Measurement of the forward-backward asymmetry in $Z/\gamma^{\ast} \rightarrow \mu^{+}\mu^{-}$ decays and determination of the effective weak mixing angle

TL;DR

This paper measures the forward-backward asymmetry in Z/gamma* decays to muons at the LHC, using proton-proton collision data, to determine the effective weak mixing angle with high precision, confirming Standard Model predictions.

Contribution

First measurement of the forward-backward asymmetry in Z/gamma* decays at the LHC to extract the effective weak mixing angle with unprecedented precision.

Findings

Effective weak mixing angle measured as 0.23142 ± uncertainties.

Results agree with the Standard Model and current world average.

Achieved one of the most precise determinations at hadron colliders.

Abstract

The forward-backward charge asymmetry for the process $q\bar{q} \rightarrow Z/\gamma^{\ast} \rightarrow \mu^{+}\mu^{-}$ is measured as a function of the invariant mass of the dimuon system. Measurements are performed using proton proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ and 8\tev, corresponding to integrated luminosities of $1$fb$^{-1}$ and $2$fb$^{-1}$ respectively. Within the Standard Model the results constrain the effective electroweak mixing angle to be $$sin^{2}\theta_{W}^{eff} = 0.23142 \pm 0.00073 \pm 0.00052 \pm 0.00056 $$ where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third theoretical. This result is in agreement with the current world average, and is one of the most precise determinations at hadron colliders to date.