Search

We present the first calculation of same-sign WW scattering at the LHC in the fully leptonic decay channel including the modelling of polarisation for intermediate electroweak bosons and radiative corrections up to NLO EW+QCD accuracy. The predictions rely on a pole expansion and on the split of polarisation states at matrix-element level. Doubly-polarised and unpolarised signals are investigated together with full off-shell results. A detailed phenomenlogical analysis is carried out focusing on differential observables that discriminate between polarisation states, paving the way for refined polarisation-oriented analyses of vector-boson scattering with Run-3 LHC data., Comment: matches version accepted for publication in JHEP

Tri-boson production together with vector-boson scattering is a privileged channel to study the electroweak structure of the Standard Model. Upcoming LHC running stages will allow to measure these processes at unprecedented accuracy and for all possible final states, which requires to push theory predictions to still unexplored frontiers. In this work we present the first calculation for the process ${\rm p}{\rm p}\to\mu^+\mu^-{\rm e}^+\nu_{\rm e}\,{\rm j}\,{\rm j}$ at the LHC in a tri-boson phase space. We evaluate the three LO contributions, namely the $\mathcal{O}(\alpha^6)$, which contains the genuine tri-boson signature, along with the $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_{\rm s}\alpha^5)$ and $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_{\rm s}^2\alpha^4)$, and the two $\mathcal{O}(\alpha^7)$ and $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_{\rm s}\alpha^6)$ NLO corrections. The calculation is based on full Standard-Model matrix elements, including all resonant and non-resonant terms, complete spin correlations and interference effects. Integrated and differential cross sections are presented for a fiducial region inspired by High Luminosity LHC prospect studies. We find electroweak corrections of $-14\%$ for the fiducial cross section, almost twice as large as for other tri-boson processes., Comment: 35 pages, 15 figures

Measuring vector-boson scattering beyond the fully-leptonic final state is becoming possible at the LHC, which demands to have a solid control on the theory predictions for all final states of this class of processes. In this work we present a full off-shell leading-order calculation for the process $\mathrm{p}\mathrm{p} \to \ell \nu_\ell + 4\mathrm{j}$ in two fiducial regions which are particularly relevant for its experimental measurement. In addition to the fully electroweak order, i.e. $\mathcal{O}(\alpha^6)$, we complement our results with $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_\mathrm{s}\alpha^5)$ and $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_\mathrm{s}^2\alpha^4)$ for inclusive predictions. At $\mathcal{O}(\alpha^6)$ we present for the first time a systematic treatment of the process in double-pole approximation and we perform a detailed study of its range of validity by considering inclusive and differential predictions compared to the full off-shell calculation., Comment: 48 pages, 18 figures, two references added, version of JHEP

In this work, we present the first full NLO predictions for the process $\mathrm{p}\mathrm{p}\to\mu^+\nu_\mu\mathrm{e}^+\nu_\mathrm{e}\mathrm{j}\mathrm{j}$ at the LHC in a typical tri-boson phase space. The NLO corrections reach 50% at the level of the fiducial cross section and have a very different hierarchy with respect to vector-boson-scattering phase spaces. By comparing the cross section of the full off-shell process with the sum of contributing on-shell electroweak-boson production subchannels, we find that the process is dominated by WWW and WH production, while vector-boson-scattering topologies still play a non-negligible role. In addition, NLO QCD predictions matched to parton shower which are supplemented by approximate electroweak corrections are provided. For the fiducial cross section, the electroweak corrections turn out to be small but the QCD corrections reach 47%. For the inclusive cross section, matching to parton shower affects the predictions by 7%. However, for differential distributions corrections due to the parton shower can be much more sizeable, depending on the region of phase space., Comment: 41 pages, 40 pdf files

At energies that are large with respect to the electroweak scale, the electroweak corrections to scattering processes involve large logarithms that have to be resummed to obtain decent predictions. Soft-collinear effective theory (SCET) has been proposed as a suitable framework to allow for this resummation, while retaining non-logarithmic corrections in a consistent way. In this paper, we investigate the approximations needed to use this approach for the calculation of electroweak corrections to off-shell diboson production at high-energy colliders. Upon implementing the method into a Monte-Carlo integration code, we provide resummed predictions for cross sections and distributions at a 3 TeV lepton collider and a 100 TeV proton collider., Comment: 75 pages, 69 pdf figure files, some extra comments added, version that appeared in Eur. Phys. J. C

Measuring precisely top-pair-associated processes at hadron colliders will become possible with the upcoming LHC running stages. The increased data statistics will especially enable differential measurements leading to an improved characterisation of such processes. Aiming at a consistent data-theory comparison, precise Standard-Model predictions are needed, including higher-order corrections and full off-shell effects. In this work we present NLO-accurate predictions for the production and decay of a top-antitop pair in association with a Z boson at the LHC, in the multi-lepton decay channel. The complete set of LO contributions and NLO corrections of EW and QCD origin is included. The calculation is based on full matrix elements, computed with all resonant and non-resonant contributions, complete spin correlations and interference effects. Integrated and differential cross-sections are presented for a realistic fiducial setup., Comment: 38 pages, 10 pdf figure files, 24 png figure files

The study of top-quark properties will be a central aspect of the physics programme of any future lepton collider. In this article, we investigate the production of top-quark pairs in the semi-leptonic decay channel in $\rm e^+e^-$ collisions, whose experimental signature is one charged lepton, jets, and missing energy. We present for the first time fiducial cross sections and differential distributions at next-to-leading-order accuracy in QCD for the full off-shell process. We find that the QCD corrections for the considered process are strongly dependent on the beam energies and range from few per cent up to more than $100\%$ (near threshold and above 1 TeV). We focus, in particular, on two scenarios: one close to threshold (365 GeV), dominated by top-pair production, and one at the TeV scale (1.5 TeV), for which irreducible-background contributions become relevant. An assessment of polarised-beam effects is also provided., Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures

Understanding the polarisation structure and providing precise predictions for multi-boson processes at the LHC is becoming urgent in the light of the upcoming run-3 and high-luminosity data. The CMS and ATLAS collaborations have already started using polarised predictions to perform template fits of the data, getting access to the polarisation of W and Z bosons. So far, only fully-leptonic decay channels have been considered in this perspective. The natural step forward is the investigation of hadronic decays of electroweak bosons. In this work, we compute NLO QCD corrections to the production and decay of WZ pairs at the LHC in final states with two charged leptons and jets. The calculation relies on the double-pole approximation and the separation of polarised states at the level of Standard Model amplitudes. The presented NLO-accurate results are necessary building blocks for a broad understanding and precise modelling of polarised di-boson production in semi-leptonic decay channels., Comment: 25 pages (one-column PRD layout), 12 figures, 3 tables. Refined structure, added comments and numbers about DPA accuracy and irreducible backgrounds, further minor corrections. Matches published version in PRD

The production of a single top quark in association with a $\mathrm{Z}$ boson ($\mathrm{t}\mathrm{Z}\mathrm{j}$ production) at the LHC is a relevant probe of the electroweak sector of the Standard Model as well as a window to possible new-physics effects. The growing experimental interest in performing differential measurements for this process demands an improved theoretical modelling in realistic fiducial regions. In this article we present an NLO-accurate $\mathrm{t}\mathrm{Z}\mathrm{j}$ calculation that includes complete off-shell effects and spin correlations, combining QCD and electroweak radiative corrections to the LO signal. Integrated and differential cross-sections are shown for a fiducial setup characterized by three charged leptons, two jets, and missing energy., Comment: 24 pages, 10 figures, some extra comments added, version to appear in JHEP

We present the full next-to-leading-order electroweak and QCD corrections to vector-boson scattering into a pair of off-shell opposite-sign W bosons decaying into leptons of different flavour at the LHC. We include full leading-order predictions for the irreducible background. Explicitly, we investigate the process ${\rm pp \to e^+ \nu_e\mu^-\bar\nu_\mu jj} + X$ at leading orders $O(\alpha^6)$, $O(\rm\alpha_s\alpha^5)$, $O(\rm\alpha_s^2\alpha^4)$, supplemented by the loop-induced $O(\rm\alpha_s^4\alpha^4)$ contribution, and at next-to-leading orders $O(\alpha^7)$ and $O(\rm\alpha_s\alpha^6)$ in two setups providing fiducial cross sections as well as differential distributions. We take full account of photon-induced next-to-leading-order contributions, which prove to be non negligible. With $-11.4\%$ and $-6.7\%$ in the two setups, the electroweak corrections are smaller than for other vector-boson-scattering processes. This can be traced back to the presence of the Higgs-boson resonance in the fiducial phase space, whose effects we analyse within an additional unphysical, but manifestly gauge-invariant setup. The QCD corrections amount to $-5.1\%$ and $-21.6\%$ in the two setups. The large size of the latter correction, compared to other vector-boson scattering processes, is explained by a very restrictive definition of its fiducial phase space., Comment: 34 pages, 29 pdf figure files, some extra comments added, version that appeared in JHEP

Different sets of electroweak input parameters are discussed for SMEFT predictions at the LHC. The {Gmu,mZ,mW} one is presently recommended., Comment: LHC EFT WG note, 5 pages

The foreseen luminosities for the next LHC runs will enable precise differential measurements of the associated production of top-antitop pairs with a W boson. Therefore, providing accurate theory predictions for this process is needed for realistic final states. We present the first combination of NLO electroweak and QCD corrections to off-shell ttW$^+$ production in the three-charged-lepton channel, including non-resonant effects, full spin-correlations and interferences. Such radiative corrections comprise the electroweak and QCD corrections to the leading QCD order, and the QCD corrections to the leading electroweak order., Comment: 7 pages + references. Contribution to the 15th International Symposium on Radiative Corrections (RADCOR) and the XIX Workshop on Radiative Corrections for the LHC and Future Colliders (LoopFest)

Vector-boson scattering into two Z bosons at the LHC is a key channel for the exploration of the electroweak sector of the Standard Model. It allows for the full reconstruction of the scattering process but at the price of a huge irreducible background. For the first time, we present full next-to-leading-order predictions for $pp \to e^+e^-\mu^+\mu^-jj+X$ including all electroweak and QCD contributions for vector-boson scattering signal and irreducible background. The results are presented in the form of cross sections and differential distributions. A particular emphasis is put on the newly computed $O(\alpha_s^2 \alpha^5)$ corrections., Comment: 25 pages, 25 pdf figure files, minor corrections w.r.t. v1, version to appear in JHEP

Measuring the polarization of electroweak bosons at the LHC allows for important tests of the electroweak-symmetry-breaking mechanism that is realized in nature. Therefore, precise Standard Model predictions are needed for the production of polarized bosons in the presence of realistic kinematic selections. We formulate a method for the calculation of polarized cross-sections at NLO that relies on the pole approximation and the separation of polarized matrix elements at the amplitude level. In this framework, we compute NLO-accurate cross-sections for the production of two polarized Z bosons at the LHC, including for the first time NLO EW corrections and combining them with NLO QCD corrections and contributions from the gluon-induced process., Comment: 41 pages, 17 figures, 4 tables, minor corrections w.r.t. v1, matches published version in JHEP

Insight into the electroweak (EW) and Higgs sectors can be achieved through measurements of vector boson scattering (VBS) processes. The scattering of EW bosons are rare processes that are precisely predicted in the Standard Model (SM) and are closely related to the Higgs mechanism. Modifications to VBS processes are also predicted in models of physics beyond the SM (BSM), for example through changes to the Higgs boson couplings to gauge bosons and the resonant production of new particles. In this review, experimental results and theoretical developments of VBS at the Large Hadron Collider, its high luminosity upgrade, and future colliders are presented., Comment: Journal version with additional discussion and references. 56 pages (including toc and refs.), 71 image files, eight tables, and many references. VBSCan@Snowmass review

The high luminosity that will be accumulated at the LHC will enable precise differential measurements of the hadronic production of a top--antitop-quark pair in association with a $\text{W}$ boson. Therefore, an accurate description of this process is needed for realistic final states. In this work we combine for the first time the NLO QCD and electroweak corrections to the full off-shell $\text{t}\overline{\text{t}}{\text{W}}^+$ production at the LHC in the three-charged-lepton channel, including all spin correlations, non-resonant effects, and interferences. To this end, we have computed the NLO electroweak radiative corrections to the leading QCD order as well as the NLO QCD corrections to both the QCD and the electroweak leading orders., Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, 1 table. Added scale uncertainties for distributions and relative comments, clarified setup and scale-choice details, corrected typos. Matches version published in EPJC

We present the QCD radiative corrections to the full off-shell $\rm t\bar{t}W^+$ production, considering a final state with three charged leptons, two b jets and missing energy. All interferences, off-shell effects and spin correlations are included in the calculation. Beyond presenting integrated and differential results for the full off-shell process, we compare them with those obtained applying a double-pole approximation to the virtual corrections., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, Poster presented at the 13th International Workshop on Top Quark Physics, Durham, UK (videoconference), 14-18 September 2020

Accessing the polarization of weak bosons provides an important probe for the mechanism of electroweak symmetry breaking. Relying on the double-pole approximation and on the separation of polarizations at the amplitude level, we study WZ production at the LHC, with both bosons in a definite polarization mode, including NLO QCD effects. We compare results obtained defining the polarization vectors in two different frames. Integrated and differential cross-sections in a realistic fiducial region are presented., Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, 1 table, slightly extended version to appear in Phys. Lett. B

We present the first calculation of the full next-to-leading-order electroweak and QCD corrections for vector-boson scattering (VBS) into a pair of Z bosons at the LHC. We consider specifically the process ${\rm pp\to e^{+}e^{-}\mu^{+}\mu^{-}jj}+X$ at orders $\mathcal{O}(\alpha^7)$ and $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s\alpha^6)$ and take all off-shell and interference contributions into account. Owing to the presence of enhanced Sudakov logarithms, the electroweak corrections amount to $-16\%$ of the leading-order electroweak fiducial cross section and induce significant shape distortions of differential distributions. The QCD corrections on the other hand are larger ($+24\%$) than typical QCD corrections in VBS. This originates from considering the full computation including tri-boson contributions in a rather inclusive phase space. We also provide a leading-order analysis of all contributions to the cross section for ${\rm pp \to e^{+}e^{-}\mu^{+}\mu^{-}jj}+X$ in a realistic setup., Comment: 28 pages, 45 pdf figures, matches the published version

In this article, we report on the computation of the NLO QCD corrections to ${\rm p}{\rm p} \to \mu^-\bar\nu_{\mu}{\rm e}^+\nu_{\rm e}\bar{\rm b}{\rm b}\bar{\rm b}{\rm b}$ at the LHC, which is an irreducible background to ${\rm p}{\rm p}\to{\rm t}\bar{\rm t}{\rm H}\bigl(\to{\rm b}\bar{\rm b}\bigr)$. This is the first time that a full NLO computation for a $2\to8$ process with 6 external strongly-interacting partons is made public. No approximations are used, and all off-shell and interference effects are taken into account. Cross sections and differential distributions from the full computation are compared to results obtained by using a double-pole approximation for the top quarks. The difference between the full calculation and the one using the double-pole approximation is in general below 5\% but can reach 10\% in some regions of phase space., Comment: 21 pages, 17 pdf figures. gb channels corrected. Matches the published version in PRD

We present results of a computation of NLO QCD corrections to the production of an off-shell top--antitop pair in association with an off-shell $\text{W}^+$ boson in proton--proton collisions. As the calculation is based on the full matrix elements for the process $\text{p}\text{p}\to {\text{e}}^+\nu_{\text{e}}\,\mu^-\bar{\nu}_\mu\,\tau^+\nu_\tau\,{\text{b}}\,\bar{\text{b}}$, all off-shell, spin-correlation, and interference effects are included. The NLO QCD corrections are about $20\%$ for the integrated cross-section. Using a dynamical scale, the corrections to most distributions are at the same level, while some distributions show much larger $K$-factors in suppressed regions of phase space. We have performed a second calculation based on a double-pole approximation. While the corresponding results agree with the full calculation within few per cent for integrated cross-sections, the discrepancy can reach $10\%$ and more in regions of phase space that are not dominated by top--antitop production. As a consequence, on-shell calculations should only be trusted to this level of accuracy., Comment: 30 pages, 16 figures, updated references, fixed typos, added results for an additional central scale choice, extended comments on double-pole-approximation, clarified treatment of top width, matches version published by JHEP

The measurement of polarization fractions of massive gauge bosons at the LHC provides an important check of the Standard Model and in particular of the Electroweak Symmetry Breaking mechanism. Owing to the unstable character of $\text{W}$ and $\text{Z}$ bosons, devising a theoretical definition for polarized signals is not straightforward and always subject to some ambiguity. Focusing on $\text{W}$-boson pair production at the LHC in the fully leptonic channel, we propose to compute polarized cross-sections and distributions based on the gauge-invariant doubly-resonant part of the amplitude. We include NLO QCD corrections to the leading quark-induced partonic process and also consider the loop-induced gluon-initiated process contributing to the same final state. We present results for both an inclusive setup and a realistic fiducial region, with special focus on variables that are suited for the discrimination of polarized cross-sections and on quantities that can be measured experimentally., Comment: corrected typos, added new reference, added further comments on jet-veto effects in sect. 3, matches JHEP published version

First, we present a combined analysis of ${\rm p}{\rm p} \to \mu^+ \nu_\mu {\rm e}^- \bar \nu_{\rm e}$ and ${\rm p}{\rm p} \to \mu^+ \nu_\mu {\rm e}^- \bar \nu_{\rm e} {\rm j}$ at next-to-leading order, including both QCD and electroweak corrections. Second, we provide all-order predictions for ${\rm p}{\rm p} \to \mu^+ \nu_\mu {\rm e}^- \bar \nu_{\rm p}+\mathrm{jets}$ using merged parton-shower simulations that also include approximate EW effects. A fully inclusive sample for WW production is compared to the fixed-order computations for exclusive zero- and one-jet selections. The various higher-order effects are studied in detail at the level of cross sections and differential distributions for realistic experimental set-ups. Our study confirms that merged predictions are significantly more stable than the fixed-order ones in particular regarding ratios between the two processes., Comment: 43 pages, 77 pdf figures. Matches published version

In these proceedings, next-to-leading-order (NLO) QCD and electroweak (EW) corrections to ${\rm p}{\rm p} \to {\rm e}^+ \nu_{\rm e} \mu^- \bar \nu_\mu {\rm b} \bar{\rm b} {\rm H}$ at the LHC are presented. In these computations the top quarks are considered off their mass shell and all non-resonant contributions are included. The results are presented in the form of fiducial cross sections and differential distributions. Moreover, two prescriptions to combine QCD and EW corrections are examined., Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, Proceedings of the $12^\mathrm{th}$ International Workshop on Top Quark Physics, Beijing, China, September 22--27, 2019. Reference updated

Current particle phenomenology is characterized by the spectacular agreement of the predictions of the Standard Model of particle physics (SM) with all results from collider experiments and by the absence of significant signals of non-standard physics, despite the fact that we know that the SM cannot be the ultimate theory of nature. In this situation, confronting theory and experiment with high precision is a promising direction to look for potential traces of physics beyond the SM. On the theory side, the calculation of radiative corrections of the strong and electroweak interactions is at the heart of this task, a field that has seen tremendous conceptual and technical progress in the last decades. This review aims at a coherent introduction to the field of electroweak corrections and tries to fill gaps in the literature between standard textbook knowledge and the current state of the art. The SM and the machinery for its perturbative evaluation are reviewed in detail, putting particular emphasis on renormalization, on one-loop techniques, on modern amplitude methods and tools, on the separation of infrared singularities in real-emission corrections, on electroweak issues connected with hadronic initial or final states in collisions, and on the issue of unstable particles in quantum field theory together with corresponding practical solutions., Comment: 192 pages, 20 figures, slightly extended version to appear in Physics Reports. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1409.1918 by other authors

The proper renormalization of mixing angles in quantum field theories is a long-standing problem. It is relevant for the renormalization of the quark mixing matrix in the Standard Model and for various mixing scenarios in theories beyond. In this contribution we specifically consider theories with extended scalar sectors. We describe renormalization schemes for mixing angles based on combinations of observables or symmetry requirements such as rigid or background-field gauge invariance and compare their properties to previous approaches such as $\bar{MS}$ schemes. We formulate specific renormalization conditions for the mixing angles in the Two-Higgs-Doublet Model and the Higgs-Singlet Extension of the Standard Model and calculate electroweak corrections to Higgs-boson decays via W- or Z-boson pairs within these models for a selection of (new and old) renormalization schemes., Comment: 10 pages, 2 eps figures, contribution to the 14th International Symposium on Radiative Corrections (RADCOR2019), 9-13 September 2019, Palais des Papes, Avignon, France

The Monte Carlo generator PPROPHECY4F provides a PROPer description of the Higgs dECaY into 4 Fermions within the Standard Model, the Standard Model with a fourth fermion generation, a simple Higgs-singlet extension of the Standard Model, and the Two-Higgs-Doublet Model. The fully differential predictions include the full QCD and electroweak next-to-leading-order corrections, all interference contributions between different WW/ZZ channels, and all off-shell effects of intermediate W/Z bosons. PPROPHECY4F computes the inclusive partial decay widths and allows for the computation of binned differential distributions of the decay products. For leptonic final states also unweighted events are provided., Comment: 27 pages, 1 figure

The calculation of electroweak corrections to processes with jets in the final state involves contributions of low-virtuality photons leading to jets in the final state via the singular splitting $\gamma^* \to q\bar q$. These singularities can be absorbed into a photon-to-jet "fragmentation function", better called "conversion function", since the physical final state is any hadronic activity rather than an identified hadron. Using unitarity and a dispersion relation, we relate this $\gamma^* \to q\bar q$ conversion contribution to an integral over the imaginary part of the hadronic vacuum polarization and thus to the experimentally known quantity $\Delta\alpha^{(5)}_{\mathrm{had}}(M^2_{\rm Z})$. Therefore no unknown non-perturbative contribution remains that has to be taken from experiment. We also describe practical procedures following subtraction and phase-space-slicing approaches for isolating and cancelling the $\gamma^* \to q\bar q$ singularities against the photon-to-jet conversion function. The production of Z+jet at the LHC is considered as an example, where the photon-to-jet conversion is part of a correction of the order $\alpha^2/\alpha_{\rm s}$ relative to the leading-order cross section., Comment: 13 pages, 7 pdf-figures. Matches the journal version

We propose a procedure to cross-validate Monte Carlo implementations of the standard model effective field theory. It is based on the numerical comparison of squared amplitudes computed at specific phase-space and parameter points in pairs of implementations. Interactions are fully linearised in the effective field theory expansion. The squares of linear effective field theory amplitudes and their interference with standard-model contributions are compared separately. Such pairwise comparisons are primarily performed at tree level and a possible extension to the one-loop level is also briefly considered. We list the current standard model effective field theory implementations and the comparisons performed to date., Comment: agreement achieved under the auspices of the LHC Top and Electroweak Working Groups, and of the LHC Higgs Cross Section Working Group

In this article we present an event generator based on the Monte Carlo program Powheg in combination with the matrix-element generator Recola. We apply it to compute NLO electroweak corrections to same-sign W-boson scattering, which have been shown to be large at the LHC. The event generator allows for the generation of unweighted events including the effect of the NLO electroweak corrections matched to a QED parton shower and interfaced to a QCD parton shower. In view of the expected experimental precision of future measurements, the use of such a tool will be indispensable., Comment: 20 pages, 12 Figures. Matches the journal version. Acknowledgement added

We present the first computation of the full next-to-leading-order QCD and electroweak corrections to the WZ scattering process at the LHC. All off-shell, gauge-boson-decay, and interference effects are taken into account for the process $\mathrm{p} \mathrm{p} \to \mu^+\mu^-\mathrm{e}^+\nu_\mathrm{e} \mathrm{j} \mathrm{j} + X$ at the orders $\mathcal{O}{\left( \alpha_\mathrm{s} \alpha^6 \right)}$ and $\mathcal{O}{\left( \alpha^7 \right)}$. The electroweak corrections feature the typical Sudakov behaviour towards high energy and amount to $-16\%$ relative to the electroweak contribution to the integrated cross section. Moreover, the corrections induce significant shape distortions in differential distributions. The next-to-leading-order analysis of the quark- and gluon-induced channels is supplemented by a leading-order study of all possible contributions to the full $4\ell+2\mbox{jets}$ production cross section in a realistic fiducial phase-space volume., Comment: 28 pages, 44 pdf figures; added more comments on the size of the EW corrections, improved readability of the figures, added $p_\mathrm{T}$ distributions of $\mathrm{W}$ and $\mathrm{Z}$, added comment on $\mathrm{tZj}$ background, version to appear in JHEP

We discuss the renormalization of mixing angles for theories with extended scalar sectors. Motivated by shortcomings of existing schemes for mixing angles, we review existing renormalization schemes and introduce new ones based on on-shell conditions or symmetry requirements such as rigid or background-field gauge invariance. Considering in particular the renormalization of the mixing angles in the Two-Higgs-Doublet Model and the Higgs-Singlet Extension of the Standard Model, we compare electroweak corrections within these models for a selection of renormalization schemes. As specific examples, we present next-to-leading-order results on the four-fermion decays of heavy and light CP-even Higgs bosons, $H_1/H_2\to WW/Z Z\to4f$, and on electroweak Higgs-boson production processes, i.e. Higgs-strahlung and vector-boson fusion. We find that our new proposals for on-shell and symmetry-based renormalization conditions are well-behaved for the considered benchmark scenarios in both models., Comment: 62 pages, 16 pdf figures, pdflatex, some typos fixed in tables 9 and 10 and, in particular, the number of the defining equation for beta in the BFMS in table 2

Diboson production processes are of great importance in high-energy physics and a precise theoretical knowledge of VV production is mandatory not only in view of precision tests of the Standard Model but also in the one of new physics searches. We present results of arXiv:1804.01477, where we computed the NLO QCD and NLO electroweak corrections to diboson production processes at the LHC including the effect of the anomalous triple-gauge-boson interactions at NLO QCD accuracy. The anomalous triple-gauge-boson interactions are parametrized in terms of higher-dimensional operators in the effective field theory framework. Our calculation is the first application of Recola2 to effective field theory models., Comment: Talk presented at Loops and Legs in Quantum Field Theory (LL2018), 29 April 2018 - 04 May 2018, St. Goar, Germany. Submitted to PoS. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1807.10190

Diboson production is of prime interest at the LHC particularly due to its sensitivity to the gauge-boson self interaction, allowing to test its Standard Model prediction with high precision and to search for possible deviations with respect to the Standard Model. We report on the results of arXiv:1804.01477, where we computed WW, WZ and ZZ production (including the leptonic decays of the vector bosons) in the effective field theory framework at NLO QCD accuracy. The impact of the higher-dimensional operators is compared to the NLO QCD and NLO EW corrections in the Standard Model. Our calculation is the first application of RECOLA2 in the effective field theory framework., Comment: Talk presented at the Sixth Annual Conference on Large Hadron Collider Physics (LHCP2018), 4-9 June 2018, Bologna, Italy. Submitted to PoS

Diboson production at the LHC is a process of great importance both in the context of tests of the SM and for direct searches for new physics. In this paper we present a phenomenological study of WW, WZ, and ZZ production considering event selections of interest for the anomalous triple-gauge-boson-coupling searches at the LHC: we provide theoretical predictions within the Standard Model at NLO QCD and NLO EW accuracy and study the effect of the anomalous triple-gauge-boson interactions at NLO QCD. For WW and ZZ production, the contribution of the gluon-initiated loop-induced processes is included. Anomalous triple-gauge-boson interactions are parametrized in the EFT framework. This paper is the first application of RECOLA2 in the EFT context., Comment: 36 pages, 56 pdf figures, latex. Corrected typo in Eq.(3.2). One reference added. Published version

Vector-boson scattering processes are of great importance for the current run-II and future runs of the Large Hadron Collider. The presence of triple and quartic gauge couplings in the process gives access to the gauge sector of the Standard Model (SM) and possible new-physics contributions there. To test any new-physics hypothesis, sound knowledge of the SM contributions is necessary, with a precision which at least matches the experimental uncertainties of existing and forthcoming measurements. In this article we present a detailed study of the vector-boson scattering process with two positively-charged leptons and missing transverse momentum in the final state. In particular, we first carry out a systematic comparison of the various approximations that are usually performed for this kind of process against the complete calculation, at LO and NLO QCD accuracy. Such a study is performed both in the usual fiducial region used by experimental collaborations and in a more inclusive phase space, where the differences among the various approximations lead to more sizeable effects. Afterwards, we turn to predictions matched to parton showers, at LO and NLO: we show that on the one hand, the inclusion of NLO QCD corrections leads to more stable predictions, but on the other hand the details of the matching and of the parton-shower programs cause differences which are considerably larger than those observed at fixed order, even in the experimental fiducial region. We conclude with recommendations for experimental studies of vector-boson scattering processes., Comment: Data and input files are available at: https://github.com/VBSCanAction/VBSComparison/ . 28 pages including figures and references. Matches the journal version

We present the Recola2 library for the efficient generation and computation of one-loop amplitudes in Beyond-Standard-Model theories. Recola2 is based on Recola, an efficient one-loop amplitude generator for the Standard Model, and Rept1l, a newly developed tool to generate one-loop model files for Recola2 in a fully automated way. Recola2 is able to operate with non-trivial extensions of the SM, e.g. extended Higgs sectors and effective field theories. We discuss first applications to extended Higgs sectors and their renormalization., Comment: 6 pages, contribution to the proceedings of the 13th International Symposium on Radiative Corrections (RADCOR 2017)

The production of top-quark pairs that subsequently decay hadronically and leptonically (lepton+jets channel) is one of the key processes for the study of top-quark properties at the LHC. In this article, NLO QCD corrections of order $\mathcal{O}{\left(\alpha_{\rm s}^3\alpha^{4}\right)}$ to the hadronic process ${\rm p}{\rm p}\to \mu^-\bar{\nu}_\mu{\rm b}\bar{{\rm b}} {\rm j} {\rm j}$ are presented. The computation includes off-shell as well as non-resonant contributions, and experimental event selections are used in order to provide realistic predictions. The results are provided in the form of cross sections and differential distributions. The QCD corrections are sizeable and different from the ones of the fully leptonic channel. This is due to the different final state where here four jets are present at leading order., Comment: 24 pages, 24 eps-figures. Matches the published version

We review recent results on next-to-leading order (NLO) QCD and electroweak (EW) corrections for processes involving off-shell top quarks. For the off-shell production of two top quarks that decay leptonically, the full NLO EW corrections have been computed. For the very same process in association with a Higgs boson, EW corrections have been calculated and combined with existing NLO QCD corrections. In both cases, selected differential distributions are shown. In these proceedings, particular emphasis is put on the effect of the EW corrections as well as the off-shell contributions., Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures. Contribution to the proceedings of the 13th International Symposium on Radiative Corrections (RADCOR 2017)

We present the Fortran95 program Recola2 for the perturbative computation of next-to-leading-order transition amplitudes in the Standard Model of particle physics and extended Higgs sectors. New theories are implemented via model files in the 't Hooft-Feynman gauge in the conventional formulation of quantum field theory and in the Background-Field method. The present version includes model files for the Two-Higgs-Doublet Model and the Higgs-Singlet Extension of the Standard Model. We support standard renormalization schemes for the Standard Model as well as many commonly used renormalization schemes in extended Higgs sectors. Within these models the computation of next-to-leading-order polarized amplitudes and squared amplitudes, optionally summed over spin and colour, is fully automated for any process. Recola2 allows the computation of colour- and spin-correlated leading-order squared amplitudes that are needed in the dipole subtraction formalism. Recola2 is publicly available for download at http://recola.hepforge.org., Comment: 48 pages, 1 figure, matches published version

We report on a recent calculation of the complete NLO QCD and electroweak corrections to the process $pp\to\mu^+\nu_\mu e^+\nu_ejj$, i.e. like-sign charged vector-boson scattering. The computation is based on the complete amplitudes involving two different orders of the strong and electroweak coupling constants at tree level and three different orders at one-loop level. We find electroweak corrections of $-13\%$ for the fiducial cross section that are an intrinsic feature of the vector-boson scattering process. For differential distributions, the corrections reach up to $-40\%$ in the phase-space regions explored. At the NLO level a unique separation between vector-boson scattering and irreducible background processes is not possible any more at the level of Feynman diagrams., Comment: 6 pages, 8 eps figures, Prodeedings of the 13th International Symposium on Radiative Corrections (Applications of Quantum Field Theory to Phenomenology), 25-29 September, 2017, St. Gilgen, Austria

The production of a neutral and a charged vector boson with subsequent decays into three charged leptons and a neutrino is a very important process for precision tests of the Standard Model of elementary particles and in searches for anomalous triple-gauge-boson couplings. In this article, the first computation of next-to-leading-order electroweak corrections to the production of the four-lepton final states $\mu^+\mu^- e^+ \nu_e$, $\mu^+\mu^- e^- \bar\nu_e$, $\mu^+\mu^- \mu^+\nu_\mu$, and $\mu^+\mu^- \mu^- \bar\nu_\mu$ at the Large Hadron Collider is presented. We use the complete matrix elements at leading and next-to-leading order, including all off-shell effects of intermediate massive vector bosons and virtual photons. The relative electroweak corrections to the fiducial cross sections from quark-induced partonic processes vary between $-3\%$ and $-6\%$, depending significantly on the event selection. At the level of differential distributions, we observe large negative corrections of up to $-30\%$ in the high-energy tails of distributions originating from electroweak Sudakov logarithms. Photon-induced contributions at next-to-leading order raise the leading-order fiducial cross section by $+2\%$. Interference effects in final states with equal-flavour leptons are at the permille level for the fiducial cross section, but can lead to sizeable effects in off-shell sensitive phase-space regions., Comment: 20 pages, 18 figures

Recently, a measurement of the vector-boson scattering process with same-sign W bosons has been reported by the CMS collaboration. Hence it is of prime importance to have precise predictions with next-to-leading order (NLO) accuracy. In these proceedings, we report on a recent NLO electroweak computation to the full process ${\rm p}{\rm p}\to\mu^+\nu_\mu{\rm e}^+\nu_{\rm e}{\rm j}{\rm j}$. As realistic experimental event selections are applied to the final state, it can directly be compared with experimental measurements. This is particularly important as the corrections turn out to be surprisingly large and even exceed the NLO QCD corrections. The NLO electroweak predictions are presented at the cross-section and differential distribution level., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Proceedings to the XXV International Workshop on Deep-Inelastic Scattering and Related Subjects, 3-7 April 2017, Birmingham, UK

The process ${\rm p}{\rm p}\to\mu^+\nu_\mu{\rm e}^+\nu_{\rm e}{\rm j}{\rm j}$ receives several contributions of different orders in the strong and electroweak coupling constants. Using appropriate event selections, this process is dominated by vector-boson scattering (VBS) and has recently been measured at the LHC. It is thus of prime importance to estimate precisely each contribution. In this article we compute for the first time the full NLO QCD and electroweak corrections to VBS and its irreducible background processes with realistic experimental cuts. We do not rely on approximations but use complete amplitudes involving two different orders at tree level and three different orders at one-loop level. Since we take into account all interferences, at NLO level the corrections to the VBS process and to the QCD-induced irreducible background process contribute at the same orders. Hence the two processes cannot be unambiguously distinguished, and all contributions to the $\mu^+\nu_\mu{\rm e}^+\nu_{\rm e}{\rm j}{\rm j}$ final state should be preferably measured together., Comment: 25 pages,21 eps-figures. Matches the published version

We present the computer code RECOLA2 along with the first NLO electroweak corrections to Higgs production in vector-boson fusion and updated results for Higgs strahlung in the Two-Higgs-Doublet Model and Higgs-Singlet extension of the Standard Model. A fully automated procedure for the generation of tree-level and one-loop matrix elements in general models, including renormalization, is presented. We discuss the application of the Background-Field Method to the extended models. Numerical results for NLO electroweak cross sections are presented for different renormalization schemes in the Two-Higgs-Doublet Model and the Higgs-Singlet extension of the Standard Model. Finally, we present distributions for the production of a heavy Higgs boson., Comment: 47 pages, 29 figures, pdflatex, version to appear in JHEP

This publication presents the combination of the one-loop matrix-element generator Recola with the multipurpose Monte Carlo program Sherpa. Since both programs are highly automated, the resulting Sherpa+Recola framework allows for the computation of -in principle- any Standard Model process at both NLO QCD and EW accuracy. To illustrate this, three representative LHC processes have been computed at NLO QCD and EW: vector-boson production in association with jets, off-shell Z-boson pair production, and the production of a top-quark pair in association with a Higgs boson. In addition to fixed-order computations, when considering QCD corrections, all functionalities of Sherpa, i.e. particle decays, QCD parton showers, hadronisation, underlying events, etc. can be used in combination with Recola. This is demonstrated by the merging and matching of one-loop QCD matrix elements for Drell-Yan production in association with jets to the parton shower. The implementation is fully automatised, thus making it a perfect tool for both experimentalists and theorists who want to use state-of-the-art predictions at NLO accuracy., Comment: 38 pages, 29 figures. Matches the published version (few typos corrected)