We present the new MSHT20 set of parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the proton, determined from global analyses of the available hard scattering data. The PDFs are made available at NNLO, NLO, and LO, and supersede the MMHT14 sets. They are obtained using the same basic framework, but the parameterisation is now adapted and extended, and there are 32 pairs of eigenvector PDFs. We also include a large number of new data sets: from the final HERA combined data on total and heavy flavour structure functions, to final Tevatron data, and in particular a significant number of new LHC 7 and 8 TeV data sets on vector boson production, inclusive jets and top quark distributions. We include up to NNLO QCD corrections for all data sets that play a major role in the fit, and NLO EW corrections where relevant. We find that these updates have an important impact on the PDFs, and for the first time the NNLO fit is strongly favoured over the NLO, reflecting the wider range and in particular increased precision of data included in the fit. There are some changes to central values and a significant reduction in the uncertainties of the PDFs in many, though not all, cases. Nonetheless, the PDFs and the resulting predictions are generally within one standard deviation of the MMHT14 results. The major changes are the $$u-d$$ u - d valence quark difference at small x, due to the improved parameterisation and new precise data, the $${\bar{d}}, {\bar{u}}$$ d ¯ , u ¯ difference at small x, due to a much improved parameterisation, and the strange quark PDF due to the effect of LHC W, Z data and inclusion of new NNLO corrections for dimuon production in neutrino DIS. We discuss the phenomenological impact of our results, and in general find reduced uncertainties in predictions for processes such as Higgs, top quark pair and W, Z production at post LHC Run-II energies.

A precise knowledge of the quark and gluon structure of the proton, encoded by the parton distribution functions (PDFs), is of paramount importance for the interpretation of high-energy processes at present and future lepton–hadron and hadron–hadron colliders. Motivated by recent progress in the PDF determinations carried out by the CT, MSHT, and NNPDF groups, we present an updated combination of global PDF fits: PDF4LHC21. It is based on the Monte Carlo combination of the CT18, MSHT20, and NNPDF3.1 sets followed by either its Hessian reduction or its replica compression. Extensive benchmark studies are carried out in order to disentangle the origin of the differences between the three global PDF sets. In particular, dedicated fits based on almost identical theory settings and input datasets are performed by the three groups, highlighting the role played by the respective fitting methodologies. We compare the new PDF4LHC21 combination with its predecessor, PDF4LHC15, demonstrating their good overall consistency and a modest reduction of PDF uncertainties for key LHC processes such as electroweak gauge boson production and Higgs boson production in gluon fusion. We study the phenomenological implications of PDF4LHC21 for a representative selection of inclusive, fiducial, and differential cross sections at the LHC. The PDF4LHC21 combination is made available via the LHAPDF library and provides a robust, user-friendly, and efficient method to estimate the PDF uncertainties associated to theoretical calculations for the upcoming Run III of the LHC and beyond.

Di-lepton searches for Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) Z bosons that rely on the analysis of the Breit-Wigner (BW) line shape are appropriate in the case of narrow resonances, but likely not sufficient in scenarios featuring Z states with large widths. Conversely, alternative experimental strategies applicable to wide Z resonances are much more dependent than the default bump search analyses on the modelling of QCD higher-order corrections to the production processes, for both signal and background. For heavy Z boson searches in the di-lepton channel at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the transverse momentum qT of the di-lepton system peaks at qT ∼ < 10 −2 M ll , where M ll is the di-lepton invariant mass. We exploit this to treat the QCD corrections by using the logarithmic resummation methods in M ll /qT to all orders in the strong coupling constant αs. We carry out studies of Z states with large width at the LHC by employing the program reSolve, which performs QCD transverse momentum resummation up to Next-to-Next-to-Leading Logarithmic (NNLL) accuracy. We consider two benchmark BSM scenarios, based on the Sequential Standard Model (SSM) and dubbed 'SSM wide' and 'SSM enhanced'. We present results for the shape and size of Z boson signals at the differential level, mapped in both cross section (σ) and Forward-Backward Asymmetry (AFB), and perform numerical investigations of the experimental sensitivity at the LHC Run 3 and High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC).

In this note, we introduce the new tool reSolve, a Monte Carlo differential cross-section and parton-level event generator whose main purpose is to add transverse momentum resummation to a general class of inclusive processes at hadron colliders, namely all those which do not involve hadrons or jets in the measured final state. This documentation refers to the first main version release, which will form the basis for continued developments, consequently it only implements the key features of those we plan to ultimately include. This article acts as a manual for the program; describing in detail its use, structure, validation and results; whilst also highlighting key aspects of the resummation formalism applied. It details the two classes of processes so far included; these are diphoton production and Drell-Yan production.A main concept behind the development of the tool is that it is a hands-on white box for the user: significant effort has been made to give the program a modular structure, making the various parts which comprise it independent of each other as much as possible and ensuring they are transparently documented, customizable and, in principle, replaceable with something that may better serve the users needs.reSolve is a new C++ program, based on an evolution of the private Fortran code 2gres, previously used for the calculations in refs.[1] and [2]; it is also influenced by the DYRes Fortran code of refs. [3] and [4]. This initial version calculates the low transverse momentum contribution to the fully differential cross-section for two main categories of processes; the inclusive production of two photons, and inclusive Drell-Yan production. In all cases resummation up to Next-to-Next-to-Leading Logarithm (NNLL) is included. We aim to extend the program to several more processes in the near future. The program is publicly available on Github.