WHIZARD—simulating multi-particle processes at LHC and ILC

Abstract

We describe the universal Monte-Carlo (parton-level) event generator WHIZARD ( http://whizard.event-generator.org ), version 2. The program automatically computes complete tree-level matrix elements, integrates them over phase space, evaluates distributions of observables, and generates unweighted partonic event samples. These are showered and hadronized by calling external codes, either automatically from within the program or via standard interfaces. There is no conceptual limit on the process complexity; using current hardware, the program has successfully been applied to hard scattering processes with up to eight particles in the final state. Matrix elements are computed as helicity amplitudes, so spin and color correlations are retained. For event generation, processes can be concatenated with full spin correlation, so factorized approximations to cascade decays are possible when complete matrix elements are not desired. The Standard Model, the MSSM, and many alternative models such as Little Higgs, anomalous couplings, or effects of extra dimensions or noncommutative SM extensions have been implemented. Using standard interfaces to parton shower and hadronization programs, WHIZARD covers physics at hadron, lepton, and photon colliders.