Vector boson production at present and future colliders

Abstract

We develop in detail the phenomenological implications of our previous analysis of Drell-Yan processes and of vector boson production. Production cross-sections andy,q _T distributions ofW andZ ^o in the energy range up to$\sqrt S$=(10–20) TeV are discussed. The problem ofW andZ ^o production at super colliders is complicated by the very small values of$\sqrt \tau = {Q \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {Q {\sqrt S }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\sqrt S }}$ involved, whereQ=M _W.Z. The novel theoretical features of Drell-Yan processes at very small$\sqrt \tau$ are therefore analysed. The dependence of cross-sections and distributions on the massQ of the vector boson is also discussed at different energies$\sqrt S$ and the pattern of deviations from naive dimensional scaling is investigated. Particular attention is devoted to the tail of events at largeq _T where aW/Z ^o is produced in association with hadronic jets. The probability ofW/Z ^o production atq _T>q ^o_T is studied as a function ofq ^o_T and$\sqrt S$. The behaviour of the average value ofq _T, which is also determined by the largeq _T tail, is evaluated at various values of τ and$\sqrt S$. Detailed predictions forW andZ ^o production at$\sqrt S$=630 GeV, the energy of the present run at the CERN collider are presented. Finally, ordinary Drell-Yan lepton pair production at the collider is also considered.