Multi-jet cross sections in charged current e+-p scattering at HERA

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of jet cross sections in charged current deep inelastic e+-p scattering at HERA, including the first observation of three- and four-jet events, and compares results with NLO QCD predictions.

Contribution

It presents the first observation of three- and four-jet events in charged-current e+-p scattering and compares measured cross sections with NLO QCD calculations.

Findings

Inclusive-jet cross sections match NLO QCD predictions in shape and normalization.

First observation of three- and four-jet events in this process.

Data can help constrain valence quark distributions in the proton.

Abstract

Jet cross sections were measured in charged current deep inelastic e+-p scattering at high boson virtualities Q^2 with the ZEUS detector at HERA II using an integrated luminosity of 0.36 fb^-1. Differential cross sections are presented for inclusive-jet production as functions of Q^2, Bjorken x and the jet transverse energy and pseudorapidity. The dijet invariant mass cross section is also presented. Observation of three- and four-jet events in charged-current e+-p processes is reported for the first time. The predictions of next-to-leading-order (NLO) QCD calculations are compared to the measurements. The measured inclusive-jet cross sections are well described in shape and normalization by the NLO predictions. The data have the potential to constrain the u and d valence quark distributions in the proton if included as input to global fits.