We discuss the sensitivity of theoretical predictions of observables used in searches for new physics to parton distributions (PDFs) at large momentum fraction $x$. Specifically, we consider the neutral-current Drell-Yan production of gauge bosons with invariant masses in the TeV range, for which the forward-backward asymmetry of charged leptons from the decay of the gauge boson in its rest frame is a traditional probe of new physics. We show that the qualitative behaviour of the asymmetry depends strongly on the assumptions made in determining the underlying PDFs. We discuss and compare the large-$x$ behaviour of various different PDF sets, and find that they differ significantly. Consequently, the shape of the asymmetry observed at lower dilepton invariant masses, where all PDF sets are in reasonable agreement because of the presence of experimental constraints, is not necessarily reproduced at large masses where the PDFs are mostly unconstrained by data. It follows that the shape of the asymmetry at high masses may depend on assumptions made in the PDF parametrization, and thus deviations from the traditionally expected behaviour cannot be taken as a reliable indication of new physics. We demonstrate that forward-backward asymmetry measurements could help in constraining PDFs at large $x$ and discuss the accuracy that would be required to disentangle the effects of new physics from uncertainties in the PDFs in this region.
This article presents the review of the current understanding on the pion-nucleon Drell-Yan process from the point of view of the TMD factorization. Using the evolution formalism for the unpolarized and polarized TMD distributions developed recently, we provide the theoretical expression of the relevant physical observables, namely, the unpolarized cross section, the Sivers asymmetry, and the $\cos2ϕ$ asymmetry contributed by the double Boer-Mulders effects. The corresponding phenomenology, particularly at the kinematical configuration of the COMPASS $πN$ Drell-Yan facility, is displayed numer…
We study the impact of future measurements of lepton-charge and forward-backward asymmetries on PDF determination. These results have been obtained employing standard profiling procedures and the open-source platform xFitter. The potential of the combination of charged-current and neutral-current Drell-Yan asymmetries in regions of transverse and invariant masses near the W/Z bosons peaks to improve the PDF uncertainties has also been explored.
I report on precision comparisons of theoretical predictions for Drell-Yan (DY) transverse momentum spectra from two approaches: the analytical resummation approach based on Collins-Soper-Sterman (CSS) formalism and the parton branching (PB) approach to the evolution of transverse momentum dependent (TMD) parton distributions.
Generalized transverse momentum dependent parton distributions (GTMDs) are the most general parton correlation functions of hadrons. By considering the exclusive double Drell-Yan process it is shown for the first time how quark GTMDs can be measured. Specific GTMDs can be addressed by means of polarization observables.
Suppression of contributions from large-parton-number Fok states to T-odd distribution functions in Drell-Yan scattering involving small-x annihilating quark and antiquark
Calculations of Drell-Yan (DY) production at next-to-leading (NLO) order have been combined with Transverse Momentum Dependent (TMD) distributions obtained with the Parton Branching (PB). The predictions show a remarkable agreement with DY measurement from E605 experiment, consistent with previous results we obtained for R209, PHENIX, CMS and ATLAS experiments. We also present predictions for Z+jet measurements showing the importance of TMD parton shower contributions to the jet multiplicity. We show that PB-TMD parton density and the corresponding PB-TMD parton shower can be combined with lea…
The Helicity Structure Functions in the Drell-Yan process are discussed in a framework of Parton Reggeization Approach, which includes the transverse momentum of initial-state partons in a way compatible with QED gauge-invariance. Relationships with conventional Transverse Momentum Dependent Parton Model formalism are clarified.
Predictions for Drell--Yan lepton pair production at low dilepton mass and small x at the LHC usually have a large scale dependence. This can be decreased by determining an "optimal factorization scale". In this paper, we reduce this scale by imposing a cutoff in azimuthal angle between the transverse momentum of the leptons, properly taking into account Sudakov effects. This allows one to probe the parton distributions at smaller scales eliminating most of the current theoretical uncertainty.
Production of a forward Drell-Yan lepton pair accompanied by a jet separated by a large rapidity interval is proposed to study the BFKL evolution at the LHC. Several observables to be measured are presented including the azimuthal angle dependence of the lepton pair which allows to determine Drell-Yan structure functions.
As part of the DESY summer student program 2021, transverse momentum dependent (TMD) parton distributions obtained from the Parton Branching (PB) method were combined with next-to-leading-order (NLO) using the POWHEG method. Computations of the resulting Drell-Yan (DY) transverse momentum spectrum were performed. A good agreement of the theoretical predictions with the measurement performed by the CMS experiment at the center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV is found, at low and intermediate DY $p_{\rm T}$. The new scale choice option for the matching has been included in the CASCADE event generator.
We present new results of our studies of soft-gluon angular ordering effects on the evolution of both collinear and transverse momentum dependent (TMD) parton distribution functions, and discuss their implications for precision predictions of Drell-Yan transverse momentum spectra at the LHC. Our method is based on the parton branching (PB) approach. We compare this with the implementation of angular ordering in the Kimber-Martin-Ryskin-Watt (KMRW) approach and with the Collins-Soper-Sterman (CSS) approach. We illustrate numerically the effects of different ordering scenarios ($p_{\bot}$, angul…
We present the extraction of unpolarized quark transverse momentum dependent parton distribution functions (TMDPDFs) and the non-perturbative part of TMD evolution kernel from the global analysis of Drell-Yan and $Z$-boson production data. The analysis is performed at the next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) in perturbative QCD, using the $ζ$-prescription. The estimation of the error-propagation from the experimental uncertainties to non-perturbative function is made by the replica method. The importance of the inclusion of the precise LHC data and its influence on the determination of non-per…