Predictions for Z-Boson Production in Association with a b-Jet at O(α_{s}^{3})

Area of Science:

• High Energy Physics
• Quantum Chromodynamics
• Particle Physics

Background:

• The production of Z bosons and b-jets in hadron-hadron collisions is a key process for testing the Standard Model.
• Previous theoretical calculations lacked the precision to fully compare with experimental data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide precise theoretical predictions for Z boson and b-jet production at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) in perturbative QCD.
• To account for finite heavy-quark mass effects in these predictions.
• To compare theoretical predictions with the most precise CMS data from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

Main Methods:

• Performed the first calculation of a hadronic scattering process involving direct flavored jet production at NNLO accuracy in massless QCD.
• Extended techniques to include finite heavy-quark mass effects.
• Developed an unfolding procedure to reconcile experimental and theoretical definitions of jet flavor.

Main Results:

• Achieved O(α_{s}^{3}) precision for Z boson and b-jet production predictions.
• Demonstrated a good description of CMS data from pp collisions at 8 TeV.
• Successfully overcame the incompatibility between experimental and theoretical jet flavor definitions.

Conclusions:

• The theoretical predictions are in good agreement with the precise CMS data.
• This work represents a significant advancement in the precision of theoretical calculations for flavored jet production.
• The developed methods pave the way for future comparisons between theory and experiment at higher precision.