Measurement of $\sigma \cdot B (W \to e \nu)$ and $\sigma \cdot B(Z^0 \to e^+e^-)$ in $p {\bar p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.8$ TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports precise measurements of the production cross sections times branching ratios for W and Z bosons decaying into electrons in proton-antiproton collisions at 1.8 TeV, using data from the CDF experiment with improved luminosity understanding.

Contribution

The study provides updated and more accurate measurements of W and Z boson production cross sections at Tevatron energies, utilizing an improved luminosity determination method.

Findings

Measured $\sigma imes B(W o e u)$ as 2.49 ± 0.12 nb.

Measured $\sigma imes B(Z^0 o e^+e^-)$ as 0.231 ± 0.012 nb.

Results are consistent with Standard Model predictions.

Abstract

We present a measurement of $\sigma \cdot B(W \to e \nu)$ and $\sigma \cdot B(Z^0 \to e^+e^-)$ in proton - antiproton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =1.8$ TeV using a significantly improved understanding of the integrated luminosity. The data represent an integrated luminosity of 19.7 pb$^{-1}$ from the 1992-1993 run with the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF). We find $\sigma \cdot B(W \to e \nu) = 2.49 \pm 0.12$~nb and $\sigma \cdot B(Z^0 \to e^+e^-) = 0.231 \pm 0.012$~nb.