Spin-OneW-Boson Production via Muon Beams

Abstract

$W$ bosons may be produced by muon beams in the reactions $\mu +Z\to \nu +Z+W$ (projectile fragmentation) and $\mu +p\to \mu +n+W$ (target fragmentation). Using a model where we introduce strong-interaction effects via phenomenological form factors, we study in this paper the target-fragmentation process, concentrating on energies and $W$-boson masses appropriate to NAL. We give total cross sections and angular and energy distributions for the $W$ boson and the final muon and compare these results with those obtained in the projectile-fragmentation reaction. Our calculation includes the possibility of an anomalous magnetic moment for the $W$ boson.