Transverse-momentum resummation for top-quark pairs at hadron colliders

TL;DR

This paper presents a new effective field theory framework for resumming the transverse momentum distribution of top-quark pairs at hadron colliders, including a novel soft function calculation and comparison with experimental data.

Contribution

It introduces a systematic resummation method for top-quark pair transverse momentum using effective field theory, with a new soft function matrix and NNLL accuracy.

Findings

Resummation results agree with Tevatron and LHC data.

The soft function matrix is calculated at NLO.

Implications for top quark charge asymmetry are discussed.

Abstract

We develop a framework for a systematic resummation of the transverse momentum distribution of top-quark pairs produced at hadron colliders based on effective field theory. Compared to Drell-Yan and Higgs production, a novel soft function matrix is required to account for the soft gluon emissions from the final states. We calculate this soft function at the next-to-leading order, and perform the resummation at the next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy. We compare our results with parton shower programs and with the experimental data at the Tevatron and the LHC. We also discuss the implications for the top quark charge asymmetry.