Thresholds in $\alpha_s$ evolution and the $p_T$ dependence of jets

Abstract

We point out that high-mass thresholds in the evolution of the strong-interaction coupling parameter $\alpha_s$, due to gluinos, squarks and possible new heavy quarks, could introduce appreciable corrections to the transverse momentum dependence of jet production at the Tevatron. If the new thresholds were near scale $\mu = 200$~GeV, then within the limits of asymptotic freedom they could introduce up to $11\%$ increase in $\alpha_s(\mu)$ (and hence $23\%$ increase in jet production) at scale $\mu=500$ GeV, compared to Standard Model extrapolations.