Measurement of the transverse momentum spectra of weak vector bosons produced in proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of the transverse momentum spectra of W and Z bosons produced in proton-proton collisions at 8 TeV, comparing results with advanced QCD theoretical predictions.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed measurement of W and Z boson pT spectra at 8 TeV and compares these with NNLO QCD calculations.

Findings

Measured differential cross sections for W and Z bosons.

Observed ratios of W- to W+ and Z to W cross sections.

Results agree with NNLO QCD predictions within uncertainties.

Abstract

The transverse momentum spectra of weak vector bosons are measured in the CMS experiment at the LHC. The measurement uses a sample of proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV, collected during a special low-luminosity running that corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 18.4 +/- 0.5 inverse picobarns. The production of W bosons is studied in both electron and muon decay modes, while the production of Z bosons is studied using only the dimuon decay channel. The ratios of W- to W+ and Z to W differential cross sections are also measured. The measured differential cross sections and ratios are compared with theoretical predictions up to next-to-next leading order in QCD.