ERATO: event generator for four-fermion production at LEP2 energies and beyond

Abstract

This paper is a long write-up of ERATO. ERATO is a Monte Carlo event generator describing four fermion production at LEP2 and beyond. All tree-order processes leading to four fermions are included, taking into account all relevant QCD contributions. QED higher order corrections are introduced via a structure function approach, whereas weak corrections related to fermion loops are also included. Special attention has been paid in studying the trilinear gauge couplings, and all possible contributions, including the CP-violating ones, have been implemented.