Return to search

Improving predictions for collider observables by consistently combining fixed order calculations with resummed results in perturbation theory

With the constantly increasing precision of experimental data acquired at the current collider experiments Tevatron and LHC the theoretical uncertainty on the prediction of multiparticle final states has to decrease accordingly in order to have meaningful tests of the underlying theories such as the Standard Model. A pure leading order calculation, defined in the perturbative expansion of said theory in the interaction constant, represents the classical limit to such a quantum field theory and was already found to be insufficient at past collider experiments, e.g. LEP or Hera. Such a leading order calculation can be systematically improved in various limits. If the typical scales of a process are large and the respective coupling constants are small, the inclusion of fixed-order higher-order corrections then yields quickly converging predictions with much reduced uncertainties. In certain regions of the phase space, still well within the perturbative regime of the underlying theory, a clear hierarchy of the inherent scales, however, leads to large logarithms occurring at every order in perturbation theory. In many cases these logarithms are universal and can be resummed to all orders leading to precise predictions in these limits. Multiparticle final states now exhibit both small and large scales, necessitating a description using both resummed and fixed-order results. This thesis presents the consistent combination of two such resummation schemes with fixed-order results. The main objective therefor is to identify and properly treat terms that are present in both formulations in a process and observable independent manner.

In the first part the resummation scheme introduced by Yennie, Frautschi and Suura (YFS), resumming large logarithms associated with the emission of soft photons in massive Qed, is combined with fixed-order next-to-leading matrix elements. The implementation of a universal algorithm is detailed and results are studied for various precision observables in e.g. Drell-Yan production or semileptonic B meson decays. The results obtained for radiative tau and muon decays are also compared to experimental data.

In the second part the resummation scheme introduced by Dokshitzer, Gribov, Lipatov, Altarelli and Parisi (DGLAP), resumming large logarithms associated with the emission of collinear partons applicable to both Qcd and Qed, is combined with fixed-order next-to-leading matrix elements. While the focus rests on its application to Qcd corrections, this combination is discussed in detail and the implementation is presented. The resulting predictions are evaluated and compared to experimental data for a multitude of processes in four different collider environments. This formulation has been further extended to accommodate real emission corrections to beyond next-to-leading order radiation otherwise described only by the DGLAP resummation. Its results are also carefully evaluated and compared to a wide range of experimental data.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa.de:bsz:14-qucosa-83876
Date12 March 2012
CreatorsSchönherr, Marek
ContributorsTechnische Universität Dresden, Fakultät Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften, Prof. Dr. Dominik Stöckinger, Prof. Dr. Dominik Stöckinger, Dr. Frank Krauss
PublisherSaechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden
Source SetsHochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typedoc-type:doctoralThesis
Formatapplication/pdf

Page generated in 0.0034 seconds