Measurement of differential production cross section for $Z/\gamma^*$ bosons in association with jets in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.96$ TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports precise measurements of how often Z/γ* bosons are produced with jets in proton-antiproton collisions at 1.96 TeV, including new data on events with multiple jets and angular distributions, comparing results to theoretical models.

Contribution

First measurements at CDF of differential cross sections for Z/γ* with three or more jets and for four or more jets, providing new data for testing QCD predictions.

Findings

Measured cross sections agree with theoretical models within uncertainties.

First data on angular observables in low jet-multiplicity events.

Provides benchmark data for future QCD studies.

Abstract

Differential cross sections for the production of $Z$ bosons or off-shell photons $\gamma^*$ in association with jets are measured in proton-antiproton collisions at center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=1.96$ TeV using the full data set collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab in Tevatron Run II, and corresponding to 9.6 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. Results include first measurements at CDF of differential cross sections in events with a $Z/\gamma^*$ boson and three or more jets, the inclusive cross section for production of $Z/\gamma^*$ and four or more jets, and cross sections as functions of various angular observables in lower jet-multiplicity final states. Measured cross sections are compared to several theoretical predictions.