Determination of the strong coupling constant from the inclusive jet cross section in ppbar collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV

TL;DR

This paper measures the strong coupling constant alpha_s from inclusive jet cross sections in proton-antiproton collisions at 1.96 TeV, providing the most precise collider-based determination to date.

Contribution

It presents a novel extraction of alpha_s over a wide energy range using advanced perturbative QCD calculations and threshold corrections.

Findings

Alpha_s(MZ) = 0.1161 +0.0041 -0.0048

First precise measurement of alpha_s at a hadron collider

Consistent with previous world averages

Abstract

We determine the strong coupling constant alphas and its energy dependence from the pT dependence of the inclusive jet cross section in ppbar collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV. The strong coupling constant is determined over the transverse momentum range 50 < pT < 145 GeV. Using perturbative QCD calculations to order O(alphas^3) combined with O(alphas^4) contributions from threshold corrections, we obtain alphas(MZ) = 0.1161 +0.0041 -0.0048. This is the most precise result obtained at a hadron-hadron collider.