This paper describes an analysis of the angular distribution of W -> e nu and W -> mu nu decays, using data from pp collisions at root s = 7 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC in 2010, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 35 pb(-1). Using the decay lepton transverse momentum and the missing transverse momentum, the W decay angular distribution projected onto the transverse plane is obtained and analysed in terms of helicity fractions f(0), f(L) and f(R) over two ranges of W transverse momentum (p(T)(W)) : 35 < p(T)(W) < 50 GeV and p(T)(W) > 50 GeV. Good agreement is found with theoretical predictions. For p(T)(W) > 50 GeV, the values of f(0) and f(L) - f(R), averaged over charge and lepton flavour, are measured to be: f(0) = 0.127 +/- 0.030 +/- 0.108 and f(L) - f(R) = 0.252 +/- 0.017 +/- 0.030, where the first uncertainties are statistical, and the second include all systematic effects.

Aad, G., Abbott, B., Abdallah, J., Abdelalim, A.a., Abdesselam, A., Abdinov, O., et al. (2012). Measurement of the polarisation of W bosons produced with large transverse momentum in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV with the ATLAS experiment. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. C, PARTICLES AND FIELDS, 72(5), 1-30 [10.1140/epjc/s10052-012-2001-6].

Measurement of the polarisation of W bosons produced with large transverse momentum in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV with the ATLAS experiment

CERADINI, Filippo;DI MICCO, Biagio;Di Nardo R;