Measurement of event shapes at large momentum transfer with the ATLAS detector in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

A measurement of event shape variables is presented for large momentum transfer proton-proton collisions using the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Six event shape variables calculated using hadronic jets are studied in inclusive multi-jet events in 35 pb−1 of integrated luminosity at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV. These measurements are compared to predictions by three Monte Carlo event generators containing leading-logarithmic parton showers matched to leading order matrix elements for 2→2 and 2→n (n = 2, . . . , 6) scattering. Measurements of the third-jet resolution parameter, aplanarity, thrust, sphericity, and transverse sphericity are generally well described. The mean value of each event shape variable is evaluated as a function of the average momentum of the two leading jets pT,1 and pT,2, with a mean pT approaching 1 TeV.