Effects of QCD radiation on inclusive variables for determining the scale of new physics at hadron colliders

TL;DR

This paper investigates how QCD initial-state radiation influences variables used to estimate the mass scale of new physics at hadron colliders, providing universal functions to relate observable quantities to the underlying hard process.

Contribution

It derives universal functions linking visible final-state distributions to the hard subprocess, aiding in hypothesis testing of new physics scales.

Findings

Universal functions accurately relate invariant mass and energy distributions.

Good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations.

Provides tools for better scale determination of new physics.

Abstract

We examine the effects of QCD initial-state radiation on a class of quantities, designed to probe the mass scale of new physics at hadron colliders, which involve longitudinal as well as transverse final-state momenta. In particular, we derive universal functions that relate the invariant mass and energy distribution of the visible part of the final state to that of the underlying hard subprocess. Knowledge of this relationship may assist in checking hypotheses about new processes, by providing additional information about their scales. We compare our results with those of Monte Carlo studies and find good general agreement.