NNLO QCD predictions for Z-boson production in association with a charm jet within the LHCb fiducial region

• Published in: The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields Vol. 83; no. 4; pp. 336 - 13
• Main Authors: Gauld, R., Gehrmann–De Ridder, A., Glover, E. W. N., Huss, A., Rodriguez Garcia, A., Stagnitto, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-04-2023; Springer; Springer Nature B.V; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: Accuracy; Astronomy; Astrophysics and Cosmology; Collaboration; Elementary Particles; Flavor (particle physics); Hadrons; Heavy Ions; Kinematics; Measurement Science and Instrumentation; Nuclear Energy; Nuclear Physics; Partons; Phenomenology; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum chromodynamics; Quantum Field Theories; Quantum Field Theory; Quarks; Regular - Theoretical Physics; Regular Article - Theoretical Physics; String Theory; Theoretical physics; Transverse momentum; Uncertainty
• ISSN: 1434-6044; 1434-6052; 1434-6052
• DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s10052-023-11530-x

We compute next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) QCD corrections to neutral vector boson production in association with a charm jet at the LHC. This process is studied in the forward kinematics at
s
=
13
 TeV, which may provide valuable constraints on the intrinsic charm component of the proton. A comparison is performed between fixed order and NLO predictions matched to a parton shower showing mutual compatibility within the respective uncertainties. NNLO corrections typically lead to a reduction of theoretical uncertainties by a factor of two and the perturbative convergence is further improved through the introduction of a theory-inspired constraint on the transverse momentum of the vector boson plus jet system. A comparison between these predictions with data will require an alignment of a flavour-tagging procedure in theory and experiment that is infrared and collinear safe.