Top quark modelling in POWHEG BOX

Abstract

We review recent theoretical improvements of Monte Carlo event generators for top-quark pair production and decay at the LHC based on the POWHEG method. We present an event generator that implements spin correlations and off-shell effects in top-decay chains described in terms of exact matrix elements for $pp\to {\ell }^{+}{\nu }_{\ell }{l}^{-}{\bar{\nu }}_{l}b\bar{b}$ at order ${\alpha }^4{\alpha }_s^2$, including full NLO QCD corrections and interference effects with single-top and non-resonant topologies yielding to the same final state. We then compare its predictions to previous generators that implement NLO corrections only in the top-pair production dynamics. We consider the mass distributions of the $W{j}_{\mathrm{B}}$ and $\ell j_{\mathrm{B}}$ systems, proxies for direct top-mass determinations, and jet-vetoed cross section, a probe of the $Wt$ single top contribution.

arXiv commentProceedings of the 10th International Workshop on Top Quark Physics, Braga, Portugal, September 17-22, 2017

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