arXiv subjects

Oleksandr Zenaiev

Publications and source records attributed to Oleksandr Zenaiev.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Simultaneous extraction of top quark mass, strong coupling, effective mixing angle, and proton PDFs using inclusive DIS and proton-proton collision data

We present the first simultaneous determination of the proton parton distribution functions (PDFs) together with the strong coupling, the top quark pole mass, and the effective weak mixing angle. The analysis is performed at next-to-next-to-leading order in QCD using the xFitter framework, based on inclusive deep-inelastic scattering measurements at HERA and precise measurements of jet, electroweak boson, and top quark-antiquark pair production in proton-proton collisions at the LHC. Non-relativistic QCD effects in top quark-antiquark pair production are considered at next-to-leading order, and combined with next-to-leading logarithmic soft-gluon resummation. Simultaneously with PDFs and Standard Model (SM) parameters, relevant top quark SM effective-field-theory (SMEFT) operators are constrained. The precision of the obtained SM parameters is competitive with the state-of-the art individual extractions and accounts for the correlations among those parameters and PDFs. This work paves the way for future global interpretation of the LHC data in terms of QCD, SM and SMEFT.

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arXiv2026

A novel phenomenological approach to total charm cross-section measurements at the LHC

We propose a novel, data-driven method for determining total charm cross sections in proton-proton collisions by extrapolating measured fiducial cross sections without assuming any particular fragmentation model. The recently observed charm fragmentation non-universality at the LHC experimentally establishes strongly increased baryon production fractions and correspondingly decreased meson production fractions compared to electron-positron collisions, with a very significant $p_T$ dependence. The novel method accounts for this non-universality and its $p_T$-dependence through a data-driven extrapolation function called ddFONLL. Applied to $D^0$ production at 5 and 13 TeV, this approach yields total charm cross sections that fully incorporate the fragmentation non-universality and increase significantly compared to the previous measurements still based on fragmentation universality. The results are consistent with NNLO QCD predictions and enable direct comparisons free from fragmentation assumptions. We use this to evaluate the sensitivity of total cross-section measurements to parton distribution functions and the charm-quark mass. An outlook is given on the potential of further expanding the use of the ddFONLL method.

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arXiv2026

Threshold Top-Quark Pair-Production: Cross Sections and Key Uncertainties

We study theoretical uncertainties in predicting top-quark pair-production near threshold at the LHC using the non-relativistic QCD framework. We include variations in the top-quark mass and width, the strong coupling $α_s$, renormalization and factorization scales, and parton distribution functions, as well as uncertainties from the color-singlet and octet Green's functions that describe quasi-bound toponium formation. These uncertainties are compared with those from standard fixed-order QCD predictions, and implications for ATLAS and CMS analyses are discussed. For the LHC at 13 TeV center-of-mass energy, the integral of the top-quark pair invariant-mass distribution from 340 to 350 GeV is 11.67 pb with ${}^{+1.43}_{-1.47}$ pb uncertainty. The corresponding excess after subtracting the POWHEG-BOX result is 4.15 pb with the same uncertainties.

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arXiv2024

Exploring SMEFT Couplings Using the Forward-Backward Asymmetry in Neutral Current Drell-Yan Production at the LHC

Neutral current Drell-Yan (DY) lepton-pair production is considered in the framework of the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT). Using the open-source fit platform xFitter, we investigate the impact of high-statistics measurements of the neutral current DY (NCDY) forward-backward asymmetry $A_{\rm{FB}}$ near the weak boson mass scale in the present and forthcoming stages of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Besides recovering earlier results on the $A_{\rm{FB}}$ sensitivity to parton distribution functions, we analyze the precision determination of $Z$-boson couplings to left-handed and right-handed $u$-quarks and $d$-quarks, and explore Beyond-Standard-Model contributions using the SMEFT framework. We perform a sensitivity study and comment on the role of the $A_{\rm{FB}}$ asymmetry for the electroweak SMEFT fit and precision $Z$-boson physics at the LHC and high-luminosity HL-LHC.

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arXiv2024

A framework for simultaneous fit of QCD and BSM parameters with xFitter

An extension of the xFitter open-source program for QCD analyses is presented, allowing for a polynomial parameterization of the dependence of physical observables on theoretical parameters. This extension enables simultaneous determination of parton distribution functions (PDFs) and new physics parameters within the framework of the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT). The functionalities of the code are illustrated in a sensitivity study, where a simultaneous determination of the PDFs, top quark mass and the couplings of selected dimension-6 SMEFT operators is addressed using projections for measurements of top quark-antiquark pair production at the High-Luminosity LHC. The importance of considering all the correlations of the parton distributions, top quark mass and the EFT parameters in a simultaneous QCD+SMEFT analysis is demonstrated. This work serves as a new platform for simultaneous extraction of the PDFs and the SM/SMEFT parameters based on xFitter.

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arXiv2024

xFitter Updates: Probing Z Boson Couplings with Forward-Backward Asymmetry

We present recent updates in the xFitter software framework for global fits of parton distribution functions in high-energy physics. Our focus is on investigating the sensitivity to Z boson couplings using the forward-backward asymmetry in Drell-Yan production. By utilizing an effective approach and simulated data, we assess the accuracy of these couplings, specifically considering the full LHC data sample. Furthermore, we compare our results with predictions for future colliders, providing insights into their potential impact on understanding Z boson interactions.

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arXiv2023

Compatibility between theoretical predictions and experimental data for top-antitop hadroproduction at NNLO QCD accuracy

We compare double-differential normalized production cross sections for top-antitop $+ X$ hadroproduction at NNLO QCD accuracy, as obtained through a customized version of the MATRIX framework interfaced to PineAPPL, with recent data by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations. We take into account theory uncertainties due to scale variation and we see how predictions vary as a function of parton distribution function (PDF) choice and top-quark pole mass value, considering different state-of-the-art PDF fits with their uncertainties. Notwithstanding the overall reasonable good agreement, we observe discrepancies at the level of a few $σ$'s between data and theoretical predictions in some kinematical regions, which can be alleviated by refitting the top-quark mass value, and/or the PDFs and/or $α_s(M_Z)$, considering the correlations between these three quantities. In a fit of top-quark mass standalone, we notice that, for all considered PDF + $α_s(M_Z)$ sets used as input, some datasets point towards top-quark pole mass values lower by about $2\,σ$'s than those emerging from fitting other datasets, suggesting a possible tension between experimental measurements using different decay channels, and/or the need of better estimating uncertainties on the latter.

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arXiv2021

QCD analysis of pion fragmentation functions in the xFitter framework

We present the first open-source analysis of fragmentation functions (FFs) of charged pions (entitled IPM-xFitter) computed at next-to-leading order (NLO) and next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) accuracy in perturbative QCD using the xFitter framework. This study incorporates a comprehensive and up-to-date set of pion production data from single-inclusive annihilation (SIA) processes, as well as the most recent measurements of inclusive cross-sections of single pion by the BELLE collaboration. The determination of pion FFs along with their theoretical uncertainties is performed in the Zero-Mass Variable-Flavor Number Scheme (ZM-VFNS). We also present comparisons of our FFs set with recent fits from the literature. The resulting NLO and NNLO pion FFs provide valuable insights for applications in present and future high-energy analysis of pion final state processes.

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arXiv2020

Parton Distribution Functions of the Charged Pion Within The xFitter Framework

We present the first open-source analysis of parton distribution functions (PDFs) of charged pions using xFitter, an open-source QCD fit framework to facilitate PDF extraction and analyses. Our calculations are implemented at next-to-leading order (NLO) using APPLgrids generated by MCFM generator. Using currently available Drell-Yan and photon production data, we find the valence distribution is well constrained; however, the considered data are not sensitive enough to unambiguously determine sea and gluon distributions. Fractions of momentum carried by the valence, sea and gluon components are discussed, and we compare with the results of JAM collaboration and the GRV group.

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arXiv2019

PDF Profiling Using the Forward-Backward Asymmetry in Neutral Current Drell-Yan Production

Non-perturbative QCD effects from Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs) may be constrained by using high-statistics Large Hadron Collider (LHC) data. Drell-Yan (DY) measurements in the Charged Current (CC) case provide one of the primary means to do this, in the form of the lepton charge asymmetry. We investigate here the impact of measurements in Neutral Current (NC) DY data mapped onto the Forward-Backward Asymmetry ($A_{\rm FB}$) on PDF determinations, by using the open source fit platform {\tt{xFitter}}. We demonstrate the potential impact of $A_{\rm FB}$ data on PDF determinations and perform a thorough analysis of related uncertainties.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

Probing the strange content of the proton with charm production in charged current at LHeC

We study charm production in charged-current deep-inelastic scattering (DIS) using the xFitter framework. Recent results from the LHC have focused renewed attention on the determination of the strange-quark parton distribution function (PDF) and the DIS charm process provides important complementary constraints on this quantity. We examine the current PDF uncertainty, and use LHeC pseudodata to estimate the potential improvement from this proposed facility. As xFitter implements both fixed-flavor- and variable-flavor-number schemes, we can compare the impact of these different theoretical choices; this highlights some interesting aspects of multi-scale calculations. We find that the high-statistics LHeC data covering a wide kinematic range could substantially reduce the strange PDF uncertainty.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

Recent QCD results from the xFitter project: Probing the strange content of the proton with charm production in charged current at LHeC

We investigate charm production in charged-current deep-inelastic scattering (DIS) using the xFitter program. xFitter is an open-source software framework for the determination of PDFs and the analysis of QCD physics, and has been used for a variety of LHC studies. The study of charged current DIS charm production provides an important perspective on the strange quark PDF, s(x). We make use of the xFitter tools to study the present s(x) constraints, and then use LHeC pseudodata to infer how these might improve. Furthermore, as xFitter implements both Fixed Flavor and Variable Flavor number schemes, we can examine the impact of these different theoretical choices; this highlights some interesting aspects of multi-scale calculations. This study provides a practical illustration of the many features of xFitter.

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arXiv2018

Impact of low-$x$ resummation on QCD analysis of HERA data

Fits to the final combined HERA deep-inelastic scattering cross-section data within the conventional DGLAP framework of QCD have shown some tension at low $x$ and low $Q^2$. A resolution of this tension incorporating $\ln(1/x)$-resummation terms into the HERAPDF fits is investigated using the xFitter program. The kinematic region where this resummation is important is delineated. Such high-energy resummation not only gives a better description of the data, particularly of the longitudinal structure function $F_L$, it also results in a gluon PDF which is steeply rising at low $x$ for low scales, $Q^2 \simeq 2.5$ GeV$^2$, contrary to the fixed-order NLO and NNLO gluon PDF.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Charm Production and QCD Analysis at HERA and LHC

This review is devoted to the study of charm production in ep and pp collisions. The total set of measurements obtained by the two collaborations H1 and ZEUS from HERA and their combination is outlined, as well as complementary data obtained by the LHCb collaboration at the LHC. After fitting the parton distribution functions the charm production cross sections are predicted within perturbative QCD at next-to-leading order using the fixed-flavour-number scheme. Agreement with the data is found. The combined HERA charm data are sensitive to the $c$-quark mass and enabled its accurate determination. The predictions crucially depend upon the knowledge of the gluon distribution function. It is shown that the shape of the gluon distribution based on the HERA data is considerably improved by adding the measurements from LHCb and applicable down to values x of about 10^{-6}, where x is the proton momentum fraction carried by a parton.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2016

Combined analysis of charm-quark fragmentation-fraction measurements

A summary of measurements of the fragmentation of charm quarks into a specific hadron is given. Measurements performed in photoproduction and deep inelastic scattering in $e^{\pm}p$, $pp$ and $e^+e^-$ collisions are compared, using up-to-date branching ratios. Within uncertainties, all measurements agree, supporting the hypothesis that fragmentation is independent of the specific production process. Averages of the fragmentation fractions over all measurements are presented. The average has significantly reduced uncertainties compared to individual measurements.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2016

A determination of mc(mc) from HERA data using a matched heavy-flavor scheme

The charm quark mass is one of the fundamental parameters of the Standard Model Lagrangian. In this work we present a determination of the MSbar charm mass from a fit to the inclusive and charm HERA deep-inelastic structure function data. The analysis is performed within the xFitter framework, with structure functions computed in the FONLL general-mass scheme as implemented in APFEL. In the case of the FONLL-C scheme, we obtain mc(mc) = 1.335 +- 0.043(exp) +0.019 -0.000(param) +0.011 -0.008(mod) +0.033 -0.008(th) GeV. We also perform an analogous determination in the fixed-flavor-number scheme at next-to-leading order, finding mc(mc) = 1.318 +- 0.054(exp) +0.011 -0.010(param) +0.015 -0.019(mod) +0.045 -0.004(th) GeV, compatible with the FONLL-C value. Our results are consistent with previous determinations from DIS data as well as with the PDG world average.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Impact of heavy-flavour production cross sections measured by the LHCb experiment on parton distribution functions at low x

The impact of recent measurements of heavy-flavour production in deep inelastic $ep$ scattering and in $pp$ collisions on parton distribution functions is studied in a QCD analysis in the fixed-flavour number scheme at next-to-leading order. Differential cross sections of charm- and beauty-hadron production measured by LHCb are used together with inclusive and heavy-flavour production cross sections in deep inelastic scattering at HERA. The heavy-flavour data of the LHCb experiment impose additional constraints on the gluon and the sea-quark distributions at low partonic fractions $x$ of the proton momentum, down to $x \sim 5 \times 10^{-6}$. This kinematic range is currently not covered by other experimental data in perturbative QCD fits.

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