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Threshold Resummation and the Determination of Parton Distribution Functions

Precise knowledge of parton distribution functions (PDFs) is necessary to the accurate calculation of QCD observables initiated by hadrons. The deep inelastic scattering (DIS) and lepton pair production (LPP) processes are primary sources of information on PDFs. Recent global fits for PDFs have used DIS data from the large Bjorken $x$, moderate $Q^{2}$ region. It is known that there are large logarithms in this kinematic region that can be resummed using threshold resummation techniques. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of simultaneously including DIS and LPP threshold resummation in the determinations of PDFs. The analysis includes a study of the effects of the choice of resummation prescription and of current resummation methods used in the LPP rapidity and $x_{F}$ distributions. It is demonstrated theoretically and phenomenologically that the current resummation methods for such distributions are approximations that lose accuracy at high rapidities or $x_{F}$. The unapproximated resummation formalism is extended to the $\overline{\mathrm{MS}}$ scheme in the minimal and Borel prescriptions and used in conjunction with resummation in DIS to perform a global fit. The resultant PDF sets that correspond to two choices of resummation prescription are analyzed to determine the effect of threshold resummation on PDF fits and its theoretical uncertainties. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Physics in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester, 2015. / April 1, 2015. / PDF, Prescription, Resummation, Threshold / Includes bibliographical references. / Joseph F. Owens, III, Professor Directing Thesis; Ettore Aldrovandi, University Representative; Laura Reina, Committee Member; Susan Blessing, Committee Member; Winston Roberts, Committee Member.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_253061
ContributorsWestmark, David (authoraut), Owens, Joseph F. (professor directing thesis), Aldrovandi, Ettore (university representative), Reina, Laura (committee member), Blessing, Susan K. (committee member), Roberts, Winston (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Arts and Sciences (degree granting college), Department of Physics (degree granting department)
PublisherFlorida State University, Florida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
LanguageEnglish, English
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText, text
Format1 online resource (176 pages), computer, application/pdf
RightsThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them.

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