Measurements of inclusive W+jets production rates as a function of jet transverse momentum in ppbar collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports precise measurements of W+jets production rates as a function of jet transverse momentum in proton-antiproton collisions, comparing results with theoretical QCD predictions to test and improve current models.

Contribution

It provides the most precise measurements to date of W+jets cross sections at the Tevatron, with detailed differential data and comparison to advanced QCD calculations.

Findings

Measurements agree with pQCD predictions in most regions

Certain phase space regions show discrepancies needing theoretical improvements

Reduced uncertainties improve constraints on QCD models

Abstract

This Letter describes measurements of inclusive W (--> e nu) + n jet cross sections (n = 1-4), presented as total inclusive cross sections and differentially in the nth jet transverse momentum. The measurements are made using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.2 fb-1 collected by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider, and achieve considerably smaller uncertainties on W +jets production cross sections than previous measurements. The measurements are compared to next-to-leading order perturbative QCD (pQCD) calculations in the n =1-3 jet multiplicity bins and to leading order pQCD calculations in the 4-jet bin. The measurements are generally in agreement with pQCD predictions, although certain regions of phase space are identified where the calculations could be improved.