QCD corrections to leptonic and hadronic observables from pp-bar-->W+X--> tau -bar nu tau X.

Abstract

We set up a formalism for calculating the 0(a,) corrections to the process pp → W + X → τυ τ X with spin-correlated τ decays to leptons and mesons. Our results are applicable to Monte Carlo integration, which allows easy construction of any desired observable at next-to-leading-log level, and the possibility to include experimental cuts. Our results are applied explicitly to the decay modes τ → υ τ eυ e , τ → υ τ π + , and τ → υ τ p + p 0 ; other decay modes may be included in a straightforwardfashion. We show results for transverse momentum and rapidity variables in leading-log and next-to-leading-log approximations; the leptonic observables are compared to similar observables from direct W → eυ e