Automation of Electroweak Corrections

TL;DR

This dissertation develops methods to automate next-to-leading order electroweak corrections in the Standard Model, enhancing precision calculations for collider physics, with applications to LHC phenomenology.

Contribution

It introduces automated techniques for electroweak corrections, building on existing QCD frameworks, and discusses key features like subtraction schemes and parameter choices.

Findings

Electroweak corrections are significant for collider predictions.

Automated methods improve calculation efficiency and accuracy.

Applications demonstrate relevance at the LHC.

Abstract

This dissertation addresses a topic that I have worked on over the past decade: the automation of next-to-leading order electroweak corrections in the Standard Model of particle physics. After introducing the basic concepts and techniques of next-to-leading order QCD calculations that underpin the MadGraph5_aMC@NLO framework, I present a few key features relevant to the automated next-to-leading order electroweak contributions to short-distance cross sections, with an emphasis on the mixed QCD and electroweak coupling expansions. These include the FKS subtraction, the renormalization and electroweak input parameter schemes, and the complex mass scheme for dealing with unstable particles. Issues related to the initial or final photons and leptons are also discussed. Two remaining challenges are highlighted if one wishes to go beyond next-to-leading order computations. Some phenomenological applications at the LHC are given to demonstrate the relevance of electroweak corrections at colliders. Finally, an outlook on future studies concludes the dissertation.