Measurement of $W\gamma$ and $Z\gamma$ Production in $p\bar{p}$ Collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 1.96 TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of $W ext{γ}$ and $Z ext{γ}$ production cross sections in proton-antiproton collisions at 1.96 TeV, testing Standard Model predictions with data from Fermilab.

Contribution

First measurement of $W ext{γ}$ and $Z ext{γ}$ production cross sections at this energy using leptonic decay channels and photon isolation criteria.

Findings

Measured cross sections agree with Standard Model predictions.

Kinematic distributions match theoretical expectations.

Provides baseline for new physics searches.

Abstract

The Standard Model predictions for $W\gamma$ and $Z\gamma$ production are tested using an integrated luminosity of 200 pb$^{-1}$ of \ppbar collision data collected at the Collider Detector at Fermilab. The cross sections are measured selecting leptonic decays of the $W$ and $Z$ bosons, and photons with transverse energy $E_T>7$ GeV that are well separated from leptons. The production cross sections and kinematic distributions for the $W\gamma$ and $Z\gamma$ are compared to SM predictions.