Exploring slicing variables for jet processes

Abstract

Abstract We consider the class of inclusive hadron collider processes in which one or more energetic jets are produced, possibly accompanied by colourless particles. We provide a general formulation of a slicing scheme for this class of processes, by identifying the various contributions that need to be computed up to next-to-leading order (NLO) in QCD perturbation theory. We focus on two novel observables, the one-jet resolution variable ∆Et and the n-jet resolution variable $$ {k}_T^{\textrm{ness}} $$ k T ness , and explicitly compute all the ingredients needed to carry out NLO computations using these variables. We contrast the behaviour of these variables when the slicing parameter becomes small. In the case of $$ {k}_T^{\textrm{ness}} $$ k T ness we also present results for the hadroproduction of multiple jets.