Measurement of differential cross sections for Z boson pair production in association with jets at s=8 and 13 TeV

Abstract This Letter reports measurements of differential cross sections for the production of two Z bosons in association with jets in proton–proton collisions at s = 8 and 13 TeV. The analysis is based on data samples collected at the LHC with the CMS detector, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 19.7 and 35.9 fb −1 at 8 and 13 TeV, respectively. The measurements are performed in the leptonic decay modes Z Z → l + l − l ′ + l ′ − , where l , l ′ = e , μ . The differential cross sections as a function of the jet multiplicity, the transverse momentum p T , and pseudorapidity of the p T -leading and subleading jets are presented. In addition, the differential cross sections as a function of variables sensitive to the vector boson scattering, such as the invariant mass of the two p T -leading jets and their pseudorapidity separation, are reported. The results are compared to theoretical predictions and found in good agreement within the theoretical and experimental uncertainties.