Preparations for measurement of electroweak vector boson production cross-sections using the electron decay modes, with the Compact Muon Solenoid detector

The Compact Muon Solenoid was designed to make discoveries at the TeV scale : to elucidate the nature of electroweak symmetry breaking and to search for physics beyond the Standard Model. For any such discovery to be credible, it must first be demonstrated that the CMS detector is understood. One mechanism to make this demonstration is to measure "standard candle" processes, such as W and Z production. This thesis describes preparations undertaken to make these measurements using the electron decay modes, with [derivative]Ldt = 10 pb-1 of collision data. The energy resolution of the electromagnetic calorimeter was measured in test beam data. An improved method of deriving the optimised weights necessary for amplitude reconstruction is described. The measurement of electron charge using tracks is impaired by the electron showering in the tracker material. A novel charge measurement technique that is complementary to the existing method was assessed. Missing transverse energy is a powerful discriminating variable for the selection of W+/ -> e+/ [upsilon]e events, however it is difficult to simulate accurately due to its global nature. The Ersatz Missing Energy method was developed to provide reliable and accurate descriptions of missing energy from data using readily reconstructible [gamma]*/Z -> e+e- events. The method is described and evaluated. Finally, the measurement strategy for W and Z boson production cross-sections in early data is outlined and analysed using simulated data. Significant results can be obtained with only [derivative] Ldt = 10 pb-1.