W^± and Z⁰ boson physics

Precision measurements of the weak bosons (Z⁰ and W^± at e⁺e^- and hadron colliders have allowed the Standard Model to be tested as a quantum field theory, requiring the inclusion of higher order quantum loop corrections. The agreement of these measurements with the Standard Model puts strong constrains on New Physics scenarios. To achieve such precision, a close collaboration between experimenters and theorists, as well as between experimenters in different collaborations was pioneered in the nineties. A superb control of the experimental systematic uncertainties as well as an unprecedented level of precision on the collider beam energy and intensity was required in many of these measurements. New accelerators are proposed in the future that could improve these tests of the Standard Model even further. (authors)