Production of Z boson - Cross Section

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the ratio \( R = \frac{\sigma_{had}}{\sigma_{\mu+\mu-}} \) for energy levels around 10 GeV in the context of Z boson production. The calculated ratio is \( R = \frac{11}{3} \), derived from the contributions of various quark flavors. It is established that at energies below the Z boson mass \( M_Z \), the contributions from electromagnetic (EM) processes and Z boson exchange are equivalent, leading to the conclusion that the energy threshold for this equivalence is \( E = \sqrt{\frac{3}{14}} m_W \), approximately 0.46 times the W boson mass.

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Homework Statement


Calculate the ratio ##R = \frac{\sigma_{had}}{\sigma_{\mu+\mu-}}## for energy around ##10~GeV##.
At sufficiently high energies, the ##e^+e^- \rightarrow \mu^+ \mu^-## reaction can proceed via the ##Z^0## boson. Assuming vertex factors for EM and weak interaction are the same, at what beam energy (below ##M_Z##) would the contribution to cross section from ##\gamma## be the same as the contribution from the ##Z^0## exchange?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution



Since at around ##10~GeV##, production of u,d,s,c quarks are possible, ##R = 3 \times \left[ (\frac{1}{3})^2 + (\frac{2}{3})^2 + (\frac{1}{3})^2 + (\frac{2}{3})^2 + (\frac{1}{3})^2 \right] = \frac{11}{3}##.

Since we can assume the vertex factor for EM and weak interaction to be the same, thus the cross-section for (##e+e \rightarrow \mu^+\mu^- ##) is the same for weak and EM. We have just calculated ##R = \frac{11}{3}##.

Since cross-section grows as ##\sigma \sim E_{cm}^2##, total contribution from EM processes is ##\left(1 + \frac{11}{3}\right) E^2##. Contribution from ##Z^0## process is simply ##M_w^2##.

Does this mean that ##E = \sqrt{\frac{3}{14}}m_w = 0.46m_W##?
 
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