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There is a continuing effort to support and prepare the precision physics programs for the present and planned future colliders such as HL-LHC, FCC, CLIC, CEPC, and CPPC. We discuss new results from IR-improved amplitude-based resummation in quantum field theory relevant to such support and preparation with some emphasis on the interplay between soft and collinear resummation algebras., Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, presented by BFLW at RADCOR2023, Crieff, Scotland, UK

KKMChh adapts the CEEX (Coherent Exclusive Exponentiation) formalism of the Monte Carlo Program KKMC for Z boson production and decay to hadron scattering. Amplitude-level soft photon exponentiation of initial and final state radiation, together with initial-final interference, is matched to a perturbative calculation to second order next-to-leading logarithm, and electroweak corrections to the hard process are included via DIZET. The first release of KKMChh included complete initial state radiation calculated with current quark masses. This version assumes idealized pure-QCD PDFs with negligible QED contamination. Traditional PDFs neglect QED evolution but are not necessarily free of QED influence in the data. QED-corrected PDFs provide a firmer starting point for precision QED work. We describe a new procedure for matching KKMChh's initial state radiation to a QED-corrected PDF, and compare this to earlier approaches., Comment: Presented by S. Yost at ICHEP 2022, Bologna Italy, July 6 - 13, 2022; 6 pages with 3 figures. Update adds a hyperlink to one reference. Now matches the published proceedings version exactly

We present an overview of the use of IR-improvement of unintegrable singularities in the infrared regime via amplitude-based resummation in $\mathrm{QED} \times \mathrm{QCD}$ $\subset$ $\mathrm{SU}(2)_L \times \mathrm{U}_1 \times \mathrm{SU}(3)^c$. We work in the context of precision LHC/FCC physics. While illustrating such IR-improvement in specific examples, we discuss new results and new issues., Comment: Poster presentation at ICHEP2022, Bologna, Italy, July 6 - 13, 2022; 4 pages, 2 figures

For both the FCC-ee and the ILC, to exploit properly the respective precision physics program, the theoretical precision tag on the respective luminosity will need to be improved from the analogs of the $ 0.054 \% (0.061\%)$ results at LEP at $M_Z$, where the former (latter) LEP result has (does not have) the pairs correction. At the FCC-ee at $M_Z$ one needs improvement to $0.01\%$, for example. We present an overview of the roads one may take to reach the required $0.01\%$ precision tag at the FCC-ee and of what the corresponding precision expectations would be for the FCC-ee$_{350}$, ILC$_{500}$, ILC$_{1000}$, and CLIC$_{3000}$ setups., Comment: 6 pages, 5 tables, talk presented by BFLW at ICHEP2022, Bologna, Italy, 7/7/2022

We present the {\tt KKMCee 5.00.2} Monte Carlo event generator for lepton and quark pair production for the high energy electron-positron annihilation process. It is still the most sophisticated event generator for such processes. Its entire source code is re-written in the modern C++ language. It reproduces all features of the older \kkmc\ code in Fortran 77. However, a number of improvements in the Monte Carlo algorithm are also implemented. Most importantly, it is intended to be a starting point for the future improvements, which will be mandatory for the future high precision lepton collider projects. As in the older version, in addition to higher order QED corrections, it includes so-called \order{\alpha^{1.5}} genuine weak corrections using a version of the classic {\tt DIZET} library and polarized $\tau$ decays using {\tt TAUOLA} program. Both {\tt DIZET} and {\tt TAUOLA} external libraries are still in Fortran 77. In addition, a {\tt HEPMC3} interface to other MC programs, like parton showers and detector simulation, replaces the older {\tt HepEvt} interface. The {\tt HEPMC3} interface is also exploited in the implementation of the additional photon final state emissions in $\tau$ decays using an external {\tt PHOTOS} library rewritten in C., Comment: To be submitted to Computer Physics Communications

We describe a new semi-analytical program, KKhhFoam, which provides a simplified framework for testing the amplitude-level exponentiation scheme (CEEX) of the full KKMChh program in the semi-soft limit. The structure of the KKhhFoam integrand is also helpful for elucidating the structure of CEEX. We also discuss the representation of ISR in KKMChh and compare the ISR added by KKMChh to the effect of switching to a QED-corrected PDF, at the individual quark level, and suggest a new approach to running KKMChh with QED-corrected PDFs., Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures, presented at RADCOR/Loopfest 2021, 15th International Symposium on Radiative Corrections: Applications of Quantum Field Theory to Phenomenology, FSU, Tallahassee, FL, USA, 17-21 May 2021

With the advancement of strategies for the precision physics programs for the HL-LHC, FCC-ee, FCC-hh, ILC, CLIC, CEPC, and CPPC, the need for proper control of the attendant theoretical precision tags is manifest. We discuss the role that amplitude-based resummation may play in this regard with examples from the LHC, the proposed new colliders and quantum gravity., Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, presented by B.F.L. Ward at Radcor-LoopFest2021, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA, May 2021; improved references; misprints corrected

To exploit properly the precision physics program at the FCC-ee, the theoretical precision tag on the respective luminosity will need to be improved from the 0.054$\%$ (0.061$\%$) results at LEP to 0.01$\%$, where the former (latter) LEP result has (does not have) the pairs correction. We present an overview of the roads one may take to reach the required 0.01$\%$ precision tag at the FCC-ee and we discuss possible synergistic effects of the walk along these roads for other FCC precision theory requirements., Comment: 6 pages, 3 tables, presented by B.F.L. Ward at ICHEP2020, Prague, CZ, July 29, 2020. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1902.05912

One may use amplitude-based resummation in QED $\otimes$ QCD to achieve IR-improvement of unintegrable singularities in the infrared regime to arbitrary precision in principle. We illustrate such improvement in specific examples in precision LHC/FCC physics., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, presented by B.F.L. Ward at ICHEP2020, Prague, CZ, July, 28, 2020

Since the {\tt KKMC} program was published for the first time over 20 years ago, it has gained popularity and was exploited in a broad spectrum of applications. The core part of the program itself did not change much. In contrast, some of the libraries have evolved substantially. The aim of this publication is to archive four versions, alternative to the one published 20 years ago versions of the electroweak libraries (or just parameter initialization versions), which were instrumental for the precision Standard Model calculation from the end of LEP era till now and for the sake of the future applications/comparisons for the future electron-positron colliders, in particular for the FCC-ee related studies. These electroweak libraries are useful for the hadron collider applications as well, for instance for {\tt KKMC-hh} or {\tt TauSpinner} projects.

KKMC-hh is a hadronic event generator for Z boson production and decays, which includes exponentiated multi-photon radiation and first-order electroweak corrections. We have used KKMC-hh to investigate the role of initial sate radiation (ISR) and initial-final interference (IFI) in precision electroweak analyses at the LHC. We compare the effect of this radiation on angular distributions and forward-backward asymmetry, which are particularly important for the measurement of the weak mixing angle. We discuss the relation of the ISR implementation in KKMC-hh to ISR from parton distribution functions with QED corrections., Comment: Presented at 14th International Symposium on Radiative Corrections (RADCOR2019), 9-13 September 2019, Palais des Papes, Avignon, France. 10 pages, 18 figures. Slightly extended relative to published version

Continuing with our investigations of the expected sizes of multiple photon radiative effects in heavy gauge boson production with decay to charged lepton pairs in the context of the precision physics of the LHC, using \KK{MC}-hh 4.22 we consider IFI and ISR effects for specific Z/$\gamma^*$ Drell-Yan observables measured by the ATLAS and CMS Collaborations. With this version of \KK{MC}-hh, we have coherent exclusive exponentiation (CEEX) electroweak (EW) exact ${\cal O}(\alpha^2 L)$ corrections in a hadronic MC and control over the corresponding EW initial-final interference (IFI) effects as well. Specifically, we illustrate the interplay between cuts of the type used in the measurement of $A_{FB}$ and $A_4$ at the LHC and the sizes of the expected responses of the attendant higher order corrections. We find that there are per cent to per mille level effects in the initial-state radiation, fractional per mille level effects in the IFI and per mille level effects in the over-all ${\cal O}(\alpha^2 L)$ corrections that any treatment of EW corrections at the per mille level should consider. Our results are applicable to current LHC experimental data analyses., Comment: 20 pages, 13 figures, 4 tables; updated figures, more discussion, improved references, typos corrected

IR-improvement based on amplitude-level resummation allows one to control unintegrable results in quantum field theory with arbitrary precision in principle. We illustrate such resummation in specific examples in precision LHC and FCC physics and in quantum gravity., Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, 3 tables, presented by B.F.L. Ward at RADCOR2019, Avignon, FR, 9/12/2019. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1811.09509

The Future Circular Collider (FCC) at CERN, a proposed 100-km circular facility with several colliders in succession, culminates with a 100 TeV proton-proton collider. It offers a vast new domain of exploration in particle physics, with orders of magnitude advances in terms of Precision, Sensitivity and Energy. The implementation plan foresees, as a first step, an Electroweak Factory electron-positron collider. This high luminosity facility, operating between 90 and 365 GeV centre-of-mass energy, will study the heavy particles of the Standard Model, Z, W, Higgs, and top with unprecedented accuracy. The Electroweak Factory $e^+e^-$ collider constitutes a real challenge to the theory and to precision calculations, triggering the need for the development of new mathematical methods and software tools. A first workshop in 2018 had focused on the first FCC-ee stage, the Tera-Z, and confronted the theoretical status of precision Standard Model calculations on the Z-boson resonance to the experimental demands. The second workshop in January 2019, which is reported here, extended the scope to the next stages, with the production of W-bosons (FCC-ee-W), the Higgs boson (FCC-ee-H) and top quarks (FCC-ee-tt). In particular, the theoretical precision in the determination of the crucial input parameters, alpha_QED, alpha_QCD, M_W, m_t at the level of FCC-ee requirements is thoroughly discussed. The requirements on Standard Model theory calculations were spelled out, so as to meet the demanding accuracy of the FCC-ee experimental potential. The discussion of innovative methods and tools for multi-loop calculations was deepened. Furthermore, phenomenological analyses beyond the Standard Model were discussed, in particular the effective theory approaches. The reports of 2018 and 2019 serve as white papers of the workshop results and subsequent developments., Comment: Published version

We present pathways to the required theoretical precision for the luminosity targeted by the FCC-ee precision studies. We put the discussion in context by reviewing briefly the situation at the time of LEP. We then present the current status and routes to the desired 0.01\% targeted by the FCC-ee (as well as by the ILC)., Comment: 6 pages, 2 tables; talk presented at the International Workshop on Future Linear Colliders (LCWS2018), Arlington, Texas, 22-26 October 2018. C18-10-22; typos corrected; misprint corrected

The current status of the theoretical precision for the Bhabha luminometry is critically reviewed and pathways are outlined to the requirement targeted by the FCC-ee precision studies. Various components of the pertinent error budget are discussed in detail -- starting from the context of the LEP experiments, through their current updates, up to prospects of their improvements for the sake of the FCC-ee. It is argued that with an appropriate upgrade of the Monte Carlo event generator BHLUMI and/or other similar MC programs calculating QED effects in the low angle Bhabha process, the total theoretical error of $0.01\%$ for the FCC-ee luminometry can be reached. A new study of the $Z$ and $s$-channel $\gamma$ exchanges within the angular range of the FCC-ee luminometer using the BHWIDE Monte Carlo was instrumental in obtaining the above result. Possible ways of BHLUMI upgrade are also discussed., Comment: This work is based on the material presented at the FCC-ee-Z Theory Miniworkshop at CERN, January 2018", see Section C6 in arxiv:1809.018

${\cal KK}$MC-hh is a precision event-generator for Z production and decay in hadronic collisions, which applies amplitude-level resummation to both initial and final state photon radiation, including perturbative residuals exact through ${\cal O}(\alpha^2L)$, together with exact ${\cal O}(\alpha)$ EW matrix element corrections. We present some comparisons to other programs and results showing the effect of multi-photon radiation for cuts motivated by a recent ATLAS W mass analysis. We also show preliminary untuned comparisons of the electroweak corrections of ${\cal KK}$MC-hh to those of HORACE, which includes exact ${\cal O}(\alpha)$ corrections with resummed final-state photon radiation., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, presented by B.F.L. Ward at ICHEP2018, Seoul, S. Korea, 7/5/2018

The future 100-km circular collider FCC at CERN is planned to operate in one of its modes as an electron-positron FCC-ee machine. We give an overview comparing the theoretical status to the experimental demands of one of four foreseen FCC-ee operating stages, Z-boson resonance energy physics, called the FCC-ee Tera-Z stage for short. The FCC-ee Tera-Z will deliver the highest integrated luminosities as well as very small systematic errors for a study of the Standard Model (SM) with unprecedented precision. In fact, the FCC-ee Tera-Z will allow the study of at least one more perturbative order in quantum field theory compared to the LEP/SLC precision. The real problem is that the present precision of theoretical calculations of the various SM observables does not match that of the anticipated experimental measurements. The bottle-necks to overcoming this situation are identified. In particular, the issues of precise QED unfolding and the correct calculation of SM pseudo-observables are critically reviewed. In an Executive Summary, we specify which basic theoretical calculations are needed to meet the strong experimental expectations at the FCC-ee Tera-Z. Several methods, techniques and tools needed for higher-order multi-loop calculations are presented. By inspection of the Z-boson partial and total decay width analyses, it is argued that at the beginning of operation of the FCC-ee Tera-Z, the theory predictions may be tuned to be precise enough not to limit the physics interpretation of the measurements. This statement is based on anticipated progress in analytical and numerical calculations of multi-loop and multi-scale Feynman integrals and on the completion of two-loop electroweak radiative corrections to the SM pseudo-observables this year. However, the above statement is conditional as the theoretical issues demand a very dedicated and focused investment by the community., Comment: Published version

KKMC-hh is a precision event-generator for Z production and decay in hadronic collisions, which applies amplitude-level exponentiation to both initial and final state photon radiation, including perturbative residuals through order $\alpha^2 L$, together with electroweak matrix element corrections. We present results showing the effect of multi-photon radiation for cuts motivated by a recent ATLAS W-mass analysis. We also show preliminary untuned comparisons of the electroweak corrections of KKMC-hh to those of HORACE, which includes order $\alpha$ corrections with exponentiated final-state photon radiation., Comment: 10 pages, 18 figures. Presented by S.A. Yost at RADCOR 2017, the 13th International Symposium on Radiative Corrections, 24-29 September, 2017 in St. Gilgen, Austria

At the future high luminosity electron-positron collider FCC-ee proposed for CERN, the precise measurement of the charge asymmetry in $e^+ e^- \to \mu^+ \mu^-$ near the Z resonance is of special interest. In particular, such a measurement at $M_Z \pm 3.5$ GeV may provide a very precise measurement of the electromagnetic coupling at the scale $\sim M_Z$, a fundamental constant of the Standard Model. However, this charge asymmetry is plagued by a large trivial contribution from the interference of photon emission from initial state electrons and final state muons. We address the question whether this interference can be reliably calculated and subtracted with the help of a resummed QED calculation., Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures. Presented by S. Jadach at the "Matter To The Deepest" Conference, Podlesice, Poland, 3-8 September 2017. Updated version adds graphics labels for monochrome viewing. No content changes

With an eye toward the precision physics of the LHC, such as the recent measurement of $M_W$ by the ATLAS Collaboration, we present here systematic studies relevant to the assessment of the expected size of multiple photon radiative effects in heavy gauge boson production with decay to charged lepton pairs. We use the new version 4.22 of ${\cal KK}$MC-hh so that we have CEEX EW exact ${\cal O}(\alpha^2 L)$ corrections in a hadronic MC and control over the corresponding EW initial-final interference (IFI) effects as well. In this way, we illustrate the interplay between cuts of the type used in the measurement of $M_W$ at the LHC and the sizes of the expected responses of the attendant higher order corrections. We find that there are per cent to per mille level effects in the initial-state radiation, fractional per mille level effects in the IFI and per mille level effects in the over-all ${\cal O}(\alpha^2 L)$ corrections that any treatment of EW corrections at the per mille level should consider. Our results have direct applicability to current LHC experimental data analyses., Comment: 14 pages, 2 tables, 9 figures; typos corrected; modified to 21 pages, 14 figures

We present an improvement of the MC event generator Herwiri2, where we recall the latter MC was a prototype for the inclusion of CEEX resummed EW corrections in hadron-hadron scattering at high cms energies. In this improvement the new exact ${\cal O}(\alpha^2L)$ resummed EW generator ${\cal{KK}}$ MC 4.22, featuring as it does the CEEX realization of resummation in the EW sector, is put in union with the Herwig parton shower environment. The {\rm LHE} format of the attendant output event file means that all other conventional parton shower environments are available to the would-be user of the resulting new MC. For this reason (and others -- see the text) we henceforth refer to the new improvement of the Herwiri2 MC as ${\cal{KK}}\text{MC-hh}$. Since this new MC features exact ${\cal O}(\alpha)$ pure weak corrections from the DIZET EW library and features the CEEX and the EEX YFS-style resummation of large multiple photon effects, it provides already the concrete path to 0.05\% precision on such effects if we focus on the EW effects themselves. We therefore show predictions for observable distributions and comparisons with other approaches in the literature. This MC represents an important step in the realization of the exact amplitude-based $QED\otimes QCD$ resummation paradigm. Independently of this latter observation, the MC rigorously quantifies important EW effects in the current LHC experiments., Comment: 22 pages, 13 figures, 2 tables; updated funding credits; fixed typo

We compared the time (or time limit) of onset for optical afterglow emission to the gamma-ray variability V in 76 GRBs with redshifts. In the subset (25 cases) with the rise evident in the data, we fit the shape of the onset peak as well and compared the rising and decaying indices to V. We did not find any evidence for any patterns between these properties and there is no statistical support for any correlations. This indicates a lack of connection between irregularities of the prompt gamma-ray emission and the establishment of the afterglow phase. In the ordinary prompt internal shocks interpretation, this would indicate a lack of relationship between V and the bulk Lorentz factor of the event., Comment: 14 pages including 8 figures, MNRAS accepted

We present the optical luminosity function (LF) of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) estimated from a uniform sample of 58 GRBs from observations with the Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment III (ROTSE-III). Our GRB sample is divided into two sub-samples: detected afterglows (18 GRBs), and those with upper limits (40 GRBs). The $R$ band fluxes 100s after the onset of the burst for these two sub-samples are derived. The optical LFs at 100s are fitted by assuming that the co-moving GRB rate traces the star-formation rate. The detection function of ROTSE-III is taken into account during the fitting of the optical LFs by using Monte Carlo simulations. We find that the cumulative distribution of optical emission at 100s is well-described with an exponential rise and power-law decay (ERPLD), broken power-law (BPL), and Schechter LFs. A single power-law (SPL) LF, on the other hand, is ruled out with high confidence., Comment: 26 pages, 3 figures, ApJ accepted

Using the MC Herwiri1.031, we present the current status of the comparisons with LHC data of the predictions of our approach of exact amplitude-based resummation for precision QCD calculations., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures; accepted as a poster in ICHEP 2014, Valencia, ES

We present the current status of the comparisons with the respective data of the predictions of our approach of exact amplitude-based resummation in quantum field theory as applied to precision QCD calculations as needed for LHC physics, using the MC Herwiri1.031. The agreement between the theoretical predictions and the data exhibited continues to be encouraging., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures; invited talk presented by B.F.L. Ward at QCD 2014, Montpellier, FR. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1312.0874

We present the current status of the comparisons with the respective data of the predictions of our approach of exact amplitude-based resummation in quantum field theory in two areas of investigation: precision QCD calculations of all four of us as needed for LHC physics and the resummed quantum gravity realization by one of us (B.F.L.W.) of Einstein's theory of general relativity as formulated by Feynman. The agreement between the theoretical predictions and the data exhibited continues to be encouraging., Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures; presented by B.F.L. Ward at RADCOR 2013, Durham, UK

We present a phenomenological study of the current status of the application of our approach of {\it exact} amplitude-based resummation in quantum field theory to precision QCD calculations, by realistic MC event generator methods, as needed for precision LHC physics. We discuss recent results as they relate to the interplay of the attendant IR-Improved DGLAP-CS theory of one of us and the precision of exact NLO matrix-element matched parton shower MC's in the Herwig6.5 environment as determined by comparison to recent LHC experimental observations on single heavy gauge boson production and decay. The level of agreement between the new theory and the data continues to be a reason for optimism. In the spirit of completeness, we discuss as well other approaches to the same theoretical predictions that we make here from the standpoint of physical precision with an eye toward the (sub-)1% QCD \otimes EW total theoretical precision regime for LHC physics., Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures; improved eqn numbering and references. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1208.4750

We present the interplay between the new IR-improved DGLAP-CS theory and the precision of NLO parton shower/ME matched MC`s as it is realized by the new MC Herwiri1.031 in interface to MC@NLO. We discuss phenomenological implications using comparisons with recent LHC data on single heavy gauge boson production., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures; presented by BFLW at ICHEP 2012

We present the current status of the application of our approach of {\it exact} amplitude-based resummation in quantum field theory to precision QCD calculations, by realistic MC event generator methods, as needed for precision LHC physics.In this ongoing program of research, we discuss recent results as they relate to the interplay of the attendant IR-Improved DGLAP-CS theory of one of us and the precision of exact NLO matrix element matched parton shower MC's in the Herwig6.5 environment in relation to recent LHC experimental observations. There continues to be reason for optimism in the attendant comparison of theory and experiment., Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures; now 12 pages, 4 figures -- explanatory material added and title changed for publication in Phys. Lett. B

We present the current status of the application of our approach of exact amplitude-based resummation in quantum field theory to two areas of investigation: precision QCD calculations of all three of us as needed for LHC physics and the resummed quantum gravity realization by one of us (B.F.L.W.) of Feynman's formulation of Einstein's theory of general relativity. We discuss recent results as they relate to experimental observations. There is reason for optimism in the attendant comparison of theory and experiment., Comment: 9 pages, two figures, presented by B.F.L. Ward at RADCOR 2011, Mamallapuram, India

We present a comprehensive analysis of a bright, long duration (T90 ~ 257 s) GRB 110205A at redshift z= 2.22. The optical prompt emission was detected by Swift/UVOT, ROTSE-IIIb and BOOTES telescopes when the GRB was still radiating in the gamma-ray band. Nearly 200 s of observations were obtained simultaneously from optical, X-ray to gamma-ray, which makes it one of the exceptional cases to study the broadband spectral energy distribution across 6 orders of magnitude in energy during the prompt emission phase. By fitting the time resolved prompt spectra, we clearly identify, for the first time, an interesting two-break energy spectrum, roughly consistent with the standard GRB synchrotron emission model in the fast cooling regime. Although the prompt optical emission is brighter than the extrapolation of the best fit X/gamma-ray spectra, it traces the gamma-ray light curve shape, suggesting a relation to the prompt high energy emission. The synchrotron + SSC scenario is disfavored by the data, but the models invoking a pair of internal shocks or having two emission regions can interpret the data well. Shortly after prompt emission (~ 1100 s), a bright (R = 14.0) optical emission hump with very steep rise (alpha ~ 5.5) was observed which we interpret as the emission from the reverse shock. It is the first time that the rising phase of a reverse shock component has been closely observed. The full optical and X-ray afterglow lightcurves can be interpreted within the standard reverse shock (RS) + forward shock (FS) model. In general, the high quality prompt emission and afterglow data allow us to apply the standard fireball shock model to extract valuable information about the GRB including the radiation mechanism, radius of prompt emission R, initial Lorentz factor of the outflow, the composition of the ejecta, as well as the collimation angle and the total energy budget., Comment: Accepted by ApJ

Higher-order diagrams required for radiative corrections to mixed electroweak and QCD processes at the LHC and anticipated future colliders will require numerically stable representations of the associated Feynman diagrams. The hypergeometric representation supplies an analytic framework that is useful for deriving such stable representations. We discuss the reduction of Feynman diagrams to master integrals, and compare integration-by-parts methods to differential reduction of hypergeometric functions. We describe the problem of constructing higher-order terms in the epsilon expansion, and characterize the functions generated in such expansions., Comment: 12 pages, Proceedings of DPF2011, Brown University, Providence, R.I., Aug. 9-13, 2011. Version 2 adds references, corrects the author list, and fixes several misprints. Version 3 has some relatively minor corrections

Stable reduction methods will be important in the evaluation of high-order perturbative diagrams appearing in QCD and mixed QCD-electroweak radiative corrections at the LHC. Differential reduction techniques are useful for relating hypergeometric functions with shifted values of the parameters. We present a proposition relating the number of master integrals in the expansion of a Feynman diagram to the number of derivatives in a differential reduction., Comment: 3 pages, presented at 35th International Conference of High Energy Physics - ICHEP2010, July 22-28, 2010, Paris, France

The new IR-improved Dokshitzer-Gribov-Lipatov-Altarelli-Parisi-Callan-Symanzik (DGLAP-CS) kernels recently developed by one of us is implemented in the HERWIG6.5 environment to generate a new MC, HERWIRI1.0(31), for hadron-hadron scattering at high energies. The comparison between the parton shower generated by the standard DGLAP-CS kernels and that generated by the new IR-improved DGLAP-CS kernels is illustrated using MC data. This is done for some of the respective exact {\cal O}(\alpha_s) corrected spectra using the seamless interfaces to MC@NLO while making comparisons with FNAL data. Some discussion of possible implications for LHC phenomenology is also presented., Comment: 5 pages, one figure; presented by B.F.L. Ward at ICHEP 2010

The optical-infrared afterglow of the LAT-detected long duration burst, GRB 090902B, has been observed by several instruments. The earliest detection by ROTSE-IIIa occurred 80 minutes after detection by the GBM instrument onboard the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope, revealing a bright afterglow and a decay slope suggestive of a reverse shock origin. Subsequent optical-IR observations followed the light curve for 6.5 days. The temporal and spectral behavior at optical-infrared frequencies is consistent with synchrotron fireball model predictions; the cooling break lies between optical and XRT frequencies ~ 1.9 days after the burst. The inferred electron energy index is $p = 1.8 \pm 0.2$, which would however imply an X-ray decay slope flatter than observed. The XRT and LAT data have similar spectral indices and the observed steeper value of the LAT temporal index is marginally consistent with the predicted temporal decay in the radiative regime of the forward shock model. Absence of a jet break during the first 6 days implies a collimation-corrected $\gamma$-ray energy $E_{\gamma} > 2.2\times10^{52}\rm$ ergs, one of the highest ever seen in a long-duration GRBs. More events combining GeV photon emission with multi-wavelength observations will be required to constrain the nature of the central engine powering these energetic explosions and to explore the correlations between energetic quanta and afterglow emission., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ

We introduce the new IR-improved Dokshitzer-Gribov-Lipatov-Altarelli-Parisi-Callan-Symanzik (DGLAP-CS) kernels recently developed by one of us into the HERWIG6.5 to generate a new MC, HERWIRI1.0(31), for hadron-hadron scattering at high energies. We use MC data to compare the parton shower generated by the standard DGLAP-CS kernels and that generated by the new IR-improved DGLAP-CS kernels. The seamless interface to MC@NLO, MC@NLO/HERWIRI, is illustrated. We show comparisons with FNAL data and we discuss some possible LHC phenomenology implications., Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, to appear Proc. RADCOR2009

By implementing the new IR-improved Dokshitzer-Gribov-Lipatov-Altarelli-Parisi-Callan-Symanzik (DGLAP-CS) kernels recently developed by one of us in the HERWIG6.5 environment we generate a new MC, HERWIRI1.0(31), for hadron-hadron scattering at high energies. We use MC data to illustrate the comparison between the parton shower generated by the standard DGLAP-CS kernels and that generated by the new IR-improved DGLAP-CS kernels. The interface to MC@NLO, MC@NLO/HERWIRI, is illustrated. Comparisons with FNAL data and some discussion of possible implications for LHC phenomenology are also presented., Comment: 24 pages, 10 figures; published version

We have implemented the new IR-improved Dokshitzer-Gribov-Lipatov-Altarelli-Parisi-Callan-Symanzik (DGLAP-CS) kernels recently developed by one of us in the HERWIG6.5 environment to generate a new MC, HERWIRI1.0(31), for hadron-hadron scattering at high energies. We present MC data that illustrate the comparison between the parton shower generated by the standard DGLAP-CS kernels and that generated by the new IR-improved DGLAP-CS kernels. We also show comparisons with FNAL data and we discuss possible implications for LHC phenomenology., Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures. To be published in the proceedings of DPF-2009, Detroit, MI, July 2009, eConf C090726; typo corrected, references improved; improved text, improved figures; improved text, improved figures

We present Monte Carlo data showing the comparison between the parton shower generated by the standard DGLAP-CS kernels and that generated with the new IR-improved DGLAP-CS kernels recently developed by one of us(BFLW). We do this in the context of HERWIG6.5 by implementing the new kernels therein to generate a new MC, HERWIRI1.0, for hadron-hadron interactions at high energies. We discuss possible phenomenological implications for precision LHC theory. We also present comparisons with FNAL data., Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures; improved text, new fig. 10(b) to correct plotting errors; published version -- 20 pages, extended text, 9 figures

We report on a complete set of early optical afterglows of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) obtained with the ROTSE-III telescope network from March 2005 through June 2007. This set is comprised of 12 afterglows with early optical and Swift/XRT observations, with a median ROTSE-III response time of 45 s after the start of gamma-ray emission (8 s after the GCN notice time). These afterglows span four orders of magnitude in optical luminosity, and the contemporaneous X-ray detections allow multi-wavelength spectral analysis. Excluding X-ray flares, the broadband synchrotron spectra show that the optical and X-ray emission originate in a common region, consistent with predictions of the external forward shock in the fireball model. However, the fireball model is inadequate to predict the temporal decay indices of the early afterglows, even after accounting for possible long-duration continuous energy injection. We find that the optical afterglow is a clean tracer of the forward shock, and we use the peak time of the forward shock to estimate the initial bulk Lorentz factor of the GRB outflow, and find 100

2nd workshop on the implications of HERA for LHC physics. Working groups: Parton Density Functions Multi-jet final states and energy flows Heavy quarks (charm and beauty) Diffraction Cosmic Rays Monte Carlos and Tools, Comment: 2nd workshop on the implications of HERA for LHC physics 2006 - 2008, Hamburg - Geneva. H. Jung and A. De Roeck Editors

We describe the application of differential reduction algorithms for Feynman Diagram calculation. We illustrate the procedure in the context of generalized hypergeometric functions, and give an example for a type of q-loop bubble diagram., Comment: 6 pages, LaTeX, one eps figure, conference style file included. Related to a talk given by S.A. Yost at LCWS08/ILC08, Chicago, Nov. 16-20, 2008. [v1=v2]

We will present some (formal) arguments that any Feynman diagram can be understood as a particular case of a Horn-type multivariable hypergeometric function. The advantages and disadvantages of this type of approach to the evaluation of Feynman diagrams is discussed., Comment: 7 pages, LaTeX, PoS style; based on a talk given by M.Kalmykov at ACAT 2008, Erice, Italy, Nov. 3-7, 2008; v2: few references added; v3: few references and some details added and conclusion is improved

GRB060505 and GRB060614 are nearby long-duration gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs) without accompanying supernovae (SNe) down to very strict limits. They thereby challenge the conventional LGRB-SN connection and naturally give rise to the question: are there other peculiar features in their afterglows which would help shed light on their progenitors? To answer this question, we combine new observational data with published data and investigate the multi-band temporal and spectral properties of the two afterglows. We find that both afterglows can be well interpreted within the framework of the jetted standard external shock wave model, and that the afterglow parameters for both bursts fall well within the range observed for other LGRBs. Hence, from the properties of the afterglows there is nothing to suggest that these bursts should have another progenitor than other LGRBs. Recently, Swift-discovered GRB080503 also has the spike + tail structure during its prompt gamma-ray emission seemingly similar to GRB060614. We analyse the prompt emission of this burst and find that this GRB is actually a hard-spike + hard-tail burst with a spectral lag of 0.8$\pm$0.4 s during its tail emission. Thus, the properties of the prompt emission of GRB060614 and GRB080503 are clearly different, motivating further thinking of GRB classification. Finally we note that, whereas the progenitor of the two SN-less bursts remains uncertain, the core-collapse origin for the SN-less bursts would be quite certain if a wind-like environment can be observationally established, e.g, from an optical decay faster than the X-ray decay in the afterglow's slow cooling phase., Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, 4 tables, ApJ in press; added Fig. 7 of the lag-luminosity relation

We review the hypergeometric function approach to Feynman diagrams. Special consideration is given to the construction of the Laurent expansion. As an illustration, we describe a collection of physically important one-loop vertex diagrams for which this approach is useful., Comment: 15 pages, Latex, 1-eps figure; v2: few references added; v3: style corrections; v4: typo in Eq.(2) is corrected; based on a talk given by M.Kalmykov at 15th International Seminar on High-Energy Physics: Quarks-2008,Sergiev Posad, Russia, 23-29 May, 2008. The FORM code is available via the WWW at http://theor.jinr.ru/~kalmykov/hypergeom/hyper.html

We summarize the recent progress in a new approach to precision LHC physics based on the IR-improved DGLAP-CS theory as it relates to a new MC friendly exponentiated scheme for precision calculation of higher order corrections to LHC physics in which IR singularities from both QED and QCD are canceled to all orders in \alpha and in \alpha_s simultaneously in the presence of rigorous shower/ME matching. We present the first MC data comparing the implied new showers themselves with the standard ones using the HERWIG6.5 MC event generator as a test case at LHC energies., Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, presented by BFLW at ICHEP08; updated style for proc

We present the elements of the IR-improved DGLAP-CS theory as it relates to the new MC friendly exponentiated scheme for precision calculation of higher order corrections to LHC physics in which IR singularities from both QED and QCD are canceled to all orders in alpha and in alpha_s simultaneously in the presence of rigorous shower/ME matching. We present the first MC data comparing the implied new showers themselves with the standard ones using the HERWIG6.5 MC event generator as a test case at LHC energies. As expected, the IR-improved shower re-populates lower values of the energy fraction z and lower values of the attendant p_T for the standard HERWIG6.5 input parameters. Possible phenomenological implications are discussed., Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, presented by B.F.L. Ward at 2008 HERA-LHC Workshop

Hypergeometric functions provide a useful representation of Feynman diagrams occuring in precision phenomenology. In dimension regularization, the epsilon-expansion of these functions about d=4 is required. We discuss the current status of differential reduction algorithms. As an illustration, we consider the construction of the all-order epsilon-expansion of the Appell hypergeometric function about integer values of the parameters and present an explicit evaluations of the first few terms., Comment: Poster presentation by S.A. Yost at the 34th International Conference on High Energy Physics, Philadelphia, August 2008. 3 pages, no figures, revtex4, slac_one.rtx. Version 4 corrects the arguments of one equation (between eqs. 5 and 6). Version 5 updates the template for ICHEP08

Aims: With this paper we want to investigate the highly variable afterglow light curve and environment of gamma-ray burst (GRB) 060526 at $z=3.221$. Methods: We present one of the largest photometric datasets ever obtained for a GRB afterglow, consisting of multi-color photometric data from the ultraviolet to the near infrared. The data set contains 412 data points in total to which we add additional data from the literature. Furthermore, we present low-resolution high signal-to-noise spectra of the afterglow. The afterglow light curve is modeled with both an analytical model using broken power law fits and with a broad-band numerical model which includes energy injections. The absorption lines detected in the spectra are used to derive column densities using a multi-ion single-component curve-of-growth analysis from which we derive the metallicity of the host of GRB 060526. Results: The temporal behaviour of the afterglow follows a double broken power law with breaks at $t=0.090\pm0.005$ and $t=2.401\pm0.061$ days. It shows deviations from the smooth set of power laws that can be modeled by additional energy injections from the central engine, although some significant microvariability remains. The broadband spectral-energy distribution of the afterglow shows no significant extinction along the line of sight. The metallicity derived from \ion{S}{II} and \ion{Fe}{II} of [S/H] = --0.57 $\pm$0.25 and [Fe/H] = --1.09$\pm$0.24 is relatively high for a galaxy at that redshift but comparable to the metallicity of other GRB hosts at similar redshifts. At the position of the afterglow, no host is detected to F775W(AB) = 28.5 mag with the HST, implying an absolute magnitude of the host M(1500 \AA{})$>$--18.3 mag which is fainter than most long-duration hosts, although the GRB may be associated with a faint galaxy at a distance of 11 kpc., Comment: 20 pages, 8 figures, A&A, in press, three additional authors, additional minor changes after second referee report