High-energy dynamics of QCD: Theoretical and phenomenological results

TL;DR

This paper advances the understanding of high-energy QCD phenomena by analyzing BFKL dynamics, computing NLO corrections for Higgs impact factors, and exploring exotic hadron production within saturation frameworks, relevant for current and future colliders.

Contribution

It provides detailed NLO corrections to Higgs impact factors, investigates exotic tetraquark production with a hybrid BFKL-collinear approach, and offers updated fragmentation functions for bottomonium states.

Findings

NLO corrections improve Higgs production predictions at large rapidity.

Hybrid framework predicts tetraquark production rates at high energies.

Preliminary LO results for di-hadron production in saturation regime.

Abstract

This work investigates the behavior of hadronic matter in the high-energy Regge-Gribov (semi-hard) regime of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), accessible through current and future colliders such as the LHC, EIC, and FCC. Central to the analysis is the Balitsky-Fadin-Kuraev-Lipatov (BFKL) formalism, with detailed treatment of the BFKL equation in both leading and next-to-leading logarithmic approximations. A major focus is placed on the computation of real next-to-leading order (NLO) corrections to the Higgs boson impact factor, incorporating finite top-quark mass effects. These corrections are essential for improving precision in Higgs production processes at large rapidity separations. The study also explores the semi-inclusive production of exotic tetraquark states, employing a hybrid framework that combines collinear and BFKL dynamics within a variable-flavor number scheme. Updated fragmentation functions for bottomonium-like states are provided, offering improved predictions at 14 TeV and 100 TeV. Additionally, the work addresses diffractive di-hadron production in the small-x saturation regime using the Color Glass Condensate (CGC) formalism, presenting preliminary leading-order analytical results.