Threshold resummation of transverse momentum distributions beyond next-to-leading log

We derive a general expression for the threshold resummation of transverse momentum distributions for processes with a colorless final state, by suitably generalizing the renormalization-group based approach to threshold resummation previously pursued by two of us. The ensuing expression holds to all logarithmic orders, and it can be used to extend available results in the literature, which only hold up to the next-to-leading log (NLL) level. We check agreement of our result with the existing NLL result, as well as against the known fixed next-to-leading order results for the Higgs transverse momentum distribution in gluon fusion, and we provide explicit expressions at the next-to-next-to-leading log level.

Automated summary

The study derived a general expression for the threshold resummation of transverse momentum distributions for processes with a colorless final state, extending existing results in the literature. The results hold to all logarithmic orders and provide explicit expressions at the next-to-next-to-leading log level. The agreement of the new result with existing NLL results and fixed next-to-leading order results for the Higgs transverse momentum distribution in gluon fusion was also verified.