On the Treatment of Resonances in Next-to-Leading Order Calculations Matched to a Parton Shower

Abstract

In this work we present a new subtraction method for next-to-leading order calculations that is particularly convenient even when narrow resonances are present. The method is particularly suitable for the implementation of next-to-leading order calculations matched to parton shower generators. It allows at the same time for the inclusion of all finite width effects, including interferences, and for a consistent treatment of resonances in the shower approach, preserving the mass of resonances near their peak. We implement our method, in a fully general and automatic way, within the POWHEG BOX framework, and illustrate it using as a test case the process of $p p \to \mu^+ \nu_\mu j_b j$, that is dominated by $t$-channel single top production.