Measurement of the Z / γ τ τ cross section in pp collisions at s = 13 TeV and validation of τ lepton analysis techniques

Eur Phys J C Part Fields. 2018;78(9):708. doi: 10.1140/epjc/s10052-018-6146-9. Epub 2018 Sep 3.

Abstract

A measurement is presented of the Z / γ τ τ cross section in pp collisions at s = 13 TeV , using data recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.3 fb - 1 . The product of the inclusive cross section and branching fraction is measured to be σ ( pp Z / γ +X ) B ( Z / γ τ τ ) = 1848 ± 12 ( stat ) ± 67 (syst \,+\,lumi) pb , in agreement with the standard model expectation, computed at next-to-next-to-leading order accuracy in perturbative quantum chromodynamics. The measurement is used to validate new analysis techniques relevant for future measurements of τ lepton production. The measurement also provides the reconstruction efficiency and energy scale for τ decays to hadrons + ν τ final states, determined with respective relative uncertainties of 2.2 and 0.9%.