We present results of a search for W+W− production through the leptonic decay channel W+W−→l+l−νν¯ in p¯p collisions at s=1.8TeV. In a 108pb−1 data sample recorded with the Collider Detector at Fermilab, five W+W− candidates are found with an expected standard model background of 1.2±0.3 events. The W+W− production cross section is measured to be σ(p¯p→W+W−)=10.2−5.1+6.3(stat)±1.6(syst)pb, in agreement with the standard model prediction. Limits on WWγ and WWZ anomalous couplings are presented.
This Letter describes the current most precise measurement of the $W$ boson pair production cross section and most sensitive test of anomalous $WW\gamma$ and $WWZ$ couplings in $p \bar p$ collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV. The $WW$ candidates are reconstructed from decays containing two charged leptons and two neutrinos, where the charged leptons are either electrons or muons. Using data collected by the CDF II detector from 3.6 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity, a total of 654 candidate events are observed with an expected background contribution of $320 \pm 47$ events. The measured total cross section is $\sigma (p \bar p \to W^+ W^- + X) = 12.1 \pm 0.9 \textrm{(stat)} ^{+1.6}_{-1.4} \textrm{(syst)}$ pb, which is in good agreement with the standard model prediction. The same data sample is used to place constraints on anomalous $WW\gamma$ and $WWZ$ couplings.