Measurement of the Z to tau tau cross section with the ATLAS detector

TL;DR

This paper reports a precise measurement of the Z boson decaying into tau leptons using the ATLAS detector at the LHC, across multiple decay channels, confirming consistency with theoretical predictions.

Contribution

First measurement of Z to tau tau cross section in multiple decay channels at 7 TeV with ATLAS, combining results for improved accuracy.

Findings

Measured total Z to tau tau cross section: 0.97 +/- 0.07(stat) +/- 0.06(syst) +/- 0.03(lumi)

Results agree with NNLO theoretical calculations

Performed measurements in four different tau decay final states

Abstract

The Z to tau tau cross section is measured with the ATLAS experiment at the LHC in four different final states determined by the decay modes of the tau leptons: muon-hadron, electron-hadron, electron-muon, and muon-muon. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 pb^-1, at a proton-proton center-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV. Cross sections are measured separately for each final state in fiducial regions of high detector acceptance, as well as in the full phase space, over the mass region 66 - 116 GeV. The individual cross sections are combined and the product of the total Z production cross section and Z to tau tau branching fraction is measured to be 0.97 +/- 0.07(stat) +/- 0.06(syst) +/- 0.03(lumi), in agreement with NNLO calculations.