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

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/ψJ/ψ 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/ψJ/ψ and W, Z gauge bosons in p–Pb and Pb–Pb collisions at the LHC.