Soft-gluon resummation for pseudoscalar Higgs boson production at hadron colliders

We compute the threshold-resummed cross section for pseudo-scalar MSSM Higgs boson production by gluon fusion at hadron colliders. The calculation is performed at next-to-next-to leading logarithmic accuracy. We present results for both the LHC and Tevatron Run II. We analyze the factorization and renormalization scale dependence of the results, finding that after performing the resummation the corresponding cross section can be computed with an accuracy better than 10%.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, accepted by Physics Letters

The structure of large logarithmic corrections at small transverse momentum in hadronic collisions

We consider the region of small transverse momenta in the production of high-mass systems in hadronic collisions. By using the current knowledge on the infrared behaviour of tree-level and one-loop QCD amplitudes at O(alpha_s^2), we analytically compute the general form of the logarithmically-enhanced contributions up to next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy. By comparing the results with q_T-resummation formulae we extract the coefficients that control the resummation of the large logarithmic contributions for both quark and gluon channels. Our results show that within the conventional resummation formalism the Sudakov form factor is actually process-dependent.Comment: 38 pages, 2 figures include

Constraining Dark Matter in the MSSM at the LHC

In the event that R-Parity conserving supersymmetry (SUSY) is discovered at the LHC, a key issue which will need to be addressed will be the consistency of that signal with astrophysical and non-accelerator constraints on SUSY Dark Matter. This issue is studied for the SPA benchmark model based on measurements of end-points and thresholds in the invariant mass spectra of various combinations of leptons and jets. These measurements are used to constrain the soft SUSY breaking parameters at the electroweak scale in a general MSSM model. Based on these constraints, we assess the accuracy with which the Dark Matter relic density can be measured.Comment: 21 pages, 12 figure

SUSY and Higgs Signatures Implied by Cancellations in b→sγb\to s\gamma

Recent re-evaluations of the Standard Model (SM) contribution to {\mathcal Br(b\to s\gamma) hint at a positive correction from new physics. Since a charged Higgs boson exchange always gives a positive contribution to this branching ratio, the constraint points to the possibility of a relatively light charged Higgs. It is found that under the HFAG constraints and with re-evaluated SM results large cancellations between the charged Higgs and the chargino contributions in supersymmetric models occur. Such cancellations then correlate the charged Higgs and the chargino masses often implying both are light. Inclusion of the more recent evaluation of $g_{\mu}-2$ is also considered. The combined constraints imply the existence of several light sparticles. Signatures arising from these light sparticles are investigated and the analysis indicates the possibility of their early discovery at the LHC in a significant part of the parameter space. We also show that for certain restricted regions of the parameter space, such as for very large $\tan\beta$ under the $1\sigma$ HFAG constraints, the signatures from Higgs production supersede those from sparticle production and may become the primary signatures for the discovery of supersymmetry.Comment: Published version. 17 pages, 11 figures. One reference added

RRx-001 followed by platinum plus etoposide in patients with previously treated small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND: This exploratory single-arm phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of RRx-001 followed by reintroduction of platinum plus etoposide in patients with previously treated small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). METHODS: Patients were treated with RRx-001 4 mg IV on day 1 of each week of a 21-day cycle followed at progression by re-challenge with etoposide 80-100 IV mg/m RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were enroled and received at least one dose of RRx-001. The median number of prior lines of therapy was 2 (range 1-9) and 19 (73.1%) patients had platinum-resistant disease. In the intention-to-treat population, one patient (3.8%) had complete response and six (23.1%) had partial response on platinum plus etoposide. The estimated median and 12-month OS from enrolment were 8.6 months and 44.1%, respectively. The most common treatment-emergent adverse event from RRx-001 was mild discomfort at the infusion site (23%). CONCLUSIONS: RRx-001 followed by re-challenge with platinum plus etoposide chemotherapy is feasible and associated with promising results. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02489903

Higgs production through gluon fusion: updated cross sections at the Tevatron and the LHC

We present updated predictions for the total cross section for Higgs boson production by gluon--gluon fusion in hadron collisions. Our calculation includes the most advanced theoretical information available at present for this observable: soft-gluon resummation up to next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy, the exact treatment of the bottom-quark contribution up to next-to-leading order, and two-loop electroweak effects. We adopt the most recent parametrization of parton distribution functions at next-to-next-to-leading order, and we evaluate the corresponding uncertainties. In comparison with our previous central predictions, at the Tevatron the difference ranges from +9% for m_H=115 GeV to -9% for m_H=200 GeV. At the LHC the cross section is instead significantly increased. The effect goes from +30% for m_H=115 GeV to +9% for m_H=300 GeV, and is mostly due to the new parton distribution functions. We also provide new predictions for the LHC at sqrt{s}=10 TeV.Comment: 7 pages, no figures, references adde

Higgs boson production at the LHC: transverse-momentum resummation and rapidity dependence

We consider Higgs boson production by gluon fusion in hadron collisions. We study the doubly-differential transverse-momentum (q_T) and rapidity (y) distribution of the Higgs boson in perturbative QCD. In the region of small q_T (q_T << M_H, M_H being the mass of the Higgs boson), we include the effect of logarithmically-enhanced contributions due to multiparton radiation to all perturbative orders. We use the impact parameter and double Mellin moments to implement and factorize the multiparton kinematics constraint of transverse- and longitudinal-momentum conservation. The logarithmic terms are then systematically resummed in exponential form. At small q_T, we perform the all-order resummation of large logarithms up to next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy, while at large q_T (q_T ~ M_H), we apply a matching procedure that recovers the fixed-order perturbation theory up to next-to-leading order. We present quantitative results for the differential cross section in q_T and y at the LHC, and we comment on the comparison with the q_T cross section integrated over y.Comment: References adde

A next-to-next-to-leading order calculation of soft-virtual cross sections

We compute the next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) soft and virtual QCD corrections for the partonic cross section of colourless-final state processes in hadronic collisions. The results are valid to all orders in the dimensional regularization parameter \ep. The dependence of the results on a particular process is given through finite contributions to the one and two-loop amplitudes. To evaluate the accuracy of the soft-virtual approximation we compare it with the full NNLO result for Drell-Yan and Higgs boson production via gluon fusion. We also provide a universal expression for the hard coefficient needed to perform threshold resummation up to next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic (NNLL) accuracy.Comment: 25 pages, 4 figure

R-parity Conservation via the Stueckelberg Mechanism: LHC and Dark Matter Signals

We investigate the connection between the conservation of R-parity in supersymmetry and the Stueckelberg mechanism for the mass generation of the B-L vector gauge boson. It is shown that with universal boundary conditions for soft terms of sfermions in each family at the high scale and with the Stueckelberg mechanism for generating mass for the B-L gauge boson present in the theory, electric charge conservation guarantees the conservation of R-parity in the minimal B-L extended supersymmetric standard model. We also discuss non-minimal extensions. This includes extensions where the gauge symmetries arise with an additional U(1)_{B-L} x U(1)_X, where U(1)_X is a hidden sector gauge group. In this case the presence of the additional U(1)_X allows for a Z' gauge boson mass with B-L interactions to lie in the sub-TeV region overcoming the multi-TeV LEP constraints. The possible tests of the models at colliders and in dark matter experiments are analyzed including signals of a low mass Z' resonance and the production of spin zero bosons and their decays into two photons. In this model two types of dark matter candidates emerge which are Majorana and Dirac particles. Predictions are made for a possible simultaneous observation of new physics events in dark matter experiments and at the LHC.Comment: 38 pages, 7 fig