Anomalous prompt photon production in hadronic collisions at low-xTx_T

We investigate the discrepancy that exists at low-$x_T=2p_T/\sqrt{s}$ between the next--to--leading order QCD calculations of prompt photon production and the measured cross section. The central values of the measured cross section are of order 100\% larger than QCD predictions in this region. It has been suggested that the bremsstrahlung contribution may account for this discrepancy. The quark fragmentation function $D_{\gamma/q}(z)$ has not been measured and an exactly known asymptotic form is normally used in calculations. We examine the effect of much larger fragmentation functions on the QCD predictions. After illustrating the effect of the large fragmentation functions in some detail for recent CDF data at $\sqrt{s}$=1.8~TeV, we perform a $\chi^2$ fit to 8 prompt photon data sets ranging in CMS energy from 24~GeV to 1.8~TeV. While a large fragmentation function normalization may prove to play an important role in resolving the discrepancy, the present theoretical and experimental uncertainties prevent any definite normalization value from being determined.Comment: 14 pages, LBL-33122 and UCB-PTH-92/38. 13 figures available by email, specify postscript or topdrawe

QCD Corrections to Toponium Production at Hadron Colliders

Toponium production at future hadron colliders is investigated. Perturbative QCD corrections to the production cross section for gluon fusion are calculated as well as the contributions from gluon-quark and quark-antiquark collisions to the total cross section. The dependence on the renormalization and factorization scales and on the choice of the parton distribution functions is explored. QCD corrections to the branching ratio of $\eta_{t}$ into $\gamma\gamma$ are included and the two-loop QCD potential is used to predict the wave function at the origin. The branching ratio of $\eta_{t}$ into $\gamma Z$, $ZZ$, $HZ$ and $WW$ is compared with the $\gamma\gamma$ channel.Comment: 16 pages (latex) 9 figures (postscript) available upon request, TTP92-3

Minijet corrections to Higgs production

We study higher order corrections to Higgs production with an associated jet at SSC energies, using the resummation of the leading logarithmic contributions to multiple gluon emissions due to Lipatov and collaborators. We find a considerable enhancement of Higgs production at large transverse momenta.Comment: 15 page

Solar UV irradiance in a changing climate: Trends in europe and the significance of spectral monitoring in Italy

Review of the existing bibliography shows that the direction and magnitude of the long-term trends of UV irradiance, and their main drivers, vary significantly throughout Europe. Analysis of total ozone and spectral UV data recorded at four European stations during 1996–2017 reveals that long-term changes in UV are mainly driven by changes in aerosols, cloudiness, and surface albedo, while changes in total ozone play a less significant role. The variability of UV irradiance is large throughout Italy due to the complex topography and large latitudinal extension of the country. Analysis of the spectral UV records of the urban site of Rome, and the alpine site of Aosta reveals that differences between the two sites follow the annual cycle of the differences in cloudiness and surface albedo. Comparisons between the noon UV index measured at the ground at the same stations and the corresponding estimates from the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) forecast model and the ozone monitoring instrument (OMI)/Aura observations reveal differences of up to 6 units between individual measurements, which are likely due to the different spatial resolution of the different datasets, and average differences of 0.5–1 unit, possibly related to the use of climatological surface albedo and aerosol optical properties in the retrieval algorithms

Harmonic Sums and Mellin Transforms up to two-loop Order

A systematic study is performed on the finite harmonic sums up to level four. These sums form the general basis for the Mellin transforms of all individual functions $f_i(x)$ of the momentum fraction $x$ emerging in the quantities of massless QED and QCD up to two--loop order, as the unpolarized and polarized splitting functions, coefficient functions, and hard scattering cross sections for space and time-like momentum transfer. The finite harmonic sums are calculated explicitly in the linear representation. Algebraic relations connecting these sums are derived to obtain representations based on a reduced set of basic functions. The Mellin transforms of all the corresponding Nielsen functions are calculated.Comment: 44 pages Latex, contract number adde

Direct Observation of Longitudinally Polarised W Bosons

The three different helicity states of W bosons, produced in the reaction e+e- -> W+W- -> l nu q q~ are studied using leptonic and hadronic W decays at sqrt{s}=183GeV and 189GeV. The W polarisation is also measured as a function of the scattering angle between the W- and the direction of the e- beam. The analysis demonstrates that W bosons are produced with all three helicities, the longitudinal and the two transverse states. Combining the results from the two center-of-mass energies and with leptonic and hadronic W decays, the fraction of longitudinally polarised W bosons is measured to be 0.261 +/- 0.051(stat.) +/- 0.016(syst.) in agreement with the expectation from the Standard Model

Formation of the ηc\eta_c in Two-Photon Collisions at LEP

The two-photon width $\Gamma_{\gamma\gamma}$ of the $\eta_c$ meson has been measured with the L3 detector at LEP. The $\eta_c$ is studied in the decay modes $\pi^+\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-$, $\pi^+\pi^-$K$^+$K$^-$, K$_s^0$K$^\pm\pi^\mp$, K$^+$K$^-\pi^{0}$, $\pi^+\pi^-\eta$, $\pi^+\pi^-\eta'$, and $\rho^+\rho^-$ using an integrated luminosity of 140 pb$^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s} \simeq 91$ GeV and of 52 pb$^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s} \simeq 183$ GeV. The result is $\Gamma_{\gamma\gamma}(\eta_c) = 6.9 \pm 1.7 (stat.) \pm 0.8 (sys.) \pm 2.0$(BR) keV. The $Q^2$ dependence of the $\eta_c$ cross section is studied for $Q^2 < 9$ GeV$^{2}$. It is found to be better described by a Vector Meson Dominance model form factor with a J-pole than with a $\rho$-pole. In addition, a signal of $29 \pm 11$ events is observed at the $\chi_c0$ mass. Upper limits for the two-photon widths of the $\chi_c0$, $\chi_c2$, and $\eta_c'$ are also given

Search for Branons at LEP

We search, in the context of extra-dimension scenarios, for the possible existence of brane fluctuations, called branons. Events with a single photon or a single Z-boson and missing energy and momentum collected with the L3 detector in e^+ e^- collisions at centre-of-mass energies sqrt{s}=189-209$ GeV are analysed. No excess over the Standard Model expectations is found and a lower limit at 95% confidence level of 103 GeV is derived for the mass of branons, for a scenario with small brane tensions. Alternatively, under the assumption of a light branon, brane tensions below 180 GeV are excluded

Study of Z Boson Pair Production in e+e- Collisions at LEP at \sqrt{s}=189 GeV

The pair production of Z bosons is studied using the data collected by the L3 detector at LEP in 1998 in e+e- collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 189 GeV. All the visible final states are considered and the cross section of this process is measured to be 0.74 +0.15 -0.14 (stat.) +/- 0.04 (syst.) pb. Final states containing b quarks are enhanced by a dedicated selection and their production cross section is found to be 0.18 +0.09 -0.07 (stat.) +/- 0.02 (syst.) pb. Both results are in agreement with the Standard Model predictions. Limits on anomalous couplings between neutral gauge bosons are derived from these measurements