Measurements of differential Z boson production cross sections in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports precise measurements of differential Z boson production cross sections at 13 TeV, comparing experimental data with advanced theoretical predictions, and confirming the accuracy of quantum chromodynamics calculations.

Contribution

It provides detailed differential cross section measurements for Z bosons at 13 TeV, with high precision and comparison to multiple theoretical models, enhancing understanding of Z boson production.

Findings

Measured cross sections agree with NNLO QCD calculations.

Normalized cross sections have uncertainties below 0.5%.

Data supports the validity of current theoretical models.

Abstract

Measurements are presented of the differential cross sections for Z bosons produced in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV and decaying to muons and electrons. The data analyzed were collected in 2016 with the CMS detector at the LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The measured fiducial inclusive product of cross section and branching fraction agrees with next-to-next-to-leading order quantum chromodynamics calculations. Differential cross sections of the transverse momentum $p_\mathrm{T}$, the optimized angular variable $\phi^*_\eta$, and the rapidity of lepton pairs are measured. The data are corrected for detector effects and compared to theoretical predictions using fixed order, resummed, and parton shower calculations. The uncertainties of the measured normalized cross sections are smaller than 0.5% for $\phi^*_\eta$ $<$ 0.5 and for $p_\mathrm{T}^\mathrm{Z}$ $<$ 50 GeV.