W-Boson Production inνμ+p→μ+W+Γ

Abstract

The cross section for the production of the (hypothetical) intermediate vector boson of weak interactions ($W$ boson) in the reaction ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\mu}+W+\ensuremath{\Gamma}$, where $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ is a hadronic state unassociated with nucleon resonances, is calculated. The input to the numerical calculation is derived from analyzed results of the recent SLAC deep-inelastic $e\ensuremath{-}p$ scattering experiment. Owing to the mild momentum-transfer dependence of the observed $\ensuremath{\gamma}p\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ vertex, the resulting $W$-boson production cross section is found to be important only near threshold and to contribute a non-negligible amount to the total production cross section if the ratio of $W$-boson mass to nucleon mass is much larger than 1.