Testing the Scale Dependence of the Scale Factor in Double Dijet Production at the LHC

TL;DR

This paper explores how the scale factor in double dijet production at the LHC varies with energy and jet transverse energy, providing insights into two-parton distributions and hadronic structure in high-energy collisions.

Contribution

It introduces the first experimental investigation of the scale dependence of the scale factor in double dijet production at the LHC, linking it to two-parton distribution functions and impact parameter space.

Findings

Potential to constrain two-parton distribution functions

Insights into transverse growth of hadronic distributions

Disentangling different $x$-evolution models

Abstract

The scale factor is the effective cross section used to characterize the measured rate of inclusive double dijet production in high energy hadron collisions. It is sensitive to the two-parton distributions in the hadronic projectile. In principle, the scale factor depends on the center of mass energy and on the minimal transverse energy of the jets contributing to the double dijet cross section. Here, we point out that proton-proton collisions at the LHC will provide for the first time experimental access to these scale dependences in a logarithmically wide, nominally perturbative kinematic range of minimal transverse energy between 10 GeV and 100 GeV. This constrains the dependence of two-parton distribution functions on parton momentum fractions and parton localization in impact parameter space. Novel information is to be expected about the transverse growth of hadronic distribution functions in the range of semi-hard Bjorken x (0.001 < x < 0.1) and high resolution Q^2. We discuss to what extent one can disentangle different pictures of the $x$-evolution of two-parton distributions in the transverse plane by measuring double-hard scattering events at the LHC.