Parton distributions and the strong coupling: CTEQ6AB PDFs

Abstract

We study the global analysis for parton distributions as a function of the QCD strong coupling strength αs, and present a new series of distributions that span the range 0.110 < αs(mZ) < 0.128. We use these distributions to explore the correlation between αs and the gluon distribution; the viability of global analysis as a method to measure αs; and the dependence on αs of predictions for W, Z, inclusive jet, and Higgs boson production (bb̄ → H and gg → H) cross sections at the Tevatron and the LHC. We find that the uncertainty in αs is the dominant source of uncertainty for inclusive jet production at moderately small pT and for Higgs production at intermediate masses in the Standard Model. © SISSA 2006.