Measurement of the Transverse Momentum Spectra of Weak Vector Bosons Produced in Proton-Proton Collisions at ?s=8 Tev

Abstract

The transverse momentum spectra of weak vector bosons are measured in the CMS experiment at the LHC. The measurement uses a sample of proton-proton collisions at s=8 TeV, collected during a special low-luminosity running that corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 18.4 ± 0.5 pb−1. The production of W bosons is studied in both electron and muon decay modes, while the production of Z bosons is studied using only the dimuon decay channel. The ratios of W− to W+ and Z to W differential cross sections are also measured. The measured differential cross sections and ratios are compared with theoretical predictions up to next-to-next leading order in QCD.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]