No Arabic abstract
To measure spin-dependent parton distribution functions in the production of W bosons at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, an accurate model for distributions of charged leptons from the W boson decay is needed. We present single-spin lepton-level cross sections of order $alpha_S$ for this process, as well as resummed cross sections, which include multiple parton radiation effects. We also present a program RhicBos for the numerical analysis of single-spin and double-spin cross sections in the Drell-Yan process, W and Z boson production.
A consistent phenomenological approach to the computation of transverse single spin asymmetries in inclusive hadron production is presented, based on the assumed generalization of the QCD factorization theorem to the case in which quark intrinsic motion is taken into account. New k_T and spin dependent quark distribution and fragmentation functions are considered: some of them are fixed by fitting data on p(transv. polarized) + p -> pion + X and predictions are given for single spin asymmetries in l + p(transv. polarized) -> pion + X and gamma^* + p(transv. polarized) -> pion + X processes.
We demonstrate that the LHC will be sensitive to quantum correlations between two quarks inside the proton. Same-sign W-boson pair production is the most promising channel for clear measurements of double parton scattering. The left-handed nature of the coupling between quarks and W-bosons makes it a prime probe to measure parton spin correlations. We perform a detailed analysis of double parton scattering, including relevant backgrounds. The analysis reveals that measurements comparing the rate at which two muons from W boson decays are produced in the same compared to opposite hemispheres are especially sensitive to spin correlations between two quarks inside the proton. We provide estimates of the significance of the measurements as a function of the integrated luminosity.
Fixed-order QCD radiative corrections to the vector-boson and Higgs associated production channels, pp -> VH (V=W, Z), at hadron colliders are well understood. We combine higher order perturbative QCD calculations with soft-gluon resummation of both threshold logarithms and logarithms which are important at low transverse momentum of the VH pair. We study the effects of both types of logarithms on the scale dependence of the total cross section and on various kinematic distributions. The next-to-next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic (NNNLL) resummed total cross sections at the LHC are almost identical to the fixed-order perturbative next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) rates, indicating the excellent convergence of the perturbative QCD series. Resummation of the VH transverse momentum (p_T) spectrum provides reliable results for small values of p_T and suggests that implementing a jet-veto will significantly decrease the cross sections.
We consider possible mechanisms for single spin asymmetries in inclusive Deep Inelastic Scattering (DIS) processes with unpolarized leptons and transversely polarized nucleons. Tests for the effects of non-zero $bfk_perp$, for the properties of spin dependent quark fragmentations and for quark helicity conservation are suggested.
The physics of neutrino-nucleus cross sections is a critical probe of the Standard Model and beyond. A precise understanding is also needed to accurately deduce astrophysical neutrino spectra. At energies above $sim 5$ GeV, the cross section is dominated by deep inelastic scattering, mediated by weak bosons. In addition, there are subdominant processes where the hadronic coupling is through virtual photons, $gamma^ast$: (on-shell) $W$-boson production (e.g., where the underlying interaction is $ u_ell + gamma^ast rightarrow ell^- + W^+$) and trident production (e.g., where it is $ u + gamma^ast rightarrow u + ell_1^- + ell_2^+$). These processes become increasingly relevant at TeV--PeV energies. We undertake the first systematic approach to these processes (and those with hadronic couplings through virtual $W$ and $Z$ bosons), treating them together, avoiding common approximations, considering all neutrino flavors and final states, and covering the energy range $10,$--$10^8$ GeV. In particular, we present the first complete calculation of $W$-boson production and the first calculation of trident production at TeV--PeV energies. When we use the same assumptions as in prior work, we recover all of their major results. In a companion paper, we show that these processes should be taken into account for IceCube-Gen2.