Precision predictions for Z'-production at the CERN LHC: QCD matrix elements, parton showers, and joint resummation
arXiv:0711.0749 · doi:10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2008.01.017
Abstract
We improve the theoretical predictions for the production of extra neutral gauge bosons at hadron colliders by implementing the Z' bosons in the MC@NLO generator and by computing their differential and total cross sections in joint p_T and threshold resummation. The two improved predictions are found to be in excellent agreement with each other for mass spectra, p_T spectra, and total cross sections, while the PYTHIA parton and ``power'' shower predictions usually employed for experimental analyses show significant shortcomings both in normalization and shape. The theoretical uncertainties from scale and parton density variations and non-perturbative effects are found to be 9%, 8%, and less than 5%, respectively, and thus under good control. The implementation of our improved predictions in terms of the new MC@NLO generator or resummed K factors in the analysis chains of the Tevatron and LHC experiments should be straightforward and lead to more precise determinations or limits of the Z' boson masses and/or couplings.
14 pages, 7 figures, version to appear in Nucl. Phys. B