Measurement of the $WZ$ Cross Section and Triple Gauge Couplings in $p \bar p$ Collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 1.96$ TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports the most precise measurement of the WZ production cross section and sets limits on anomalous WWZ couplings in proton-antiproton collisions at 1.96 TeV, using data from the CDF II detector.

Contribution

It provides the first high-precision measurement of the WZ cross section and constrains anomalous triple gauge couplings at Tevatron energies.

Findings

Measured WZ cross section: 3.93 pb with uncertainties.

Observed 63 candidate events with low background.

Set limits on anomalous WWZ couplings.

Abstract

This Letter describes the current most precise measurement of the $WZ$ production cross section as well as limits on anomalous $WWZ$ couplings at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV in proton-antiproton collisions for the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF). $WZ$ candidates are reconstructed from decays containing three charged leptons and missing energy from a neutrino, where the charged leptons are either electrons or muons. Using data collected by the CDF II detector (7.1 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity), 63 candidate events are observed with the expected background contributing $8 \pm 1$ events. The measured total cross section $\sigma (p \bar p \to WZ) = 3.93_{-0.53}^{+0.60}(\text{stat})_{-0.46}^{+0.59}(\text{syst}) $ pb is in good agreement with the standard model prediction of $3.50\pm 0.21$. The same sample is used to set limits on anomalous $WWZ$ couplings.