NLO forward-backward charge asymmetries in p p (p bar p) -> l- l+ jet production at large hadron colliders

Abstract

We consider the next-to-leading order corrections, O(alpha_s), to forward-backward charge asymmetries for lepton-pair production in association with a large transverse momentum jet at large hadron colliders. We find that the leading order results are essentially confirmed. Although experimentally challenging and in practice with large backgrounds, these observables could provide a new determination of the weak mixing angle sin2 theta^lept_eff (M_Z^2) with a statistical precision for each lepton flavour of ~10^(-3) (7 x 10^{-3}) at LHC (Tevatron), and if b jets are identified, of the b quark Z asymmetry A^b_{FB} with a statistical precision of ~ 2x10^{-3} (4x10{-2}) at LHC (Tevatron).

16 pages, version to appear in Physics Letters B