Inclusive single gauge boson production in $\sqrt{s} = 7, 8$ and $13$ TeV proton-proton collisions

TL;DR

This paper presents comprehensive measurements of single W and Z boson production at multiple energies at the LHC, covering various kinematic regions to test the Standard Model and constrain parton distribution functions.

Contribution

It provides new high-precision cross-section and asymmetry measurements across a wide rapidity range, enhancing tests of QCD and electroweak theories and improving PDF constraints.

Findings

Agreement with Standard Model predictions within uncertainties

Constraints on parton distribution functions from measured ratios

Insights into electroweak mixing angle from angular coefficients

Abstract

We report LHC measurements of single $W$ and $Z$ boson production at different centre-of-mass energies. Together, the ATLAS, CMS, and LHCb detectors cover an absolute rapidity range from 0 to 4.5, enabling precision tests and studies of Standard Model physics across different kinematic regions. We report total, fiducial and differential cross-section measurements and their ratios. These results allow tests of the performance of different parton distribution functions (PDFs), and can be used to further constrain the PDFs. In addition, the results are compared to theoretical predictions which use different approaches to model effects within quantum chromodynamics. We also report measurements of the forward-backward asymmetry in $Z$ boson decays, and measurements of angular coefficients, which provide sensitivity to the electroweak mixing angle.