An update on vector boson pair production at hadron colliders

Abstract

We present numerical results (including full one-loop QCD corrections) for the processes p p-bar and pp -> W+ W-, W+/- Z/gamma* and Z/gamma* Z/gamma* followed by the decay of the massive vector bosons into leptons. In addition to their intrinsic importance as tests of the standard model, these processes are also backgrounds to conjectured non-standard model processes. Because of the small cross sections at the Tevatron, full experimental control of these backgrounds will be hard to achieve. This accentuates the need for up-to-date theoretical information. A comparison is made with earlier work and cross section results are presented for p p-bar collisions at sqrt{s}=2 TeV and pp collisions at sqrt{s}=14 TeV. Practical examples of the use of our calculations are presented.