Subleading processes in production of $W^+ W^-$ pairs in proton-proton collisions

TL;DR

This paper investigates subleading processes, especially photon-photon interactions, in the production of W+W- pairs in proton-proton collisions, highlighting the impact of different photon distribution models and additional contributions like diffraction.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive analysis of subleading photon-induced processes, comparing approaches for photon distributions and including diffractive contributions in W+W- production.

Findings

Results vary significantly depending on the photon distribution approach used.

Resolved photon contributions are small compared to other processes.

Diffractive production mechanisms are also considered, adding to the understanding of W+W- pair production.

Abstract

We discuss new subleading processes for inclusive production of $W^+ W^-$ pairs. We focus mainly on photon-photon induced processes. We include elastic-elastic, elastic-inelastic, inelastic-elastic and inelastic-inelastic contributions. The inelastic photon distributions in the proton are calculated in two different ways: naive approach used already in the literature and using photon distributions by solving special evolution equations with the photon being a parton in the proton. The results strongly depend on the approach used. The resolved photon contribution was calculated in addition and found to be small. We also calculate the cross section for single-diffractive production of $W^+ W^-$ pairs including pomeron and reggeon exchanges in the Ingelman-Schlein model. Finally we only mention here about double parton contribution which is interesting by itself.