Abstract. In the framework of the k_T-factorization approach, we study the production of prompt photons and electroweak gauge bosons in high-energy proton–(anti)proton collisions at modern colliders. Our consideration is based on the amplitude for the production of a single photon or W^±/Z⁰ boson associated with a quark pair in the fusion of two off-shell gluons. The quark component is taken into account separately using the quark–gluon scattering and quark–antiquark annihilation QCD subprocesses. Special attention is given to the contributions from the quarks involved in the earlier steps of the evolution cascade. Using the Kimber–Martin–Ryskin formalism, we simulate this component and demonstrate that it plays an important role at both the Tevatron and LHC energies. Our theoretical results are compared with recent experimental data taken by the D∅ and CDF Collaborations at the Tevatron.

Print publication: Issue 12 (December 2009)
Received 17 June 2009
Published 3 October 2009