xFitter Framework Research Articles

Determination of Parton Distribution Functions with Jets at Forward Rapidity Region Using xFitter Analysis Framework

Parton distribution functions (PDF), which have to be determined from the measurements, are one of the main components to define the physics that occurs at the hadron colliders. In this study, a quantum chromodynamics (QCD) analysis was performed at the next-to-leading order (NLO) in the xFitter framework which is an open source QCD fit platform. Along with the HERA1+2 DIS and the jet differential cross-section data measured in the forward rapidity region (3.2 < |y| < 4.7) of the CMS detector in the LHC in proton-proton collisions at s = 8 TeV were used in xFitter analysis framework. Particularly gluon distribution functions were emphasized.

Global QCD analysis of diffractive parton distribution function considering higher twist corrections within the xFitter framework

We present {\tt SKMHS22}, a new set of diffractive parton distribution functions (PDFs) and their uncertainties at next-to-leading-order accuracy in perturbative QCD within the {\tt xFitter} framework. We describe all available diffractive DIS data sets from HERA and the most recent high-precision H1/ZEUS combined measurements considering three different scenarios. First, we extract the diffractive PDFs considering the standard twist-2 contribution. Then, we include the twist-4 correction from the longitudinal virtual photons. Finally, the contribution of subleading Reggeon exchange to the structure-function $F_2^D$ is also examined. For the contribution of heavy flavors, we utilize the Thorne-Roberts general mass variable number scheme. We show that for those corrections, in particular, the twist-4 contribution allows to include the high-$\beta$ region and leads to a better description of the diffractive DIS data sets. We find that the inclusion of the subleading Reggeon exchange significantly improves the description of the diffractive DIS cross-section measurements. The resulting sets are in good agreement with all diffractive DIS data analyzed, which cover a wider kinematical range than in previous fits. The {\tt SKMHS22} diffractive PDFs sets presented in this work are available via the {\tt LHAPDF} interface. We also make suggestions for future research in this area.

QCD analysis of pion fragmentation functions in the xFitter framework

We present the first open-source analysis of fragmentation functions (FFs) of charged pions (entitled IPM-xFitter) computed at next-to-leading order (NLO) and next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) accuracy in perturbative QCD using the xFitter framework. This study incorporates a comprehensive and up-to-date set of pion production data from single-inclusive annihilation (SIA) processes, as well as the most recent measurements of inclusive cross-sections of single pion by the BELLE collaboration. The determination of pion FFs along with their theoretical uncertainties is performed in the Zero-Mass Variable-Flavor Number Scheme (ZM-VFNS). We also present comparisons of our FFs set with recent fits from the literature. The resulting NLO and NNLO pion FFs provide valuable insights for applications in present and future high-energy analysis of pion final state processes.

Parton distribution functions of the charged pion within the xFitter framework

We present the first open-source analysis of parton distribution functions (PDFs) of charged pions using xFitter, an open-source QCD fit framework to facilitate PDF extraction and analyses. Our calculations are implemented at next-to-leading order (NLO) using APPLgrids generated by MCFM generator. Using currently available Drell-Yan and photon production data, we find the valence distribution is well constrained; however, the considered data are not sensitive enough to unambiguously determine sea and gluon distributions. Fractions of momentum carried by the valence, sea and gluon components are discussed, and we compare with the results of JAM collaboration and the GRV group.

Implementation of target mass corrections and higher-twist effects in the xFitter framework

Knowledge of parton distribution functions (PDFs) at large momentum fraction $ x $ is not only important to study the flavor and spin dynamics of quarks in the nucleon, but also to search for signals of new physics at collider experiments. It is well known now that the nonperturbative QCD effects generally play a more significant role at such kinematic regions. In this work, we present an open-source QCD analysis of PDFs considering target mass corrections (TMCs) and higher-twist (HT) effects which are necessary when the analysis includes also data points from deep inelastic scattering (DIS) with larger values of $ x $ and smaller values of photon virtuality $ Q^2 $. To this aim, we use the xFitter package, as a comprehensive and powerful tool for studying PDFs. We report and discuss our recent activities on the implementation of TMCs and HT effects in the xFitter framework in a user-friendly way, so that the user can switch on or off them, and also choose between different options. We check the validity of the modifications by performing sample analyses of PDFs considering TMCs and HT effects and using a wide range of DIS data.

The impact of QED corrections on heavy quarks structure functions at LHC energies, within the xFitter framework

Precision phenomenology at the LHC requires the inclusion of higher order QED corrections effects to the processes of proton-proton scattering. In this work, we show how the parton distribution functions (PDFs) could be analytically determined, which is currently accurate up to NLO in QCD and NLO in QED, including the relevant mixed QCD plus QED corrections. We depict our results for evolved PDFs, using the inputs from the xFitter framework, and compare them with the results of the other PDFs sets as well as the running results from the APFEL program at the concerned approximation. We also obtain the proton structure function, including the heavy quark structure functions based on the Mellin transform techniques. We show how our outgoing results yield a proper representation for F2p(x,Q2), F2c(x,Q2) and F2b(x,Q2) in terms of the PDFs. We compare the structure functions with the experimental data and the running APFEL program results which indicate a good agreement with each other.

Probing the strange content of the proton with charm production in charged current at LHeC

We study charm production in charged-current deep-inelastic scattering (DIS) using the xFitter framework. Recent results from the LHC have focused renewed attention on the determination of the strange-quark parton distribution function (PDF), and the DIS charm process provides important complementary constraints on this quantity. We examine the current PDF uncertainty and use LHeC pseudodata to estimate the potential improvement from this proposed facility. As xFitter implements both fixed-flavor- and variable-flavor-number schemes, we can compare the impact of these different theoretical choices; this highlights some interesting aspects of multi-scale calculations. We find that the high-statistics LHeC data covering a wide kinematic range could substantially reduce the strange PDF uncertainty.

QCD analysis of structure functions in deep inelastic neutrino-nucleon scattering without using the orthogonal polynomials approach

A nonsinglet QCD analysis of neutrino-nucleon structure function is performed based on all the data for charged current neutrino-nucleon deep inelastic scattering (DIS) corresponds to NLO and NNLO approximations, with taking into account the nuclear and higher twist corrections. In this analysis, we extract $xu_v(x,Q^2)$ and $xd_v(x,Q^2)$ valence parton distribution functions (PDFs) in a wide range of $x$ and $Q^2$, and determine their parametrization with the correlated errors using the xFitter framework. Our results regarding valence-quark densities with their uncertainties are compared to the prediction extracted using other PDF sets from different groups. We determine $\alpha_{s}(M_Z^2)$= 0.1199 $\pm$ 0.0031 and 0.1185 $\pm$ 0.0023 with considering the nuclear and higher twist corrections at the NLO and NNLO, respectively, and perform a comparison with other reported results. The extracted results regarding valence-quark distributions and the value of $\alpha_{s}(M_Z^2)$ are in good agreement with available theoretical models.

First global next-to-leading order determination of diffractive parton distribution functions and their uncertainties within the xFitter framework

We present GKG18-DPDFs, a next-to-leading order (NLO) QCD analysis of diffractive parton distribution functions (diffractive PDFs) and their uncertainties. This is the first global set of diffractive PDFs determined within the xFitter framework. This analysis is motivated by all available and most up-to-date data on inclusive diffractive deep inelastic scattering (diffractive DIS). Heavy quark contributions are considered within the framework of the Thorne–Roberts (TR) general mass variable flavor number scheme (GM-VFNS). We form a mutually consistent set of diffractive PDFs due to the inclusion of high-precision data from H1/ZEUS combined inclusive diffractive cross sections measurements. We study the impact of the H1/ZEUS combined data by producing a variety of determinations based on reduced data sets. We find that these data sets have a significant impact on the diffractive PDFs with some substantial reductions in uncertainties. The predictions based on the extracted diffractive PDFs are compared to the analyzed diffractive DIS data and with other determinations of the diffractive PDFs.

The impact of CMS inclusive jet data on parton distribution functions and their uncertainties

It is well known that the jet production data at LHC provide important constraints on the medium and large-[Formula: see text] gluon parton distribution function (PDF), as well as on the large-[Formula: see text] sea quarks. In this work, we study the impact of recent CMS measurements for the inclusive jet production at center-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]=[Formula: see text]13 TeV on the PDFs and their uncertainties. To this aim, with use of the FastNLO and xFitter framework, we apply the parton distribution re-weighting procedure to study the impact of CMS data on two NLO modern CT14 and MMHT PDF sets. As a result, we found that the fit quality obtained using both of these PDF sets is very good. Moreover, the CMS data can impact both the central values and uncertainties of some PDFs especially at low and large [Formula: see text] regions. Overall, it is indicated that the CT14 PDFs compared with the MMHT ones are more affected. We emphasis that the inclusion of these data in a new global analysis of PDFs can improve the determination of the gluon and quark PDFs at both low and large [Formula: see text] regions.

The photon PDF from high-mass Drell\u2013Yan data at the LHC

Achieving the highest precision for theoretical predictions at the LHC requires the calculation of hard-scattering cross sections that include perturbative QCD corrections up to (N)NNLO and electroweak (EW) corrections up to NLO. Parton distribution functions (PDFs) need to be provided with matching accuracy, which in the case of QED effects involves introducing the photon parton distribution of the proton, xgamma (x,Q^2). In this work a determination of the photon PDF from fits to recent ATLAS measurements of high-mass Drell–Yan dilepton production at sqrt{s}=8 TeV is presented. This analysis is based on the xFitter framework, and has required improvements both in the APFEL program, to account for NLO QED effects, and in the aMCfast interface to account for the photon-initiated contributions in the EW calculations within MadGraph5_aMC@NLO. The results are compared with other recent QED fits and determinations of the photon PDF, consistent results are found.

Next-to-leading order QCD analysis of parton distribution functions with LHC data

We present a next-to-leading order (NLO) QCD fit of parton distribution functions (PDFs) with and without the LHC data. In this analysis, we use the HERA I+II combine inclusive proton DIS cross sections, H1-ZEUS combined charm structure function, SLAC structure function, and EMC charm structure data as a base data, and then we investigate the effect of LHC data on the determination of PDFs. Our analysis and PDFs extraction is performed by xFitter framework.

A determination of m c (m c ) from HERA data using a matched heavy-flavor scheme

The charm quark mass is one of the fundamental parameters of the Standard Model Lagrangian. In this work we present a determination of the $$ \overline{\mathrm{MS}} $$ charm mass from a fit to the inclusive and charm HERA deep-inelastic structure function data. The analysis is performed within the xFitter framework, with structure functions computed in the FONLL general-mass scheme as implemented in APFEL. In the case of the FONLL-C scheme, we obtain m c (m c ) = 1.335 ± 0.043(exp) − 0.000 + 0.019 (param) − 0.008 + 0.011 (mod) − 0.008 + 0.003 (th) GeV. We also perform an analogous determination in the fixed-flavor-number scheme at next-to-leading order, finding m c (m c ) = 1.318 ± 0.054(exp) − 0.010 + 0.011 (param) − 0.004 + 0.015 (mod) − 0.004 + 0.045 (th) GeV, compatible with the FONLL-C value. Our results are consistent with previous determinations from DIS data as well as with the PDG world average.