Abstract: Measurements of the W-+/- -> l(+/-) v and Z -> l(+)l(-) production cross sections (where l(+/-) = e(+/-), mu(+/-)) in proton-proton collisions at root s = 13 TeV are presented using data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 81 pb(-1). The total inclusive W+-boson production cross sections times the single-lepton-flavour branching ratios are sigma(tot)(w+) = 11.83 +/- 0.02 (stat) +/- 0.32 (sys) +/- 0.25 (lumi) nb and sigma(tot)(W-) = 8.79 +/- 0.02 (stat) +/- 0.24 (sys) +/- 0.18 (lumi) nb for W+ and W-, respectively. The total inclusive Z-boson production cross section times leptonic branching ratio, within the invariant mass window 66 < m(tt) < 116 GeV, is sigma(tot)(Z) = 1.981 +/- 0.007 (stat) +/- 0.038 (sys) +/- 0.042 (lumi) nb. The W+, W-, and Z-boson production cross sections and cross-section ratios within a fiducial region defined by the detector acceptance are also measured. The cross-section ratios benefit from significant cancellation of experimental uncertainties, resulting in sigma(fid)(W+)/sigma(fid)(W-) = 1.295 +/- 0.003 (stat) +/- 0.010 (sys) and sigma(fid)(W +/-)/sigma(fid)(Z) = 10.31 +/- 0.04 (stat) +/- 0.20 (sys). Theoretical predictions, based on calculations accurate to next-to-next-to-leading order for quantum chromodynamics and to next-to-leading order for electroweak processes and which employ different parton distribution function sets, are compared to these measurements.

Abstract: The ATLAS experiment has observed 1995 Z boson candidates in data corresponding to 0.15 nb(-1) of integrated luminosity obtained in the 2011 LHC Pb + Pb run at root s(NN) = 2.76 TeV. The Z bosons are reconstructed via dielectron and dimuon decay channels, with a background contamination of less than 3%. Results from the two channels are consistent and are combined. Within the statistical and systematic uncertainties, the per-event Z boson yield is proportional to the number of binary collisions estimated by the Glauber model. The elliptic anisotropy of the azimuthal distribution of the Z boson with respect to the event plane is found to be consistent with zero.

Abstract: In order to study further the long-range correlations (“ridge”) observed recently in p + Pb collisions at root s(NN) = 5.02 TeV, the second-order azimuthal anisotropy parameter of charged particles, v(2), has been measured with the cumulant method using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. In a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 1 μb(-1), the parameter v(2) has been obtained using two- and four-particle cumulants over the pseudorapidity range vertical bar eta vertical bar < 2.5. The results are presented as a function of transverse momentum and the event activity, defined in terms of the transverse energy summed over 3.1 < eta < 4.9 in the direction of the Pb beam. They show features characteristic of collective anisotropic flow, similar to that observed in Pb + Pb collisions. A comparison is made to results obtained using two-particle correlation methods, and to predictions from hydrodynamic models of p + Pb collisions. Despite the small transverse spatial extent of the p + Pb collision system, the large magnitude of v(2) and its similarity to hydrodynamic predictions provide additional evidence for the importance of final-state effects in p + Pb reactions.