Impact of $Z \to \eta_{c,b}+g+g$ on the inclusive $\eta_{c,b}$ meson yield in $Z$-boson decay

Abstract

In this paper, we carry out the next-to-leading-order QCD corrections to $Z \to \eta_Q+g+g~(Q=c,b)$ (labeled as $gg$) through the color-singlet (CS) state of $Q\bar{Q}[^1S_0^{[1]}]$, with the aim of assessing the impact of this process on $Z$ bosons decaying into inclusive $\eta_Q$. We find that the QCD corrections to the $gg$ process can notably enhance its leading-order results, especially for the $\eta_c$ case, which would then greatly increase the existing predictions of $\Gamma_{Z \to \eta_Q+X}$ given by the CS-dominant process $Z \to \eta_{Q}[^1S_0^{[1]}]+Q+\bar{Q}$. Moreover, with these significant QCD corrections, the $gg$ process would exert crucial influence on the CS-predicted $\eta_Q$ energy distributions. In conclusion, in the CS studies of $Z \to \eta_Q+X$, besides $Z \to \eta_{Q}[^1S_0^{[1]}]+Q+\bar{Q}$, $Z \to \eta_Q[^1S_0^{[1]}]+g+g$ can provide phenomenologically indispensable contributions as well.