We derive a factorization theorem for the differential distributions of electroweak gauge bosons in Drell-Yan processes, valid at low transverse momentum, using the soft-collinear effective theory. We present the next-to-leading logarithmic transverse momentum distribution for the Z-boson and find good agreement with Tevatron data collected by the CDF and D0 collaborations. We also give predictions for the Higgs boson differential distributions at next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy based on a factorization theorem derived in earlier work. We derive formulas for all quantities needed to study low transverse momentum production of color-neutral particles within the effective theory. This effective field theory approach is free of Landau poles and can be formulated entirely in momentum space. Consequently, our results are free of the Landau-pole prescriptions necessary in the standard approach.

• Received 15 September 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.83.053007