Double-parton scattering cross sections in proton-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus collisions at the LHC

Abstract: Simple generic expressions to compute double-parton scattering (DPS) cross sections in high-energy proton-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus collisions, as a function of the corresponding single-parton cross sections, are presented. Estimates of DPS contributions are studied for two specific processes at LHC energies: (i) same-sign W-boson pair production in p-Pb, and (ii) double-J/psi production in Pb-Pb, using NLO predictions with nuclear parton densities for the corresponding single-parton cross sections. The expected DPS cross sections and event rates after typical acceptance and efficiency losses are also given for other processes involving J/psi and W,Z gauge bosons in p-Pb and Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC.