Inclusive W and Z production with CMS at LHC startup

TL;DR

This paper discusses the initial measurement strategies for inclusive W and Z boson production at the LHC, focusing on trigger design, event selection, and early data analysis techniques.

Contribution

It introduces specific trigger, selection, and reconstruction methods tailored for early LHC data to measure W and Z production cross sections.

Findings

Designed triggers and algorithms for W and Z detection

Estimated measurement accuracy with initial LHC data

Highlighted importance of ratios and asymmetries in early measurements

Abstract

We report on potential for measurement of inclusive W and Z boson production cross section using initial data from the LHC. We have designed W and Z triggers, selection algorithms, and event reconstruction techniques for both muon and electron decay modes, for low luminosity operation of the LHC integrating up to about 10 pb-1. Initial calibrations and alignment accuracies are assumed. While the accuracy of the cross section extracted will be dominated by the integral luminosity measurement, ratios of W and Z production, and asymmetry distributions will be important early measurements from LHC.