Measurement of the production cross section for Z/γ∗ in association with jets in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

We report preliminary results on the production of jets of particles in association with a Z/γ∗ boson in the final state, in proton-proton collisions at √s = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector. The analysis considers the full 2010 data set corresponding to an integrated lu minosity of 33 pb−1. Inclusive jet cross sections in Z/γ∗ events, with Z/γ∗ decaying into electron or muon pairs, are measured as a function of jet transverse momentum and jet mul tiplicity, for jets with transverse momentum pjet > 30 GeV and jet pseudorapidity in the region |η jet | < 2.8. The measurements are compared to next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations, and to predictions from different Monte Carlo generators implementing leading-order matrix elements supplemented by parton showers.