arXiv subjects

Yacine Mehtar-Tani

Publications and source records attributed to Yacine Mehtar-Tani.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

The case for an EIC Theory Alliance: Theoretical Challenges of the EIC

We outline the physics opportunities provided by the Electron Ion Collider (EIC). These include the study of the parton structure of the nucleon and nuclei, the onset of gluon saturation, the production of jets and heavy flavor, hadron spectroscopy and tests of fundamental symmetries. We review the present status and future challenges in EIC theory that have to be addressed in order to realize this ambitious and impactful physics program, including how to engage a diverse and inclusive workforce. In order to address these many-fold challenges, we propose a coordinated effort involving theory groups with differing expertise is needed. We discuss the scientific goals and scope of such an EIC Theory Alliance.

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arXiv2023

Quantum to classical parton dynamics in QCD media

We study the time evolution of the density matrix of a high energy quark propagating in a dense QCD medium where it undergoes elastic collisions (radiation is ignored in the present study). The medium is modeled as a stochastic color field with a Gaussian correlation function. This allows us to eliminate the medium degrees of freedom and obtain a simple master equation for the evolution of the reduced density matrix of the high energy quark, making use of approximations that are familiar in the description of open quantum systems. This master equation is solved analytically, and we demonstrate that its solution can be reconstructed from a simple Langevin equation. At late times, one finds that only the color singlet component of the density matrix survives the quark's propagation through the medium. The off-diagonal elements of the density matrix are suppressed successively in transverse position space and in momentum space, and become independent of the details of the initial condition. This behavior is reflected in the corresponding von Neumann entropy, whose growth at late time is related to the increase of the classical phase space explored by the high energy quark in its motion through the medium. The interpretation of the Wigner transform as a classical distribution is further supported by the fact that the associated classical entropy coincides at late time with the von Neumann entropy.

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arXiv2022

Transverse momentum broadening from NLL BFKL to all orders in pQCD

We study, to all orders in perturbative QCD, the universal behavior of the saturation momentum $Q_s(L)$ controlling the transverse momentum distribution of a fast parton propagating through a dense QCD medium with large size $L$. Due to the double logarithmic nature of the quantum evolution of the saturation momentum, its large $L$ asymptotics is obtained by slightly departing from the double logarithmic limit of either next-to-leading log (NLL) BFKL or leading order DGLAP evolution equations. At fixed coupling, or in conformal $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM theory, we derive the large $L$ expansion of $Q_s(L)$ up to order $α_s^{3/2}$. In QCD with massless quarks, where conformal symmetry is broken by the running of the strong coupling constant, the one-loop QCD $β$-function fully accounts for the universal terms in the $Q_s(L)$ expansion. Therefore, the universal coefficients of this series are known exactly to all orders in $α_s$.

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arXiv2022

Universality aspects of quantum corrections to transverse momentum broadening in QCD media

We study non-linear quantum corrections to transverse momentum broadening (TMB) of a fast parton propagating in dense QCD matter in the leading logarithmic approximation. These non-local corrections yield an anomalous super-diffusive behavior characterized by a heavy tailed distribution which is associated with Lévy random walks. Using a formal analogy with the physics of traveling waves, we show that at late times the transverse momentum distribution tends to a universal scaling regime. We derive analytic solutions in terms of an asymptotic expansion around the scaling limit for both fixed and running coupling. We note that our analytic approach yields a good agreement with the exact numerical solutions down to realistic values of medium length. Finally, we discuss the interplay between system size and energy dependence of the diffusion coefficient $\hat q$ and its connection with the gluon distribution function that is manifest at large transverse momentum transfer.

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arXiv2022

Medium-induced radiative kernel with the Improved Opacity Expansion

We calculate the fully differential medium-induced radiative spectrum at next-to-leading order (NLO) accuracy within the Improved Opacity Expansion (IOE) framework. This scheme allows us to gain analytical control of the radiative spectrum at low and high gluon frequencies simultaneously. The high frequency regime can be obtained in the standard opacity expansion framework in which the resulting power series diverges at the characteristic frequency $ω_c\sim \hat q L^2$. In the IOE, all orders in opacity are resumed systematically below $ω_c$ yielding an asymptotic series controlled by logarithmically suppressed remainders down to the thermal scale $T \ll ω_c$, while matching the opacity expansion at high frequency. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the IOE at NLO accuracy reproduces the characteristic Coulomb tail of the single hard scattering contribution as well as the Gaussian distribution resulting from multiple soft momentum exchanges. Finally, we compare our analytic scheme with a recent numerical solution, that includes a full resummation of multiple scatterings, for LHC-inspired medium parameters. We find a very good agreement both at low and high frequencies showcasing the performance of the IOE which provides for the first time accurate analytic formulas for radiative energy loss in the relevant perturbative kinematic regimes for dense media.

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arXiv2021

Gluon-mediated inclusive Deep Inelastic Scattering from Regge to Bjorken kinematics

We revisit high energy factorization for gluon mediated inclusive Deep Inelastic Scattering (DIS) for which we propose a new semi-classical approach that accounts systematically for the longitudinal extent of the target in contrast with the shockwave limit. In this framework, based on a partial twist expansion, we derive a factorization formula that involves a new gauge invariant unintegrated gluon distribution which depends explicitly on the Feynman $x$ variable. It is shown that both the Regge and Bjorken limits are recovered in this approach. We reproduce in particular the full one loop inclusive DIS cross-section in the leading twist approximation and the all-twist dipole factorization formula in the strict $x=0$ limit. Although quantum evolution is not discussed explicitly in this work, we argue that the proper treatment of the $x$ dependence of the gluon distribution encompasses the kinematic constraint that must be imposed on the phase-space of gluon fluctuations in the target to ensure stability of small-$x$ evolution.

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arXiv2021

A novel formulation of the unintegrated gluon distribution for DIS

In this talk, we revisit inclusive DIS in the small $x$ limit and derive a new factorization formula that accounts for leading powers in both Bjorken and Regge limits. In this semi-classical description, we obtain a new unintegrated gluon distribution which encompasses both the dipole operator and the gluon Parton Distribution Function with an explicit dependence on the longitudinal momentum fraction $x$.

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arXiv2021

Anomalous diffusion in QCD matter

We study the effects of quantum corrections on transverse momentum broadening of a fast parton passing through dense QCD matter. We show that, at leading logarithmic accuracy the broadening distribution tends at late times or equivalently for large system sizes $L$ to a universal distribution that only depends on a single scaling variable $k^2_\perp/Q^2_s$ where the typical transverse momentum scale increases with time as $\ln Q_s^2 \simeq (1+2 β) \ln L - \frac{3}{2}(1+β)\,\ln\ln L$ up to non-universal terms, with an anomalous dimension $β\sim \sqrt{α_s} $. This property is analogous to geometric scaling of gluon distributions in the saturation regime and traveling waves solutions to reaction-diffusion processes. We note that since $β>0$ the process is super-diffusive, which is also reflected at large transverse momentum where the scaling distribution exhibits a heavy tail $k_\perp^{4-2β}$ akin to Lévy random walks.

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arXiv2021

Revisiting transverse momentum broadening in dense QCD media

We reconsider the problem of transverse momentum broadening of a highly-energetic parton suffering multiple scatterings in dense colored media, such as the thermal Quark-Gluon plasma or large nuclei. In the framework of Molière's theory of multiple scattering we re-derive a simple analytic formula, to be used in jet quenching phenomenology, that accounts for both the multiple soft and hard Rutherford scattering regimes. Further, we discuss the sensitivity of momentum broadening to modeling of the non-perturbative infrared sector by presenting a detailed analytic and numerical comparison between the two widely used models in phenomenology: the Hard Thermal Loop and the Gyulassy-Wang potentials. We show that for the relevant values of the parameters the non-universal, model dependent contributions are negligible, at LHC, RHIC and EIC energies thus consolidating the predictive power of jet quenching theory.

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arXiv2021

Cone size dependence of jet suppression in heavy-ion collisions

The strong suppression of high-$p_T$ jets in heavy ion collisions is a result of elastic and inelastic energy loss suffered by the jet multi-prong collection of color charges that are resolved by medium interactions. Hence, quenching effects depend on the fluctuations of the jet substructure that are probed by the cone size dependence of the spectrum. In this letter, we present the first complete, analytic calculation of the inclusive $R$-dependent jet spectrum in PbPb collisions at LHC energies, including resummation of energy loss effects from hard, vacuum-like emissions occurring in the medium and modeling of soft energy flow and recovery at the jet cone. Both the geometry of the collision and the local medium properties, such as the temperature and fluid velocity, are given by a hydrodynamic evolution of the medium, leaving only the coupling constant in the medium as a free parameter. The calculation yields a good description of the centrality and $p_T$ dependence of jet suppression for $R=0.4$ together with a mild cone size dependence, which is in agreement with recent experimental results. Gauging the theoretical uncertainties, we find that the largest sensitivity resides in the leading logarithmic approximation of the phase space of resolved splittings, which can be improved systematically, while non-perturbative modeling of the soft-gluon sector is of relatively minor importance up to large cone sizes.

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arXiv2020

Cone-size dependent jet spectrum in heavy-ion collisions

Jets in the vacuum correspond to multi-parton configurations that form via a branching process sensitive to the soft and collinear divergences of QCD. In heavy-ion collisions, energy loss processes that are stimulated via interactions with the medium, affect jet observables in a profound way. Jet fragmentation factorizes into a three-stage process, involving vacuum-like emissions above the medium scale, induced emissions enhanced by the medium length and, finally, long-distance vacuum-like fragmentation. This formalism leads to a novel, non-linear resummation of jet energy loss. In this talk we present new results on the combined effects of small-$R$ resummation and energy loss to compute the $R$-dependent jet spectrum in heavy-ion collisions.

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arXiv2020

On gauge invariance of transverse momentum dependent distributions at small-x

Transverse momentum dependent (TMD) distributions at small x exhibit a rich infinite twist structure that encompasses the leading twist (partonic) distributions as well as the physics of gluon saturation. Progress to further the connection between the standard TMD framework at moderate x and small x has been recently made. In this context, we show that light cone Wilson line operators at small-x can be formulated in terms of transverse gauge links. This new formulation of small x operators allows a direct matching with the standard leading twist gluon TMD distributions and provides an efficient and general prescription for computing TMD distributions at small x beyond leading twist.

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arXiv2020

A novel formulation of the unintegrated gluon distribution for DIS

We provide a semi-classical description of the inclusive gluon induced Deep Inelastic Scattering cross section in a way that accounts for the leading powers in both the Regge and Bjorken limits. Our approach thus allows a systematic matching of small and moderate $x_{\rm Bj}$ regimes of gluon proton structure functions. We find a new unintegrated gluon distribution with an explicit dependence on the longitudinal momentum fraction $x$ which entirely spans both the dipole operator and the gluonic Parton Distribution Function. Computing this gauge invariant gluon operator on the lattice could allow to probe the energy dependence of the saturation scale from first principles.

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arXiv2020

Tagging boosted hadronic objects with dynamical grooming

We evaluate the phenomenological applicability of the dynamical grooming technique, introduced in [1], to boosted W and top tagging at LHC conditions. An extension of our method intended for multi-prong decays with an internal mass scale, such as the top quark decay, is presented. First, we tackle the reconstruction of the mass distribution of W and top jets quantifying the smearing due to pileup. When compared to state-of-the-art grooming algorithms like SoftDrop and its recursive version, dynamical grooming shows an enhanced resilience to background fluctuations. In addition, we asses the discriminating power of dynamical grooming to distinguish W (top) jets from QCD ones by performing a two-step analysis: introduce a cut on the groomed mass around the W (top) mass peak followed by a restriction on the N-subjettinnes ratio $τ_{21}$ ($τ_{32}$). For W jets, the out-of-the-box version of dynamical grooming, free of ad-hoc parameters, results into a comparable performance to SoftDrop. Regarding the top tagger efficiency, 3-prong dynamical grooming, in spite of its simplicity, presents better performance than SoftDrop and similar results to Recursive SoftDrop.

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arXiv2020

Probing Nucleons and Nuclei in High Energy Collisions

This volume is a collection of contributions for the 7-week program "Probing Nucleons and Nuclei in High Energy Collisions" that was held at the Institute for Nuclear Theory in Seattle, WA, USA, from October 1 until November 16, 2018. The program was dedicated to the physics of the Electron Ion Collider (EIC), the world's first polarized electron-nucleon (ep) and electron-nucleus (eA) collider to be constructed in the USA. These proceedings are organized by chapters, corresponding to the weeks of the program: Week I, Generalized parton distributions; Week II, Transverse spin and TMDs; Week III, Longitudinal spin; Week IV, Symposium week; Weeks V & VI, eA collisions; Week VII, pA and AA collisions. We hope these proceedings will be useful to readers as a compilation of EIC-related science at the end of the second decade of the XXI century.

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arXiv2020

Novel tools and observables for jet physics in heavy-ion collisions

Studies of fully-reconstructed jets in heavy-ion collisions aim at extracting thermodynamical and transport properties of hot and dense QCD matter. Recently, a plethora of new jet substructure observables have been theoretically and experimentally developed that provide novel precise insights on the modifications of the parton radiation pattern induced by a QCD medium. This report, summarizing the main lines of discussion at the 5th Heavy Ion Jet Workshop and CERN TH institute "Novel tools and observables for jet physics in heavy-ion collisions" in 2017, presents a first attempt at outlining a strategy for isolating and identifying the relevant physical processes that are responsible for the observed medium-induced jet modifications. These studies combine theory insights, based on the Lund parton splitting map, with sophisticated jet reconstruction techniques, including grooming and background subtraction algorithms.

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arXiv2020

Improved opacity expansion at NNLO for medium induced gluon radiation

When an energetic parton propagates in a hot and dense QCD medium it loses energy by elastic scatterings or by medium-induced gluon radiation. The gluon radiation spectrum is suppressed at high frequency due to the LPM effect and encompasses two regimes that are known analytically: at high frequencies $ω>ω_c = \hat q L^2$, where $\hat q $ is the jet quenching transport coefficient and $L$ the length of the medium, the spectrum is dominated by a single hard scattering, whereas the regime $ω<ω_c$ is dominated by multiple low momentum transfers. In this paper, we extend a recent approach (dubbed the Improved Opacity Expansion (IOE)), which allows an analytic (and systematic) treatment beyond the multiple soft scattering approximation, matching this result with the single hard emission spectrum. We calculate in particular the NNLO correction analytically and numerically and show that it is strongly suppressed compared to the NLO indicating a fast convergence of the IOE scheme and thus, we conclude that it is sufficient to truncate the series at NLO. We also propose a prescription to compare the GW and the HTL potentials and relate their parameters for future phenomenological works.

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arXiv2020

Improved opacity expansion for medium-induced parton splitting

We revisit the calculation of the medium-induced gluon radiative spectrum and propose a novel expansion scheme that encompasses the two known analytic limits: i) the high frequency regime dominated by a single hard scattering that corresponds to the leading order in the standard opacity expansion, ii) the low frequency regime that is dominated by multiple soft scatterings. Our approach is based on expanding around the harmonic oscillator instead of vacuum in the leading logarithmic approximation. We compute the first two orders in this improved opacity expansion and show that they account for the aforementioned limits.

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