arXiv subjects

P. Kotko

Publications and source records attributed to P. Kotko.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Polish national input to the 2026 update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics

The Polish high energy physics (HEP) community fully recognizes the urgent need to host at CERN a flagship project implementing a broad, long-term, and comprehensive vision of particle physics research and pursuing technological advances. Thus, we give preference and declare willingness to actively engage and participate in every aspect of the FCC project (both FCC-ee and FCC-hh), particularly accelerator development, detector construction, theoretical calculations, and physics analyses. As the e+e- Higgs Factory is the top priority for our field, the proposal to build a linear collider facility at CERN, opening up complementary physics prospects, should be considered as the second option. Polish teams declare strong support and are fully committed to contribute to the full exploitation of all aspects of the physics potential of the LHC and the HL-LHC programmes. To ensure the long-term development of particle physics, we also support the continuation of the high-field magnet research programme, as well as investigating other scenarios including, in particular, linear acceleration techniques and new acceleration technologies such as plasma acceleration, the muon collider and Gamma Factory. In addition, CERN should continue to provide support to fixed-target programmes at SPS as well as other non-collider and non-accelerator experiments at CERN. Participation in major projects conducted in and outside Europe should also be fostered. Education, communication, and outreach of particle physics are of paramount importance for the future of our field. An increased effort coordinated at the European level and resources allocated in all Member States are essential to effectively support future large-scale particle physics projects.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Physics with high-luminosity proton-nucleus collisions at the LHC

The physics case for the operation of high-luminosity proton-nucleus ($pA$) collisions during Run 3 and 4 at the LHC is reviewed. The collection of $\mathcal{O}$(1-10 pb$^{-1}$) of proton-lead ($p$Pb) collisions at the LHC will provide unique physics opportunities in a broad range of topics including proton and nuclear parton distribution functions (PDFs and nPDFs), generalised parton distributions (GPDs), transverse momentum dependent PDFs (TMDs), low-$x$ QCD and parton saturation, hadron spectroscopy, baseline studies for quark-gluon plasma and parton collectivity, double and triple parton scatterings (DPS/TPS), photon-photon collisions, and physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM); which are not otherwise as clearly accessible by exploiting data from any other colliding system at the LHC. This report summarises the accelerator aspects of high-luminosity $pA$ operation at the LHC, as well as each of the physics topics outlined above, including the relevant experimental measurements that motivate -- much -- larger $pA$ datasets.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Searching for saturation in forward dijet production at the LHC

We review recent results for forward jests at the LHC and EIC as obtained within small-x Improved Transverse Momentum Dependent factorization (ITMD). In addition to elementary overview of various approaches to perturbative QCD at high energy, including High Energy Factorization, Color Glass Condensate and ITMD, we describe the Monte Carlo implementation and discuss the existing and unpublished phenomenological results for forward dijets.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Dijet azimuthal correlations in p-p and p-Pb collisions at forward LHC calorimeters

We present a state-of-the-art computation for the production of forward dijets in proton-proton and proton-lead collisions at the LHC, in rapidity domains covered by the ATLAS calorimeter and the planned FoCal extension of the ALICE detector. We use the small-x improved TMD (ITMD) formalism, together with collinearly improved TMD gluon distributions and full b-space Sudakov resummation, and discuss nonperturbative corrections due to hadronization and showers using the Pythia event generator. We observe that forward dijets in proton-nucleus collisions at moderately low pT are excellent probes of saturation effects, as the Sudakov resummation does not alter the suppression of the cross section.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Precision QCD, Hadronic Structure & Forward QCD, Heavy Ions: Report of Energy Frontier Topical Groups 5, 6, 7 submitted to Snowmass 2021

This report was prepared on behalf of three Energy Frontier Topical Groups of the Snowmass 2021 Community Planning Exercise. It summarizes the status and implications of studies of strong interactions in high-energy experiments and QCD theory. We emphasize the rich landscape and broad impact of these studies in the decade ahead. Hadronic interactions play a central role in the high-luminosity Large Hadron Collider (LHC) physics program, and strong synergies exist between the (HL-)LHC and planned or proposed experiments at the U.S. Electron-Ion Collider, CERN forward physics experiments, high-intensity facilities, and future TeV-range lepton and hadron colliders. Prospects for precision determinations of the strong coupling and a variety of nonperturbative distribution and fragmentation functions are examined. We also review the potential of envisioned tests of new dynamical regimes of QCD in high-energy and high-density scattering processes with nucleon, ion, and photon initial states. The important role of the high-energy heavy-ion program in studies of nuclear structure and the nuclear medium, and its connections with QCD involving nucleons are summarized. We address ongoing and future theoretical advancements in multi-loop QCD computations, lattice QCD, jet substructure, and event generators. Cross-cutting connections between experimental measurements, theoretical predictions, large-scale data analysis, and high-performance computing are emphasized.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Sudakov effects in central-forward dijet production in high energy factorization

We discuss central-forward dijet production at LHC energies within the framework of high energy factorization. In our study, we profit from the recent progress on consistent merging of Sudakov resummation with small-$x$ effects, which allows us to compute two different gluon distributions which depend on longitudinal momentum, transverse momentum and the hard scale of the process: one for the quark channel and one for the gluon channel. The small-$x$ resummation is included by means of the BK equation supplemented with a kinematic constraint and subleading corrections. We test the new gluon distributions against existing CMS data for transverse momentum spectra in forward-central dijet production. We obtain results which are largely consistent with our earlier predictions based on model implementation of Sudakov form factors. In addition, we study dijet azimuthal decorrelations for the forward-central jets, which are known to be sensitive to the modeling of soft radiation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Trijets in kt-factorisation: matrix elements vs parton shower

We study 3-jet event topologies in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13 {\rm\ TeV}$ in a configuration, where one jet is present in the central pseudorapidity region ($|η| < 2.0$) while two other jets are in a more forward (same hemisphere) area ($|η| > 2.0$). We compare various parton level predictions using: collinear factorisation, $\KT{}$-factorisation with fully off-shell matrix elements and the hybrid framework. We study the influence of different parton distribution functions, initial state radiation, final state radiation, and hadronisation. We focus on differential cross sections as a function of azimuthal angle difference between the leading dijet system and the third jet, which is found to have excellent sensitivity to the physical effects under study.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Predictions for Cold Nuclear Matter Effects in $p+$Pb Collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}} = 8.16$ TeV

Predictions for cold nuclear matter effects on charged hadrons, identified light hadrons, quarkonium and heavy flavor hadrons, Drell-Yan dileptons, jets, photons, gauge bosons and top quarks produced in $p+$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}} = 8.16$ TeV are compiled and, where possible, compared to each other. Predictions of the normalized ratios of $p+$Pb to $p+p$ cross sections are also presented for most of the observables, providing new insights into the expected role of cold nuclear matter effects. In particular, the role of nuclear parton distribution functions on particle production can now be probed over a wider range of phase space than ever before.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Wilson lines in the MHV action

The MHV action is the Yang-Mills action quantized on the light-front, where the two explicit physical gluonic degrees of freedom have been canonically transformed to a new set of fields. This transformation leads to the action with vertices being off-shell continuations of the MHV amplitudes. We show that the solution to the field transformation expressing one of the new fields in terms of the Yang-Mills field is a certain type of the Wilson line. More precisely, it is a straight infinite gauge link with a slope extending to the light-cone minus and the transverse direction. One of the consequences of that fact is that certain MHV vertices reduced partially on-shell are gauge invariant -- a fact discovered before using conventional light-front perturbation theory. We also analyze the diagrammatic content of the field transformations leading to the MHV action. We found that the diagrams for the solution to the transformation (given by the Wilson line) and its inverse differ only by light-front energy denominators. Further, we investigate the coordinate space version of the inverse solution to the one given by the Wilson line. We find an explicit expression given by a power series in fields. We also give a geometric interpretation to it by means of a specially defined vector field. Finally, we discuss the fact that the Wilson line solution to the transformation is directly related to the all-like helicity gluon wave function, while the inverse functional is a generating functional for solutions of self-dual Yang-Mills equations.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

Estimating nonlinear effects in forward dijet production in ultra-peripheral heavy ion collisions at the LHC

Using the framework that interpolates between the leading power limit of the Color Glass Condensate and the High Energy (or $k_{T}$) factorization we calculate the direct component of the forward dijet production in ultra-peripheral $\mathrm{Pb}$-$\mathrm{Pb}$ collisions at CM energy $5.1\,\mathrm{TeV}$ per nucleon pair. The formalism is applicable when the average transverse momentum of the dijet system $P_{T}$ is much bigger than the saturation scale $Q_{s}$, $P_{T}\gg Q_{s}$, while the imbalance of the dijet system can be arbitrary. The cross section is uniquely sensitive to the Weizsäcker-Williams (WW) unintegrated gluon distribution, which is far less known from experimental data than the most common dipole gluon distribution appearing in inclusive small-$x$ processes. We have calculated cross sections and nuclear modification ratios using WW gluon distribution obtained from the dipole gluon density through the Gaussian approximation. The dipole gluon distribution used to get WW was fitted to the inclusive HERA data with the nonlinear extension of unified BFKL+DGLAP evolution equation. The saturation effects are visible but rather weak for realistic $p_{T}$ cut on the dijet system, reaching about $20\%$ with the cut as low as $6\,\mathrm{GeV}$. We find that the LO collinear factorization with nuclear leading twist shadowing predicts quite similar effects.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Heavy ions at the Future Circular Collider

The Future Circular Collider (FCC) Study is aimed at assessing the physics potential and the technical feasibility of a new collider with centre-of-mass energies, in the hadron-hadron collision mode, seven times larger than the nominal LHC energies. Operating such machine with heavy ions is an option that is being considered in the accelerator design studies. It would provide, for example, Pb-Pb and p-Pb collisions at sqrt{s_NN} = 39 and 63 TeV, respectively, per nucleon-nucleon collision, with integrated luminosities above 30 nb^-1 per month for Pb-Pb. This is a report by the working group on heavy-ion physics of the FCC Study. First ideas on the physics opportunities with heavy ions at the FCC are presented, covering the physics of the Quark-Gluon Plasma, of gluon saturation, of photon-induced collisions, as well as connections with other fields of high-energy physics.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Exploring minijets beyond the leading power

The crucial parameter of the current Monte Carlo models of high energy hadron-hadron interaction is the transverse momentum cutoff $p_{T0}$ for parton-parton interactions which slowly grows with energy and regularizes the cross section. This modification of the collinear factorization formula goes beyond the leading power and thus a natural question arises if such cutoff can be extracted from a formalism which takes into account power corrections. In this work, we consider the High Energy Factorization (HEF) valid at small $x$ and a new model, based on a similar principle to HEF, which in addition has a limit respecting the Dokshitzer-Dyakonov-Troyan formula for the dijet momentum disbalance spectrum. Minijet cross section and its suppression is then analyzed in two ways. First, we study minijets directly in the low-$p_T$ region, and demonstrate that higher twist corrections do generate suppression of the inclusive jet production cross section though these effects are not leading to the increase of the cutoff with incident energy. Second, we consider hard inclusive dijet production where Multi Parton Interactions (MPIs) with minijets produce power corrections. We introduce an observable constructed from differential cross section in the ratio $τ$ of dijet disbalance to the average dijet $p_T$ and demonstrate that the $τ>1$ region is sensitive to the cutoff $p_{T0}$ in the MPI minijet models. The energy dependence of the cutoff is reflected in the energy dependence of the bimodality coefficient $b$ of the $τ$ distribution. We compare $b$ calculated from $\mathsf{pythia}$, where one can conveniently control MPIs by the program parameters, and HEF for a few unintegrated gluon distributions (UGDs). We find that the energy dependence of $b$ is very sensitive to the particular choice of UGD and in some models it resembles predictions of the Monte Carlo models.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Forward di-jet production in p+Pb collisions in the small-x improved TMD factorization framework

We study the production of forward di-jets in proton-lead and proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider. Such configurations, with both jets produced in the forward direction, impose a dilute-dense asymmetry which allows to probe the gluon density of the lead or proton target at small longitudinal momentum fractions. Even though the jet momenta are always much bigger than the saturation scale of the target, $Q_s$, the transverse momentum imbalance of the di-jet system may be either also much larger than $Q_s$, or of the order $Q_s$, implying that the small-$x$ QCD dynamics involved is either linear or non-linear, respectively. The small-$x$ improved TMD factorization framework deals with both situation in the same formalism. In the latter case, which corresponds to nearly back-to-back jets, we find that saturation effects induce a significant suppression of the forward di-jet azimuthal correlations in proton-lead versus proton-proton collisions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Predictions for $p+$Pb Collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5$ TeV: Comparison with Data

Predictions made in Albacete {\it et al} prior to the LHC $p+$Pb run at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5$ TeV are compared to currently available data. Some predictions shown here have been updated by including the same experimental cuts as the data. Some additional predictions are also presented, especially for quarkonia, that were provided to the experiments before the data were made public but were too late for the original publication are also shown here.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Improved TMD factorization for forward dijet production in dilute-dense hadronic collisions

We study forward dijet production in dilute-dense hadronic collisions. By considering the appropriate limits, we show that both the transverse-momentum-dependent (TMD) and the high-energy factorization formulas can be derived from the Color Glass Condensate framework. Respectively, this happens when the transverse momentum imbalance of the dijet system, $k_t$, is of the order of either the saturation scale, or the hard jet momenta, the former being always much smaller than the latter. We propose a new formula for forward dijets that encompasses both situations and is therefore applicable regardless of the magnitude of $k_t$. That involves generalizing the TMD factorization formula for dijet production to the case where the incoming small-$x$ gluon is off-shell. The derivation is performed in two independent ways, using either Feynman diagram techniques, or color-ordered amplitudes.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Proceedings of the Sixth International Workshop on Multiple Partonic Interactions at the Large Hadron Collider

Multiple Partonic Interactions are often crucial for interpreting results obtained at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The quest for a sound understanding of the dynamics behind MPI - particularly at this time when the LHC is due to start its "Run II" operations - has focused the aim of this workshop. MPI@LHC2014 concentrated mainly on the phenomenology of LHC measurements whilst keeping in perspective those results obtained at previous hadron colliders. The workshop has also debated some of the state-of-the-art theoretical considerations and the modeling of MPI in Monte Carlo event generators. The topics debated in the workshop included: Phenomenology of MPI processes and multiparton distributions; Considerations for the description of MPI in Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD); Measuring multiple partonic interactions; Experimental results on inelastic hadronic collisions: underlying event, minimum bias, forward energy flow; Monte Carlo generator development and tuning; Connections with low-x phenomena, diffraction, heavy-ion physics and cosmic rays. In a total of 57 plenary talks the workshop covered a wide range of experimental results, Monte Carlo development and tuning, phenomenology and dedicated measurements of MPI which were produced with data from the LHC's Run I. Recent progress of theoretical understanding of MPI in pp, pA and AA collisions as well as the role of MPI in diffraction and small-x physics were also covered. The workshop forstered close contact between the experimental and theoretical communities. It provided a setting to discuss many of the different aspects of MPI, eventually identifying them as a unifying concept between apparently different lines of research and evaluating their impact on the LHC physics programme.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Resummation effects in forward production of Z0+jet at LHC

We calculate several differential cross sections for Z0 and high-pT jet production in the forward rapidity region at the LHC using the hybrid High Energy Factorization. We test various unintegrated gluon distributions involving subleading BFKL effects (such as kinematic constraint, running strong coupling and DGLAP correction) and compare the results with experimental data obtained by the LHCb experiment. We find that the hard scale dependence of unintegrated gluon distributions, which effectively resums the Sudakov-type logarithms on the top of the resummation of the small x logarithms, is essential to describe the normalized azimuthal decorrelations between the Z0-boson and the jet.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Recursion relations for multi-gluon off-shell amplitudes on the light-front and Wilson lines

We analyze the off-shell scattering amplitudes in the framework of the light-front perturbation theory. It is shown that the previously derived recursion relation between tree level off-shell amplitudes in this formalism actually resums whole classes of graphs into a Wilson line. More precisely, we establish a correspondence between the light-front methods for the computation of the off-shell amplitudes and the approach which makes use of the matrix elements of straight infinite Wilson lines, which are manifestly gauge invariant objects. Furthermore, since it is needed to explicitly verify the gauge invariance of light-front amplitudes, it is demonstrated that the Ward identities in this framework need additional instantaneous terms in the light-front graphs.

hep-ph↗