Step: a tool to perform tests of smoothness on differential distributions based on expansion of polynomials

Patrick L. S. Connor, Radek Žlebčík

Published 2021-11-18, updated 2022-06-10Version 3

We motivate and describe a method based on fits with polynomials to test the smoothness of differential distributions. As a demonstration, we apply the method to several measurements of inclusive jet double-differential cross section in the jet transverse momentum and rapidity at the Tevatron and LHC. This method opens new possibilities to test the quality of differential distributions used for the extraction of physics quantities such as the strong coupling.