arXiv subjects

S. Camarda

Publications and source records attributed to S. Camarda.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

xFitter: An Open Source QCD Analysis Framework. A resource and reference document for the Snowmass study

We provide an overview of the xFitter open-source software package, review the general capabilities of the program, and highlight applications relevant to the Snowmass study. An updated version of the program (2.2.0) is available on CERN GitLab, a and this has been updated to a C++ codebase with enhanced and extended features. We also discuss some of the ongoing and future code developments that may be useful for precision studies. We survey recent analyses performed by the xFitter developers' team including: W and Z production, photon PDFs, Drell-Yan forward-backward asymmetry studies, resummation of small-x contributions, heavy quark production, constraints on the strange PDF, determination of the pion PDF, and determination of the pion Fragmentation Functions. Finally, we briefly summarize selected applications of xFitter in the literature. The xFitter program is a versatile, flexible, modular, and comprehensive tool that can provide impact studies for possible future facilities. We encourage the use of xFitter, and welcome new contributions from the community.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

The strong coupling constant: State of the art and the decade ahead

Theoretical predictions for particle production cross sections and decays at colliders rely heavily on perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) calculations, expressed as an expansion in powers of the strong coupling constant $\alpha_s$. The current $\mathcal{O}(1\%)$ uncertainty of the QCD coupling evaluated at the reference Z boson mass, $\alpha_s(m_Z) = 0.1179 \pm 0.0009$, is one of the limiting factors to more precisely describe multiple processes at current and future colliders. A reduction of this uncertainty is thus a prerequisite to perform precision tests of the Standard Model as well as searches for new physics. This report provides a comprehensive summary of the state-of-the-art, challenges, and prospects in the experimental and theoretical study of the strong coupling. The current $\alpha_s(m_Z)$ world average is derived from a combination of seven categories of observables: (i) lattice QCD, (ii) hadronic $\tau$ decays, (iii) deep-inelastic scattering and parton distribution functions fits, (iv) electroweak boson decays, hadronic final-states in (v) $e^+e^-$, (vi) e-p, and (vii) p-p collisions, and (viii) quarkonia decays and masses. We review the current status of each of these seven $\alpha_s(m_Z)$ extraction methods, discuss novel $\alpha_s$ determinations, and examine the averaging method used to obtain the world-average value. Each of the methods discussed provides a ``wish list'' of experimental and theoretical developments required in order to achieve the goal of a per-mille precision on $\alpha_s(m_Z)$ within the next decade.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Measurement of the charge asymmetry of electrons from the decays of $W$ bosons produced in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.96$ TeV

At the Fermilab Tevatron proton-antiproton ($p\bar{p}$) collider, high-mass electron-neutrino ($eν$) pairs are produced predominantly in the process $p \bar{p} \rightarrow W(\rightarrow eν) + X$. The asymmetry of the electron and positron yield as a function of their pseudorapidity constrain the slope of the ratio of the $u$- to $d$-quark parton distributions versus the fraction of the proton momentum carried by the quarks. This paper reports on the measurement of the electron-charge asymmetry using the full data set recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab in 2001--2011 and corresponding to 9.1~fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. The measurement significantly improves the precision of the Tevatron constraints on the parton-distribution functions of the proton. Numerical tables of the measurement are provided.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

A novel measurement of initial-state gluon radiation in hadron collisions using Drell-Yan events

A study of initial-state gluon radiation (ISR) in hadron collisions is presented using Drell-Yan (DY) events produced in proton-antiproton collisions by the Tevatron collider at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV. This paper adopts a novel approach which uses the mean value of the Z/$γ^*$ transverse momentum $ $ in DY events as a powerful observable to characterize the effect of ISR. In a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9.4 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the CDF Run II detector, $ $ is measured as a function of the Z/$γ^*$ invariant mass. It is found that these two observables have a dependence, $ = -8 + 2.2 \ln m_{DY}^2$ [GeV/c], where $m_{DY}$ is the value of the Z/$γ^*$ mass measured in units of GeV/$c^2$. This linear dependence is observed for the first time in this analysis. It may be exploited to model the effect of ISR and constrain its impact in other processes.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

The Large Hadron-Electron Collider at the HL-LHC

The Large Hadron electron Collider (LHeC) is designed to move the field of deep inelastic scattering (DIS) to the energy and intensity frontier of particle physics. Exploiting energy recovery technology, it collides a novel, intense electron beam with a proton or ion beam from the High Luminosity--Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). The accelerator and interaction region are designed for concurrent electron-proton and proton-proton operation. This report represents an update of the Conceptual Design Report (CDR) of the LHeC, published in 2012. It comprises new results on parton structure of the proton and heavier nuclei, QCD dynamics, electroweak and top-quark physics. It is shown how the LHeC will open a new chapter of nuclear particle physics in extending the accessible kinematic range in lepton-nucleus scattering by several orders of magnitude. Due to enhanced luminosity, large energy and the cleanliness of the hadronic final states, the LHeC has a strong Higgs physics programme and its own discovery potential for new physics. Building on the 2012 CDR, the report represents a detailed updated design of the energy recovery electron linac (ERL) including new lattice, magnet, superconducting radio frequency technology and further components. Challenges of energy recovery are described and the lower energy, high current, 3-turn ERL facility, PERLE at Orsay, is presented which uses the LHeC characteristics serving as a development facility for the design and operation of the LHeC. An updated detector design is presented corresponding to the acceptance, resolution and calibration goals which arise from the Higgs and parton density function physics programmes. The paper also presents novel results on the Future Circular Collider in electron-hadron mode, FCC-eh, which utilises the same ERL technology to further extend the reach of DIS to even higher centre-of-mass energies.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Standard Model Physics at the HL-LHC and HE-LHC

The successful operation of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the excellent performance of the ATLAS, CMS, LHCb and ALICE detectors in Run-1 and Run-2 with $pp$ collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV as well as the giant leap in precision calculations and modeling of fundamental interactions at hadron colliders have allowed an extraordinary breadth of physics studies including precision measurements of a variety physics processes. The LHC results have so far confirmed the validity of the Standard Model of particle physics up to unprecedented energy scales and with great precision in the sectors of strong and electroweak interactions as well as flavour physics, for instance in top quark physics. The upgrade of the LHC to a High Luminosity phase (HL-LHC) at 14 TeV center-of-mass energy with 3 ab$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity will probe the Standard Model with even greater precision and will extend the sensitivity to possible anomalies in the Standard Model, thanks to a ten-fold larger data set, upgraded detectors and expected improvements in the theoretical understanding. This document summarises the physics reach of the HL-LHC in the realm of strong and electroweak interactions and top quark physics, and provides a glimpse of the potential of a possible further upgrade of the LHC to a 27 TeV $pp$ collider, the High-Energy LHC (HE-LHC), assumed to accumulate an integrated luminosity of 15 ab$^{-1}$.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

$α_s$(2019): Precision measurements of the QCD coupling

This document collects a written summary of all contributions presented at the workshop "$α_s$(2019): Precision measurements of the strong coupling" held at ECT* (Trento) in Feb. 11--15, 2019. The workshop explored in depth the latest developments on the determination of the QCD coupling $α_s$ from the key categories where high precision measurements are available: (i) lattice QCD, (ii) hadronic $τ$ decays, (iii) deep-inelastic scattering and parton distribution functions, (iv) event shapes, jet cross sections, and other hadronic final-states in $e^+e^-$ collisions, (v) Z boson and W boson hadronic decays, and (vi) hadronic final states in p-p collisions. The status of the current theoretical and experimental uncertainties associated to each extraction method, and future perspectives were thoroughly reviewed. Novel $α_s$ determination approaches were discussed, as well as the combination method used to obtain a world-average value of the QCD coupling at the Z mass pole.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

Search for Higgs-like particles produced in association with bottom quarks in proton-antiproton collisions

We report on a search for a spin-zero non-standard-model particle in proton-antiproton collisions collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab at a center-of-mass-energy of 1.96 TeV. This particle, the $ϕ$ boson, is expected to decay into a bottom-antibottom quark pair and to be produced in association with at least one bottom quark. The data sample consists of events with three jets identified as initiated by bottom quarks and corresponds to $5.4~\text{fb}^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. In each event, the invariant mass of the two most energetic jets is studied by looking for deviations from the multijet background, which is modeled using data. No evidence is found for such particle. Exclusion upper limits ranging from 20 to 2 pb are set for the product of production cross sections times branching fraction for hypothetical $ϕ$ boson with mass between 100 and 300 GeV/$c^2$. These are the most stringent constraints to date.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Search for standard-model Z and Higgs bosons decaying into a bottom-antibottom quark pair in proton-antiproton collisions at 1.96 TeV

The Collider Detector at Fermilab collected a unique sample of jets originating from bottom-quark fragmentation ($b$-jets) by selecting online proton-antiproton ($p\bar{p}$) collisions with a vertex displaced from the $p\bar{p}$ interaction point, consistent with the decay of a bottom-quark hadron. This data set, collected at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=$1.96 TeV, and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.4~\rm{fb}^{-1}$, is used to measure the $Z$-boson production cross section times branching ratio into $b\bar{b}$. The number of $Z\rightarrow b\bar{b}$ events is determined by fitting the dijet-mass distribution while constraining the dominant $b$-jet background, originating from QCD multijet events, with data. The result, $σ(p\bar{p} \rightarrow Z) \times \mathcal{B}(Z \rightarrow b\bar{b})= 1.11\pm 0.08(\text{stat}) \pm 0.14(\text{syst})~\text{nb}$, is the most precise measurement of this process, and is consistent with the standard-model prediction. The data set is also used to search for Higgs-boson production. No significant signal is expected in our data and the first upper limit on the cross section for the inclusive $p\bar p \rightarrow H\rightarrow b\bar b$ process at $\sqrt{s}=$1.96 TeV is set, corresponding to 33 times the expected standard-model cross section, or $σ= 40.6$ pb, at the 95\% confidence level.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

xFitter 2.0.0: Heavy quark matching scales: Unifying the FFNS and VFNS

xFitter is an open-source package that provides a framework for the determination of the parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the proton for many different kinds of analyses in Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). It incorporates experimental data from a wide range of experiments including fixed-target, Tevatron, HERA, and LHC. xFitter version 2.0.0 has recently been released, and offers an expanded set of tools and options. The new xFitter 2.0.0 program links to the APFEL code which has implemented generalized matching conditions that enable the switch from $N_F$ to $N_F+1$ active flavors at an arbitrary matching scale $μ_m$. This enables us to generalize the transition between a FFNS and a VFNS and essentially vary continuously between the two schemes; in this sense the matching scale $μ_m$ allows us to unify the FFNS and VFNS in a common framework. This paper provides a brief overview of xFitter with emphasis of these new features.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Measurement of the differential cross sections for $W$-boson production in association with jets in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.96$ TeV

This paper presents a study of the production of a single $W$ boson in association with one or more jets in proton-antiproton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.96$ TeV, using the entire data set collected in 2001-2011 by the Collider Detector at Fermilab at the Tevatron, which corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $9.0$ fb$^{-1}$. The $W$ boson is identified through its leptonic decays into electron and muon. The production cross sections are measured for each leptonic decay mode and combined after testing that the ratio of the $W(\rightarrow μν)+$jets cross section to the $W(\rightarrow eν)+$jets cross section agrees with the hypothesis of $e$-$μ$ lepton universality. The combination of measured cross sections, differential in the inclusive jet multiplicity ($W+\geqslant N$ jets with $N=1,\,2,\,3, \textrm{or }4$) and in the transverse energy of the leading jet, are compared with theoretical predictions.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2017

A search for the exotic meson $X(5568)$ with the Collider Detector at Fermilab

A search for the exotic meson $X(5568)$ decaying into the $B^0_s π^{\pm}$ final state is performed using data corresponding to $9.6 \textrm{fb}^{-1}$ from $p{\bar p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 1960$ GeV recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. No evidence for this state is found and an upper limit of 6.7\% at the 95\% confidence level is set on the fraction of $B^0_s$ produced through the $X(5568) \rightarrow B^0_s \, π^{\pm}$ process.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2017

Impact of the heavy quark matching scales in PDF fits

We investigate the impact of displaced heavy quark matching scales in a global fit. The heavy quark matching scale $μ_{m}$ determines at which energy scale $μ$ the QCD theory transitions from $N_{F}$ to $N_{F}+1$ in the Variable Flavor Number Scheme (VFNS) for the evolution of the Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs) and strong coupling $α_S(μ)$. We study the variation of the matching scales, and their impact on a global PDF fit of the combined HERA data. As the choice of the matching scale $μ_{m}$ effectively is a choice of scheme, this represents a theoretical uncertainty; ideally, we would like to see minimal dependence on this parameter. For the transition across the charm quark (from $N_{F}=3$ to $4$), we find a large $μ_m=μ_{c}$ dependence of the global fit $χ^2$ at NLO, but this is significantly reduced at NNLO. For the transition across the bottom quark (from $N_{F}=4$ to $5$), we have a reduced $μ_{m}=μ_b$ dependence of the $χ^2$ at both NLO and NNLO as compared to the charm. This feature is now implemented in xFitter 2.0.0, an open source QCD fit framework.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

xFitter 2.0.0: An Open Source QCD Fit Framework

xFitter is an open-source package that provides a framework for the determination of the parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the proton for many different kinds of analyses in Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). xFitter version 2.0.0 has recently been released, and offers an expanded set of tools and options. It incorporates experimental data from a wide range of experiments including fixed-target, Tevatron, HERA, and LHC. xFitter can analyze this data up to next-to-next-to-leading-order (NNLO) in perturbation theory with a variety of theoretical calculations including numerous methodological options for carrying out PDF fits and plotting tools which help visualize the results. While primarily based on the collinear factorization foundation, xFitter also provides facilities for fits of dipole models and transverse-momentum dependent (TMD) PDFs. The package can be used to study the impact of new precise measurements from hadron colliders, and also assess the impact of future colliders. This paper provides a brief overview of xFitter with emphasis of the new version 2.0.0 features.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Measurement of the inclusive-isolated prompt-photon cross section in $p\bar{p}$ collisions using the full CDF data set

A measurement of the inclusive production cross section of isolated prompt photons in proton-antiproton collisions at center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}$=1.96TeV is presented. The results are obtained using the full Run II data sample collected with the Collider Detector at the Fermilab Tevatron, which corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 9.5fb$^{-1}$. The cross section is measured as a function of photon transverse energy, $E_T^γ$, in the range 30$ < E_T^γ <$500GeV and in the pseudorapidity region $|η^γ|<$1.0. The results are compared with predictions from parton-shower Monte Carlo models at leading order in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and from next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculations. The latter show good agreement with the measured cross section.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2016

Measurement of the $D^+$-meson production cross section at low transverse momentum in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.96$ TeV

We report on a measurement of the $D^{+}$-meson production cross section as a function of transverse momentum ($p_T$) in proton-antiproton ($p\bar{p}$) collisions at 1.96 TeV center-of-mass energy, using the full data set collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab in Tevatron Run II and corresponding to 10 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. We use $D^{+} \to K^-π^+π^+$ decays fully reconstructed in the central rapidity region $|y|<1$ with transverse momentum down to 1.5 GeV/$c$, a range previously unexplored in $p\bar{p}$ collisions. Inelastic $p\bar{p}$-scattering events are selected online using minimally-biasing requirements followed by an optimized offline selection. The $K^-π^+π^+$ mass distribution is used to identify the $D^+$ signal, and the $D^+$ transverse impact-parameter distribution is used to separate prompt production, occurring directly in the hard scattering process, from secondary production from $b$-hadron decays. We obtain a prompt $D^+$ signal of 2950 candidates corresponding to a total cross section $σ(D^+, 1.5 < p_T < 14.5~\mbox{GeV/}c, |y|<1) = 71.9 \pm 6.8 (\mbox{stat}) \pm 9.3 (\mbox{syst})~μ$b. While the measured cross sections are consistent with theoretical estimates in each $p_T$ bin, the shape of the observed $p_T$ spectrum is softer than the expectation from quantum chromodynamics. The results are unique in $p\bar{p}$ collisions and can improve the shape and uncertainties of future predictions.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2016

Measurement of the $WW$ and $WZ$ production cross section using final states with a charged lepton and heavy-flavor jets in the full CDF Run II data set

We present a measurement of the total {\it WW} and {\it WZ} production cross sections in $p\bar{p}$ collision at $\sqrt{s}=1.96$ TeV, in a final state consistent with leptonic $W$ boson decay and jets originating from heavy-flavor quarks from either a $W$ or a $Z$ boson decay. This analysis uses the full data set collected with the CDF II detector during Run II of the Tevatron collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9.4 fb$^{-1}$. An analysis of the dijet mass spectrum provides $3.7σ$ evidence of the summed production processes of either {\it WW} or {\it WZ} bosons with a measured total cross section of $σ_{WW+WZ} = 13.7\pm 3.9$~pb. Independent measurements of the {\it WW} and {\it WZ} production cross sections are allowed by the different heavy-flavor decay-patterns of the $W$ and $Z$ bosons and by the analysis of secondary-decay vertices reconstructed within heavy-flavor jets. The productions of {\it WW} and of {\it WZ} dibosons are independently seen with significances of $2.9σ$ and $2.1σ$, respectively, with total cross sections of $σ_{WW}= 9.4\pm 4.2$~pb and $σ_{WZ}=3.7^{+2.5}_{-2.2}$~pb. The measurements are consistent with standard-model predictions.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2016

Measurement of $\sin^2θ^{\rm lept}_{\rm eff}$ using $e^+e^-$ pairs from $γ^*/Z$ bosons produced in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at a center-of-momentum energy of 1.96 TeV

At the Fermilab Tevatron proton-antiproton ($p\bar{p}$) collider, Drell-Yan lepton pairs are produced in the process $p \bar{p} \rightarrow e^+e^- + X$ through an intermediate $γ^*/Z$ boson. The forward-backward asymmetry in the polar-angle distribution of the $e^-$ as a function of the $e^+e^-$-pair mass is used to obtain $\sin^2θ^{\rm lept}_{\rm eff}$, the effective leptonic determination of the electroweak-mixing parameter $\sin^2θ_W$. The measurement sample, recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF), corresponds to 9.4~fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity from $p\bar{p}$ collisions at a center-of-momentum energy of 1.96 TeV, and is the full CDF Run II data set. The value of $\sin^2θ^{\rm lept}_{\rm eff}$ is found to be $0.23248 \pm 0.00053$. The combination with the previous CDF measurement based on $μ^+μ^-$ pairs yields $\sin^2θ^{\rm lept}_{\rm eff} = 0.23221 \pm 0.00046$. This result, when interpreted within the specified context of the standard model assuming $\sin^2 θ_W = 1 - M_W^2/M_Z^2$ and that the $W$- and $Z$-boson masses are on-shell, yields $\sin^2θ_W = 0.22400 \pm 0.00045$, or equivalently a $W$-boson mass of $80.328 \pm 0.024 \;{\rm GeV}/c^2$.

hep-ex↗