Speaker
Description
Differential measurements of the Drell-Yan cross section play a central role in constraining the proton parton distribution functions (PDFs) while simultaneously enabling precision tests of perturbative QCD. Measurements spanning inclusive Drell-Yan production and final states in association with jets explore complementary regions of the parton momentum fractions and momentum-transfer scales.
In particular, Z+jet production allows the boost and scattering dynamics of the hard interaction to be disentangled. The average rapidity of the Z boson and the jet is sensitive to the longitudinal boost of the underlying partonic system, while their rapidity difference characterizes the scattering kinematics in the partonic center-of-mass frame. Combined with the transverse momentum of the Z boson, these observables offer increased sensitivity to the proton PDFs.
Comparisons with state-of-the-art NNLO QCD predictions, supplemented by NLO electroweak and nonperturbative corrections, demonstrate the sensitivity of these measurements to the proton PDFs and their potential impact on future global PDF determinations.