour structure $C_F^3$ at N$^3$LO, for the double real emission contribution in the quark-antiquark channel, as an expansion around the threshold region up to and including the first subleading power. We perform our calculation using the method of regions, which systematically characterises all contributions according to whether the virtual gluon is (next-to) soft, collinear or hard in nature. Our results will prove useful for developing general formalisms for classifying next-to-leading power (NLP) threshold effects. They are also interesting in their own right, given that they constitute a previously unknown contribution to the Drell-Yan cross-section at ${\cal O}(α_s^3)$.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Infrared singularities of QCD scattering amplitudes in the Regge limit to all orders

Scattering amplitudes of partons in QCD contain infrared divergences which can be resummed to all orders in terms of an anomalous dimension. Independently, in the limit of high-energy forward scattering, large logarithms of the energy can be resummed using Balitsky-Fadin-Kuraev-Lipatov theory. We use the latter to analyze the infrared-singular part of amplitudes to all orders in perturbation theory and to next-to-leading-logarithm accuracy in the high-energy limit, resumming the two-Reggeon contribution. Remarkably, we find a closed form for the infrared-singular part, predicting the Regge limit of the soft anomalous dimension to any loop order.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Two-parton scattering in the high-energy limit

Considering $2\to 2$ gauge-theory scattering with general colour in the high-energy limit, we compute the Regge-cut contribution to three loops through next-to-next-to-leading high-energy logarithms (NNLL) in the signature-odd sector. Our formalism is based on using the non-linear Balitsky-JIMWLK rapidity evolution equation to derive an effective Hamiltonian acting on states with a fixed number of Reggeized gluons. A new effect occurring first at NNLL is mixing between states with $k$ and $k+2$ Reggeized gluons due non-diagonal terms in this Hamiltonian. Our results are consistent with a recent determination of the infrared structure of scattering amplitudes at three loops, as well as a computation of $2\to 2$ gluon scattering in ${\cal N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory. Combining the latter with our Regge-cut calculation we extract the three-loop Regge trajectory in this theory. Our results open the way to predict high-energy logarithms through NNLL at higher-loop orders.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Next-to-leading power threshold logarithms: a status report

There is ample evidence, dating as far back as Low's theorem, that the universality of soft emissions extends beyond leading power in the soft energy. This universality can, in principle, be exploited to generalise the formalism of threshold resummations beyond leading power in the threshold variable. In the past years, several phenomenological approaches have been partially successful in performing such a resummation. Here, we briefly review some recent developments which pave the way to a solution of this problem, at least for electroweak annihilation processes.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2014

The method of regions and next-to-soft corrections in Drell-Yan production

We perform a case study of the behavior of gluon radiation beyond the soft approximation, using as an example the Drell-Yan production cross section at NNLO. We draw a careful distinction between the eikonal expansion, which is in powers of the soft gluon energies, and the expansion in powers of the threshold variable $1 - z$, which involves important hard-collinear effects. Focusing on the contribution to the NNLO Drell-Yan K-factor arising from real-virtual interference, we use the method of regions to classify all relevant contributions up to next-to-leading power in the threshold expansion. With this method, we reproduce the exact two-loop result to the required accuracy, including $z$-independent non-logarithmic contributions, and we precisely identify the origin of the soft-collinear interference which breaks simple soft-gluon factorization at next-to-eikonal level. Our results pave the way for the development of a general factorisation formula for next-to-leading-power threshold logarithms, and clarify the nature of loop corrections to a set of recently proposed next-to-soft theorems.

hep-ph↗