W+W− and Z0Z0 pair production in e+e−, pp, and p¯p colliding beams

Abstract

We discuss the production of pairs of weak bosons in those processes where electrons or quarks annihilate. Besides comparing and extending previous calculations for $e^{+}{e}^{-}\to W^{+}{W}^{-}$, we consider $e^{+}{e}^{-}\to Z^0{Z}^0, \mathrm{pp}$ and $p\overline{p}\to W^{+}{W}^{-}X or Z^0{Z}^{0}X$. It is emphasized that (1) the rate of production of $Z^0$ pairs is comparable to that of $W$ pairs and that (2) $W$-pair production with colliding proton beams may be the best way to see high-energy cancellations in cross sections, the hallmark of renormalizability in gauge theories.