Rapidity Correlations in $W\gamma$ Production at Hadron Colliders

Abstract

We study the correlation of photon and charged lepton pseudorapidities, $\eta(\gamma)$ and $\eta(\ell)$, $\ell=e,\,\mu$, in $p\,\pbar \rightarrow W^\pm\gamma+X\rightarrow \ell^\pm p\llap/_T\gamma+X$. In the Standard Model, the $\Delta\eta(\gamma,\ell)= \eta(\gamma) - \eta(\ell)$ differential cross section is found to exhibit a pronounced dip at $\Delta\eta(\gamma,\ell) \approx \mp 0.3$ ($=0$)in $p\bar p$ ($pp$) collisions, which originates from the radiation zero present in $q\bar q'\rightarrow W\gamma$. The sensitivity of the $\Delta\eta(\gamma,\ell)$ distribution to higher order QCD corrections, non-standard $WW\gamma$ couplings, the $W+$~jet ``fake'' background and the cuts imposed is explored. At hadron supercolliders, next-to-leading order QCD corrections are found to considerably obscure the radiation zero. The advantages of the $\Delta\eta(\gamma,\ell)$ distribution over other quantities which are sensitive to the radiation zero are discussed. We conclude that photon lepton rapidity correlations at the Tevatron offer a {\it unique} opportunity to search for the Standard Model radiation zero in hadronic $W\gamma$ production.