Measurement of the cross section for production of bb̄X decaying to muons in pp collisions at √ s = 7 TeV

Abstract

A measurement of the inclusive cross section for the process pp → bb̄X → μμX′ at √ s = 7TeV is presented, based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 27.9 pb-1 collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. By selecting pairs of muons each with pseudorapidity |η| < 2:1, the value σ(pp → bb̄X → μμX′) = 26:4 ± 0:1 (stat.) ±2:4 (syst.) ±1:1 (lumi.) nb is obtained for muons with transverse momentum pT > 4 GeV, and 5:12±0:03 (stat.) ±0:48 (syst.) ±0:20 (lumi.) nb for pT > 6 GeV. These results are compared to QCD predictions at leading and next-to-leading orders.