We study the potential of the LHCb 13 TeV single $W^{ \pm}$ and $Z$ boson pseudo-data for constraining the parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the proton. As an example, we demonstrate the sensitivity of the LHCb 13 TeV data, collected with integrated luminosities of 5 fb$^{ -1}$ and 300 fb$^{ -1}$, to reducing the PDF uncertainty bands of the CT14HERA2 PDFs, using the error PDF updating package { \sc ePump}. The sensitivities of various experimental observables are compared. Generally, sizable reductions in PDF uncertainties can be observed in the 300 fb$^{ -1}$ data sample, particularly in the small-$x$ region. The double-differential cross section measurement of $Z$ boson $p_T$ and rapidity can greatly reduce the uncertainty bands of $u$ and $d$ quarks in almost the whole $x$ range, as compared to various single observable measurements.
Categories: hep-ph