Next-to-leading Order Calculation for Jets Defined by a Maximized Jet Function

Abstract: We present a next-to-leading order QCD calculation for the single-inclusive production of collimated jets at hadron colliders, when the jet is defined by maximizing a suitable jet function that depends on the momenta of final-state particles in the event. A jet algorithm of this type was initially proposed by Georgi and subsequently further developed into the class of "$J_{E_T}$ algorithms". Our calculation establishes the infrared safety of the algorithms at this perturbative order. We derive analytical results for the relevant partonic cross sections. We discuss similarities and differences with respect to jets defined by cone or (anti-)$k_t$ algorithms and present numerical results for the Tevatron and the LHC.