Working group report: Quantum chromodynamics

This is the report of the subgroup QCD of Working Group-4 at WHEPP-9. We present the activities that had taken place in the subgroup and report some of the partial results arrived at following the discussion at the working group meetings.     

On the homotopy type of CW-complexes with aspherical fundamental group

This paper is concerned with the homotopy type distinction of finite CW-complexes. A (G,n)-complex is a finite n-dimensional CW-complex with fundamental-group G and vanishing higher homotopy-groups up to dimension n−1. In case G is an n-dimensional group there is a unique (up to homotopy) (G,n)-complex on the minimal Euler-characteristic level χmin(G,n). For every n we give examples of n-dimensional groups G for which there exist homotopically distinct (G,n)-complexes on the level χmin(G,n)+1. In the case where n=2 these examples are algebraic.     

Spatially-resolved potential measurement with ion crystals

We present a method to measure potentials over an extended region using one-dimensional ion crystals in a radio frequency (RF) ion trap. The equilibrium spacings of the ions within the crystal allow the calculation of the external forces acting at each point. From this the overall potential is computed, and even potentials due to specific trap features can be determined. The method can be used to probe potentials near proximal objects in real time, and can be generalised to higher dimensions.     

Standard and SUSY Higgs production at the LHC

Recent theoretical developments concerning Higgs production at the large hadron collider are reviewed, both in the standard model and in the MSSM. Emphasis is put on the inclusive and exclusive cross-sections for gluon fusion, as well as on the associated production with bottom quarks.