Electroweak and QCD corrections to top-pair hadroproduction in association with heavy bosons

We compute the contribution of order $\alpha_S^2\alpha^2$ to the cross section of a top-antitop pair in association with at least one heavy Standard Model boson -- $Z$, $W^\pm$, and Higgs -- by including all effects of QCD, QED, and weak origin and by working in the automated MadGraph5_aMC@NLO framework. This next-to-leading order contribution is then combined with that of order $\alpha_S^3\alpha$, and with the two dominant lowest-order ones, $\alpha_S^2\alpha$ and $\alpha_S\alpha^2$, to obtain phenomenological results relevant to a 8, 13, and 100~TeV $pp$ collider.Comment: 27 pages, 8 figure

Weak corrections to Higgs hadroproduction in association with a top-quark pair

We present the calculation of the next-to-leading contribution of order $\alpha_S^2\alpha^2$ to the production of a Standard Model Higgs boson in association with a top-quark pair at hadron colliders. All effects of weak and QCD origin are included, whereas those of QED origin are ignored. We work in the MadGraph5_aMC@NLO framework, and discuss sample phenomenological applications at a 8, 13, and 100 TeV $pp$ collider, including the effects of the dominant next-to-leading QCD corrections of order $\alpha_S^3\alpha$.Comment: 29 pages, 38 figure

The automation of next-to-leading order electroweak calculations

We present the key features relevant to the automated computation of all the leading- and next-to-leading order contributions to short-distance cross sections in a mixed-coupling expansion, with special emphasis on the first subleading NLO term in the QCD+EW scenario, commonly referred to as NLO EW corrections. We discuss, in particular, the FKS subtraction in the context of a mixed-coupling expansion; the extension of the FKS subtraction to processes that include final-state tagged particles, defined by means of fragmentation functions; and some properties of the complex mass scheme. We combine the present paper with the release of a new version of MadGraph5_aMC@NLO, capable of dealing with mixed-coupling expansions. We use the code to obtain illustrative inclusive and differential results for the 13-TeV LHC.Comment: 121 pages, 16 figure

The automated computation of tree-level and next-to-leading order differential cross sections, and their matching to parton shower simulations

We discuss the theoretical bases that underpin the automation of the computations of tree-level and next-to-leading order cross sections, of their matching to parton shower simulations, and of the merging of matched samples that differ by light-parton multiplicities. We present a computer program, MadGraph5_aMC@NLO, capable of handling all these computations -- parton-level fixed order, shower-matched, merged -- in a unified framework whose defining features are flexibility, high level of parallelisation, and human intervention limited to input physics quantities. We demonstrate the potential of the program by presenting selected phenomenological applications relevant to the LHC and to a 1-TeV $e^+e^-$ collider. While next-to-leading order results are restricted to QCD corrections to SM processes in the first public version, we show that from the user viewpoint no changes have to be expected in the case of corrections due to any given renormalisable Lagrangian, and that the implementation of these are well under way.Comment: 158 pages, 27 figures; a few references have been adde

Light-by-Light Scattering at Next-to-Leading Order in QCD and QED

The recent experimental observation of Light-by-Light (LbL) scattering at the Large Hadron Collider has revived interest in this fundamental process, and especially of the accurate prediction of its cross-section, which we present here for the first time at Next-to-Leading Order (NLO) in both QCD and QED. We compare two radically different computational approaches, both exact in the fermion mass dependence, thus offering a strong cross-check of our results. The first approach is a fully analytic method to calculate compact and well-organized two-loop helicity amplitudes. The second one is entirely numerical and leverages the Local Unitarity construction. Our two calculations agree with each other and conclude that including the exact fermion mass contribution typically increases the size of the NLO corrections. Moreover, we find that the exact result converges slowly to the massless limit of the high-energy regime, thus emphasizing the importance of including the full mass dependence at NLO. We also compare our results with the ATLAS measurement of LbL in ultra-peripheral lead-lead collisions, and find that the inclusion of exact NLO corrections reduces, but does not eliminate, the existing tension with theoretical predictions.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures (including appendix) v2: minor corrections and journal versio

A prototype system for observing the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation - scientific basis, measurement and risk mitigation strategies, and first results

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC) carries up to one quarter of the global northward heat transport in the Subtropical North Atlantic. A system monitoring the strength of the MOC volume transport has been operating since April 2004. The core of this system is an array of moored sensors measuring density, bottom pressure and ocean currents. A strategy to mitigate risks of possible partial failures of the array is presented, relying on backup and complementary measurements. The MOC is decomposed into five components, making use of the continuous moored observations, and of cable measurements across the Straits of Florida, and wind stress data. The components compensate for each other, indicating that the system is working reliably. The year-long average strength of the MOC is 18.7±5.6 Sv, with wind-driven and density-inferred transports contributing equally to the variability. Numerical simulations suggest that the surprisingly fast density changes at the western boundary are partially linked to westward propagating planetary wave

Numerical evaluation of one-loop QCD amplitudes

We present the publicly available program NGluon allowing the numerical evaluation of primitive amplitudes at one-loop order in massless QCD. The program allows the computation of one-loop amplitudes for an arbitrary number of gluons. The focus of the present article is the extension to one-loop amplitudes including an arbitrary number of massless quark pairs. We discuss in detail the algorithmic differences to the pure gluonic case and present cross checks to validate our implementation. The numerical accuracy is investigated in detail.Comment: Talk given at ACAT 2011 conference in London, 5-9 Septembe

Evolution and Nucleosynthesis of Very Massive Stars

In this chapter, after a brief introduction and overview of stellar evolution, we discuss the evolution and nucleosynthesis of very massive stars (VMS: M>100 solar masses) in the context of recent stellar evolution model calculations. This chapter covers the following aspects: general properties, evolution of surface properties, late central evolution, and nucleosynthesis including their dependence on metallicity, mass loss and rotation. Since very massive stars have very large convective cores during the main-sequence phase, their evolution is not so much affected by rotational mixing, but more by mass loss through stellar winds. Their evolution is never far from a homogeneous evolution even without rotational mixing. All VMS at metallicities close to solar end their life as WC(-WO) type Wolf-Rayet stars. Due to very important mass loss through stellar winds, these stars may have luminosities during the advanced phases of their evolution similar to stars with initial masses between 60 and 120 solar masses. A distinctive feature which may be used to disentangle Wolf-Rayet stars originating from VMS from those originating from lower initial masses is the enhanced abundances of neon and magnesium at the surface of WC stars. At solar metallicity, mass loss is so strong that even if a star is born with several hundred solar masses, it will end its life with less than 50 solar masses (using current mass loss prescriptions). At the metallicity of the LMC and lower, on the other hand, mass loss is weaker and might enable star to undergo pair-instability supernovae.Comment: 42 pages, 20 figures, Book Chapter in "Very Massive Stars in the Local Universe", Springer, Ed. Jorick S. Vin

Supernovae from rotating stars

The present paper discusses the main physical effects produced by stellar rotation on presupernovae, as well as observations which confirm these effects and their consequences for presupernova models. Rotation critically influences the mass of the exploding cores, the mass and chemical composition of the envelopes and the types of supernovae, as well as the properties of the remnants and the chemical yields. In the formation of gamma-ray bursts, rotation and the properties of rotating stars appear as the key factor. In binaries, the interaction between axial rotation and tidal effects often leads to interesting and unexpected results. Rotation plays a key role in shaping the evolution and nucleosynthesis in massive stars with very low metallicities (metallicity below about the Small Magellanic Cloud metallicity down to Population III stars). At solar and higher metallicities, the effects of rotation compete with those of stellar winds. In close binaries, the synchronisation process can lock the star at a high rotation rate despite strong mass loss and thus both effects, rotation and stellar winds, have a strong impact. In conclusion, rotation is a key physical ingredient of the stellar models and of presupernova stages, and the evolution both of single stars and close binaries. Moreover, important effects are expected along the whole cosmic history.Comment: 36 pages, 15 figures, published in Handbook of Supernovae, A.W. Alsabti and P. Murdin (eds), Springe