Search

We compute the effects due to the virtual exchange (or the soft emission) of a scalar particle with generic couplings to the top quark in $t\bar t$ pair production at the LHC. We apply the results to two cases of interest, extending and completing previous studies. First, we consider the indirect search for light ($m_S<2 m_t$) top-philic scalars with CP-even and/or CP-odd interactions. Second, we investigate how to set constraints on anomalous Yukawa couplings of the Higgs boson to the top quark. Our results show that the current precision of experimental data together with the accuracy of the SM predictions make such indirect determinations a powerful probe for new physics.

We study the capabilities of a muon collider, at 3 and 10 TeV center-of-mass energy, of probing the interactions of the Higgs boson with the muon. We consider all the possible processes involving the direct production of EW bosons ($W,Z$ and $H$) with up to five particles in the final state. We study these processes both in the HEFT and SMEFT frameworks, assuming that the dominant BSM effects originate from the muon Yukawa sector. Our study shows that a Muon Collider has sensitivity beyond the LHC, as it not only relies on the Higgs-decay branching fraction to muons. A 10 TeV muon collider provides a unique sensitivity on muon and (multi-) Higgs interactions, significantly better than the 3 TeV option. We find searches based purely on multi-Higgs production to be particularly effective in probing these couplings., Comment: 87 pages, 27 figures

We study the LHC phenomenology of an Axion Like Particle (ALP) that couples only derivatively with the top quark at tree level. We inspect the radiatively induced couplings with the SM fermions and (gauge) bosons and the associated production and decay mechanisms of the ALP. We focus on the most challenging mass window that remains open for a top-philic ALP, i.e., the range between tens and hundreds of GeV. Not only ALP production processes but also virtual ALP contributions to final states with top quarks are considered in detail. We show how searches through resonant production, such as ALP production in association with a $t\bar t$ pair, are complementary to precision measurements of $t \bar t$ and $t\bar t t \bar t$ final states, the latter being competitive or even more powerful for a top-philic ALP in this mass window. Finally, we explore the scenario where the top-philic ALP acts as a mediator to a dark-matter sector, resulting in missing energy signatures at the LHC. We find that the LHC constraints from $t \bar t$, $t\bar t t \bar t$ and ALP + jet production, together with those from $t \bar t$ + ALP production, can already exclude a large fraction of the parameter space leading to the correct relic abundance., Comment: 45 pages + appendices, 23 figures; matches published version

In this work we present a new approach for the combination of electroweak (EW) corrections at high energies, the so-called EW Sudakov logarithms (EWSL), and next-to-leading-order QCD predictions matched to parton-shower simulations (NLO+PS). Our approach is based on a reweighting procedure of NLO+PS events. In particular, both events with and without an extra hard emission from matrix elements are consistently reweighted via the inclusion of the corresponding EWSL contribution. We describe the technical details and the implementation in the MadGraph5_aMC@NLO framework. Via a completely automated procedure, events at this new level of accuracy can be obtained for a vast class of hadroproduction processes. As a byproduct we provide results for phenomenologically relevant physical distributions from top-quark pair and Higgs boson associated production ($t\overline{t}H$) and from the associated production of three $Z$ gauge bosons ($ZZZ$)., Comment: 45 pages, 10 figures. This version matches the published one

We present an update of the Universal FeynRules Output model format, commonly known as the UFO format, that is used by several automated matrix-element generators and high-energy physics software. We detail different features that have been proposed as extensions of the initial format during the last ten years, and collect them in the current second version of the model format that we coin the Universal Feynman Output format. Following the initial philosophy of the UFO, they consist of flexible and modular additions to address particle decays, custom propagators, form factors, the renormalisation group running of parameters and masses, and higher-order quantum corrections., Comment: 28 pages; version accepted by EPJC

In this work we revisit the algorithm of Denner and Pozzorini for the calculation of one-loop electroweak Sudakov logarithms and we automate it in the MadGraph5_aMC@NLO framework. We adapt the formulas for modern calculations, keeping light-quarks and photons strictly massless and dealing with infrared divergences via dimensional regularisation. We improve the approximation by taking into account additional logarithms that are angular dependent. We prove that an imaginary term has been previously omitted and we show that it cannot be in general neglected for $2\rightarrow n$ processes with $n> 2$. We extend the algorithm to NLO EW corrections to squared matrix-elements that involve also QCD corrections on top of subleading LO terms. Furthermore, we discuss the usage of this algorithm for approximating physical observables and cross sections. We propose a new approach in which the QED component is consistently removed and we show how it can be superior to the commonly used approaches. The relevance of all the novelties introduced in this work is corroborated by numerical results obtained for several processes in a completely automated way. We thoroughly compare exact NLO EW corrections and their Sudakov approximations both at the amplitude level and for physical observables in high-energy hadronic collisions., Comment: 57 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables. This version matches the one published

In this work we compute for the first time the so-called Complete-NLO predictions for top-quark pair hadroproduction in association with at least one isolated photon ($ t \bar t \gamma$). We also compute NLO QCD+EW predictions for the similar case with at least two isolated photons ($ t \bar t \gamma\gamma$) and for single-top hadroproduction in association with at least one isolated photon. In addition, we complement our results with NLO QCD+EW predictions of the hadronic and leptonic decays of top-quark including an isolated photon. All these results have been obtained in a completely automated approach, by extending the capabilities of the MadGraph5_aMC@NLO framework and enabling the Complete-NLO predictions for processes with isolated photons in the final state. We discuss the technical details of the implementation, which involves a mixed EW renormalisation scheme for such processes., Comment: 32 pages, 4 figures, 5 tables. This version matches the one published

In this work we calculate the cross sections for the hadroproduction of a single top quark or antiquark in association with a Higgs ($tHj$) or $Z$ boson ($tZj$) at NLO QCD+EW accuracy. In the case of $tZj$ production we consider both the case of the $Z$ boson undecayed and the complete final state $t \ell^+ \ell^- j$, including off-shell and non-resonant effects. We perform our calculation in the five-flavour-scheme (5FS), without selecting any specific production channel ($s$-, $t$- or $tW$ associated). Moreover, we provide a more realistic estimate of the theory uncertainty by carefully including the differences between the four-flavour-scheme (4FS) and 5FS predictions. The difficulties underlying this procedure in the presence of EW corrections are discussed in detail. We find that NLO EW corrections are in general within the NLO QCD theory uncertainties only if the flavour scheme uncertainty (4FS vs.~5FS) is taken into account. For the case of $t \ell^+ \ell^- j$ production we also investigate differences between NLO QCD+EW predictions and NLO QCD predictions matched with a parton shower simulation including multiple photon emissions., Comment: 29 pages, 10 figures, 3 tables

The hadroproduction of a Higgs boson in association with a bottom-quark pair ($H b \bar b$) is commonly considered as the key process for directly probing the Yukawa interaction between the Higgs boson and the bottom quark ($y_b$). However, in the Standard-Model (SM) this process is also known to suffer from very large irreducible backgrounds from other Higgs production channels, notably gluon-fusion ($gg$F). In this paper we calculate for the first time the so-called QCD and electroweak complete-NLO predictions for $H b \bar b$ production, using the four-flavour scheme. Our calculation shows that not only the $gg$F but also the $ZH$ and even the vector-boson fusion channels are sizeable irreducible backgrounds. Moreover, we demonstrate that, at the LHC, the rates of these backgrounds are very large with respect to the "genuine" and $y_b$-dependent $H b \bar b$ production mode. In particular, no suppression occurs at the differential level and therefore backgrounds survive typical analysis cuts. This fact further jeopardises the chances of measuring at the LHC the $y_b$-dependent component of $H b \bar b$ production in the SM. Especially, unless $y_b$ is significantly enlarged by new physics, even for beyond-the SM scenarios the direct determination of $y_b$ via this process seems to be hopeless at the LHC., Comment: 33 pages, 8 figures, 4 tables. Version accepted for publication in JHEP

In this work we calculate and provide precise predictions for the signature that is typically exploited at the LHC for the measurement of t-channel single-top production: 1 lepton, 1 light jet, 1 b-jet, missing-ET and no additional jets or leptons. We apply the cuts that define the fiducial region and we take into account all the contributions to this signature; not only those from resonant t-channel single-top production. On the one hand, we calculate the complete-NLO corrections, i.e., all NLO effects of QCD and EW origin. On the other hand, we study in detail the impact of a QCD parton shower for the fiducial region we consider. We provide predictions in different approximations at the inclusive level and for several differential distributions. Our study demonstrates the relevance of both EW corrections and shower effects for obtaining precise and reliable theoretical predictions for the single-top-production fiducial region., Comment: 42 pages, 13 figures, 6 tables

This work studies the associated production of a top-quark pair with a $W$, $Z$, or Higgs boson at the LHC. Predictions for the total cross sections as well as for several differential distributions of the massive particles in the final state are provided. These predictions, valid for the LHC operating at $13$ TeV, include without any approximation all the NLO electroweak and QCD contributions of $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s^{i} \alpha^{j+1})$ with $i+j=2,3$. In addition, the predictions presented here improve upon the NLO QCD results by adding the effects of soft gluon emission corrections resummed to next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy. The residual dependence of the predictions on scale and PDF choices is analyzed., Comment: 44 pages, 8 figures

We describe predictions for top-quark pair differential distributions at hadron colliders, which combine state-of-the-art NNLO QCD calculations and NLO electroweak corrections together with double resummation at NNLL$'$ accuracy of threshold logarithms and small-mass logarithms. This is the first time that such a combination has appeared in the literature. Numerical results are presented for the invariant-mass distribution, the transverse-momentum distribution as well as rapidity distributions., Comment: Contribution to the proceedings of the 11th International Workshop on Top Quark Physics (TOP2018); v3: significantly modified version with more numeric results

In this proceedings we compare phenomenological predictions for differential distributions in top-quark pair production at the LHC. In particular we consider NNLO QCD fixed-order predictions and parton-level predictions based on NLO QCD multi-jet merging following the MEPS@NLO scheme. In both predictions NLO electroweak (EW) corrections are incorporated in different approximations. We focus on several transverse-momentum distributions and on the top-quark invariant mass distribution, both highly relevant for the ongoing physics program at the LHC. We discuss comparisons between the different considered approximations and their advantages and disadvantages for different distributions., Comment: 5 pages plus references, 3 figures, Proceedings of the 11th International Workshop on Top Quark Physics, Bad Neuenahr, Germany, September 2018

This document collects the proceedings of the PHOTON 2017 conference ("International Conference on the Structure and the Interactions of the Photon", including the 22th "International Workshop on Photon-Photon Collisions", and the "International Workshop on High Energy Photon Colliders") held at CERN (Geneva) in May 2017. The latest experimental and theoretical developments on the topics of the PHOTON conference series are covered: (i) $\gamma\,\gamma$ processes in e$^+$e$^-$, proton-proton (pp) and nucleus-nucleus (AA) collisions at current and future colliders, (ii) $\gamma$-hadron interactions in e$^\pm$p, pp, and AA collisions, (iii) final-state photon production (including Standard Model studies and searches beyond it) in pp and AA collisions, and (iv) high-energy $\gamma$-ray astrophysics. These proceedings are dedicated to the memory of Maria Krawczyk., Comment: 296 pages. CERN-Proceedings-2018-001 (CERN, Geneva, 2018), to appear. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1804.05614, arXiv:1708.06683, arXiv:1709.09044, arXiv:1708.00912, arXiv:1708.07173, arXiv:1709.02985, arXiv:1709.00176, arXiv:1709.05167, arXiv:1708.05756, arXiv:1708.09759, arXiv:1708.07531, arXiv:1703.08450, arXiv:1711.02551, arXiv:1511.07794, arXiv:1712.10104, arXiv:1708.05776, arXiv:1712.10202, arXiv:1709.07110, arXiv:1702.08730, arXiv:1709.02648, arXiv:1411.6397

We present a sensitivity study on the cubic and quartic self couplings in double Higgs production via gluon fusion at hadron colliders. Considering the relevant operators in the Standard Model Effective Field Theory up to dimension eight, we calculate the dominant contributions up to two-loop level, where the first dependence on the quartic interaction appears. Our approach allows to study the independent variations of the two self couplings and to clearly identify the terms necessary to satisfy gauge invariance and to obtain UV-finite results order by order in perturbation theory. We focus on the $b \bar b \gamma \gamma$ signature for simplicity and provide the expected bounds for the cubic and quartic self couplings at the 14 TeV LHC with 3000 fb$^{-1}$ (HL-LHC) and for a future 100 TeV collider (FCC-100) with 30 ab$^{-1}$. We find that while the HL-LHC will provide very limited sensitivity on the quartic self coupling, precision measurements of double Higgs production at a FCC-100 will offer the opportunity to set competitive bounds. We show that combining information from double and triple Higgs production leads to significantly improved prospects for the determination of the quartic self coupling., Comment: 35 pages, 18 figures, 2 tables

We study the sensitivity to the shape of the Higgs potential of single, double, and triple Higgs production at future $e^+e^-$ colliders. Physics beyond the Standard Model is parameterised through the inclusion of higher-dimensional operators $(\Phi^\dagger \Phi- v^2/2)^n/\Lambda^{(2n-4)}$ with $n=3,4$, which allows a consistent treatment of independent deviations of the cubic and quartic self couplings beyond the tree level. We calculate the effects induced by a modified potential up to one loop in single and double Higgs production and at the tree level in triple Higgs production, for both $Z$ boson associated and $W$ boson fusion production mechanisms. We consider two different scenarios. First, the dimension six operator provides the dominant contribution (as expected, for instance, in a linear effective-field-theory(EFT)); we find in this case that the corresponding Wilson coefficient can be determined at $\mathcal{O}(10\%)$ accuracy by just combining accurate measurements of single Higgs cross sections at $\sqrt{\hat s}=$240-250 GeV and double Higgs production in $W$ boson fusion at higher energies. Second, both operators of dimension six and eight can give effects of similar order, i.e., independent quartic self coupling deviations are present. Constraints on Wilson coefficients can be best tested by combining measurements from single, double and triple Higgs production. Given that the sensitivity of single Higgs production to the dimension eight operator is presently unknown, we consider double and triple Higgs production and show that combining their information colliders at higher energies will provide first coarse constraints on the corresponding Wilson coefficient., Comment: minor changes, version accepted for publication in JHEP

We calculate all main top-quark pair differential distributions at the Tevatron. For the first time Tevatron predictions for this process include all Standard Model corrections through NLO (referred to as complete-NLO) consistently combined with previously computed NNLO QCD corrections. We also assess, for the first time, the impact of dynamical scales on predictions for the latest Tevatron measurements., Comment: Proceedings of the 10th International Workshop on Top Quark Physics, Braga, Portugal, September 17-22, 2017

We provide the most up-to-date predictions for the top-quark charge asymmetry A_C at the LHC with a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. Our result is accurate at the NNLO level in the strong interactions and at the complete-NLO level in both the strong and electroweak interactions. We present results for the inclusive A_C, several differential asymmetries as well as the P_{T,tt} and M_{tt} cumulative asymmetries. Similarly to the Tevatron forward-backward asymmetry A_FB, both NNLO QCD and NLO EW corrections to A_C are found to be significant. The inclusion of higher-order corrections reduces the residual scale dependence in the predicted A_C. The pattern of higher-order corrections indicates good perturbative control over these observables. We conclude that at present there is nearly uniform agreement between Standard Model predictions and LHC measurements across all A_C-related observables. All previously published differential A_FB predictions at the Tevatron are updated to the same accuracy., Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables

We calculate the complete-NLO predictions for $t\bar{t}W^{\pm}$ and $t\bar{t}t\bar{t}$ production in proton--proton collisions at 13 and 100 TeV. All the non-vanishing contributions of $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s^i \alpha^j)$ with $i+j=3,4$ for $t\bar{t}W^{\pm}$ and $i+j=4,5$ for $t\bar{t}t\bar{t}$ are evaluated without any approximation. For $t\bar{t}W^{\pm}$ we find that, due to the presence of $tW \to tW$ scattering, at 13(100) TeV the $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s \alpha^3)$ contribution is about 12(70)\% of the LO, i.e., it is larger than the so-called NLO EW corrections (the $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s^2 \alpha^2)$ terms) and has opposite sign. In the case of $t\bar{t}t\bar{t}$ production, large contributions from electroweak $tt \to tt$ scattering are already present at LO in the $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s^3 \alpha)$ and $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s^2 \alpha^2)$ terms. For the same reason we find that both NLO terms of $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s^4 \alpha)$, i.e., the NLO EW corrections, and $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s^3 \alpha^2)$ are large ($\pm 15 \%$ of the LO) and their relative contributions strongly depend on the values of the renormalisation and factorisation scales. However, large accidental cancellations are present (away from the threshold region) between these two contributions. Moreover, the NLO corrections strongly depend on the kinematics and are particularly large at the threshold, where even the relative contribution from $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s^2 \alpha^3)$ terms amounts to tens of percents., Comment: 40 pages, 8 figures; v2: published version with minor changes w.r.t original submission

We study one-loop effects induced by an anomalous Higgs trilinear coupling on total and differential rates for the $H\to 4\ell$ decay and some of the main single-Higgs production channels at the LHC, namely, VBF, $VH$, $t\bar tH$ and $tHj$. Our results are based on a public code that calculates these effects by simply reweighting samples of Standard-Model-like events for a given production channel. For $VH$ and $t\bar tH$ production, where differential effects are particularly relevant, we include Standard Model electroweak corrections, which have similar sizes but different kinematic dependences. Finally, we study the sensitivity of future LHC runs to determine the trilinear coupling via inclusive and differential measurements, considering also the case where the Higgs couplings to vector bosons and the top quark is affected by new physics. We find that the constraints on the couplings and the relevance of differential distributions critically depend on the expected experimental and theoretical uncertainties., Comment: 31 pages, 15 figures, 5 tables; Matches the journal version

We present phenomenological predictions at NNLO QCD and NLO EW accuracy for $t \bar t$ distributions at the LHC (8 and 13 TeV). We discuss the impact of the electroweak corrections and quantify the theory errors from scale and PDF uncertainties. Moreover, we show the relevance of a precise determination of the photon PDF for $t \bar t$ distributions., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, talk presented at the Fifth Annual Conference on Large Hadron Collider Physics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China, May 15-20, 2017

In this work we present for the first time predictions for top-quark pair differential distributions at the LHC at NNLO QCD accuracy and including EW corrections. For the latter we include not only contributions of ${\cal O}(\alpha_s^2 \alpha)$, but also those of order ${\cal O}(\alpha_s \alpha^2)$ and ${\cal O}( \alpha^3)$. Besides providing phenomenological predictions for all main differential distributions with stable top quarks, we also study the following issues. 1) The effect of the photon PDF on top-pair spectra: we find it to be strongly dependent on the PDF set used -- especially for the top $p_T$ distribution. 2) The difference between the additive and multiplicative approaches for combining QCD and EW corrections: with our scale choice, we find relatively small differences between the central predictions, but reduced scale dependence within the multiplicative approach. 3) The potential effect from the radiation of heavy bosons on inclusive top-pair spectra: we find it to be, typically, negligible., Comment: 22 pages, 7 figures, version published in JHEP, results are attached in electronic form, results and additional material available from this website: http://www.precision.hep.phy.cam.ac.uk/results/ttbar-nnloqcd-nloew/

We study the production of jets in hadronic collisions, by computing all contributions proportional to $\alpha_S^n\alpha^m$, with $n+m=2$ and $n+m=3$. These correspond to leading and next-to-leading order results, respectively, for single-inclusive and dijet observables in a perturbative expansion that includes both QCD and electroweak effects. We discuss issues relevant to the definition of hadronic jets in the context of electroweak corrections, and present sample phenomenological predictions for the 13-TeV LHC. We find that both the leading and next-to-leading order contributions largely respect the relative hierarchy established by the respective coupling-constant combinations., Comment: 30 pages, 14 figures; v2 contains minor changes to the text and to one label in fig.1, plus additional material in the form of an ancillary file that reports cross sections computed in various HT ranges

We propose a method to determine the trilinear Higgs self coupling that is alternative to the direct measurement of Higgs pair production total cross sections and differential distributions. The method relies on the effects that electroweak loops featuring an anomalous trilinear coupling would imprint on single Higgs production at the LHC. We first calculate these contributions to all the phenomenologically relevant Higgs production ($gg{\rm F}$, VBF, $WH$, $ZH$, $t\bar tH$) and decay ($\gamma \gamma$, $WW^{*}/ZZ^{*}\to 4f$, $b\bar b$, $\tau \tau$) modes at the LHC and then estimate the sensitivity to the trilinear coupling via a one-parameter fit to the single Higgs measurements at the LHC 8 TeV. We find that the bounds on the self coupling are already competitive with those from Higgs pair production and will be further improved in the current and next LHC runs., Comment: 34 pages, 13 figures, 5 tables; V2: New appendix A added on the comparison with the Effective Field Theory approach; V3: Journal version

We discuss the impact of EW corrections on differential distributions in top-quark pair production at the LHC and future hadron colliders, focusing on the effects of initial-state photons. Performing a calculation at Next-to-Leading Order QCD+EW accuracy, we investigate in detail the impact of photon-initiated channels on central values as well as PDF and scale uncertainties, both at order $\alpha_s\alpha$ and $\alpha_s^2\alpha$. We present predictions at 13 and 100 TeV, and provide results for the 8 TeV differential measurements performed by ATLAS and CMS. A thorough comparison of results obtained with the NNPDF2.3QED and CT14QED PDF sets is performed. While contributions due to the photon PDF are negligible with CT14QED, this is not the case for NNPDF2.3QED, where such contributions are sizeable and show large PDF uncertainties. On the one hand, we show that differential observables in top-pair production, in particular top-quark and $t\bar t$ rapidities, can be used to improve the determination of the photon PDF within the NNPDF approach. On the other hand, with current PDF sets, we demonstrate the necessity of including EW corrections and photon-induced contributions for a correct determination of both the central value and the uncertainties of theoretical predictions., Comment: 20 pages, 18 figures; it matches the version published in EPJ C

In this paper we discuss the effect of the complete leading-order QED corrections to the DGLAP equations in the perturbative evolution of parton distribution functions (PDFs). This requires the extension of the purely QCD DGLAP evolution, including a PDF for the photons and, consistently, also for the charged leptons $e^{\pm}$, $\mu^\pm$ and $\tau^\pm$. We present the implementation of the QED-corrected DGLAP evolution in the presence of photon and lepton PDFs in the APFEL program and, by means of different assumptions for the initial scale PDFs, we produce for the first time PDF sets containing charged lepton distributions. We also present phenomenological studies that aim to assess the impact of the presence of lepton PDFs in the proton for some relevant SM (and BSM) processes at the LHC at 13 TeV and the FCC-hh at 100 TeV. The impact of the photon PDF is also outlined for those processes., Comment: 32 pages, 19 figures, matches published version in JHEP

We study the production of a top-quark pair in association with one and two vector bosons, $t \bar t V$ and $t \bar t VV$ with $V=\gamma, Z, W^\pm$, at the LHC. We provide predictions at next-to-leading order in QCD for total cross sections and top-quark charge asymmetries as well as for differential distributions. A thorough discussion of the residual theoretical uncertainties related to missing higher orders and to parton distribution functions is presented. As an application, we calculate the total cross sections for this class of processes (together with $t \bar t H$ and $t \bar t t \bar t$ production) at hadron colliders for energies up to 100 TeV. In addition, by matching the NLO calculation to a parton shower, we determine the contribution of $t \bar t V$ and $t \bar t VV$ to final state signatures (two-photon and two-same-sign-, three- and four-lepton) relevant for $t \bar t H$ analyses at the Run II of the LHC., Comment: 44 pages, 23 figures. Version published on JHEP, typos in Table 5 have been corrected

We present the calculation of the electroweak corrections for squark-antisquark pair production at the LHC within the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. Taking into account all possible chirality and light-flavor configurations, we evaluate the NLO EW corrections, which are of O(a_s^2 a), as well as the subleading tree-level contributions of O(a_s a) and O(a^2). Numerical results are presented for several scans in the SUSY parameter space and relevant differential distributions are investigated. The impact of the electroweak corrections is nonnegligible and strongly depends on the chirality configuration of the produced squarks. Our analysis includes a discussion of photon-gluon initiated processes with a focus on the impact of the corresponding large PDF uncertainties., Comment: 33 pages, 12 figures; V2: Original results unchanged. Various minor modifications. Matches version published in JHEP

In this paper we present an analysis at NLO of the contribution from squark-squark production to the experimental signature 2j + 2l + missing E_T (+X) with opposite-sign same flavor leptons, taking into account decays and experimental cuts. We consider the case in which one squark decays directly into the lightest neutralino chi^0_1 and the other one into the second lightest neutralino and subsequently into l^+l^-chi^0_1 via an intermediate slepton. On one hand we study effects of the NLO corrections on invariant mass distributions which can be used for future parameter determination. On the other hand we analyze the impact on predictions for cut-and-count searches using this experimental signature., Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures

In this talk we review the electroweak contribution to top quark pair production at hadron colliders. We discuss the phenomenological impact of these corrections on the cross sections and on the charge asymmetries at the Tevatron and the LHC., Comment: Proceedings of CKM 2012, the 7th International Workshop on the CKM Unitarity Triangle, University of Cincinnati, USA, 28 September - 2 October 2012

We present the analysis of the signature 2j + ETmiss (+X) via squark-squark production and direct decay into the lightest neutralino, pp -> squark squark -> j j chi_1^0 chi_1^0 (+X), in next-to-leading order QCD within the framework of the minimal supersymmetric standard model. In our approximation the produced squarks are treated on shell. Thus, the calculation of production and decay factorizes. In this way, we provide a consistent, fully differential calculation of NLO QCD factorizable corrections to the given processes. Clustering final states into partonic jets, we investigate the experimental inclusive signature 2j + ETmiss for several benchmark scenarios. We compare resulting differential distributions with leading-order approximations rescaled by a flat K-factor and examine a possible impact for cut-and-count searches for supersymmetry at the LHC., Comment: 42 pages, 15 figures; to be published in JHEP

Recent CDF and D0 measurements of the top quark forward-backward asymmetry at the Tevatron present deviations between 1-sigma and 2-sigma from QCD predictions and a cut M_inv > 450 GeV on the events increases this deviation to 3.4 sigma in the CDF measurement. The inclusion of electroweak contributions of order alpha^2 and order alpha alphas^2 enlarges the theoretical prediction from QCD by a factor ~ 1.2 and diminishes the observed deviations. The calculation method is shortly discussed and numerical results are compared to the experimental data., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. Talk given at Corfu Summer Institute 2011 School and Workshops on Elementary Particle Physics and Gravity, September 4-18, 2011, Corfu, Greece

The electroweak contributions to the forward-backward asymmetry in the production of top-quark pairs at the Tevatron are evaluated at O(alpha^2) and O(alpha*alphas^2). We perform a detailed analysis of all partonic channels that produce an asymmetry and combine them with the QCD contributions. They provide a non-negligible fraction of the QCD-induced asymmetry with the same overall sign, thus enlarging the Standard Model prediction and diminishing the observed deviation. For the observed mass-dependent forward-backward asymmetry a 3-sigma deviation still remains at an invariant-mass cut of M_(t-tbar) > 450 GeV., Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures