Uncertainties on $W$ and $Z$ production at the LHC

Abstract

Uncertainties on low-$x$ PDFs are crucial for the standard model benchmark processes of $W$ and $Z$ production at the LHC. The current level of PDF uncertainty is critically reviewed and the possibility of reducing this uncertainty using early LHC data is investigated taking into account realistic expectations for measurement accuracy, kinematic cuts and backgrounds.

To appear in the proceedings of the HERA@LHC workshop 2005