Testing the Gaussian Approximation to the JIMWLK Equation

In processes involving small-x partons, like in deep inelastic scattering and in hadronic collisions at high energy, the final state can be expressed in terms of correlators of Wilson lines. We study such high-point correlators evolving according to the JIMWLK equation and we confirm the results of previous numerical and analytic work, by using an independent method, that the solution to the JIMWLK equation can be very well approximated by an appropriate Gaussian wavefunction. We explore both fixed and running coupling evolution, where in the latter the scale is set according to various prescriptions. As a byproduct, we also numerically confirm to high accuracy the validity of the law governing the behavior of the S-matrix close to the unitarity limit, the Levin-Tuchin formula. We furthermore outline how to calculate correlators with open color indices.Comment: 25 pages, 11 figures. v2: minor corrections, one equation added, updated to match published versio

Resumming large higher-order corrections in non-linear QCD evolution

Linear and non-linear QCD evolutions at high energy suffer from severe issues related to convergence, due to higher order corrections enhanced by large double and single transverse logarithms. We resum double logarithms to all orders by taking into account successive soft gluon emissions strongly ordered in lifetime. We further resum single logarithms generated by the first non-singular part of the splitting functions and by the one-loop running of the coupling. The resulting collinearly improved BK equation admits stable solutions, which are used to successfully fit the HERA data at small-x for physically acceptable initial conditions and reasonable values of the fit parameters.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, based on talk given at Hard Probes 2015, 29 June - 3 July 2015, Montreal, Canad

Resummation of Large Logarithms in the Rapidity Evolution of Color Dipoles

Perturbative corrections beyond leading-log accuracy to BFKL and BK equations, describing the rapidity evolution of QCD scattering amplitudes at high energy, exhibit strong convergence problems due to radiative corrections enhanced by large single and double transverse logs. We identify explicitly the physical origin of double transverse logs and resum them directly in coordinate space as appropriate for BK equation, in terms of an improved local-in-rapidity evolution kernel. Numerical results show the crucial role of double-logarithmic resummation for BK evolution, which is stabilized and slowed down by roughly a factor of two.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures; Proceedings of the XXIII International Workshop on Deep-Inelastic Scattering (27 April-May 1 2015, Dallas (USA)

HERA data and collinearly-improved BK dynamics

Within the framework of the dipole factorisation, we use a recent collinearly-improved version of the Balitsky-Kovchegov equation to fit the HERA data for inclusive deep inelastic scattering at small Bjorken $x$. The equation includes an all-order resummation of double and single transverse logarithms and running coupling corrections. Compared to similar equations previously proposed in the literature, this work makes a direct use of Bjorken $x$ as the rapidity scale for the evolution variable. We obtain excellent fits for reasonable values for the four fit parameters. We find that the fit quality improves when including resummation effects and a physically-motivated initial condition. In particular, the resummation of the DGLAP-like single transverse logarithms has a sizeable impact and allows one to extend the fit up to relatively large photon virtuality $Q^2$

On the use of a running coupling in the calculation of forward hadron production at next-to-leading order

We study a puzzle raised recently regarding the running coupling prescription used in the calculation of forward particle production in proton-nucleus collisions at next-to-leading order: using a coordinate space prescription which is consistent with the one used in the high energy evolution of the target leads to results which can be two orders of magnitude larger than the ones obtained with a momentum space prescription. We show that this is an artefact of the Fourier transform involved when passing between coordinate and momentum space and propose a new coordinate space prescription which avoids this problem.Peer reviewe

Hadron-nucleus scattering in the local reggeon model with pomeron loops for realistic nuclei

Contribution of simplest loops for hadron-nucleus scattering cross-sections is studied in the Local Reggeon Field Theory with a supercritical pomeron. It is shown that inside the nucleus the supercritical pomeron transforms into a subcritical one, so that perturbative treatment becomes possible. The pomeron intercept becomes complex, which leads to oscillations in the cross-sections.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure

Optimal jet radius in kinematic dijet reconstruction

Obtaining a good momentum reconstruction of a jet is a compromise between taking it large enough to catch the perturbative final-state radiation and small enough to avoid too much contamination from the underlying event and initial-state radiation. In this paper, we compute analytically the optimal jet radius for dijet reconstructions and study its scale dependence. We also compare our results with previous Monte-Carlo studies.Comment: 30 pages, 11 figures; minor corrections; published in JHE

QCD at small x and nucleus-nucleus collisions

At large collision energy sqrt(s) and relatively low momentum transfer Q, one expects a new regime of Quantum Chromo-Dynamics (QCD) known as "saturation". This kinematical range is characterized by a very large occupation number for gluons inside hadrons and nuclei; this is the region where higher twist contributions are as large as the leading twist contributions incorporated in collinear factorization. In this talk, I discuss the onset of and dynamics in the saturation regime, some of its experimental signatures, and its implications for the early stages of Heavy Ion Collisions.Comment: Plenary talk given at QM2006, Shanghai, November 2006. 8 pages, 8 figure

FastJet user manual

FastJet is a C++ package that provides a broad range of jet finding and analysis tools. It includes efficient native implementations of all widely used 2-to-1 sequential recombination jet algorithms for pp and e+e- collisions, as well as access to 3rd party jet algorithms through a plugin mechanism, including all currently used cone algorithms. FastJet also provides means to facilitate the manipulation of jet substructure, including some common boosted heavy-object taggers, as well as tools for estimation of pileup and underlying-event noise levels, determination of jet areas and subtraction or suppression of noise in jets.Comment: 69 pages. FastJet 3 is available from http://fastjet.fr