Production of jets accompanied by W and Z bosons at LHC startup

Abstract

We report on potential for measurement of W and Z boson production accompanied by jets. Of particular interest are jet multiplicity and $P_{\rm T}$ distributions. The 10 to 100 $pb^{-1}$ datasets expected in the startup year of operation of LHC are likely to already provide information beyond the reach of the Tevatron collider both in jet multiplicity and $P_{\rm T}$ range. We are especially interested in understanding the ratios of W+jets to Z+jets distributions by comparing them to next-to-leading order Monte Carlo generators, as these processes present a formidable background for searches of new physics phenomena.