Measurement of three-jet differential cross sections d sigma(3jet)/dM(3jet) in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

We present the first measurement of the inclusive three-jet differential cross section as a function of the invariant mass of the three jets with the largest transverse momenta in an event in p (p) over bar collisions at root s = 1.96 TeV. The measurement is made in different rapidity regions and for different jet transverse momentum requirements and is based on a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.7 fb(-1) collected with the do detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The results are used to test the three-jet matrix elements in perturbative QCD calculations at next-to-leading order in the strong coupling constant. The data allow discrimination between parametrizations of the parton distribution functions of the proton. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.