We present a study of events with Z bosons and jets produced at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider in ppbar collisions at a center of mass energy of 1.96 TeV. The data sample consists of nearly 14,000 Z/G* -> e+e- candidates corresponding to the integrated luminosity of 0.4 fb-1 collected using the D0 detector. Ratios of the Z/G* + >= n jet cross sections to the total inclusive Z/G* cross section have been measured for n = 1 to 4 jet events. Our measurements are found to be in good agreement with a next-to-leading order QCD calculation and with a tree-level QCD prediction with parton shower simulation and hadronization.
We present measurements of the process $p\bar{p} \to WZ+X \to \ell^{\prime} \nu_{\ell^{\prime}} \ell \bar{\ell}$ at $\sqrt{s}=1.96$ TeV, where $\ell$ and $\ell^{\prime}$ are electrons or muons. Using 1 fb$^{-1}$ of data from the D0 experiment, we observe 13 candidates with an expected background of $4.5\pm0.6$ events and measure a cross section $\sigma(WZ)=2.7^{+1.7}_{-1.3}$ pb. From the number of observed events and the $Z$ boson transverse momentum distribution, we limit the trilinear $WWZ$ gauge couplings to $-0.17 \le \lambda_Z \le 0.21$ $(\Delta \kappa_Z = 0)$ at the 95% C.L. for a form factor scale $\Lambda=2$ TeV. Further, assuming that $\Delta g^Z_1 = \Delta\kappa_Z$, we find $-0.12 \le \Delta\kappa_Z \le 0.29$ $(\lambda_Z=0)$ at the 95% C.L. These are the most restrictive limits on the $WWZ$ couplings available to date.
We present a measurement of the forward-backward charge asymmetry ($A_{FB}$) in $p\bar{p} \to Z/\gamma^{*}+X \to e^+e^-+X$ events at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV using 1.1 fb$^{-1}$ of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. $A_{FB}$ is measured as a function of the invariant mass of the electron-positron pair, and found to be consistent with the standard model prediction. We use the $A_{FB}$ measurement to extract the effective weak mixing angle sin$^2\Theta^{eff}_W = 0.2327 \pm 0.0018 (stat.) \pm 0.0006 (syst.)$.
Using 7.3 pb-1 of ppbar collisions collected by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron, we measure the distribution of the variable \phistar, which probes the same physical effects as the Z/gamma* boson transverse momentum, but is less susceptible to the effects of experimental resolution and efficiency. A QCD prediction is found to describe the general features of the \phistar distribution, but is unable to describe its detailed shape or dependence on boson rapidity. A prediction that includes a broadening of transverse momentum for small values of the parton momentum fraction is strongly disfavored.
We present a new measurement of the Z/gamma* transverse momentum distribution in the range 0 - 330GeV, in proton-antiproton collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV. The measurement uses 0.97 fb-1 of integrated luminosity recorded by the D0 experiment and is the first using the Z/gamma*->mu+mu- + X channel at this center-of-mass energy. This is also the first measurement of the Z/gamma* transverse momentum distribution that presents the result at the level of particles entering the detector, minimizing dependence on theoretical models. As any momentum of the Z/gamma* in the plane transverse to the incoming beams must be balanced by some recoiling system, primarily the result of QCD radiation in the initial state, this variable is an excellent probe of the underlying process. Tests of the predictions of QCD calculations and current event generators show they have varied success in describing the data. Using this measurement as an input to theoretical predictions will allow for a better description of hadron collider data and hence it will increase experimental sensitivity to rare signals.
We present the first measurements at a hadron collider of differential cross sections for Z+jet+X production in delta phi(Z, jet), |delta y(Z, jet)| and |y_boost(Z, jet)|. Vector boson production in association with jets is an excellent probe of QCD and constitutes the main background to many small cross section processes, such as associated Higgs production. These measurements are crucial tests of the predictions of perturbative QCD and current event generators, which have varied success in describing the data. Using these measurements as inputs in tuning event generators will increase the experimental sensitivity to rare signals.
We measure the ratio of cross sections, {\sigma}(ppbar -> Z + b jet)/{\sigma}(ppbar -> Z + jet), for associated production of a Z boson with at least one jet. The ratio is also measured as a function of the jet transverse momentum, jet pseudorapidity, Z boson transverse momentum, and the azimuthal angle between the Z boson and the closest jet for events with at least one b jet. These measurements use data collected by the D0 experiment in Run II of Fermilab's Tevatron ppbar Collider at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 9.7 fb$^{-1}$. The results are compared to predictions from next-to-leading order calculations and various Monte Carlo event generators.
We present a measurement of the cross section for Z boson production times the branching fraction to tau lepton pairs sigma(ppbar -> Z + X) Br(Z -> tau+ tau-) in proton-antiproton collisions at center of mass energy 1.96 TeV. The measurement is performed in the channel in which one tau lepton decays into a muon and neutrinos, and the other tau lepton decays hadronically or into an electron and neutrinos. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 inverse fb collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The sample contains 1511 candidate events with an estimated 20% background from jets or muons misidentified as tau leptons. We obtain sigma Br = 240 +/- 8 (stat) +/- 12 (sys) +/- 15 (lum) pb, which is consistent with the standard model prediction.
We present new measurements of differential cross sections for Z/gamma*(->mumu)+jet+X production in a 1 fb-1 data sample collected with the D0 detector in proton anti-proton collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV. Results include the first measurements differential in the Z/gamma* transverse momentum and rapidity, as well as new measurements differential in the leading jet transverse momentum and rapidity. Next-to-leading order perturbative QCD predictions are compared to the measurements, and reasonable agreement is observed, except in the region of low Z/gamma* transverse momentum. Predictions from two event generators based on matrix elements and parton showers, and one pure parton shower event generator are also compared to the measurements. These show significant overall normalization differences to the data and have varied success in describing the shape of the distributions.
We present a measurement of the shape of the Z/gamma* boson transverse momentum (qT) distribution in ppbar -> Z/gamma* -> ee+X events at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV using 0.98 fb-1 of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. The data are found to be consistent with the resummation prediction at low qT, but above the perturbative QCD calculation in the region of qT>30 GeV/c. Using events with qT<30 GeV/c, we extract the value of g2, one of the non-perturbative parameters for the resummation calculation. Data at large boson rapidity y are compared with the prediction of resummation and with alternative models that employ a resummed form factor with modifications in the small Bjorken x region of the proton wave function.