Evaluation of the Strong Coupling Constant alpha_s Using the ATLAS Inclusive Jet Cross-Section Data

TL;DR

This paper determines the strong coupling constant alpha_s using ATLAS jet cross-section data at 7 TeV, comparing different combination methods and testing the running of alpha_s across a wide momentum range.

Contribution

It provides a new measurement of alpha_s from ATLAS data with detailed correlation analysis and compares multiple combination procedures for improved accuracy.

Findings

Alpha_s is consistent with the world average at the Z-boson scale.

The running of alpha_s is confirmed between 45 and 600 GeV.

Good agreement with previous Tevatron results.

Abstract

We perform a determination of the strong coupling constant using the latest ATLAS inclusive jet cross section data, from proton-proton collisions at sqrt{s}=7 TeV, and their full information on the bin-to-bin correlations. Several procedures for combining the statistical information from the different data inputs are studied and compared. The theoretical prediction is obtained using NLO QCD, and it also includes non-perturbative corrections. Our determination uses inputs with transverse momenta between 45 and 600 GeV, the running of the strong coupling being also tested in this range. Good agreement is observed when comparing our result with the world average at the Z-boson scale, as well as with the most recent results from the Tevatron.