Next-to-leading power corrections to the event shape variables

Abstract

We investigate the origin of next-to-leading power corrections to the event shapes thrust and $c$-parameter, at next-to-leading order. For both event shapes we trace the origin of such terms in the exact calculation, and compare with a recent approach involving the eikonal approximation and momentum shifts that follow from the Low-Burnett-Kroll-Del Duca theorem. We assess the differences both analytically and numerically. For the $c$-parameter both exact and approximate results are expressed in terms of elliptic integrals, but near the elastic limit it exhibits patterns similar to the thrust results.