Measurement of the $e^+e^- \to W^+W^-$ cross section and W decay branching fractions at LEP

The OPAL collaboration Abbiendi, G. ; Ainsley, C. ; Akesson, P.F. ; et al.
Eur.Phys.J.C 52 (2007) 767-785, 2007.
Inspire Record 757918 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.48533

From a total data sample of 701.1 pb^-1 recorded with e+e- centre-of-mass energies of sqrt = 161-209 GeV with the OPAL detector at LEP, 11693 W-pair candidate events are selected. These data are used to obtain measurements of the W-pair production cross sections at 10 different centre-of-mass energies. The ratio of the measured cross sections to the Standard Model expectation is found to be: data/SM = 1.002 +- 0.011(stat.) +- 0.007(syst.) +- 0.005(theory), where the uncertainties are statistical, experimental systematics and theory systematics respectively. The data are used to determine the W boson branching fractions, which are found to be consistent with lepton universality of the charged current interaction. Assuming lepton universality, the branching ratio to hadrons is determined to be 67.41 +- 0.37(stat.) +- 0.23(syst.)%, from which the CKM matrix element Vcs is determined to be 0.96+-0.017(stat.)+-0.012(syst.). The differential cross section as a function of the W^- production angle is measured for the qqev and qqmv final states. The results described in this paper are consistent with the expectations from the Standard Model.

5 data tables

Measured cross section for the (lepton nu lepton nu) decay mode.

Measured cross section for the (quark quark lepton nu) decay mode.

Measured cross section for the (quark quark quark quark) decay mode.

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W+ W- production and triple gauge boson couplings at LEP energies up to 183-GeV

The OPAL collaboration Abbiendi, G. ; Ackerstaff, K. ; Alexander, G. ; et al.
Eur.Phys.J.C 8 (1999) 191-215, 1999.
Inspire Record 479051 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.49338

A study of W-pair production in e+e- annihilations at Lep2 is presented, based on 877 W+W- candidates corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 57 pb-1 at sqrt(s) = 183 GeV. Assuming that the angular distributions of the W-pair production and decay, as well as their branching fractions, are described by the Standard Model, the W-pair production cross-section is measured to be 15.43 +- 0.61 (stat.) +- 0.26 (syst.) pb. Assuming lepton universality and combining with our results from lower centre-of-mass energies, the W branching fraction to hadrons is determined to be 67.9 +- 1.2 (stat.) +- 0.5 (syst.)%. The number of W-pair candidates and the angular distributions for each final state (qqlnu,qqqq,lnulnu) are used to determine the triple gauge boson couplings. After combining these values with our results from lower centre-of-mass energies we obtain D(kappa_g)=0.11+0.52-0.37, D(g^z_1)=0.01+0.13-0.12 and lambda=-0.10+0.13-0.12, where the errors include both statistical and systematic uncertainties and each coupling is determined setting the other two couplings to the Standard Model value. The fraction of W bosons produced with a longitudinal polarisation is measured to be 0.242+-0.091(stat.)+-0.023(syst.). All these measurements are consistent with the Standard Model expectations.

2 data tables

Total W+ W- cross section measurement. The DSYS error corresponds to the total systematic error.

Cross section for W+ W- production in different decay channels. The DSYS error corresponds to the total systematic error.


W boson polarisation at LEP2.

The OPAL collaboration Abbiendi, G. ; Ainsley, C. ; Akesson, P.F. ; et al.
Phys.Lett.B 585 (2004) 223-236, 2004.
Inspire Record 635790 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.49660

Elements of the spin density matrix for W bosons in e+e- -> W+W- -> qqln events are measured from data recorded by the OPAL detector at LEP. This information is used calculate polarised differential cross-sections and to search for CP-violating effects. Results are presented for W bosons produced in e+e- collisions with centre-of-mass energies between 183 GeV and 209 GeV. The average fraction of W bosons that are longitudinally polarised is found to be (23.9 +- 2.1 +- 1.1)% compared to a Standard Model prediction of (23.9 +- 0.1)%. All results are consistent with CP conservation.

7 data tables

The fraction of longitudinal polarization for leptonically and hadronically decaying W bosons. The average values for all the centre of mass energies and for both lepton and hadron decay combined are also given.

The luminosity weighted average over all the centre of mass energies of the diagonal elements of the RHO++ and RHO-- SDM as a function of the cosine of the angle of the W- boson for the leptonic decay channel.

The luminosity weighted average over all the centre of mass energies of the diagonal element of the RHO00 SDM as a function of the cosine of the angle of the W- boson for both leptonic and hadronic decay channels, and combined.

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W+ W- production cross section and W branching fractions in e+ e- collisions at 189-GeV.

The OPAL collaboration Abbiendi, G. ; Ackerstaff, K. ; Ainsley, C. ; et al.
Phys.Lett.B 493 (2000) 249-265, 2000.
Inspire Record 533110 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.49910

From a data sample of 183 pb^-1 recorded at a center-of-mass energy of roots = 189 GeV with the OPAL detector at LEP, 3068 W-pair candidate events are selected. Assuming Standard Model W boson decay branching fractions, the W-pair production cross section is measured to be sigmaWW = 16.30 +- 0.34(stat.) +- 0.18(syst.) pb. When combined with previous OPAL measurements, the W boson branching fraction to hadrons is determined to be 68.32 +- 0.61(stat.) +- 0.28(syst.) % assuming lepton universality. These results are consistent with Standard Model expectations.

2 data tables

Total W+ W- pair production cross section.

Cross sections for the individual decay modes of the W+ W-.


Measurement of W pair production in e+ e- collisions at centre-of-mass energies from 183-GeV to 209-GeV.

The ALEPH collaboration Heister, A. ; Schael, S. ; Barate, R. ; et al.
Eur.Phys.J.C 38 (2004) 147-160, 2004.
Inspire Record 653296 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.48582

The W + W- production cross section is measured from a data sample corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 683 pb-1, collected by the ALEPH experiment at LEP at centre-of-mass energies from

13 data tables

The measured cross section for the E NU E NU final state. The DSYS error is the typical systematic error.

The measured cross section for the E NU MU NU final state. The DSYS error is the typical systematic error.

The measured cross section for the E NU TAU NU final state. The DSYS error is the typical systematic error.

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Measurement of W pair production in e+ e- collisions at 183-GeV.

The ALEPH collaboration Barate, R. ; Decamp, D. ; Ghez, Philippe ; et al.
Phys.Lett.B 453 (1999) 107-120, 1999.
Inspire Record 497105 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.49130

The production of W+W- pairs is analysed in a data sample collected by ALEPH at a mean centre-of-mass energy of 182.7 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 57 pb-1. Cross sections are given for different topologies of W decays into leptons or hadrons. Under Standard Model assumptions for the W-pair production and decay, the W-pair cross section is measured to be 15.57+-0.62(stat.)+-0.29(syst.) pb. Using also the W-pair data samples collected by ALEPH at lower centre-of-mass energies, the decay branching ratio of the W boson into hadrons is measured to be B(W->hadrons)= 68.93+-1.21(stat.)+-0.51(syst.)%, allowing a determination of the CKM matrix element |Vcs|= 1.043 +- 0.058(stat.) +- 0.026(syst.). The agreement of the cross sections with the Standard Model prediction allows a limit to be set on the W decay rate to undetectable final states.

3 data tables

The overal total cross section.

Cross sections for the fully leptonic decay channels.

Cross sections for the parial leptonic and hadronic decay channels.


Measurement of the W pair cross section in e+ e- collisions at 172-GeV.

The ALEPH collaboration Barate, R. ; Buskulic, D. ; Decamp, D. ; et al.
Phys.Lett.B 415 (1997) 435-444, 1997.
Inspire Record 446940 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.47408

The e + e − → W + W − cross section is measured in a data sample collected by ALEPH at a mean centre-of-mass energy of 172.09 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 10.65 pb −1 . Cross sections are given for the three topologies, fully leptonic, semi-leptonic and hadronic of a W-pair decay. Under the assumption that no other decay modes are present, the W-pair cross section is measured to be 11.7±1.2 (stat.) ±0.3 (syst.) pb . The existence of the triple gauge boson vertex of the Standard Model is clearly preferred by the data. The decay branching ratio of the W boson into hadrons is measured to be B(W→hadrons) =67.7±3.1 (stat.) ±0.7 (syst.) % , allowing a determination of the CKM matrix element | V cs |=0.98±0.14(stat.)±0.03(syst.).

2 data tables

Cross sections for the different topologies.

Combined W+ W- cross section.


Measurement of the W mass in e+ e- collisions at production threshold

The ALEPH collaboration Barate, R. ; Buskulic, D. ; Decamp, D. ; et al.
Phys.Lett.B 401 (1997) 347-362, 1997.
Inspire Record 441188 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.47488

In June 1996, the LEP centre-of-mass energy was raised to 161 GeV. Pair production of W bosons in e + e − collisions was observed for the first time by the LEP experiments. An integrated luminosity of 11 pb −1 was recorded in the ALEPH detector, in which WW candidate events were observed. In 6 events both Ws decay leptonically. In 16 events, one W decays leptonically, the other into hadrons. In the channel where both Ws decay into hadrons, a signal was separated from the large background by means of several multi-variate analyses. The W pair cross-section is measured to be σ WW = 4.23 ± 0.73 (stat.) ± 0.19 (syst.) pb. From this cross-section, the W mass is derived within the framework of the Standard Model: m W = 80.14 ± 0.34 (stat.) ± 0.09 (syst.) ± 0.03 (LEP energy) GeV/ c 2

1 data table

No description provided.


Measurement of W pair production in e+ e- collisions at 189-GeV.

The ALEPH collaboration Barate, R. ; Decamp, D. ; Ghez, Philippe ; et al.
Phys.Lett.B 484 (2000) 205-217, 2000.
Inspire Record 527492 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.49968

The production of W-pairs is analysed in a data sample collected by ALEPH at a mean centre-of-mass energy of 188.6 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 174.2 pb^-1. Cross sections are given for different topologies of W decays into leptons or hadrons. Combining all final states and assuming Standard Model branching fractions, the total W-pair cross section is measured to be 15.71 +- 0.34 (stat) +- 0.18 (syst) pb. Using also the W-pair data samples collected by ALEPH at lower centre-of-mass energies, the decay branching fraction of the W boson into hadrons is measured to be BR (W > hadrons) = 66.97 +- 0.65 (stat) +- 0.32 (syst) %, allowing a determination of the CKM matrix element |V(cs)|= 0.951 +- 0.030 (stat) +- 0.015 (syst).

3 data tables

Total W+ W- production cross section.

Cross section for the fully leptonic decay channels.

Results of cross sections for decays into the different topological decay channels.


Measurement of the W pair cross-section and of the W mass in e+ e- interactions at 172-GeV.

The DELPHI collaboration Abreu, P. ; Adam, W. ; Adye, T. ; et al.
Eur.Phys.J.C 2 (1998) 581-595, 1998.
Inspire Record 453267 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.47359

From a data sample of $9.98 {\mathrm{ pb^{-1}}}$ integrated luminosity, collected by DELPHI at a centre-of-mass energy of 172 GeV, 118 events were selected as W-pa

2 data tables

Overall total cross section.

Cross sections for different decay topologies.