Study of Parton Density Function Uncertainties with LHAPDF and PYTHIA at LHC

Abstract

The experimental errors in current and future hadron colliders are expected to decrease to a level that will challenge the uncertainties in the theoretical calculations. One important component in the prediction uncertainties comes from the Parton Density Functions of the (anti)proton. In this work we develop an interface from the Les Houches Accord Parton Density Functions (LHAPDF) package to the very popular Monte Carlo generator {\tt PYTHIA} version 6.2. Then we proceed to estimate the PDF uncertainties for the production of Drell-Yan pairs from the Z pole to masses above 1 \TeV and for Higgs bosons at LHC. The measurement of the electro-weak mixing angle at LHC as a particularly difficult case is studied.Comment: 8 pages, 5 tables; code available on request from the author; Contribution to LHC / LC Study Group Working Documen