Multi Jet Production at High Q2

Abstract

Deep-inelastic $e^+p$ scattering data, taken with the H1 detector at HERA, are used to investigate jet production over a range of four-momentum transfers $150 < Q^2 < 15000 \mathrm{GeV}^2$ and transverse jet energies $5 < E_T < 50 \mathrm{GeV}$. The analysis is based on data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $\mathcal{L}_\mathrm{int} = 65.4 \mathrm{pb}^{-1}$ taken in the years 1999-2000 at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} \approx 319 \mathrm{GeV}$. Jets are defined by the inclusive $k_t$ algorithm in the Breit frame of reference. Dijet and trijet jet cross sections are measured with respect to the exchanged boson virtuality and in addition the ratio of the trijet to the dijet cross section $R_{3/2}$ is investigated. The results are compared to the predictions of perturbative QCD calculations in next-to-leading order in the strong coupling constant $\alpha_s$. The value of $\alpha_s(m_Z)$ determined from the study of $R_{3/2}$ is $\alpha_s(m_Z) = 0.1175 \pm 0.0017 (\mathrm{stat.}) \pm 0.0050 (\mathrm{syst.}) ^{+0.0054}_{-0.0068} (\mathrm{theo.})$.