Matrix element method at next-to-leading order for arbitrary jet algorithms

Abstract

The matrix element method usually employs leading-order matrix elements. We discuss the generalisation towards higher orders in perturbation theory and show how the matrix element method can be used at next-to-leading order for arbitrary infrared-safe jet algorithms. We discuss three variants at next-to-leading order. The first two variants work at the level of the jet momenta. The first variant adheres to strict fixed-order in perturbation theory. We present a method for the required integration over the radiation phase space. The second variant is inspired by the POWHEG method and works as the first variant at the level of the jet momenta. The third variant is a more exclusive POWHEG version. Here we resolve exactly one jet into two sub-jets. If the two sub-jets are resolved above a scale $p_\bot^{\mathrm{min}}$, the likelihood is computed from the POWHEG-modified real emission part, otherwise it is given by the POWHEG-modified virtual part.