Measurement of the Z boson plus two b-jets cross section in CMS with 100 pb-1

TL;DR

This paper discusses strategies for measuring the Z boson production with two b-jets at the LHC using early CMS data, highlighting its importance as a background for Higgs searches.

Contribution

It proposes methods for early measurement of Z+2b-jets cross section using simulated data, aiding background understanding for Higgs analyses.

Findings

Strategies for early measurement are outlined.

Simulated data demonstrates potential for cross section estimation.

Background contributions to Higgs channels are characterized.

Abstract

The cross section for production of Z bosons with two associated b-jets, and Z decaying to leptons, can be measured at the LHC with about 100 pb-1 of data. We use simulated data to study possible strategies for an early measurement of this process with the CMS detector. The rate and kinematic properties of this final state needs to be well understood because it constitutes a large fraction of the total backgrounds to several of the Higgs discovery channels at the LHC.