Jet cross sections were measured in charged-current deep inelastic $e^{\pm }p$ scattering at high boson virtualities $Q^2$ with the ZEUS detector at HERA II using an integrated luminosity of $0.36{\mathrm{fb}}^{-1}$. Differential cross sections are presented for inclusive-jet production as functions of $Q^2$, Bjorken $x$ and the jet transverse energy and pseudorapidity. The dijet invariant mass cross section is also presented. Observation of three- and four-jet events in charged-current $e^{\pm }p$ processes is reported for the first time. The predictions of next-to-leading-order (NLO) QCD calculations are compared to the measurements. The measured inclusive-jet cross sections are well described in shape and normalization by the NLO predictions. The data have the potential to constrain the $u$ and $d$ valence-quark distributions in the proton if included as input to global fits.

• Received 29 February 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.78.032004