Monte Carlo tools for studies of non-standard electroweak gauge boson interactions in multi-boson processes: A Snowmass White Paper

TL;DR

This white paper reviews Monte Carlo tools for studying non-standard electroweak interactions in multi-boson processes at the LHC, comparing different computational approaches and emphasizing the importance of higher-order corrections.

Contribution

It provides an overview of implementing higher-dimensional operators in popular Monte Carlo programs and compares their predictions for non-standard electroweak processes.

Findings

Consistent implementation of dimension six and eight operators across tools

Comparison of predictions from MadGraph5, VBFNLO, and WHIZARD

Discussion on the impact of higher-order QCD corrections

Abstract

In this Snowmass 2013 white paper, we review the effective field theory approach for studies of non-standard electroweak interactions in electroweak vector boson pair and triple production and vector boson scattering. We present an overview of the implementation of dimension six and eight operators in MadGraph5, VBFNLO, and WHIZARD, and provide relations between the coefficients of these higher dimensions operators used in these programs and in the anomalous couplings approach. We perform a tuned comparison of predictions for multi-boson processes including non-standard electroweak interactions with MadGraph5, VBFNLO, and WHIZARD. We discuss the role of higher-order corrections in these predictions using VBFNLO and a POWHEG BOX implementation of higher-order QCD corrections to WWjj production. The purpose of this white paper is to collect useful tools for the study of non-standard EW physics at the LHC, compare them, and study the main physics issues in the relevant processes.