Next-to-leading order QCD predictions forW+2jet andZ+2jet production at the CERN LHC

Abstract

We present cross sections and differential distributions for QCD radiative corrections to the QCD processes $p\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{p}W+2$ jets and $p\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{p}Z+2$ jets at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Calculations are performed with the Monte Carlo program MCFM. Cross section dependence on the renormalization and factorization scales is greatly reduced, except for the heavy-flavor case of ${W}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}b\overline{b},$ which has new features at next-to-leading order at the LHC. We also present cross sections for ${W}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}b\overline{b}$ and $Z+2$ jets in kinematic configurations relevant for Higgs boson searches.