Predictions for Z-boson production in association with a b-jet at O(αs3)
Abstract
Precise predictions are provided for the production of a Z-boson and a b-jet in hadron-hadron collisions within the framework of perturbative QCD, at O(αs3). To obtain these predictions we perform the first calculation of a hadronic scattering process involving the direct production of a flavoured-jet at next-to-next-to-leading order accuracy in massless QCD, and extend techniques to also account for the impact of finite heavy-quark mass effects. The predictions are compared to CMS data obtained in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8~TeV, which are the most precise data from Run I of the LHC for this process, where a good description of the data is achieved. To allow this comparison we have performed an unfolding of the data, which overcomes the long-standing issue that the experimental and theoretical definitions of jet flavour are incompatible.