Cross Section and Parity Violating Spin Asymmetries of W±W^\pm Boson Production in Polarized p+pp+p Collisions at s=500\sqrt{s}=500 GeV

Collaboration
Sep, 2010
6 pages
Published in:
  • Phys.Rev.Lett. 106 (2011) 062001
e-Print:
Experiments:

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Abstract: (arXiv)
Large parity violating longitudinal single spin asymmetries A^{e^-}_L= -0.86^{+0.14}_{-0.30} and A^{e^+}_L= 0.88^{+0.12}_{-0.71} are observed for inclusive high transverse momentum electrons and positrons in polarized pp collisions at a center of mass energy of \sqrt{s}=500\ GeV with the PHENIX detector at RHIC. These e^{+/-} come mainly from the decay of W^{+/-} and Z^0 bosons, and the asymmetries directly demonstrate parity violation in the couplings of the W^{\pm} to the light quarks. The observed electron and positron yields were used to estimate W^\pm boson production cross sections equal to \sigma(pp \to W^+ X) \times BR(W^ \to \nu_e)= 144.1+/-21.2(stat)^{+3.4}_{-10.3}(syst) +/- 15%(norm) pb, and \sigma(pp \to W^{-}X) \times BR(W^\to e^-\bar{\nu_e}) = 31.7+/-12.1(stat)^{+10.1}_{-8.2}(syst)+/-15%(norm) pb.
  • 13.88.+e
  • 25.40.Ep
  • 14.70.Fm
  • 14.20.Dh
  • parity: violation
  • spin: asymmetry
  • W: coupling
  • transverse momentum: high
  • positron: yield
  • PHENIX