Bootstrapping Multi-Parton Loop Amplitudes in QCD

We present a new method for computing complete one-loop amplitudes, including their rational parts, in non-supersymmetric gauge theory. This method merges the unitarity method with on-shell recursion relations. It systematizes a unitarity-factorization bootstrap approach previously applied by the authors to the one-loop amplitudes required for next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the processes e^+e^- -> Z,\gamma^* -> 4 jets and pp -> W + 2 jets. We illustrate the method by reproducing the one-loop color-ordered five-gluon helicity amplitudes in QCD that interfere with the tree amplitude, namely A_{5;1}(1^-,2^-,3^+,4^+,5^+) and A_{5;1}(1^-,2^+,3^-,4^+,5^+). Then we describe the construction of the six- and seven-gluon amplitudes with two adjacent negative-helicity gluons, A_{6;1}(1^-,2^-,3^+,4^+,5^+,6^+) and A_{7;1}(1^-,2^-,3^+,4^+,5^+,6^+,7^+), which uses the previously-computed logarithmic parts of the amplitudes as input. We present a compact expression for the six-gluon amplitude. No loop integrals are required to obtain the rational parts.Comment: 43 pages, 8 figures, RevTeX, v2-v4 clarifications and minor correction

Higher-Order Corrections to Timelike Jets

We present a simple formalism for the evolution of timelike jets in which tree-level matrix element corrections can be systematically incorporated, up to arbitrary parton multiplicities and over all of phase space, in a way that exponentiates the matching corrections. The scheme is cast as a shower Markov chain which generates one single unweighted event sample, that can be passed to standard hadronization models. Remaining perturbative uncertainties are estimated by providing several alternative weight sets for the same events, at a relatively modest additional overhead. As an explicit example, we consider Z -> q qbar evolution with unpolarized, massless quarks and include several formally subleading improvements as well as matching to tree-level matrix elements through alpha_s^4. The resulting algorithm is implemented in the publicly available VINCIA plugin to the PYTHIA 8 event generator.Comment: 72 pages, 78 figure

Left-Handed W Bosons at the LHC

The production of W bosons in association with jets is an important background to new physics at the LHC. Events in which the W carries large transverse momentum and decays leptonically lead to large missing energy and are of particular importance. We show that the left-handed nature of the W coupling, combined with valence quark domination at a pp machine, leads to a large left-handed polarization for both W^+ and W^- bosons at large transverse momenta. The polarization fractions are very stable with respect to QCD corrections. The leptonic decay of the W bosons translates the common left-handed polarization into a strong asymmetry in transverse momentum distributions between positrons and electrons, and between neutrinos and anti-neutrinos (missing transverse energy). Such asymmetries may provide an effective experimental handle on separating W + jets from top quark production, which exhibits very little asymmetry due to C invariance, and from various types of new physics.Comment: 32 pages, revtex, 17 figures, 3 tables, v2 minor corrections to ME+PS results, no changes to conclusions, added reference

Driving Missing Data at Next-to-Leading Order

The prediction of backgrounds to new physics signals in topologies with large missing transverse energy and jets is important to new physics searches at the LHC. Following a CMS study, we investigate theoretical issues in using measurements of gamma + 2-jet production to predict the irreducible background to searches for missing energy plus two jets that originates from Z + 2-jet production where the Z boson decays to neutrinos. We compute ratios of gamma + 2-jet to Z + 2-jet production cross sections and kinematic distributions at next-to-leading order in alpha_s, as well as using a parton shower matched to leading-order matrix elements. We find that the ratios obtained in the two approximations are quite similar, making gamma + 2-jet production a theoretically reliable estimator for the missing energy plus two jets background. We employ a Frixione-style photon isolation, but we also show that for isolated prompt photon production at high transverse momentum the difference between this criterion and the standard cone isolation used by CMS is small.Comment: 27 pages, 9 figures, 3 tables, RevTex, v2 minor corrections and added reference

On Yang--Mills Theories with Chiral Matter at Strong Coupling

Strong coupling dynamics of Yang-Mills theories with chiral fermion content remained largely elusive despite much effort over the years. In this work, we propose a dynamical framework in which we can address non-perturbative properties of chiral, non-supersymmetric gauge theories, in particular, chiral quiver theories on S{sub 1} x R{sub 3}. Double-trace deformations are used to stabilize the center-symmetric vacuum. This allows one to smoothly connect smaller(S{sub 1}) to larger(S{sub 1}) physics (R{sub 4} is the limiting case) where the double-trace deformations are switched off. In particular, occurrence of the mass gap in the gauge sector and linear confinement due to bions are analytically demonstrated. We find the pattern of the chiral symmetry realization which depends on the structure of the ring operators, a novel class of topological excitations. The deformed chiral theory, unlike the undeformed one, satisfies volume independence down to arbitrarily small volumes (a working Eguchi-Kawai reduction) in the large N limit. This equivalence, may open new perspectives on strong coupling chiral gauge theories on R{sub 4}

One-Loop Multi-Parton Amplitudes with a Vector Boson for the LHC

In this talk, we present the first, numerically stable, results for the one-loop amplitudes needed for computing W; Z + 3 jet cross sections at the LHC to next-to-leading order in the QCD coupling. We implemented these processes in BlackHat, an automated program based on on-shell methods. These methods scale very well with increasing numbers of external partons, and are applicable to a wide variety of problems of phenomenological interest at the LHC

Vector Boson Jets with BlackHat and Sherpa

We review recent NLO QCD results for W, Z + 3-jet production at hadron colliders, computing using BlackHat and SHERPA, and including also some new results for Z + 3-jet production for the LHC at 7 TeV. We report new progress towards the NLO cross section for W + 4-jet production. In particular, we show that the virtual matrix elements produced by BlackHat are numerically stable. We also show that with an improved integrator and tree-level matrix elements from BlackHat, SHERPA produces well-behaved real-emission contributions. As an illustration, we present the real-emission contributions - including dipole-subtraction terms - to the p{sub T} distribution of the fourth jet, for a single subprocess with the maximum number of gluons