Measurement of the Electron Charge Asymmetry in Inclusive W Production in pp Collisions at √s = 7 TeV

Abstract

A measurement of the electron charge asymmetry in inclusive pp → W + X → eν + X production at √s = 7 TeV is presented based on data recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 840 pb⁻¹. The electron charge asymmetry reflects the unequal production of W⁺ and W⁻ bosons in pp collisions. The electron charge asymmetry is measured in bins of the absolute value of electron pseudorapidity in the range of |η| < 2:4. The asymmetry rises from about 0.1 to 0.2 as a function of the pseudorapidity and is measured with a relative precision better than 7%. This measurement provides new stringent constraints for parton distribution functions.