Impact of LHCb 13 TeV W and Z pseudo-data on the parton distribution functions *

Abstract

Abstract We study the potential of the LHCb 13 TeV single W ± and Z boson pseudo-data for constraining the parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the proton. As an example, we demonstrate the sensitivity of the LHCb 13 TeV data, collected with integrated luminosities of 5 and 300 , to reducing the PDF uncertainty bands of the CT14HERA2 PDFs, using the error PDF updating package EPUMP. The sensitivities of various experimental observables are compared. Generally, sizable reductions in PDF uncertainties can be observed in the 300 data sample, particularly in the small-x region. The double-differential cross section measurement of Z boson p T and rapidity can greatly reduce the uncertainty bands of u and d quarks in almost the whole x range, as compared to various single observable measurements.