1,425 research outputs found
Improved and Perfect Actions in Discrete Gravity
We consider the notion of improved and perfect actions within Regge calculus.
These actions are constructed in such a way that they - although being defined
on a triangulation - reproduce the continuum dynamics exactly, and therefore
capture the gauge symmetries of General Relativity. We construct the perfect
action in three dimensions with cosmological constant, and in four dimensions
for one simplex. We conclude with a discussion about Regge Calculus with curved
simplices, which arises naturally in this context.Comment: 28 pages, 2 figure
On the Expansions in Spin Foam Cosmology
We discuss the expansions used in spin foam cosmology. We point out that
already at the one vertex level arbitrarily complicated amplitudes contribute,
and discuss the geometric asymptotics of the five simplest ones. We discuss
what type of consistency conditions would be required to control the expansion.
We show that the factorisation of the amplitude originally considered is best
interpreted in topological terms. We then consider the next higher term in the
graph expansion. We demonstrate the tension between the truncation to small
graphs and going to the homogeneous sector, and conclude that it is necessary
to truncate the dynamics as well.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, published versio
Extrapolation of Multiplicity distribution in p+p(\bar(p)) collisions to LHC energies
The multiplicity (N_ch) and pseudorapidity distribution (dN_ch/d\eta) of
primary charged particles in p+p collisions at Large Hadron Collider (LHC)
energies of \sqrt(s) = 10 and 14 TeV are obtained from extrapolation of
existing measurements at lower \sqrt(s). These distributions are then compared
to calculations from PYTHIA and PHOJET models. The existing \sqrt(s)
measurements are unable to distinguish between a logarithmic and power law
dependence of the average charged particle multiplicity () on \sqrt(s),
and their extrapolation to energies accessible at LHC give very different
values. Assuming a reasonably good description of inclusive charged particle
multiplicity distributions by Negative Binomial Distributions (NBD) at lower
\sqrt(s) to hold for LHC energies, we observe that the logarithmic \sqrt(s)
dependence of are favored by the models at midrapidity. The dN_ch/d\eta
versus \eta for the existing measurements are found to be reasonably well
described by a function with three parameters which accounts for the basic
features of the distribution, height at midrapidity, central rapidity plateau
and the higher rapidity fall-off. Extrapolation of these parameters as a
function of \sqrt(s) is used to predict the pseudorapidity distributions of
charged particles at LHC energies. dN_ch/d\eta calculations from PYTHIA and
PHOJET models are found to be lower compared to those obtained from the
extrapolated dN_ch/d\eta versus \eta distributions for a broad \eta range.Comment: 11 pages and 13 figures. Substantially revised and accepted for
publication in Journal of Physics
Using gamma+jets Production to Calibrate the Standard Model Z(nunu)+jets Background to New Physics Processes at the LHC
The irreducible background from Z(nunu)+jets, to beyond the Standard Model
searches at the LHC, can be calibrated using gamma+jets data. The method
utilises the fact that at high vector boson pT, the event kinematics are the
same for the two processes and the cross sections differ mainly due to the
boson-quark couplings. The method relies on a precise prediction from theory of
the Z/gamma cross section ratio at high pT, which should be insensitive to
effects from full event simulation. We study the Z/gamma ratio for final states
involving 1, 2 and 3 hadronic jets, using both the leading-order parton shower
Monte Carlo program Pythia8 and a leading-order matrix element program Gambos.
This enables us both to understand the underlying parton dynamics in both
processes, and to quantify the theoretical systematic uncertainties in the
ratio predictions. Using a typical set of experimental cuts, we estimate the
net theoretical uncertainty in the ratio to be of order 7%, when obtained from
a Monte Carlo program using multiparton matrix-elements for the hard process.
Uncertainties associated with full event simulation are found to be small. The
results indicate that an overall accuracy of the method, excluding statistical
errors, of order 10% should be possible.Comment: 22 pages, 14 figures; Accepted for publication by JHE
Constraining compressed supersymmetry using leptonic signatures
We study the impact of the multi-lepton searches at the LHC on supersymmetric
models with compressed mass spectra. For such models the acceptances of the
usual search strategies are significantly reduced due to requirement of large
effective mass and missing E_T. On the other hand, lepton searches do have much
lower thresholds for missing E_T and p_T of the final state objects. Therefore,
if a model with a compressed mass spectrum allows for multi-lepton final
states, one could derive constraints using multi-lepton searches. For a class
of simplified models we study the exclusion limits using ATLAS multi-lepton
search analyses for the final states containing 2-4 electrons or muons with a
total integrated luminosity of 1-2/fb at \sqrt{s}=7 TeV. We also modify those
analyses by imposing additional cuts, so that their sensitivity to compressed
supersymmetric models increase. Using the original and modified analyses, we
show that the exclusion limits can be competitive with jet plus missing E_T
searches, providing exclusion limits up to gluino masses of 1 TeV. We also
analyse the efficiencies for several classes of events coming from different
intermediate state particles. This allows us to assess exclusion limits in
similar class of models with different cross sections and branching ratios
without requiring a Monte Carlo simulation.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure
W+W-, WZ and ZZ production in the POWHEG BOX
We present an implementation of the vector boson pair production processes
ZZ, W+W- and W Z within the POWHEG framework, which is a method that allows the
interfacing of NLO calculations to shower Monte Carlo programs. The
implementation is built within the POWHEG BOX package. The Z/\gamma^*
interference, as well as singly resonant contributions, are properly included.
We also considered interference terms arising from identical leptons in the
final state. As a result, all contributions leading to the desired four-lepton
system have been included in the calculation, with the sole exception of the
interference between ZZ and W+W- in the production of a pair of same-flavour,
oppositely charged fermions and a pair of neutrinos, which we show to be fully
negligible. Anomalous trilinear couplings can be also set in the program, and
we give some examples of their effect at the LHC. We have made the relevant
code available at the POWHEG BOX web site.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables. Minor corrections and updated
references in revised versio
Dislocation loops in overheated free-standing smectic films
Static and dynamic phenomena in overheated free-standing smectic-A films are
studied using a generalization of de Gennes' theory for a confined presmectic
liquid. A static application is to determine the profile of the film meniscus
and the meniscus contact angle, the results being compared with those of a
recent study employing de Gennes' original theory. The dynamical generalization
of the theory is based on on a time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau approach. This is
used to compare two modes for layer-thinning transitions in overheated films,
namely "uniform thinning" vs. nucleation of dislocation loops. Properties such
as the line tension and velocity of a moving dislocation line are evaluated
self-consistently by the theory.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figure
Theoretical predictions for charm and bottom production at the LHC
We present predictions for a variety of single-inclusive observables that
stem from the production of charm and bottom quark pairs at the 7 TeV LHC. They
are obtained within the FONLL semi-analytical framework, and with two "Monte
Carlo + NLO" approaches, MC@NLO and POWHEG. Results are given for final states
and acceptance cuts that are as close as possible to those used by experimental
collaborations and, where feasible, are compared to LHC data.Comment: 22 pages, 10 figure
Interpreting a 1 fb^-1 ATLAS Search in the Minimal Anomaly Mediated Supersymmetry Breaking Model
Recent LHC data significantly extend the exclusion limits for supersymmetric
particles, particularly in the jets plus missing transverse momentum channels.
The most recent such data have so far been interpreted by the experiment in
only two different supersymmetry breaking models: the constrained minimal
supersymmetric standard model (CMSSM) and a simplified model with only squarks
and gluinos and massless neutralinos. We compare kinematical distributions of
supersymmetric signal events predicted by the CMSSM and anomaly mediated
supersymmetry breaking (mAMSB) before calculating exclusion limits in mAMSB. We
obtain a lower limit of 900 GeV on squark and gluino masses at the 95%
confidence level for the equal mass limit, tan(beta)=10 and mu>0.Comment: 18 pages, 11 figure
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