4 research outputs found
The Measurement of M(W) from the W+W- Threshold Cross Section at LEP2
The rapid increase of the e+e- --> W+W- cross section in the threshold region
provides a method for measuring M(W) at LEP2. The dependence of the theoretical
cross section -- including the effects of the finite W width, Coulomb
interactions and initial state radiation -- on the collider energy and on the
mass and width of the W is investigated in order to deduce the optimal collider
energy which maximizes the sensitivity to M(W). Statistical and systematic
uncertainties are studied in detail. The background contribution from QCD
four-jet production is estimated. It is shown that by running LEP2 at a
collision energy of approximately 161 GeV and obtaining a luminosity of order
100 inverse picobarns per experiment, an uncertainty on the measured value of
M(W) of +-70 MeV should be achievable.Comment: 23 pages, LATEX, 10 figures available as .uu fil