Parton distribution function dependence of benchmark Standard Model total cross sections at the 7TeV LHC

Abstract

We compare predictions for the W, Z, gg → H and tt total cross sections at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), for a centre-of-mass energy of 7TeV, using the most recent publicly available next-to-leading order and next-to-next-to-leading order parton distribution functions (PDFs) from all PDF fitting groups. In particular, we focus on the dependence on the different values of the strong coupling, αS(M2Z), used by each group. We also perform a comparison of the relevant quark-antiquark and gluon-gluon luminosity functions. We make some comments on the recent PDF4LHC recommendations. Finally, we discuss the comparison of data and theory for W and Z cross sections at the LHC. © SISSA 2011.