Strong coupling constant extraction from high-multiplicity Z+jets observables

TL;DR

This paper extracts the strong coupling constant using high-multiplicity Z+jets data at NLO QCD, providing a novel approach with results consistent with the world average and comparable uncertainties.

Contribution

It introduces the first extraction of the strong coupling constant from processes with high powers of the coupling at hadron colliders.

Findings

Compatible with the world average of alpha_S

Uncertainties are comparable to other NLO extractions

Most conservative alpha_S value is 0.1178 with uncertainties

Abstract

We present a strong coupling constant extraction at Next-to-Leading Order QCD accuracy using ATLAS Z+2,3,4 jets data. This is the first extraction using processes with a dependency to high powers of the coupling constant. We obtain values of the strong coupling constant at the $Z$ mass compatible with the world average and with uncertainties commensurate with other NLO extractions at hadron colliders. Our most conservative result for the strong coupling constant is $\alpha_S=0.1178 ^{+0.0051}_{- 0.0043}$.