24–31 Jul 2009
Wayne State University
US/Eastern timezone

A theory of jet shapes and cross sections in hadronic and nuclear collisions

31 Jul 2009, 15:25
35m
Wayne State University

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA
Heavy Ion Physics/Hot and Dense QCD Heavy Ions III

Speaker

Dr Ivan Vitev (LANL)

Description

For jets, with great power comes great opportunity. The unprecedented center of mass energies available at the LHC open new windows on the QGP: we demonstrate that jet shape and jet cross section measurements become feasible as a new, differential and accurate test of the underlying QCD theory. We present a first step in understanding these shapes and cross sections in heavy ion reactions. Our approach allows for detailed simulations of the experimental acceptance/cuts that help isolate jets in such high-multiplicity environment. It is demonstrated for the first time that the pattern of stimulated gluon emission can be correlated with a variable quenching of the jet rates and provide an approximately model-independent approach to determining the characteristics of the medium-induced bremsstrahlung spectrum. Surprisingly, in realistic simulations of parton propagation through the QGP we find a minimal increase in the mean jet radius even for large jet attenuation. Jet broadening is manifest in the tails of the energy distribution away from the jet axis and its quantification requires high statistics measurements that will be possible at the LHC. I will also review recent jet measurements at RHIC in light of the emerging theory.

Author

Dr Ivan Vitev (LANL)

Presentation materials