MINLO: Multi-scale improved NLO

TL;DR

This paper introduces MINLO, a method for assigning scales in NLO calculations of hadron collider processes with jets, incorporating Sudakov form factors to improve accuracy and resum large logarithms across multiple scales.

Contribution

It presents a new prescription for scale setting in NLO calculations that includes Sudakov form factors, enhancing precision and resummation capabilities in jet-associated processes.

Findings

Accurately assigns scales in NLO calculations for jet processes.

Resums large logarithms from disparate kinematic scales.

Demonstrates effectiveness with Higgs and Z boson production examples.

Abstract

In the present work we consider the assignment of the factorization and renormalization scales in hadron collider processes with associated jet production, at next-to-leading order (NLO) in perturbation theory. We propose a simple, definite prescription to this end, including Sudakov form factors to consistently account for the distinct kinematic scales occuring in such collisions. The scheme yields results that are accurate at NLO and, for a large class of observables, it resums to all orders the large logarithms that arise from kinematic configurations involving disparate scales. In practical terms the method is most simply understood as an NLO extension of the matrix element reweighting procedure employed in tree level matrix element-parton shower merging algorithms. By way of a proof-of-concept, we apply the method to Higgs and Z boson production in association with up to two jets.