Measurement of the ratio R≡σWBr(W→μν)/σzBr(Z→μμ) and ΓWtot at the CERN proton-antiproton collider

Abstract An analysis of W and Z boson production at UA1, using 4.66 pb −1 of data from the 1988 and 1989 CERN p p Collider runs at s =0.63 TeV , yields R ≡ σ W Br(W→ μ v)/ σ z Br( Z → μμ )=10.4 −1.5 +1.8 stat.±0.8(syst.) We find R =9.5 −1.0 +1.1 (stat.+syst.) when combining all available UA1 data, in both the electron and muon channel, taken in the period 1983–1989. In the framework of the standard model, the value of R is used to infer the total width of the W boson, Γ W tot =2.18 −0.24 +0.26 (exp.)±0.04(theory) GeV/ c 2 .