Measurement of W gamma and Z gamma production cross sections in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV and limits on anomalous triple gauge couplings with the ATLAS detector

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of W gamma and Z gamma production cross sections in proton-proton collisions at 7 TeV, comparing results with Standard Model predictions and setting limits on possible anomalous gauge couplings.

Contribution

First measurement of W gamma and Z gamma production cross sections at 7 TeV with ATLAS, including limits on anomalous gauge couplings.

Findings

Measured cross sections consistent with Standard Model

Set new limits on anomalous triple gauge couplings

Analyzed photon transverse energy distributions

Abstract

This Letter presents measurements of l nu gamma and l^+ l^- gamma (l=e, mu) production in 1.02 fb^-1 of pp collision data recorded at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC during 2011. Events dominated by W gamma and Z gamma production with leptonic decays of the W and Z bosons are selected, and their production cross sections and kinematic properties are measured in several ranges of the photon transverse energy. The results are compared to Standard Model predictions and are used to determine limits on anomalous W-W-gamma and Z-Z-gamma/Z-gamma-gamma couplings.