Threshold Resummation for Di-hadron Production in Hadronic Collisions

Abstract

We study the resummation of large logarithmic perturbative corrections to the partonic cross sections relevant for di-hadron production in hadronic collisions, H1 H2 -> h1 h2 X, at high invariant mass of the produced hadron pair. These corrections arise near the threshold for the partonic reaction and are associated with soft-gluon emission. We perform the resummation to next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy, and show how to incorporate consistently cuts in rapidity and transverse momentum of the observed particles. We present numerical results for fixed-target and ISR regimes and find enhancements over the next-to-leading order cross section, which significantly improve the agreement between theoretical predictions and data.

Comments: 33 pages, 14 figures. Some additional information and discussion. Version to appear in Physical Review D