In the realm of high-energy physics, a team of researchers led by Johannes Bellm from the University of Durham and including scientists from various institutions worldwide, has developed Herwig 7, a sophisticated event generator framework. This tool is designed to simulate high-energy lepton and hadron collisions, with a particular focus on Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) and Electroweak (EW) effects. Herwig 7 is the latest iteration in the HERWIG series, building upon the foundations of its predecessors to provide a more flexible and systematically improvable platform for particle physics simulations.
Herwig 7 offers a comprehensive suite of features for simulating particle collisions. At its core, it uses the Matchbox framework to generate hard scattering processes, integrating external amplitude providers and supporting various levels of matrix elements, from tree-level to next-to-leading-order (NLO) and loop-induced. This allows for precise predictions across a wide range of Standard Model processes. The framework also implements advanced techniques such as multi-channel phase-space sampling, dynamic scale choices, and both POWHEG- and MC@NLO-type matching algorithms.
The simulation of parton radiation in Herwig 7 is handled by two complementary showers: an angular-ordered shower that incorporates QCD coherence and the heavy-quark dead-cone effect, and a dipole shower optimized for NLO matching and multijet merging. Higher-order corrections are included through matrix-element corrections and dedicated reweighting techniques. For QED and EW radiation, Herwig 7 employs a YFS formalism and EW showering algorithms.
The modeling of non-perturbative physics in Herwig 7 is equally sophisticated. It uses an advanced cluster hadronization framework that includes improved cluster formation, fission, and decay, as well as color reconnection models, heavy-quark effects, and interfaces to alternative hadronization schemes. The framework also features an extended eikonal multiple-partonic-scattering model that incorporates semi-hard and soft components together with diffractive interactions, enabling realistic descriptions of minimum-bias and underlying-event data.
Herwig 7 represents a significant advancement in the field of event generation for high-energy physics. Its modular and extensible design makes it a versatile tool for both Standard Model and beyond-the-Standard-Model collider phenomenology at current and future facilities. The research was published in the Journal of High Energy Physics, providing a robust platform for further exploration and discovery in the field of particle physics.
For the energy industry, while Herwig 7 is primarily a tool for particle physics, its advanced simulation capabilities can indirectly benefit energy research. For instance, understanding the fundamental interactions of particles can aid in the development of more efficient and sustainable energy technologies, such as nuclear fusion or advanced materials for energy storage and conversion. The precise modeling of particle interactions can also contribute to the optimization of energy production processes and the development of new energy sources.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.