Measurement of the production cross section for $Z/\gamma^*$ in association with jets in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

TL;DR

This paper measures the production cross section of jets associated with Z/γ* bosons in proton-proton collisions at 7 TeV using the ATLAS detector, comparing results with theoretical QCD calculations and Monte Carlo models.

Contribution

First measurement of Z/γ* plus jets cross sections at 7 TeV with detailed comparison to QCD predictions and Monte Carlo simulations.

Findings

Measured inclusive jet cross sections in Z/γ* events

Results agree with next-to-leading-order QCD calculations

Data constrains Monte Carlo generator models

Abstract

We present results on the production of jets of particles in association with a $Z/\gamma^*$ boson, in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The analysis includes the full 2010 data set, collected with a low rate of multiple proton-proton collisions in the accelerator, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $36 \rm pb^{-1}$. Inclusive jet cross sections in $Z/\gamma^*$ events, with $Z/\gamma^*$ decaying into electron or muon pairs, are measured for jets with transverse momentum $p_T >$ 30 GeV and jet rapidity $|y| < 4.4$. The measurements are compared to next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations, and to predictions from different Monte Carlo generators implementing leading-order matrix elements supplemented by parton showers.