Measurement of W and Z boson production cross sections in pp̅ collisions at √s=1.8 TeV

Abstract

DØ has measured the inclusive production cross section of W and Z bosons in a sample of 13 pb^-1 of data collected at the Fermilab Tevatron. The cross sections, multiplied by their leptonic branching fractions, for production in pp̅ collisions at √s=1.8 TeV are σ_WB(W^→ev)=2.36±0.02±0.08±0.13 nb, σ_WB(W^→μν)=2.09±0.06±0.22±0.11 nb, σ_ZB(Z^→e⁺e^-)=0.218±0.008±0.008±0.012 nb, and σ_ZB(Z^→μ₊μ^-)=0.178±0.022±0.021±0.009 nb, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic; the third reflects the uncertainty in the integrated luminosity. For the combined electron and muon analyses, we find σ_WB(W^→lν)/σ_ZB(Z^→l⁺l^-)=10.90±0.52. Assuming standard model couplings, we use this result to determine the width of the W boson, and obtain Γ(W)=2.044±0.097 GeV.