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Next-to-leading order QCD predictions for W+2j and Z+2j production at the CERN LHC

John Campbell, R. K. Ellis, D. Rainwater

TL;DR

This paper delivers the first NLO QCD predictions for W±+2 jets and Z/γ*+2 jets production at the LHC using MCFM, including heavy-flavor final states and leptonic decays. The authors show that NLO reduces scale uncertainties for most processes, though W±bb̄ exhibits large corrections due to new real-emission channels, highlighting the need for careful treatment of heavy-flavor backgrounds. They analyze cross sections, differential distributions, and the impact of cuts relevant to Higgs searches, including WBF and associated production modes, and discuss jet-veto strategies for coupling to parton showers. Overall, the results provide improved normalization and more reliable background estimates for Higgs and other new-physics searches at the LHC.

Abstract

We present cross sections and differential distributions for QCD radiative corrections to the QCD processes pp -> W+2j and pp -> Z+2j at the CERN LHC. Calculations are performed with the Monte Carlo program MCFM. Cross section dependence on the renormalization and factorization scales is greatly reduced, except for the heavy-flavor case of Wbb~, which has new features at next-to-leading order at the LHC. We also present cross sections for Wbb~ and Z+2j in kinematic configurations relevant for Higgs boson searches.

Next-to-leading order QCD predictions for W+2j and Z+2j production at the CERN LHC

TL;DR

This paper delivers the first NLO QCD predictions for W±+2 jets and Z/γ*+2 jets production at the LHC using MCFM, including heavy-flavor final states and leptonic decays. The authors show that NLO reduces scale uncertainties for most processes, though W±bb̄ exhibits large corrections due to new real-emission channels, highlighting the need for careful treatment of heavy-flavor backgrounds. They analyze cross sections, differential distributions, and the impact of cuts relevant to Higgs searches, including WBF and associated production modes, and discuss jet-veto strategies for coupling to parton showers. Overall, the results provide improved normalization and more reliable background estimates for Higgs and other new-physics searches at the LHC.

Abstract

We present cross sections and differential distributions for QCD radiative corrections to the QCD processes pp -> W+2j and pp -> Z+2j at the CERN LHC. Calculations are performed with the Monte Carlo program MCFM. Cross section dependence on the renormalization and factorization scales is greatly reduced, except for the heavy-flavor case of Wbb~, which has new features at next-to-leading order at the LHC. We also present cross sections for Wbb~ and Z+2j in kinematic configurations relevant for Higgs boson searches.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 11 sections, 11 equations, 22 figures, 3 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. General results
  3. Input parameters
  4. Basic kinematic cuts and jet selection
  5. Scale dependence
  6. Kinematic distributions
  7. Heavy flavor content of jets
  8. Applications
  9. $W^\pm b\bar{b}$ and $W^\pm H;H\to b\bar{b}$
  10. $Zjj$ and $Hjj$
  11. Conclusions

Figures (22)

  • Figure 1: Scale dependence of the $e\,\nu_e +$ jets cross sections, $\mu=\mu_r=\mu_f$, using the cuts described in Sec. \ref{['cutsdesc']}. In general, $\mu$-dependence is significantly reduced at NLO compared to LO.
  • Figure 2: Scale dependence of the $e^+e^-j$ and $e^+e^-jj$ cross sections, $\mu=\mu_r=\mu_f$, using the cuts described in Sec. \ref{['cutsdesc']}.
  • Figure 3: The missing transverse momentum distribution of $e^\pm\nu_e\,j$ and $e^\pm\nu_e\,jj$ events at LO (dashed) and NLO (solid).
  • Figure 4: Hardest jet $p_T$ distribution of $e^\pm\nu_e\,j$ and $e^\pm\nu_e\,jj$ events at LO (dashed) and NLO (solid).
  • Figure 5: Hardest jet $p_T$ distribution in $e^+e^-\,j$ and $e^+e^-\,jj$ events at LO (dashed) and NLO (solid).
  • ...and 17 more figures