Full NLO predictions for vector-boson scattering into Z bosons and its irreducible background at the LHC

TL;DR

This paper provides the first comprehensive NLO predictions for vector-boson scattering into Z bosons at the LHC, including all relevant electroweak and QCD contributions, crucial for understanding the electroweak sector.

Contribution

It introduces the first full NLO calculations for $pp o e^+e^-\mu^+ jj+X$ including all electroweak and QCD effects for both signal and background.

Findings

Provides cross sections and differential distributions.

Highlights importance of $O((_s)^2 ^5)$ corrections.

Enhances precision in vector-boson scattering predictions.

Abstract

Vector-boson scattering into two Z bosons at the LHC is a key channel for the exploration of the electroweak sector of the Standard Model. It allows for the full reconstruction of the scattering process but at the price of a huge irreducible background. For the first time, we present full next-to-leading-order predictions for $pp \to e^+e^-\mu^+\mu^-jj+X$ including all electroweak and QCD contributions for vector-boson scattering signal and irreducible background. The results are presented in the form of cross sections and differential distributions. A particular emphasis is put on the newly computed $O(\alpha_s^2 \alpha^5)$ corrections.