STANDARD-MODEL PREDICTIONS FOR W-PAIR PRODUCTION IN ELECTRON-POSITRON COLLISIONS

Abstract

We review the status of the theoretical predictions for W-pair production in e+e− collisions within the electroweak standard model (SM). We first consider for on-shell W bosons the lowest-order cross-section within the SM, the general effects of anomalous couplings, the radiative corrections within the SM, and approximations for them. Then we discuss the inclusion of finite-width effects in the lowest order and the existing results for radiative corrections to off-shell W-pair production, and we outline the general strategy for calculating radiative corrections within the pole scheme. We summarize the theoretical predictions for the total and partial W-boson widths including radiative corrections and discuss the quality of an improved Born approximation. Finally, we provide a general discussion on the structure-function method for calculating large-logarithmic higher-order corrections associated with collinear photon radiation.