Study of Z boson production in pPb collisions at sqrt(s[NN]) = 5.02 TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports on the measurement of Z boson production in proton-lead collisions at 5.02 TeV, comparing results to theoretical models and exploring nuclear effects at large rapidities.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed measurement of Z boson production in pPb collisions at this energy, including differential cross sections and nuclear effect indications.

Findings

Cross section scales with nucleon-nucleon collisions

Differential cross sections align with theoretical predictions

Forward-backward asymmetry indicates nuclear effects at high rapidities

Abstract

The production of Z bosons in pPb collisions at sqrt(s[NN]) = 5.02 TeV is studied by the CMS experiment via the electron and muon decay channels. The inclusive cross section is compared to pp collision predictions, and found to scale with the number of elementary nucleon-nucleon collisions. The differential cross sections as a function of the Z boson rapidity and transverse momentum are measured. Though they are found to be consistent within uncertainty with theoretical predictions both with and without nuclear effects, the forward-backward asymmetry suggests the presence of nuclear effects at large rapidities. These results provide new data for constraining nuclear parton distribution functions.