From Jet Counting to Jet Vetoes

TL;DR

This paper explores how jet multiplicity patterns at the LHC can be understood and manipulated using simple models, improving the accuracy of background estimates for new physics searches.

Contribution

It introduces a framework to interpolate between staircase and Poisson jet scaling patterns using kinematic cuts, with controlled theoretical uncertainties.

Findings

Jet multiplicity patterns can be described by staircase and Poisson models.

Kinematic cuts allow interpolation between jet scaling patterns.

Understanding jet multiplicities aids Higgs and supersymmetry searches.

Abstract

The properties of multi-jet events impact many LHC analysis. The exclusive number of jets at hadron colliders can be described in terms of two simple patterns: staircase scaling and Poisson scaling. In photon plus jets production we can interpolate between the two patterns using simple kinematic cuts. The associated theoretical errors are well under control. Understanding such exclusive jet multiplicities significantly impacts Higgs searches and searches for supersymmetry at the LHC.