  The azimuthal decorrelation between a vector boson and a jet is an essential
hard probe in high energy proton-proton and heavy-ion collisions. We overcome
intrinsic limitations of previous studies by using a recoil-free axis,
achieving unprecedented next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy with small
nonperturbative corrections. This choice of axis also makes the observable
robust in the presence of a large background. Furthermore, the azimuthal angle
distribution is minimally changed when determined using only charged particle
tracks, which offer superior angular resolution for precise measurements. Our
effective field theory includes full jet dynamics, and we find contributions
from linearly-polarized gluon transverse momentum distributions in the initial
and final state.
