Measurement of $WZ$ production in proton-proton collisions at $sqrts=7$ TeV with the ATLAS detector

Abstract

A study of WZ production in proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV is presented using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 fb^-1 collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in 2011. In total, 317 candidates, with a background expectation of 68_s16/-10 events, are observed in double-leptonic decay final states with electrons, muons and missing transverse momentum. The total cross-section is determined to be sigma_WZ(tot) = 19.0_s161.4/-1.3(stat.)_s16/-0.9(syst.)_s16/-0.4(lumi.) pb, consistent with the Standard Model expectation of 17.6_s161.1/-1.0 pb. Limits on anomalous triple gauge boson couplings are derived using the transverse momentum spectrum of Z bosons in the selected events. The cross section is also presented as a function of Z boson transverse momentum and diboson invariant mass.