High twist contribution to the longitudinal structure function FLF_L at high xx

We performed NLO QCD fit of combined SLAC/BCDMS/NMC DIS data at high $x$. Model independent x-shape of high twist contribution to structure function $F_L$ is extracted. Twist-4 contribution is found to be in fair agreement with the predictions of infrared renormalon model. Twist-6 contribution exhibits weak tendency to negative values, although in the whole is compatible with zero within errors.Comment: 14 pages, LATEX, 9 figures (EPS

Statistical properties of the estimator using covariance matrix

The statistical properties of estimator using covariance matrix for the account of point-to-point correlations due to systematic errors are analyzed. It is shown that the covariance matrix estimator (CME) is consistent for the realistic cases (when systematic errors on the fitted parameters are not extremely large comparing with the statistical ones) and its dispersion is always smaller, than the dispersion of the simplified $\chi^2$ estimator applied to the correlated data. The CME bias is negligible for the realistic cases if the covariance matrix is calculated during the fit iteratively using the parameter estimator itself. Analytical formula for the covariance matrix inversion allows to perform fast and precise calculations even for very large data sets. All this allows for efficient use of the CME in the global fits.Comment: 12 pages, LATEX, 2 figures (EPS

Extraction of parton distributions and αs\alpha_s from DIS data within the Bayesian treatment of systematic errors

We have performed the NLO QCD global fit of BCDMS, NMC, H1 and ZEUS data with full account of point-to-point correlations using the Bayesian approach to the treatment of systematic errors. Parton distributions in the proton associated with experimental uncertainties, including both statistical and systematic ones were obtained. The gluon distribution in the wide region of $x$ was determined and it turned out to be softer than in the global analysis using prompt photon data. We also obtained the robust estimate of $\alpha_s(M_Z) = 0.1146\pm0.0036 (75$ based on Chebyshev's inequality, which is compatible with the earlier determination of $\alpha_s$ from DIS data, but with less dependence on high twist effects.Comment: 17 pages, Latex, 9 PS figure

Fixed target Drell-Yan data and NNLO QCD fits of parton distribution functions

We discuss the influence of fixed target Drell-Yan data on the extraction of parton distribution functions at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) in QCD. When used in a parton distribution fit, the Drell-Yan (DY) data constrain sea quark distributions at large values of Bjorken x. We find that not all available DY data are useful for improving the precision of parton distribution functions (PDFs) obtained from a fit to the deep inelastic scattering (DIS) data. In particular, some inconsistencies between DIS-based parton distribution functions and DY data for large values of dilepton rapidity are found. However, by selecting a sample of the DY data that is both representative and consistent with the DIS data, we are able to perform a combined PDF fit that significantly improves the precision of non-strange quark distributions at large values of x. The NNLO QCD corrections to the DY process are crucial for improving the precision. They reduce the uncertainty of the theoretical prediction, making it comparable to the experimental uncertainty in DY cross-sections over a broad range of x.Comment: 12 pages, revte

A facility to search for hidden particles at the CERN SPS: the SHiP physics case

This paper describes the physics case for a new fixed target facility at CERN SPS. The SHiP (search for hidden particles) experiment is intended to hunt for new physics in the largely unexplored domain of very weakly interacting particles with masses below the Fermi scale, inaccessible to the LHC experiments, and to study tau neutrino physics. The same proton beam setup can be used later to look for decays of tau-leptons with lepton flavour number non-conservation, $\tau \to 3\mu$ and to search for weakly-interacting sub-GeV dark matter candidates. We discuss the evidence for physics beyond the standard model and describe interactions between new particles and four different portals—scalars, vectors, fermions or axion-like particles. We discuss motivations for different models, manifesting themselves via these interactions, and how they can be probed with the SHiP experiment and present several case studies. The prospects to search for relatively light SUSY and composite particles at SHiP are also discussed. We demonstrate that the SHiP experiment has a unique potential to discover new physics and can directly probe a number of solutions of beyond the standard model puzzles, such as neutrino masses, baryon asymmetry of the Universe, dark matter, and inflation

A facility to search for hidden particles at the CERN SPS: the SHiP physics case

This paper describes the physics case for a new fixed target facility at CERN SPS. The SHiP (search for hidden particles) experiment is intended to hunt for new physics in the largely unexplored domain of very weakly interacting particles with masses below the Fermi scale, inaccessible to the LHC experiments, and to study tau neutrino physics. The same proton beam setup can be used later to look for decays of tau-leptons with lepton flavour number non-conservation, $\tau \to 3\mu$ and to search for weakly-interacting sub-GeV dark matter candidates. We discuss the evidence for physics beyond the standard model and describe interactions between new particles and four different portals—scalars, vectors, fermions or axion-like particles. We discuss motivations for different models, manifesting themselves via these interactions, and how they can be probed with the SHiP experiment and present several case studies. The prospects to search for relatively light SUSY and composite particles at SHiP are also discussed. We demonstrate that the SHiP experiment has a unique potential to discover new physics and can directly probe a number of solutions of beyond the standard model puzzles, such as neutrino masses, baryon asymmetry of the Universe, dark matter, and inflation