Measurement of theW→eνandZ/γ*→e+e−production cross sections at mid-rapidity in proton-proton collisions ats=500 GeV

2011/12/13 by STAR Collaboration, L. Adamczyk, G. Agakishiev +362 · 24 citations
Chemistry · Physics and Astronomy · #Analytical Chemistry (journal) #Chemistry #Electron #Hadron #High-Energy Particle Collisions Research #Lepton #Nuclear physics #Particle physics #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #Physics #Production (economics) #Quantum Chromodynamics and Particle Interactions #Rapidity #hep-ex #nucl-ex

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevd.85.092010

published in Physical review. D. Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology/Physical review. D. Particles and fields 85(9) (American Physical Society) · 14 pages, 12 figures, submitted to Physical Review D

arxiv created 2011/12/13 · openalex publication_date 2012/05/16 · arxiv updated 2013/05/29 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

We report measurements of the charge-separated W^+(\ensuremath-)\ensuremath→e^+(\ensuremath-)+\ensuremathν_e(\ensuremathν_e) and Z/\ensuremathγ^*\ensuremath→e⁺e^\ensuremath- production cross sections at mid-rapidity in proton-proton collisions at √(s)=500 GeV. These results are based on 13.2 pb^\ensuremath-1 of data recorded in 2009 by the STAR detector at RHIC. Production cross sections for W bosons that decay via the e\ensuremathν channel were measured to be \ensuremathσ(pp\ensuremath→W⁺X)\ifmmode⋅\else\textperiodcentered\fiBR(W⁺\ensuremath→e⁺\ensuremathν_e)=117.3\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi5.9(stat)\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi6.2(syst)\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi15.2(lumi) pb, and \ensuremathσ(pp\ensuremath→W^\ensuremath-X)\ifmmode⋅\else\textperiodcentered\fiBR(W^\ensuremath-\ensuremath→e^\ensuremath-\ensuremathν_e)=43.3\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi4.6(stat)\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi\phantom\rule0ex0ex3.4(syst)\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi5.6(lumi) pb. For Z/\ensuremathγ^* production, \ensuremathσ(pp\ensuremath→Z/\ensuremathγ^*X)\ifmmode⋅\else\textperiodcentered\fiBR(Z/\ensuremathγ^*\ensuremath→e⁺e^\ensuremath-)=7.7\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi2.1(stat)_\ensuremath-0.9^+0.5(syst)\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi1.0(lumi) pb was measured for di-lepton invariant masses m_e⁺e^\ensuremath- between 70 and 110 GeV/c². First measurements of the W cross section ratio, \ensuremathσ(pp\ensuremath→W⁺X)/\ensuremathσ(pp\ensuremath→W^\ensuremath-X), at √(s)=500 GeV are also reported. Theoretical predictions, calculated using recent parton distribution functions, are found to agree with the measured cross sections.

Citations

• Helicity parton distributions from spin asymmetries inW-boson production at RHIC
• The STAR time projection chamber: a unique tool for studying high multiplicity events at RHIC
• Longitudinal double-spin asymmetry and cross section for inclusive jet production in polarized proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 200 GeV

Cited by

• Measurement of Longitudinal Spin Asymmetries for Weak Boson Production in Polarized Proton-Proton Collisions at RHIC
• Measurement of the Transverse Single-Spin Asymmetry inp↑+p→W±/Z0at RHIC

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