Precision QCD @ LHC using Energy Correlators

This project will have a major impact on the LHC extraction of the top quark mass, which is one of the most important measurements to be performed in the coming years.

Currently, the top mass measurement suffers from theoretical imprecision, including an over-reliance on Monte Carlo (MC) simulations and an inadequate treatment of non-perturbative hadronization physics, with no systematic prospects for improvement.

To address these challenges, this project adopts cutting-edge approaches using the powerful theoretical tools of effective field theories of QCD and novel jet substructure techniques.

The proposed action will pave the way for a sub-GeV precise measurement in a well-defined field-theoretic mass scheme, eliminating long-standing uncertainties in the current methodology.

It will also simultaneously tackle the challenges of systematically accounting for hadronization effects, which have also impacted jet substructure determinations of the strong coupling constant.

The project leverages the Experienced Researchers (ER) unique expertise in this area and established collaborations with LHC experimentalists.

Its cornerstone is the use of energy-energy correlators (EECs), which enable precision measurements in the complex environment of the LHC by efficiently removing various sources of contamination in the jets while providing a theoretical control superior to conventional jet substructure observables.

Capitalizing on the ERs recent proposal to exploit EECs on boosted top quarks as a top mass-sensitive probe, we will compute state-of-the-art theoretical predictions for this top mass-sensitive observable with next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic (NNLL) accuracy, well beyond the reach of current MC simulations.

With the primary goal of enabling a direct comparison of theoretical prediction, we will develop a systematic, model-independent field-theoretic framework for describing hadronization corrections in complex modern jet substructure observables.