This thesis deals with a broad range of aspects that concern the simulation of QCD jet physics by Monte Carlo event generators. Phenomenological work is presented in validating the CKKW approach for merging tree-level matrix elements and parton showers. In the second part the main project is documented comprising the definition, realization and verification of a new QCD colour-dipole cascade. Finally, a new cluster-hadronization model is introduced.

Nous avons développé une nouvelle approche basée sur les méthodes Monte Carlo par chaînes de Markov pour déterminer les distributions de Partons et quantifier leurs incertitudes expérimentales. L’intérêt principal d’une telle étude repose sur la possibilité de remplacer la minimisation standard avec MINUIT de la fonction χ 2 par des procédures fondées sur les méthodes Statistiques et sur l’inférence Bayésienne en particulier,offrant ainsi une meilleure compréhension de la détermination des distributions de partons. Après avoir examiné ces techniques Monte Carlo par chaînes de Markov, nous introduisons l’algorithme que nous avons choisi de mettre en œuvre, à savoir le Monte Carlo hybride (ou Hamiltonien). Cet algorithme, développé initialement pour la chromodynamique quantique sur réseau, s’avère très intéressant lorsqu’il est appliqué à la détermination des distributions de partons par des analyses globales. Nous avons montré qu’il permet de contourner les difficultés techniques dues à la grande dimensionnalité du problème, en particulier celle relative au taux d’acceptation. L’étude de faisabilité réalisée et présentée dans cette thèse indique que la méthode Monte Carlo par chaînes de Markov peut être appliquée avec succès à l’extraction des distributions de partons et à leurs in-certitudes expérimentales. / We have developed a new approach to determine parton distribution functions and quantify their experimental uncertainties, based on Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods.The main interest devoted to such a study is that we can replace the standard χ 2 MINUIT minimization by procedures grounded on Statistical Methods, and on Bayesian inference in particular, thus offering additional insight into the rich field of PDFs determination.After reviewing these Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques, we introduce the algorithm we have chosen to implement – namely Hybrid (or Hamiltonian) Monte Carlo. This algorithm, initially developed for lattice quantum chromodynamique, turns out to be very interesting when applied to parton distribution functions determination by global analyses ; we have shown that it allows to circumvent the technical difficulties due to the high dimensionality of the problem, in particular concerning the acceptance rate. The feasibility study performed and presented in this thesis, indicates that Markov chain Monte Carlo method can successfully be applied to the extraction of PDFs and of their experimental uncertainties.

This thesis deals with a broad range of aspects that concern the simulation of QCD jet physics by Monte Carlo event generators. Phenomenological work is presented in validating the CKKW approach for merging tree-level matrix elements and parton showers. In the second part the main project is documented comprising the definition, realization and verification of a new QCD colour-dipole cascade. Finally, a new cluster-hadronization model is introduced.

In dieser Arbeit befassen wir uns mit einer Reihe von entscheidenden Schritten, um die unpolarisierten Helizitäts- und Trasversitäts-Parton-Verteilungsfunktionen der Nukleonen im Rahmen der Gitter-QCD zu bewerten. Diskretisierungsartefakte werden unter Verwendung eines N_f=2+1+1 Eichensembles von Fermionen mit verdrillter Wilson-Masse untersucht, die bei einer Pionenmasse von ungefähr M=37 MeV simuliert werden. Die unpolarisierten und Helizitäts Partonverteilungsfunktionen weisen eine nicht vernachlässigbare Abhängigkeit vom Gitterabstand auf, und die Kontinuumsextrapolation ergibt eine bessere Übereinstimmung mit Phänomenologie. Die direkte Berechnung der Fourier-Transformation mit diskreten Gitterdaten kann Artefakte verursachen. Daher arbeiten wir mit einer neuen datengesteuerten Methode, die auf Gauß-Prozess-Regression basiert, die sogenannte Bayes-Gauß-Fourier-Transformation, um die Einschränkungen der diskreten Fourier-Transformation zu überwinden. Wir sind der Meinung, dass dieser datengesteuerte Ansatz die durch die Diskretisierung der Fourier-Transformation eingeführten Artefakte drastisch reduzieren kann, jedoch ist der endgültige Effekt auf die Lichtkegel-PDFs gering. Darüber hinaus präsentieren wir die Ergebnisse der ersten ab initio Berechnung der individuellen up, down und strange unpolarisierten, Helizitäts- und Transversitäts-Partonverteilungsfunktionen für das Proton. Die Analyse wird an einem durch N_f=2+1+1 verdrillten Kleeblatt-verbesserten Fermionen-Ensemble durchgeführt, das bei einer Pionenmasse von 260 MeV simuliert wird. Wir verwenden den hierarchischen Sondierungsalgorithmus, um die unzusammenhängenden Quarkschleifen auszuwerten. Dadurch erhalten wir Ergebnisse ungleich Null für den unbegundenen isoskalaren Beitrag und die strange Quark-Matrixelemente. / In this work, we address a number of crucial steps in order to evaluate the nucleon unpolarized helicity and trasversity parton distribution functions within the framework of lattice QCD. Discretization artifacts are investigated using an N_f=2+1+1 gauge ensemble of Wilson twisted mass fermions simulated at a pion mass of approximately M=370 MeV. The unpolarized and helicity parton distribution functions show a non-negligible dependence on the lattice spacing, with the continuum extrapolation producing a better agreement with phenomenology. The direct computation of the Fourier transform using discrete lattice data may introduce artifacts and we, therefore, use a new data-driven method based on Gaussian process regression, the so-called Bayes-Gauss Fourier transform to overcome the limitations of the discrete Fourier transform. We find that this data-driven approach can drastically reduce the artifacts introduced by the discretization of the Fourier transform, however, the final effect on the light-cone PDFs is small. Furthermore, we present results of the first ab initio calculation of the individual up, down, and strange unpolarized, helicity, and transversity parton distribution functions for the proton. The analysis is performed on an N_f=2+1+1 twisted mass clover-improved fermion ensemble simulated at a pion mass of 260 MeV. We employ the hierarchical probing algorithm to evaluate the disconnected quark loops, allowing us to obtain non-zero results for the disconnected isoscalar contribution and the strange quark matrix elements.

Uncertainties on the parton distribution functions (PDFs), in particular those of the valence quarks, can be constrained at LHC energies using the charge asymmetry in the production of W^± bosons. This thesis presents a measurement of the electron channel, lepton charge asymmetry using 497 pb^-1 of data recorded with the ATLAS detector in 2011. The measurement is included in PDF fits using the machinery of HERAPDF and is found to have some constraining power beyond that of existing W charge asymmetry measurements.

This thesis presents the measurement of the inclusive jet cross section using data collected in 2010 by the ATLAS detector, with a particular focus on the reconstruction and calibration techniques used for jets in this measurement and on the estimate of the systematic uncertainty on their energy scale. The inclusive jet cross section measurement is used as input to fits of parton distribution functions. Although the PDF analysis in this thesis is preliminary and its main purpose is to serve as a proof of principle for future studies, improvements in the knowledge of the gluon density are observed thanks to the inclusion of ATLAS data.

No description available.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Adelaide, Dept of Physics, 1986. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-105).

xv, 177 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / In this dissertation, three different topics related to terascale physics are explored. First, a new method is suggested to match next-to-leading order (NLO) scattering matrix elements with parton showers. This method is based on the original approach which adds primary parton splittings in Born-level Feynman graphs in order to remove several types of infrared divergent subtractions from the NLO calculation. The original splitting functions are modified so that parton showering has a less severe effect on the jet structure of the generated events. We also examine the Large Hadron Collider phenomenology of quantum black holes in models of TeV scale gravity. Based on a few minimal assumptions, such as the conservation of color charges, interesting signatures are identified that should be readily visible above the Standard Model background. The detailed phenomenology depends heavily on whether one requires a Lorentz invariant, low-energy effective field theory description of black hole processes. Finally, in the calculation of cross sections in high energy collisions at NLO, one option is to perform all of the integrations, including the virtual loop integration, by Monte Carlo numerical integration. A new method is developed to perform the loop integration directly, without introducing Feynman parameters, after suitably deforming the integration contour. Our example is the N-photon scattering amplitude with a massless electron loop. Results for six photons and eight photons are reported. / Committee in charge: Stephen Hsu, Chairperson, Physics; Graham Kribs, Member, Physics; David Strom, Member, Physics; Davison Soper, Member, Physics; Marina Guenza, Outside Member, Chemistry

Parton distribution functions (PDFs) provide a description of the quark and gluon content of the proton. They are important input into theoretical calculations of hadronic observables, and are obtained by fitting to a wide range of experimental data. The NNPDF approach to fitting PDFs provides a robust and reliable determination of their central values and uncertainties. The PDFs are modelled using neural networks, while the uncertainties are generated through the use of Monte Carlo replica datasets. In this thesis I provide an in depth description of development of the latest NNPDF determination: NNPDF3.0. A number of novel adaptations to the genetic algorithm and network structure are outlined and the results of tests as to their effectiveness are shown. Centrally, the use of closure tests, where artificial data is generated according to a known theory and used to perform a fit, has been instrumental in both the development and validation of the NNPDF3.0 approach. The results of these tests, which demonstrate the ability of our methodology to reproduce a known underlying law, are investigated in detail. Finally, results from the NNPDF3.0 PDF sets are presented. The parton distributions obtained are compared with results from other PDF collaborations, and PDFs fit to limited datasets are also discussed. Physical observables relevant for future collider runs are presented and compared to other determinations.