A local Monte Carlo implementation of the non-abelian Landau-Pomerantschuk-Migdal effect

TL;DR

This paper introduces a local Monte Carlo algorithm based on formation time physics to simulate the non-abelian LPM effect, accurately reproducing known analytical features and enabling better modeling of jet quenching in nuclear collisions.

Contribution

A novel local Monte Carlo implementation of the non-abelian LPM effect using formation time concepts, compatible with analytical results.

Findings

Reproduces the L^2-dependence of parton energy loss

Captures the sqrt(omega) modification of gluon energy distribution

Kinematic constraints modify dependencies as predicted analytically

Abstract

The non-abelian Landau-Pomeranschuk-Migdal (LPM) effect arises from the quantum interference between spatially separated, inelastic radiation processes in matter. A consistent probabilistic implementation of this LPM effect is a prerequisite for extending the use of Monte Carlo (MC) event generators to the simulation of jet-like multi-particle final states in nuclear collisions. Here, we propose a local MC algorithm, which is based solely on relating the LPM effect to the probabilistic concept of formation time for virtual quanta. We demonstrate that this implementation of formation time physics alone accounts probabilistically for all analytically known features of the non-abelian LPM-effect, including the characteristic L^2-dependence of average parton energy loss and the characteristic $\sqrt{\omega}$-modification of the gluon energy distribution. Additional kinematic constraints are found to modify these L^2- and $\omega$-dependencies characteristically in accordance with analytical estimates.