Jon Pumplin

New parton distributions for collider physics

We extract new parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the proton by global analysis of hard scattering data in the general-mass framework of perturbative quantum chromodynamics. Our analysis includes new theoretical developments together with the most recent collider data from deep-inelastic scattering, vector boson production, and single-inclusive jet production. Because of the difficulty in fitting both the D0 Run-II W lepton asymmetry data and some fixed-target DIS data, we present two families of PDFs, CT10 and CT10W, without and with these high-luminosity W lepton asymmetry data included in the global analysis. With both sets of PDFs, we study theoretical predictions and uncertainties for a diverse selection of processes at the Fermilab Tevatron and the CERN Large Hadron Collider.

Implications of CTEQ global analysis for collider observables

The latest CTEQ6.6 parton distributions, obtained by global analysis of hard-scattering data in the framework of general-mass perturbative QCD, are employed to study theoretical predictions and their uncertainties for significant processes at the Fermilab Tevatron and CERN Large Hadron Collider. The previously observed increase in predicted cross sections for the standard-candle W and Z boson production processes in the general-mass scheme (compared to those in the zero-mass scheme) is further investigated and quantified. A novel method to constrain parton distribution function (PDF) uncertainties in LHC observables, by effectively exploiting PDF-induced correlations with benchmark standard model cross sections, is presented. Using this method, we show that the tt cross section can potentially serve as a standard-candle observable for the LHC processes dominated by initial-state gluon scattering. Among other benefits, precise measurements of tt cross sections would reduce PDF uncertainties in predictions for single top-quark and Higgs boson production in the standard model and minimal supersymmetric standard model.

New parton distribution functions from a global analysis of quantum chromodynamics

Here, we present new parton distribution functions (PDFs) up to next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) from the CTEQ-TEA global analysis of quantum chromodynamics. These differ from previous CT PDFs in several respects, including the use of data from LHC experiments and the new D0 charged lepton rapidity asymmetry data, as well as the use of more flexible parametrization of PDFs that, in particular, allows a better fit to different combinations of quark flavors. Predictions for important LHC processes, especially Higgs boson production at 13 TeV, are presented. These CT14 PDFs include a central set and error sets in the Hessian representation. For completeness, we also present the CT14 PDFs determined at the leading order (LO) and the next-to-leading order (NLO) in QCD. Besides these general-purpose PDF sets, we provide a series of (N)NLO sets with various αs values and additional sets in general-mass variable flavor number (GM-VFN) schemes, to deal with heavy partons, with up to 3, 4, and 6 active flavors.

Inclusive Jet Production, Parton Distributions, and the Search for New Physics

Jet production at the Tevatron probes some of the smallest distance scales currently accessible. A gluon distribution that is enhanced at large x compared to previous determinations provides a better description of the Run 1b jet data from both CDF and D?. However, considerable uncertainty still remains regarding the gluon distribution at high x. In this paper, we examine the effects of this uncertainty, and of the remaining uncertainties in the NLO QCD theory, on jet cross section comparisons to Run 1b data. We also calculate the range of contributions still possible from any new physics. Predictions are also made for the expanded kinematic range expected for the ongoing Run 2 at the Tevatron and for the LHC.

CT10 next-to-next-to-leading order global analysis of QCD

Jun Gao, Marco Guzzi, Joey Huston, Hung-Liang Lai, Zhao Li, Pavel Nadolsky, Jon Pumplin, Daniel Stump, and C.–P. Yuan 6 1 Department of Physics, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX 75275-0181, USA 2 Deutsches Elektronensynchrotron DESY, Notkestrasse 85 D-22607 Hamburg, Germany 3 Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1116, USA 4 Taipei Municipal University of Education, Taipei, Taiwan 5 Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China 6 Center for High Energy Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China Abstract We present next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) parton distribution functions (PDFs) from the CTEQ-TEA group. The CT10NNLO PDF fit is based on essentially the same global data sets used in the CT10 and CT10W NLO PDF analyses. After exploring the goodness of the fits to the HERA combined data and the Tevatron jet data, we present various predictions at NNLO accuracy for both existing and forthcoming precision measurements from the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The range of variations in the gluon distribution introduced by correlated systematic effects in inclusive jet production is also examined.

Uncertainty induced by QCD coupling in the CTEQ global analysis of parton distributions

We examine the dependence of parton distribution functions (PDFs) on the value of the QCD coupling strengths(MZ). We explain a simple method that is rigorously valid in the quadratic approximation normally applied in PDF fitting, and fully reproduces the correlated dependence of theoretical cross sections ons and PDF parameters. This method is based on a statistical relation that allows one to add the uncertainty produced bys, computed with some special PDF sets, in quadrature with the PDF uncertainty obtained for the fixeds value (such as the CTEQ6.6 PDF set). A series of four CTEQ6.6AS PDFs realizing this approach, fors values in the interval 0.116 � �s(MZ) � 0.120, is presented. Using these PDFs, the combineds and PDF uncertainty is assessed for theoretical predictions at the Fermilab Tevatron and Large Hadron Collider.

Parton distributions and the strong coupling: CTEQ6AB PDFs

We study the global analysis for parton distributions as a function of the QCD strong coupling strength αs, and present a new series of distributions that span the range 0.110 < αs(mZ) < 0.128. We use these distributions to explore the correlation between αs and the gluon distribution; the viability of global analysis as a method to measure αs; and the dependence on αs of predictions for W, Z, inclusive jet, and Higgs boson production (b→H and gg→H) cross sections at the Tevatron and the LHC. We find that the uncertainty in αs is the dominant source of uncertainty for inclusive jet production at moderately small pT and for Higgs production at intermediate masses in the Standard Model.

Noise power fluctuations and the masking of sine signals

This article is concerned with fluctuations in noise power and with the role that such fluctuations play in the masking of sine signals by noise. Several measures of noise fluctuations are discussed: the fourth moment of the waveform, the fourth moment of the envelope, and the crest factor. Relationships among these quantities are found for cases of equal-amplitude random-phase noise and Rayleigh-distributed-amplitude noise. Of particular interest is a special non-Gaussian noise called low-noise noise in which the fluctuations are small by any of our measures. The results of frozen-noise masking experiments are reported, where the noise waveform was fixed for all stimulus presentations. In separate experiments, equal-amplitude random-phase Gaussian noise, with typical fluctuations, and low-noise noise, with almost no fluctuations were used. The data show that for a noise bandwidth less than the critical bandwidth, the masked threshold is about 5 dB lower for low-noise noise than for Gaussian noise. When the noise bandwidth is larger than the critical bandwidth, the masked threshold is the same for both kinds of noise. It is concluded that noise power fluctuations increase masked threshold by about 5 dB and that filtering by the auditory system reintroduces fluctuations into broadband low-noise noise.

Low‐noise noise

A practical method of computation is described for making periodic signals V(t) which have a given frequency spectrum and which minimize the variance 〈(V2−〈V〉2)2〉 in power as a function of time. These signals can be used to measure the spectral response of a system (the transfer function): They represent a significant improvement over traditional random‐phase and minimum peak value approaches. The signals are also of psychophysical interest.

CT14QED parton distribution functions from isolated photon production in deep inelastic scattering

We describe the implementation of quantum electrodynamic (QED) evolution at leading order (LO) along with quantum chromodynamic (QCD) evolution at next-to-leading order (NLO) in the CTEQ-TEA global analysis package. The inelastic contribution to the photon parton distribution function (PDF) is described by a two-parameter ansatz, coming from radiation off the valence quarks, and based on the CT14 NLO PDFs. Setting the two parameters to be equal allows us to completely specify the inelastic photon PDF in terms of the inelastic momentum fraction carried by the photon,