Measurements of the associated production of a Z boson and b jets in pp collisions at √s=8TeV

Abstract

Measurements of the associated production of a ZZ boson with at least one jet originating from a b quark in proton–proton collisions at √s=8TeVs=8TeV are presented. Differential cross sections are measured with data collected by the CMS experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.8fb−1fb−1. ZZ bosons are reconstructed through their decays to electrons and muons. Cross sections are measured as a function of observables characterizing the kinematics of the bb jet and the ZZ boson. Ratios of differential cross sections for the associated production with at least one bb jet to the associated production with any jet are also presented. The production of a ZZ boson with at least two bb jets is investigated, and differential cross sections are measured for the dijet system. Results are compared to theoretical predictions, testing two different flavour schemes for the choice of initial-state partons..