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.