Measurement of the WW cross section in sqrt(s) = 7 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector and limits on anomalous gauge couplings

TL;DR

This paper measures the WW production cross section in 7 TeV proton-proton collisions using ATLAS data, confirming consistency with the Standard Model and setting limits on possible anomalous gauge couplings.

Contribution

First measurement of WW production cross section at 7 TeV with ATLAS, including limits on anomalous gauge couplings from leptonic decay data.

Findings

Measured cross section: 54.4 pb with uncertainties.

Consistent with Standard Model prediction of 44.4 pb.

Set limits on anomalous electroweak gauge couplings.

Abstract

This Letter reports a measurement of the WW production cross section in sqrt(s) = 7 TeV pp collisions using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.02/fb collected with the ATLAS detector. Using leptonic decays of oppositely charged W bosons, the total measured cross section is sigma(pp -> WW) = 54.4 +/- 4.0 (stat.) +/- 3.9 (syst.) +/- 2.0 (lumi.) pb, consistent with the Standard Model prediction of sigma(pp -> WW) = 44.4 +/- 2.8 pb. Limits on anomalous electroweak triple-gauge couplings are extracted from a fit to the transverse-momentum distribution of the leading charged lepton in the event.