Researchers Philip Mathew, Ritu Aggarwal, and Manjit Kaur from the Department of Physics at Panjab University in Chandigarh, India, have recently conducted a study focused on understanding hadronic final states produced in electron-positron annihilations at various energy levels. Their work, titled “An Experimental Framework for QCD studies of Event Shapes and Inclusive Hadron Spectra at FCC-ee energies,” was published in the Journal of High Energy Physics.
The researchers utilized Monte Carlo simulations with PYTHIA, a widely-used particle physics simulation software, to analyze the distortions on event shape variables at high center-of-mass energies. They considered various factors, including initial state photon radiation and backgrounds from hadronic decays of Z pairs, W pairs, top-quark pairs, and Higgs. This comprehensive analysis aimed to provide a reference for future experimental studies in Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) at high-energy electron-positron colliders, such as the planned Future Circular Collider-electron-positron (FCC-ee).
One of the key aspects of their study was the extraction of the strong coupling constant, denoted as α_s, through fits of the Thrust and C-parameter distributions to perturbative QCD predictions at next-to-next-to-leading-order (NNLO) precision. The strong coupling constant is a fundamental parameter in QCD, describing the strength of the strong force between quarks and gluons. Understanding its behavior at different energy levels is crucial for advancing our knowledge of particle physics.
The study also probed soft gluon dynamics through charged particle multiplicities and momentum distributions. By comparing the energy evolution of their mean values with previous experiments, the researchers aimed to gain insights into the underlying QCD processes. This information is valuable for improving the accuracy of theoretical models and simulations used in particle physics.
In the context of the energy industry, while this research is primarily focused on fundamental particle physics, it contributes to the broader understanding of high-energy phenomena. This understanding can indirectly support advancements in energy-related technologies, such as those used in nuclear energy and particle accelerators. Additionally, the development of sophisticated simulation tools and techniques, like those used in this study, can have applications in various fields, including energy research and development.
Overall, the work of Mathew, Aggarwal, and Kaur provides a solid foundation for future experimental QCD studies at high-energy electron-positron colliders. Their findings contribute to the ongoing efforts to unravel the mysteries of the strong force and the fundamental particles that make up our universe.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.