Measurement of the Polarization of W Bosons with Large Transverse Momenta in W plus jets Events at the LHC
Abstract
A first measurement of the polarization of W bosons with large transverse momenta in pp collisions is presented. The measurement is based on 36 pb−1 of data recorded at √s=7 TeV by the CMS detector at the LHC. The left-handed, right-handed, and longitudinal polarization fractions (fL, fR, and f0, respectively) of W bosons with transverse momenta larger than 50 GeV are determined by using decays to both electrons and muons. The muon final state yields the most precise measurement: (fL−fR)−=0.240±0.036(stat)±0.031(syst) and f−0=0.183±0.087(stat)±0.123(syst) for negatively charged W bosons and (fL−fR)+=0.310±0.036(stat)±0.017(syst) and f+0=0.171±0.085(stat)±0.099(syst) for positively charged W bosons. This establishes, for the first time, that W bosons produced in pp collisions with large transverse momenta are predominantly left-handed, as expected in the standard model. Show more
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https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000038811Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Physical Review LettersVolume
Pages / Article No.
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American Physical SocietyOrganisational unit
03381 - Pauss, Felicitas (emeritus)
03593 - Dissertori, Günther / Dissertori, Günther
03904 - Wallny, Rainer / Wallny, Rainer
08803 - Grab, Christoph (Tit.Prof.)
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