Low-x QCD studies with forward jets in proton-proton collisions at 14 TeV

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of the CMS detector at the LHC to study low-x QCD phenomena through forward jet measurements in proton-proton collisions at 14 TeV, focusing on the capabilities to probe gluon densities at very small x values.

Contribution

It presents generator-level studies demonstrating CMS's ability to measure forward jet spectra and Mueller-Navelet dijets, advancing low-x QCD research at the LHC.

Findings

CMS can reconstruct very forward jets using HF and CASTOR calorimeters.

Forward jet measurements are sensitive to low-x gluon densities.

The studies show potential to explore non-linear QCD evolution at unprecedented energies.

Abstract

The Large Hadron Collider will provide hadronic collisions at energies in the multi-TeV range, never explored before. The parton fractional momenta probed at such energies can be as low as x~2p_T/\sqrt(s) e^(-y)~10^-5 at large rapidities y, opening up attractive opportunities for low-x QCD studies. The combination of the CMS HF (3$<|\eta|<$5) and CASTOR (5.1<|\eta|<6.6) calorimeters allows one, in particular, to reconstruct very forward jets. We present generator-level studies of the CMS capabilities to measure the single inclusive forward jet spectrum and forward-backward (Mueller-Navelet) dijets in p-p collisions at 14 TeV. Both observables are sensitive to low-x gluon densities and non-linear QCD evolution.