arXiv subjects

Luca Rottoli

Publications and source records attributed to Luca Rottoli.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2024

Associated production of a $W$ boson and massive bottom quarks at next-to-next-to-leading order in QCD

We present the first calculation for the hadroproduction of a $W$ boson in association with a massive bottom ($b$) quark-antiquark pair at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) in QCD perturbation theory. We exploit the hierarchy between the $b$ quark mass and the characteristic energy scale of the process to obtain a reliable analytic expression for the two-loop virtual amplitude with three massive legs, starting from the corresponding result available for massless bottom quarks. The use of massive $b$ quarks avoids the ambiguities associated with the correct flavour assignment in massless calculations, paving the way to a more realistic comparison with experimental data. We present phenomenological results considering proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=13.6$ TeV for inclusive $Wb \bar b$ production and within a fiducial region relevant for the associated production of a $W$ boson and a Higgs boson decaying into a $b \bar b$ pair, for which $Wb \bar b$ production represents one of the most relevant backgrounds. We find that the NNLO corrections are substantial and that their inclusion is mandatory to obtain reliable predictions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Predictions for Neutrinos and New Physics from Forward Heavy Hadron Production at the LHC

Scenarios with new physics particles feebly interacting with the Standard Model sector provide compelling candidates for dark matter searches. Geared with a set of new experiments for the detection of neutrinos and long-lived particles the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has joined the hunt for these elusive states. On the theoretical side, this emerging physics program requires reliable estimates of the associated particle fluxes, in particular those arising from heavy hadron decays. In this work, we provide state-of-the-art QCD predictions for heavy hadron production including radiative corrections at next-to-leading order and using parton distribution functions including small-$x$ resummation at next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy. We match our predictions to parton showers to provide a realistic description of hadronisation effects. We demonstrate the utility of our predictions by presenting the energy spectrum of neutrinos from charm hadron decays. Furthermore, we employ our predictions to estimate, for the first time, FASER's sensitivity to electrophilic ALPs, which are predominantly generated in beauty hadron decays.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Addendum to: Constraints on the quartic Higgs self-coupling from double-Higgs production at future hadron colliders

We study inclusive double-Higgs boson production at the LHC and at the HL-LHC including variations of the trilinear and of the quartic Higgs boson self-couplings at next-to-leading order (NLO) in QCD with full top quark mass dependence. Our results include the two-loop contributions to the $gg \rightarrow HH$ amplitudes that involve a modified $h_4$ vertex calculated in arXiv:1810.04665. We present results at 13, 13.6 and 14 TeV centre-of-mass energies. The implementation of the calculation is made publicly available in the POWHEG-BOX-V2 Monte Carlo framework.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Jettiness formulation of the MINNLO$_{\text{PS}}$ method

We present a new formulation of the MINNLO method to match NNLO QCD calculations with parton showers by using jettiness as a resummation variable. The full derivation for colour-singlet processes is presented using $0$-jettiness starting from the NNLL$^\prime$ resummation formula. We show phenomenological results for Drell-Yan and Higgs-boson production at the LHC and compare our predictions to ATLAS and CMS data. Differences to the original MINNLO formulation using the transverse momentum of the colour singlet as resummation variable are discussed. We further present a comparison of MINNLO predictions with GENEVA. Finally, we extend the formulation of the MINNLO method to 1-jettiness which is applicable to processes with a colour singlet plus one jet in the final state.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Precise predictions for the associated production of a $W$ boson with a top-antitop quark pair at the LHC

The production of a top-antitop quark pair in association with a $W$ boson ($t\bar tW$) is one of the heaviest signatures currently probed at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Since the first observation reported in 2015 the corresponding rates have been found to be consistently higher than the Standard Model predictions, which are based on next-to-leading order~(NLO) calculations in the QCD and electroweak (EW) interactions. We present the first next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) QCD computation of $t\bar tW$ production at hadron colliders. The calculation is exact, except for the finite part of the two-loop virtual corrections, which is estimated using two different approaches that lead to consistent results within their uncertainties. We combine the newly computed NNLO QCD corrections with the complete NLO QCD+EW results, thus obtaining the most advanced perturbative prediction available to date for the \ttW inclusive cross section. The tension with the latest ATLAS and CMS results remains at the $1σ-2σ$ level.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

A new observable for $W$-mass determination

In this contribution we discuss the properties of the jacobian asymmetry, the new observable introduced in hep-ph/2301.04059 for a robust determination of the value and uncertainty of the $W$-boson mass at hadron colliders.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Effective transverse momentum in multiple jet production at hadron colliders

We consider the class of inclusive hadron collider processes in which several energetic jets are produced, possibly accompanied by colourless particles (such as Higgs boson(s), vector boson(s) with their leptonic decays, and so forth). We propose a new variable that smoothly captures the $N+1$ to $N$-jet transition. This variable, that we dub $k_T^{\rm ness}$, represents an effective transverse momentum controlling the singularities of the $N+1$-jet cross section when the additional jet is unresolved. The $k_T^{\rm ness}$ variable offers novel opportunities to perform higher-order calculations in Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) by using non-local subtraction schemes. We study the singular behavior of the $N+1$-jet cross section as $k_T^{\rm ness}\to 0$ and, as a phenomenological application, we use the ensuing results to evaluate next-to-leading order corrections to $H$+jet and $Z$+2 jet production at the LHC. We show that $k_T^{\rm ness}$ performs extremely well as a resolution variable and appears to be very stable with respect to hadronization and multiple-parton interactions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Linear power corrections for two-body kinematics in the $q_T$ subtraction formalism

Transverse-momentum cuts on undistinguished particles in two-body final states induce an enhanced sensitivity to low momentum scales. This undesirable feature, which ultimately leads to an instability of the fixed-order series, poses additional challenges to non-local subtraction schemes. In this letter, we address this issue for general colour-singlet processes within the $q_T$-subtraction formalism, focussing on neutral-current Drell-Yan production. We present a simple procedure to reduce the dependence on the slicing parameter from linear to quadratic, by accounting for the linear power corrections through an appropriate recoil prescription. We observe a dramatical improvement of the numerical convergence and a reduction of the systematic uncertainties. We also discuss how a linear dependence in $q_T$ can be avoided for Drell-Yan production by using staggered cuts, which, to the best of our understanding, could be used in experimental analyses. We show that our approach can be successfully applied also to on-shell $ZZ$ production. We finally study diphoton production and verify that our approach is insufficient to capture the linear power corrections introduced by the isolation procedure. The recoil prescription is available in version 2.1 of MATRIX.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Momentum-space resummation for transverse observables and the Higgs $p_\perp$ at N$^3$LL+NNLO

We present an approach to the momentum-space resummation of global, recursive infrared and collinear safe observables featuring kinematic zeros away from the Sudakov limit. In the hadro-production of a generic colour singlet, we consider the family of inclusive observables which do not depend on the rapidity of the radiation, prime examples being the transverse momentum of the singlet, and $ϕ^*$ in Drell-Yan pair production. We derive a resummation formula valid up to next-to-next-to-next-to-leading-logaritmic accuracy for the considered observables. This formula reduces exactly to the customary resummation performed in impact-parameter space in the known cases, and it also predicts the correct power-behaved scaling of the cross section in the limit of small value of the observable. We show how this formalism is efficiently implemented by means of Monte Carlo techniques in a fully exclusive generator that allows one to apply arbitrary cuts on the Born variables for any colour singlet, as well as to automatically match the resummed results to fixed-order calculations. As a phenomenological application, we present state-of-the-art predictions for the Higgs-boson transverse-momentum spectrum at the LHC at next-to-next-to-next-to-leading-logarithmic accuracy matched to fixed next-to-next-to-leading order.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Theory uncertainties in the fiducial Drell-Yan cross section and distributions

In these proceedings we study various sources of theoretical uncertainty in the Drell-Yan $p_T^{\ell\ell}$ spectrum focussing on the $p_T^{\ell\ell} \lesssim 100\, {\rm GeV}$ region. We consider several perturbative aspects related to the choice of the scale setting adopted in resummed calculations, and we assess their impact on the theoretical prediction both for the differential $p_T^{\ell\ell}$ spectrum and for the $\rm{N}^3\rm{LO}$ fiducial cross section. For both quantities, we find the results obtained with the different setups to be compatible with each other within the quoted uncertainty, highlighting the robustness of the theoretical prediction. In all cases, the experimental LHC data for the $p_T^{\ell\ell}$ spectrum is well described by our calculation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

NNLO+PS with MiNNLO$_{\rm PS}$: status and prospects

We summarize the current status and near future prospects for next-to-next-to-leading order calculations matched to parton shower based on the MiNNLO$_{\rm PS}$ method. We give a theoretical overview, illustrate selected results for $ZZ\to 4\ell$ and top-pair production processes at the LHC, and provide an outlook of the future challenges.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Transverse-momentum resummation for boson plus jet production at hadron colliders

We consider the associated production of a vector or Higgs boson with a jet in hadronic collisions. When the transverse momentum $q_T$ of the boson-jet system is much smaller than its invariant mass $Q$, the QCD perturbative expansion is affected by large logarithmic terms that must be resummed to all orders. We discuss the all-order resummation structure of the logarithmically enhanced contributions up to next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy. Resummation is performed at the differential level with respect to the kinematical variables of the boson-jet system. Soft-parton radiation produces azimuthal correlations that are fully accounted for in our framework. We present explicit analytical results for the resummation coefficients up to next-to-leading order and next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy, that include the exact dependence on the jet radius.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Fiducial Higgs and Drell-Yan distributions at N$^3$LL$^\prime$+NNLO with RadISH

We present state-of-the-art predictions for transverse observables relevant to colour-singlet production at the LHC, in particular the transverse momentum of the colour singlet in gluon-fusion Higgs production and in neutral Drell-Yan lepton-pair production, as well as the $ϕ^*_η$ observable in Drell Yan. We perform a next-to-next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic (N$^3$LL) resummation of such observables in momentum space according to the RadISH formalism, consistently including in our prediction all constant terms of relative order $α_s^3$ with respect to the Born, thereby achieving N$^3$LL$^\prime$ accuracy. The calculation is fully exclusive with respect to the Born kinematics, which allows the application of arbitrary fiducial selection cuts on the decay products of the colour singlet. We supplement our results with a transverse-recoil prescription, accounting for dominant classes of subleading-power corrections in a fiducial setup. The resummed predictions are matched with fixed-order differential spectra at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) accuracy. A phenomenological comparison is carried out with 13 TeV LHC data relevant to the Higgs to di-photon channel, as well as to neutral Drell-Yan lepton-pair production. Overall, the inclusion of ${\cal O}(α_s^3)$ constant terms, and to a lesser extent of transverse-recoil effects, proves beneficial for the comparison of theoretical predictions to data, leaving a residual theoretical uncertainty in the resummation region at the 2-5% level for Drell-Yan observables, and 5-7% in Higgs production.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

$ZZ$ production at nNNLO+PS with MiNNLO$_{\text{PS}}$

We consider $ZZ$ production in hadronic collisions and present state-of-the-art predictions in QCD perturbation theory matched to parton showers. Next-to-next-to-leading order corrections to the quark-initiated channel are combined with parton showers using the MiNNLO$_{\text{PS}}$ method, while next-to-leading order corrections to the loop-induced gluon fusion channel are matched using the POWHEG method. Their combination, dubbed nNNLO+PS, constitutes the best theoretical description of $ZZ$ events to date. Spin correlations, interferences and off-shell effects are included by calculating the full process $pp \to \ell^+\ell^-\ell^{(\prime)+}\ell^{(\prime)-}$. We show the crucial impact of higher-order corrections for both quark- and gluon-initiated processes as well as the relevance of the parton shower in certain kinematical regimes. Our predictions are in very good agreement with recent LHC data.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Resummed predictions for hadronic Higgs boson decays

We present the NNLL$'$ resummed $2$-jettiness distribution for decays of the Standard Model Higgs boson to a $b\bar{b}$-quark pair and to gluons. The calculation exploits a factorisation formula derived using Soft-Collinear Effective Theory, in which large logarithms of the $2$-jettiness are resummed by renormalisation group evolution of the hard, soft and jet contributions to the differential decay rate. We match the resummed predictions to the fixed-order NNLO result using the GENEVA framework, extending the validity of the results to all values of the resolution variable and providing a fully exclusive NNLO event generator matched to the PYTHIA8 parton shower.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Precise predictions for photon pair production matched to parton showers in GENEVA

We present a new calculation for the production of isolated photon pairs at the LHC with NNLL$'_{\mathcal{T}_0}$+NNLO accuracy. This is the first implementation within the GENEVA Monte Carlo framework of a process with a nontrivial Born-level definition which suffers from QED singularities. Throughout the computation we use a smooth-cone isolation algorithm to remove such divergences. The higher-order resummation of the 0-jettiness resolution variable $\mathcal{T}_0$ is based on a factorisation formula derived within Soft-Collinear Effective Theory which predicts all of the singular, virtual and real NNLO corrections. Starting from this precise parton-level prediction and by employing the GENEVA method, we provide fully showered and hadronised events using PYTHIA8, while retaining the NNLO QCD accuracy for observables which are inclusive over the additional radiation. We compare our final predictions to LHC data at 7 TeV and find good agreement.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Accurate single- and double-differential resummation of colour-singlet processes with MATRIX+RadISH: $W^+W^-$ production at the LHC

We present the combination of fully differential cross sections for colour-singlet production processes at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) QCD obtained with MATRIX and all-order resummation through RadISH. This interface allows us to achieve unprecedented accuracy for various transverse observables in $2 \rightarrow 2$ production processes. As an important application we consider $W^+ W^-$ production at the LHC, more precisely the full leptonic process $pp\to \ell^+\ell^{\prime\, -}ν_{\ell}{\barν}_{\ell^\prime}+X$ with $\ell'\neq\ell$, and we present resummed predictions for differential distributions in presence of fiducial selection cuts. In particular, we resum the transverse-momentum spectrum of the $W^+ W^-$ pair at next-to-next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic (N$^3$LL) accuracy and match it to the integrated NNLO cross section. The transverse-momentum spectrum of the leading jet in $W^+ W^-$ production is calculated at NNLO+NNLL accuracy. Finally, the joint resummation for the transverse-momentum spectrum of the $W^+ W^-$ pair in the presence of a jet veto is performed at NNLO+NNLL. Our phenomenological study highlights the importance of higher-order perturbative and logarithmic corrections for precision phenomenology at the LHC.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Fiducial distributions in Higgs and Drell-Yan production at N$^3$LL+NNLO

The perturbative description of certain differential distributions across a wide kinematic range requires the matching of fixed-order perturbation theory with resummation of large logarithmic corrections to all orders. We present precise matched predictions for transverse-momentum distributions in Higgs boson (H) and Drell-Yan pair (DY) production as well as for the closely related ${ϕ^{*}_η}$ distribution at the LHC. The calculation is exclusive in the Born kinematics, and allows for arbitrary fiducial selection cuts on the decay products of the colour singlets, which is of primary relevance for experimental analyses. Our predictions feature very small residual scale uncertainties and display a good convergence of the perturbative series. A comparison of the predictions for DY observables to experimental data at 8 TeV shows a very good agreement within the quoted errors.

hep-ph↗