W+W- + jet: compact analytic results

TL;DR

This paper provides compact analytic NLO QCD virtual contributions for W+W- + jet production, crucial for precise Standard Model measurements and background estimations at current and future colliders.

Contribution

It introduces an analytic calculation of virtual contributions for W+W- + jet at NLO using unitarity methods, integrated into MCFM for phenomenological analysis.

Findings

Calculated total and differential cross sections at 14 TeV and 100 TeV.

Results serve as key ingredients for NNLO W+W- pair production.

Enhanced precision in Standard Model background modeling.

Abstract

In the second run of the LHC, which started in April 2015, an accurate understanding of Standard Model processes is more crucial than ever. Processes including electroweak gauge bosons serve as standard candles for SM measurements, and equally constitute important background for BSM searches. We here present the NLO QCD virtual contributions to W+W- + jet in an analytic format obtained through unitarity methods and show results for the full process using an implementation into the Monte Carlo event generator MCFM. Phenomenologically, we investigate total as well as differential cross sections for the LHC with 14 TeV center-of-mass energy, as well as a future 100 TeV proton-proton machine. In the format presented here, the one-loop virtual contributions also serve as important ingredients in the calculation of W+W- pair production at NNLO.