Measurement of W⁺W⁻ production in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV with the ATLAS detector and limits on anomalous WWZ and WWγ couplings

Abstract

This paper presents a measurement of the W⁺W⁻ production cross section in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV. The leptonic decay channels are analyzed using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 fb⁻¹ collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The W⁺W⁻ production cross section σ(pp→W⁺W⁻+X) is measured to be 51.9±2.0(stat)±3.9(syst)±2.0(lumi) pb, compatible with the Standard Model prediction of 44.7₋₁.₉⁺².¹ pb. A measurement of the normalized fiducial cross section as a function of the leading lepton transverse momentum is also presented. The reconstructed transverse momentum distribution of the leading lepton is used to extract limits on anomalous WWZ and WWγ couplings.