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Quarks and leptons: introductory course in modern particle physics

Francis Halzen, Alan D. Martin

Chapter 11

$\mathbf{e}^{+} \mathbf{e}^{-}$Annihilation and $\mathbf{Q C D}$ - all with Video Answers

Educators


Chapter Questions

Problem 1

Fragmentation functions are of ten parametrized by the form
$$
D_q^h(z)=N \frac{(1-z)^n}{z}
$$
where $n$ and $N$ are constants. Show that
$$
N=(n+1)\langle z\rangle,
$$
where $\langle z\rangle$ is the average fraction of the quark energy carried by hadrons of type $h$ after fragmentation. Further, show that
$$
n_h \sim \log \left(\frac{Q}{2 m_h}\right)
$$
for the two-jet process of Fig. 11.4. That is, the multiplicity of hadrons $\mathrm{h}$ grows logarithmically with the annihilation energy.
Taking the ratio of (11.8) and (11.4), and using (11.3), we find
$$
\begin{aligned}
\frac{1}{\sigma} \frac{d \sigma}{d z}\left(\mathrm{e}^{-} \mathrm{e}^{+} \rightarrow \mathrm{hX}\right) & =\frac{\sum_q e_q^2\left[D_q^h(z)+D_{\bar{q}}^h(z)\right]}{\sum_q e_q^2} \\
& =\mathscr{F}(z)
\end{aligned}
$$

That is, the inclusive cross section $d \sigma / d z$ divided by the total annihilation cross section into hadrons, $\sigma$, is predicted to scale. The cross sections $\sigma$ and $d \sigma / d z$ depend on the annihilation energy $Q$, but (11.12) predicts that the ratio is independent of $Q$. Such a scaling result is not a complete surprise, because we have relied on the scaling parton model to derive (11.12), see Fig. 11.4.

Figure 11.5 shows $(1 / \sigma)(d \sigma / d z)$ as a function of $z$ for different values of $Q^2$. The scaling is not perfect. Gluon emission from the $\mathrm{q}$ or $\overline{\mathrm{q}}$ will introduce $\log Q^2$ scaling violations in (11.13). Their qualitative trend is the same as in electroproduction, that is, $\mathscr{F}\left(z, Q^2\right)$ will increase at small $z$ with increasing values of $Q^2$ but decrease for $z$ near 1 . The large violations of scaling for $z \leq 0.2$, seen in Fig. 11.5, are not exclusively due to gluon emission, however, and are the subject of the next section.

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Problem 2

The fragmentation functions $D(z)$ describe properties of partons and are therefore the same, no matter how the partons are produced. Consider the inclusive leptoproduction cross section $\sigma(\mathrm{ep} \rightarrow \mathrm{hX})$ and show that
$$
\frac{1}{\sigma} \frac{d \sigma}{d z}(\mathrm{ep} \rightarrow \mathrm{hX})=\frac{\sum_q e_q^2 f_q(x) D_q^h(z)}{\sum_q e_q^2 f_q(x)},
$$
where $f_q(x)$ are the proton structure functions of Chapter 9, see Fig. 11.6. The sum runs over the quarks and antiquarks that can be a parent of $h$.

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01:47

Problem 3

Using charge conjugation and isospin invariance, show that
$$
\begin{aligned}
& D_u^{\pi^{+}}=D_u^{\pi^{-}}=D_d^{\pi^{-}}=D_d^{\pi^{\prime}}, \\
& D_u^{\pi^{-}}=D_u^{\pi^{+}}=D_d^{\pi^{+}}=D_d^{\pi^{-}}, \\
& D_s^{\pi^{+}}=D_s^{\pi^{-}} .
\end{aligned}
$$

Narayan Hari
Narayan Hari
Numerade Educator

Problem 4

Using the notation
$$
N_p^\pi(z) \equiv \frac{1}{\sigma} \frac{d \sigma}{d z}(\mathrm{ep} \rightarrow \pi \mathrm{X}) .
$$
show that, in the valence quark approximation for $\mathrm{p}, \mathrm{n}$,
$$
\frac{\int d z\left[N_n^{\pi^{+}}-N_n^{\pi^{-}}\right]}{\int d z\left[N_p^{\pi^{+}}-N_p^{\pi^{-}}\right]}=\frac{2}{7} .
$$

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Problem 5

Derive (11.19). Also show that the angle $\theta$ between the $\mathrm{q}$ and $\bar{q}$ directions in Fig. 11.7 is determined by the relation
$$
x_{\bar{q}}=\frac{2\left(1-x_q\right)}{2-x_q-x_q \cos \theta} .
$$

Let us now compute the cross section corresponding to Fig. 11.7. For this particular graph, the $\overline{\mathrm{q}}$ emits a softer gluon, so that
$$
x_q \geq x_{\bar{q}} \geq x_g \text {. }
$$

The most obvious experimental signature of gluon emission is that the $\mathrm{q}$ and $\overline{\mathrm{q}}$ are no longer produced back to back. The $\overline{\mathrm{q}}$ is produced with a transverse momentum fraction $x_T$ relative to the direction of the quark. The relevant observable quantity is therefore $d \sigma / d x_T^2$. This cross section can readily be obtained using the Altarelli-Parisi-Weizsäcker-Williams technique of Section 10.9. Referring to Fig. 11.8, we obtain
$$
\frac{d \sigma}{d x_{\bar{q}} d p_T^2}=\sigma\left(\mathrm{e}^{-} \mathrm{e}^{+} \rightarrow \mathrm{q} \bar{q}\right) \gamma_{\tilde{q} \tilde{q}}\left(x_{\bar{q}}, p_T^2\right),
$$
see (10.57), where $\sigma$ gives the probability for producing a $q \bar{q}$ pair and $\gamma_{\tilde{q} \bar{q}}$ is the probability that the $\bar{q}$ subsequently emits a gluon with a fraction $\left(1-x_{\bar{q}}\right)$ of its momentum and a transverse momentum $\left|p_T\right|$. From (11.3) and (10.58), we have
$$
\begin{gathered}
\sigma\left(\mathrm{e}^{-} \mathrm{e}^{+} \rightarrow \mathrm{q} \bar{q}\right)=\frac{4 \pi \alpha^2}{Q^2} e_q^2, \\
\gamma_{\bar{q} \bar{q}}\left(x_{\bar{q}}, p_T^2\right)=\gamma_{q q}\left(x_{\bar{q}}, p_T^2\right)=\frac{\alpha_s}{2 \pi} \frac{1}{p_T^2} P_{q q}\left(x_{\bar{q}}\right) .
\end{gathered}
$$

On substitution of (11.23) into (11.22), we find
$$
\frac{1}{\sigma} \frac{d \sigma}{d x_{\tilde{q}} d x_T^2}=\frac{\alpha_s}{2 \pi} \frac{1}{x_T^2} P_{q q}\left(x_{\tilde{q}}\right) .
$$

To calculate $d \sigma / d x_T^2$, it remains to integrate over all possible $\overline{\mathrm{q}}$ energy fractions $x_{\bar{q}}$. Using (10.31) for $P_{q q}$, we obtain
$$
\frac{1}{\sigma} \frac{d \sigma}{d x_T^2}=2 \frac{\alpha_s}{2 \pi} \frac{1}{x_T^2} \int_{\left(x_{\bar{q}}\right)_{\min }}^{\left(x_{\bar{q}}\right)_{\max }} d x \frac{4}{3}\left(\frac{1+x^2}{1-x}\right) .
$$

An extra factor of 2 is included to allow for the equally probable diagram with $\mathrm{q} \leftrightarrow \overline{\mathrm{q}}$.

The integrand in (11.25) diverges when $x_{\bar{q}} \rightarrow 1$. The kinematic situation where $x_{\bar{q}}$ reaches its maximum value is therefore of special interest. From (11.21), we see that the largest value allowed for $x_{\bar{q}}$ is
$$
x_{\bar{q}}=x_q .
$$

This value can be approached if we make the emitted gluon as soft as possible, which, remembering that $x_T$ is fixed, occurs when
$$
x_g=x_T .
$$

This kinematic configuration is shown in Fig. 11.9. Thus, from (11.17), we have
$$
\left(x_q\right)_{\min }=\left(x_{\bar{q}}\right)_{\max } \simeq 1-\frac{x_T}{2} .
$$

Momentum is conserved for $\theta$ or $x_T$ not too large, but $x_g$ is only exactly equal to $x_T$ when $\theta \rightarrow 0$. Such approximations are implicit in the Altarelli-Parisi calculation of (11.25), see Chapter 10. Using (11.28), (11.25) becomes
$$
\frac{1}{\sigma} \frac{d \sigma}{d x_T^2}=\frac{8 \alpha_s}{3 \pi} \frac{1}{x_T^2} \int_{\left(x_{\bar{q}}\right)_{\min }}^{1-\frac{1}{2} x_T} \frac{d x}{1-x},
$$
where we have approximated $1+x^2$ by 2 . Finally, omitting all but the leading logarithmic term, we obtain
$$
\frac{1}{\sigma} \frac{d \sigma}{d x_T^2} \simeq \frac{4 \alpha_s}{3 \pi} \frac{1}{x_T^2} \log \left(\frac{1}{x_T^2}\right) .
$$

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02:03

Problem 6

The $x_T$ distribution (11.30) can be translated into an "acollinearity" distribution $d \sigma / d \theta$, where $\theta$ is the angle between the $\mathrm{q}$ and $\overline{\mathrm{q}}$ jet directions defined in (11.20) and Fig. 11.7. Show that for $\theta$ not too large,
$$
\frac{1}{\sigma} \frac{d \sigma}{d \theta}=\frac{8 \alpha_s}{3 \pi} \frac{1}{\theta} \log \left(\frac{1}{\theta^2}\right) .
$$

An exact result can be obtained using (11.41) instead of (11.30).

Manik Pulyani
Manik Pulyani
Numerade Educator
08:05

Problem 7

List all parton processes, in addition to those shown in Fig. 11.13, that can contribute to reaction (c) to the same order of $\alpha_s$. Comment on the relative strengths of the subprocesses, comparing, in particular, pp- and pp-initiated reactions.

Dr.  Satish  Ingale
Dr. Satish Ingale
Numerade Educator
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Problem 8

Express the sum in (11.57) in terms of the valence and sea quark structure functions introduced in Chapter 9. Do the same for lepton pair production in $\overline{\mathrm{p}} \mathrm{p}$ and $\pi{ }^{ \pm} \mathrm{p}$ interactions.

Suzanne W.
Suzanne W.
Numerade Educator
03:44

Problem 9

The data for an (isoscalar) carbon target indicate that the ratio
$$
\frac{\sigma\left(\pi^{+} \mathrm{C} \rightarrow \mu^{-} \mu^{+} \mathrm{X}\right)}{\sigma\left(\pi^{-} \mathrm{C} \rightarrow \mu^{-} \mu^{+} \mathrm{X}\right)}
$$
is approximately unity for small values of $Q^2 / s$ but decreases toward $\frac{1}{4}$ as $Q^2 / s$ approaches 1 . Explain why this is in agreement with the Drell-Yan prediction. Note that $x y=Q^2 / s$.

Amany Waheeb
Amany Waheeb
Numerade Educator
02:42

Problem 10

Including diagrams with gluons introduces logarithmic scaling violations in (11.58). Draw the diagrams which give an $O\left(\alpha^2 \alpha_4\right)$ contribution to the lepton pair cross section. Compute the cross section for the diagram shown in Fig. 11.13e.

Narayan Hari
Narayan Hari
Numerade Educator