Analyzing N-point Energy Correlators Inside Jets with CMS Open Data (2201.07800v3)

Abstract: Jets of hadrons produced at high-energy colliders provide experimental access to the dynamics of asymptotically free quarks and gluons and their confinement into hadrons. In this paper, we show that the high energies of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), together with the exceptional resolution of its detectors, allow multipoint correlation functions of energy flow operators to be directly measured within jets for the first time. Using Open Data from the CMS experiment, we show that reformulating jet substructure in terms of these correlators provides new ways of probing the dynamics of QCD jets, which enables direct imaging of the confining transition to free hadrons as well as precision measurements of the scaling properties and interactions of quarks and gluons. This opens a new era in our understanding of jet substructure and illustrates the immense unexploited potential of high-quality LHC data sets for elucidating the dynamics of QCD.

• The paper introduces the novel application of N-point energy correlators in jets, providing unprecedented insights into particle interactions and QCD confinement dynamics.
• It employs CMS Open Data to validate theoretical predictions, confirming scaling behaviors and twist-2 spin-N+1 anomalous dimensions in measured jet substructures.
• The study’s methodology reformulates jet analysis by capturing detailed interaction geometries, paving the way for enhanced models and future high-energy QCD investigations.

Analyzing N-point Energy Correlators Inside Jets with CMS Open Data

The paper examines N-point energy correlators within jets using CMS Open Data from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), marking a significant shift in analyzing jet substructure phenomena. Jets, streams of particles produced from high-energy collisions, are pivotal in studying Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), the framework describing strong interactions.

Overview of Research Objectives

The research aims to leverage high-energy collider data to measure multipoint correlation functions of energy flow operators within jets, a novel approach evidenced by the utilization of robust data sets from the CMS experiment. This paper reformulates jet substructure analysis using multipoint energy correlators to probe QCD dynamics and examine the confinement of quarks and gluons into hadrons.

Key Contributions and Findings

1. N-point Energy Correlators: The paper introduces the use of N-point energy correlators to describe energy distributions inside jets, offering insights into quark and gluon interactions. This method differs from traditional jet shape observables by capturing intricate particle correlations, providing a more detailed understanding of jet dynamics.
2. High-Quality Data Utilization: By employing CMS Open Data, the paper delivers the first-ever experimental measurements of these correlators in the collider environment. This open data approach allows for validation and exploration of theoretical predictions.
3. Visualization of the Confinement Transition: The paper successfully captures the transition phase from interacting quarks/gluons to free hadrons, visible across distinct angular regimes. High-energy LHC conditions enable this phase separation and facilitate studying QCD confinement in detail.
4. Validation of Theoretical Models: Experimentally, the research confirms scaling behaviors predicted by perturbative QCD, specifically the twist-2 spin-N+1 anomalous dimensions, in the ratios of projected energy correlators. This provides empirical evidence for complex theoretical structures at work within LHC jets.
5. Correlator Shapes and Scaling Behavior: The paper explores higher-point correlators, beyond the two-point function, offering new insights into interaction geometries within jets. This analysis not only supports existing theoretical models but also challenges assumptions through comparison with parton shower simulations and suggests the need for incorporating higher-point splitting functions in computational frameworks.

Practical and Theoretical Implications

• Jet Physics and QCD Studies: The reformulation of jet substructure analyses through multipoint energy correlators unlocks new avenues in understanding QCD dynamics. It extends practical applications in precision studies of jet physics and constitutes a vital tool in the ongoing exploration of confinement and scaling behaviors in QCD.
• Advancements in Experimental Techniques: The research underscores the potential of utilizing collider data, demonstrating the high precision and capacity of modern experimental setups to interrogate theoretical predictions. It encourages further open data usage in high-energy physics, incentivizing collaborations that bridge experimental and theoretical ventures.

Prospective Developments

This paper paves the way for future explorations that can further refine the calculation of anomalous dimensions and clarify the subtle dynamics of QCD. Future work may involve higher-order calculations and improved modeling of jet environments, aiming to reconcile discrepancies between theoretical expectations and simulation outputs. Moreover, enhanced measurement techniques and novel data analysis methodologies can extend correlator studies, facilitating detailed exploration into the quantum field-theoretic underpinnings of jet phenomena.

Ultimately, this paper highlights the evolving understanding and the impressive capabilities of contemporary high-energy physics, where data-driven insights illuminate the intricate dynamics governing the universe at a fundamental level.