Energy-energy correlations in hadronic final states from Z0 decays

We have studied the energy-energy angular correlations in hadronic final states from Z0 decay using the DELPHI detector at LEP. From a comparison with Monte Carlo calculations based on the exact second order QCD matrix element and string fragmentation we find that Λ(5)/MS = 104-20 +25 (stat.)-20 +25(syst.)-00 +30(theor.) MeV, which corresponds to αs(91 GeV) = 0.106± 0.003 (stat.)±0.003(syst.)-0.000 +0.003(theor.). The theoretical error stems from different choices for the renormalization scale of αs. In the Monte Carlo simulation the scale of αs as well as the fragmentation parameters have been optimized to described reasonably well all aspects of multihadron production.

Identified particles in quark and gluon jets

A sample of about 1.4 million hadronic Z decays, selected among the data recorded by the DELPHI detector at LEP during 1994, was used to measure for the first time the momentum spectra of K+, K-0, p, Lambda and their antiparticles in gluon and quark jets. As observed for inclusive charged particles, the production spectra of identified particles were found to be softer in gluon jets than in quark jets, with a higher total multiplicity. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Search for Z0 decays to two leptons and a charged particle-antiparticle pair

Based on a sample equivalent to 365 000 hadronic Z0 decays, the search in DELPHI data for pairs of leptons accompanied by a pair of charged particles is described. A total of 11 events were found in the electron channel, 9 in the muon channel and 7 in the tau channel. Results on lepton pairs with a radiated photon are also presented. The data from all channels are compatible with the expectations from standard processes. However, one event was found in the tau channel with an unusually high mass of the charged particle pair.

Updated precision measurement of the average lifetime of B hadrons

The measurement of the average lifetime of B hadrons using inclusively reconstructed secondary vertices has been updated using both an improved processing of previous data and additional statistics from new data. This has reduced the statistical and systematic uncertainties and gives \tau_{\mathrm{B}} = 1.582 \pm 0.011\ \mathrm{(stat.)} \pm 0.027\ \mathrm{(syst.)}\ \mathrm{ps.} Combining this result with the previous result based on charged particle impact parameter distributions yields \tau_{\mathrm{B}} = 1.575 \pm 0.010\ \mathrm{(stat.)} \pm 0.026\ \mathrm{(syst.)}\ \mathrm{ps.}

Improved measurements of cross sections and asymmetries at the Z0 resonance

During the 1992 running period of the LEP e+e- collider, the DELPHI experiment accumulated approximately 24 pb-1 of data at the Z0 peak. The decays into hadrons and charged leptons have been analysed to give values for the cross sections and leptonic forward-backward asymmetries which are significantly improved with respect to those previously published by the DELPHI collaboration. Incorporating these new data, more precise values for the Z0 resonance parameters are obtained from model-independent fits. The results are interpreted within the framework of the Standard Model, yielding for the top quark mass m(t) = 157(-48)+36(expt.)-20(+19)(Higgs) GeV, and for the effective mixing angle sin2 …

Search for neutral heavy leptons produced in Z decays

Weak isosinglet Neutral Heavy Leptons ($\nu_m$) have been searched for using data collected by the DELPHI detector corresponding to $3.3\times 10^{6}$ hadronic~Z$^{0}$ decays at LEP1. Four separate searches have been performed, for short-lived $\nu_m$ production giving monojet or acollinear jet topologies, and for long-lived $\nu_m$ giving detectable secondary vertices or calorimeter clusters. No indication of the existence of these particles has been found, leading to an upper limit for the branching ratio $BR($Z$^0\rightarrow \nu_m \overline{\nu})$ of about $1.3\times10^{-6}$ at 95\% confidence level for $\nu_m$ masses between 3.5 and 50 GeV/$c^2$. Outside this range the limit weakens rap…

Measurement of the forward-backward asymmetry of e(+)e(-)-]z-]b(b)over-bar using prompt leptons and a lifetime tag

The forward-backward asymmetry of the process e+e-→Z→b {Mathematical expression} has been measured using events collected by the DELPHI experiment during the 1991 and 1992 LEP runs. This data sample corresponded to 884 000 hadronic Z decays at a centre-of-mass energy {Mathematical expression}. The tagging of b-quark events was performed using two approaches; the first was based on the semileptonic decay channels b→X+μ and b→X+e, the second used a lifetime tag with jet-charge reconstruction. The results of these two methods were combined to give {Mathematical expression} With the semileptonic sample, the forward-backward asymmetry of the process e+e-→Z→ {Mathematical expression} was also mea…

Measurement of the lifetime of tau-lepton

The tau lepton lifetime is measured with the L3 detector at LEP using the complete data taken at centre-of-mass energies around the Z pole resulting in tau_tau = 293.2 +/- 2.0 (stat) +/- 1.5 (syst) fs. The comparison of this result with the muon lifetime supports lepton universality of the weak charged current at the level of six per mille. Assuming lepton universality, the value of the strong coupling constant, alpha_s is found to be alpha_s(m_tau^2) = 0.319 +/- 0.015(exp.) +/- 0.014 (theory). The tau lepton lifetime is measured with the L3 detector at LEP using the complete data taken at centre-of-mass energies around the Z pole resulting in τ τ =293.2 ± 2.0 (stat) ± 1.5 (syst) fs . The c…

Rapidity correlations in Lambda baryon and proton production in hadronic Z0 decays

In an analysis of multihadronic events recorded at LEP by DELPHI in the years 1992 through 1994, charged hadrons are identified using the measurement of their energy loss and their Cherenkov angle. Rapidity correlations of \La-\La, proton-proton, and \La-proton pairs are compared. The agreement with the string and cluster fragmentation models is tested. For those pairs that frame a meson in terms of rapidity the compensation of strangeness is studied. For \La{}$\overline{\mathrm{p}}$ pairs the additional correlation with respect to charged kaons is analysed.

A search for neutral higgs particles in Z$^0$ decays

Abstract The search in DELPHI data for neutral Higgs bosons is described. No candidate for the Standard Model Higgs is seen in Z0 decays to H 0 ν ν , H 0 μ + μ − or H0τ+τ− after selections that proved efficient for finding simulated H0. One remaining candidate for Z0 → H0e+e− is consistent with background. Together with our earlier studies, these results restrict the H0 mass to be above 38 GeV/c2 at the 95% confidence level. No signal is found for decays of Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model neutral Higgs bosons to τ+τ−. Limits are obtained for their decays to produce four jets.

Search for the t and b' quarks in hadronic decays of the Z0 boson

We present a search for the third generation up type quark t and a possible fourth down type quark b' in hadronic Z0 decays observed in DELPHI at the LEP collider. For any scenario with a decay through the charged current or into a charged Higgs with a mass at least 6 GeV/c2 below the t and 3 GeVc2 below the b' mass, we set a lower limit for the t quark mass at 44.0 GeV/c2 and for the b' mass at 44.5 GeV/c2. For specific scenarios the mass limits are slightly higher, e.g. for charged current decays the limits are 44.5 and 45.0 GeV/c2 respectively, where all limits are given at a 95% confidence level. © 1990.

PRODUCTION CHARACTERISTICS OF K-0 AND LIGHT MESON RESONANCES IN HADRONIC DECAYS OF THE Z(0)

An analysis of inclusive production of K0and the meson resonances K*±(892), ρ0(770), f0(975) and f2(1270) in hadronic decays of the Z0is presented, based on about 973,000 multihadronic events collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP during 1991 and 1992. Overall multiplicities have been determined as 1.962±0.060 K0mesons, 0.712±0.067 K*±(892) and 1.21±0.15ρ0(770) per hadronic Z0decay. The average multiplicities of f0(975) for scaled momentum, xp, in the range 0.05≤xp≤0.6 and of f2(1270) for 0.05≤xp≤1.0 are 0.098±0.016 and 0.170±0.043 respectively. The f0(975) and ρ0(770)xp-spectra have similar shapes. The f2(1270)/ρ0(770) ratio increases with xp. The average multiplicities…

Performance of the DELPHI detector

DELPHI (DEtector with Lepton, Photon and Hadron Identification) is a detector for e(+)e(-) physics, designed to provide high granularity over a 4 pi solid angle, allowing an effective particle identification, It has been operating at the LEP (Large Electron-Positron) collider at CERN since 1989. This article reviews its performance.

Evidence for B$^{0}_{s}$ meson production in Z$^0$ decays

Seven unambiguous events out of a sample of 270 000 Z0 decays, contain in tile same jet a D(s) meson and a muon at large transverse momentum relative to the et axis. These events are direct evidence for B(s)0 meson production in hadronic Z0 decays. The production rate of these events, relative to all hadronic Z0 decays is ( 18 +/- 8) x 10(-5) this number including the relevant branching fractions of the B(s)0 and D(s). The value of the B(s)0 meson lifetime relative to the average B meson lifetime is measured to be 0.8 +/- 0.4.

Observation of orbitally excited B mesons

Experimental evidence for the existence of orbitally excited B meson states is presented in an analysis of the Bπ and B*π distribution of Q = m(B**) - m(B(*)) - m(π) using Z0decay data taken with the DELPHI detector at LEP. The mean Q-value of the decays B**→ B(*)π is measured to be 284 ± 5 (stat.) ± 15 (syst.) MeV/c2, and the Gaussian width of the signal is 79 ± 5 (stat.) ± 8 (syst.) MeV/c2. This signal can be described as a single resonance of mass m = 5732 ± 5 (stat.) ± 20 (syst.) MeV/c2and full width Γ = 145 ± 28 MeV/c2. The observed shape is also consistent with the production of several broad and narrow states as predicted by the quark model and partly observed in the D-…

A Search for Sleptons and Gauginos in Z0 Decays

Using a data sample corresponding to 10 000 hadronic Z0 decays, we have searched for the production of sleptons and gauginos in the two-prong decays of Z0. No candidate remains after straightforward selections. For neutralinos, we use selection methods developed in our previous search for neutral Higgs particles. The negative results are translated into improved mass limits and parameter constraints on the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model.

FIRST MEASUREMENT OF THE STRANGE QUARK ASYMMETRY AT THE Z(0) PEAK

A measurement of the strange quark forward-backward asymmetry at the Z0 peak was performed using 718,000 multihadronic Z0 decays collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP in 1992. The s-quark was tagged by the presence of high momentum charged kaons identified by the Ring Imaging Cherenkov detector and by Λ0;s decaying into pπ-. The s-quark purity obtained was estimated for the two hadrons to be 43%. The average s-quark asymmetry was found to be 0.131±0.035 (stat.) ±0.013 (syst.). The forward-backward asymmetry was measured for unresolved d-and s-quarks, tagged by the detection of a high energy neutron or neutral kaon in the Hadron Calorimeter. The combined d-and s-quark purity was 69% and th…

Search for exclusive decays of the Lambda_b baryon and measurement of its mass

A search for fully reconstructed \lb beauty baryons is performed using about 3 million Z decays collected with the DELPHI detector at LEP. The analysis relies on the combined use of the accurate tracking and of the hadron identification capabilities of DELPHI. A total of four events has been found, three in the \lc\ppm channel and one in the \lc\a1m channel over a small background. The \lb beauty baryon mass is measured to be (~ 5668 \pm 16~ ({\rm stat.}) \pm 8~({\rm syst.})~)~ \mv.

Tuning and test of fragmentation models based on identified particles and precision event shape data

Event shape and charged particle inclusive distributions are measured using 750000 decays of the $Z$ to hadrons from the DELPHI detector at LEP. These precise data allow a decisive confrontation with models of the hadronization process. Improved tunings of the JETSET ARIADNE and HERWIG parton shower models and the JETSET matrix element model are obtained by fitting the models to these DELPHI data as well as to identified particle distributions from all LEP experiments. The description of the data distributions by the models is critically reviewed with special importance attributed to identified particles.

Measurement and interpretation of the $W$-pair cross-section in $e^+e^-$ interactions at 161 GeV

In 1996 LEP ran at a centre-of-mass energy of 161~GeV, just above the threshold of W-pair production. DELPHI accumulated data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9.93 {\mathrm{~pb^{-1}}}$, and observed 29 events that are considered as candidates for W-pair production. From these, a cross-section for the doubly resonant $e^+e^-\to\mathrm{WW}$ process of $3.67~^{+0.97}_{-0.85} \pm 0.19{\mathrm{~pb}}$ has been measured. Within the Standard Model, this cross-section corresponds to a mass of the W-boson of ${\mathrm{80.40~\pm~0.44~(stat.)~\pm~0.09~(syst.) ~\pm 0.03~(LEP)~GeV}}/c^2$. Alternatively, if $m_{\mathrm{W}}$ is held fixed at its current value determined by other experiments, t…

Search for heavy charged scalars in Z$^0$ Decays

Using a sample of Z0's corresponding to about 12 000 events, we have searched for the production of charged scalars, primarily charged Higgs particles, decaying into c̄scs̄, τν+jets, and τντν. The average detection efficiency is 20%. No candidate was found in the leptonic modes. Masses in the range up to 30-36 GeV/c2 are excluded, extending the mass domain covered by previous e+e- machines.

Measurements of the tau polarisation in Z0 decays

A sample of Z0→τ+τ- events observed in the DELPHI detector at LEP in 1991 and 1992 is analysed to measure the τ polarisation in the exclusive decay channels {Mathematical expression}, {Mathematical expression}, πν, ρν and a1ν. The τ polarisation is also measured with an inclusive hadronic analysis which benefits from a higher efficiency and a better systematic precision than the use of the exclusive decay modes. The results have been combined with those published on the 1990 data. A measurement of the τ polarisation as a function of production angle yields the values for the mean τ polarisation 〈P〉τ=-0.148±0.022 and for the Z0 polarisation PZ=-0.136±0.027. These results are used to determin…

A Measurement of the Bbbar Forward-backward Asymmetry Using the Semileptonic Decay Into Muons

J / psi production in the hadronic decays of the Z.

Abstract: J/psi mesons have been reconstructed from their decay to mu(+)mu(-) and e(+)e(-), using the data collected by the DELPHI experiment during 1991 and 1992 at the LEP collider. From about 1 million hadronic Z decays 153 +/- 17 J/psi were found, 5.4 +/- 2.3 psi' were obtained in the channel J/psi(--> mu(+)mu(-))pi(+)pi(-) and 6.4 +/- 2.7 chi(c) in the channel J/psi(--> mu(+)mu(-))gamma. As the dominant source of J/psi mesons is from b quarks, the following branching ratios: Br(b-->J/psi X) = (1.12 +/- 0.12 (stat.) +/- 0.10 (syst.))%, Br(b --> psi' X) = (0.48 +/- 0.22 (stat.) +/- 0.10 (syst.))%, Br(b-->chi(cl) X) = (1.4 +/- 0.6 (stat.)(-0.2)(+0.4) (syst.))% were measured. From the prop…

Search for exclusive charmless b meson decays with the Delphi detector at Lep

Charmless hadronic decays of beauty mesons have been searched for using the data collected with the DELPHI detector at the LEP collider. Several two, three and four-body decay modes have been investigated. Particle identification was used to distinguish the final states with protons, kaons and pions. Three candidate events selected in two-body decay modes are interpreted as evidence for charmless B decays. No excess has been found in higher multiplicity modes and improved upper limits for some of the branching ratios are given. © 1995.

Measurement of inclusive production of light meson resonances in hadronic decays of the Z0

A study of inclusive production of the meson resonances ρ0, K*0 (892), f{hook}0 (975) and f{hook}2 (1270) in hadronic decays of the Z0 is presented. The measured mean meson multiplicity per hadronic event is 0.83 ± 0.14 for the ρ0 0.64 ± 0.24 for the K*0 (892), 0.10 ± 0.04 for the f{hook}0 (975) in the momentum range p > 0.05pbeam (xp > 0.05) and 0.11 ± 0.05 for the f{hook}2 (1270) for xp > 0.1. These values and the corresponding differential cross sections ( 1 σhadr) dσ dxp for the vector mesons are in good agreement with the predictions of the JETSET 7.3 PS and HERWIG 5.4 models. The f{hook}2 (1270) production is overestimated by HERWIG but its xp-shape is correctly reproduced. T…

Measurement of inclusive K*(0)(892), phi(1020) and K-2*(0)(1430) production in hadronic Z decays

The inclusive production of the neutral vector mesons K-*0(892) and phi(1020), and of the tensor meson K-2(*0)(1430), in hadronic decays of the Z has been mea sured by the DELPHI detector at LEP. The average production rates per hadronic Z decay have been determined to be 0.77 +/- 0.08 K-2(*0)(892), 0.104 +/- 0.008 phi(1020) and 0.079 +/- 0.040 K-2(*0)(1430). The ratio of the tensor-to-vector meson production yields, [K-2(*0)(1430)]/[K-*0(892)] = 0.10 +/- 0.05, is smaller than the [f(2)(1270)]/[rho(0)(770)] and [f'(2)(1525)]/[phi(1020)] ratios measured by DELPHI. The production rates and differential cross sections are compared with the predictions of JETSET 7.4 tuned to the DELPHI data and…

A comparison of jet production rates on the Z0 resonance to perturbative QCD

The production rates for 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-jet hadronic final states have been measured with the DELPHI detector at the e+e- storage ring LEP at centre of mass energies around 91.5 GeV. Fully corrected data are compared to O(αs 2) QCD matrix element calculations and the QCD scale parameter ΛMS is determined for different parametrizations of the renormalization scale μ2. Including all uncertainties our result is αs(MZ 2)=0.114±0.003[stat.]±0.004[syst.]±0.012[theor.] .

Search for pair production of heavy objects in 4-jet events at sqrt {s}$=130-136 GeV

Results are presented of a search for pair production of heavy objects decaying into four hadronic jets, as expected for example from associated or pair production of MSSM Higgs bosons, hA or H$^+$H$^-$, using a data sample of $5.9\,$pb$^{-1}$ of $e^+ e^-$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=130$-$136\,{\mathrm {GeV}}$ collected with the DELPHI detector at LEP in November 1995. The data and expectations from standard processes agree after four-jet selections. An analysis based on $b$-tagging finds no hA candidate with high mass. A study optimized to search for H$^+$H$^-$ events with mass in the 40-50$\,{\mathrm{GeV}}/c^2$ range also finds no candidate. Finally a comparison is made with a recent ALEPH a…

A measurement of the tau lifetime

The tau lepton lifetime is measured using four different methods with the DELPHI detector. Three measurements using one prong decays are combined, accounting for correlations, resulting in tau(tau) = 298 +/- 7 (stat.) +/- 4 (syst.) fs while the decay length distribution of three prong decays gives tau(tau) = 298 +/- 13 (stat.) +/- 5 (syst.) fs. The combined result is tau(tau) = 298 +/- 7 fs. The ratio of the Fermi coupling constant from tau decay relative to that from muon decay is found to be 0.985 +/- 0.013, compatible with lepton universality.

First measurement of f′2 (1525) production in Z0 hadronic decays

The inclusive production of the f(2)'(1525) in hadronic Z(0) decays has been studied in data collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP. The Ring Imaging Cherenkov detectors were important tools in the identification of the decay f(2)'(1525) --> K+K-. The average number of f(2)(')(1525) produced per hadronic Z decay, [f(2)'] = 0.020 +/- 0.005 (stat) +/- 0.006 (syst), and the momentum distribution of the f(2)'(1525) have both been measured. The mass and width of the f(2)'(1525) are found to be [M(f2)'] = 1535 +/- 5 (stat) +/- 4 (syst) MeV/c(2). [Gamma(f2)'] = 60 +/- 20 (stat) +/- 19 (syst) MeV/c(2)

Lifetime of Charged and Neutral B-hadrons Using Event Topology

The lifetimes of charged and neutral B hadrons have been measured using data collected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP between 1991 and 1993. B hadrons are tagged as jets with a secondary vertex and the charge of the B candidate is taken to be the sum of the charges of the particles in the secondary vertex. Approximately 1,434,000 multihadronic \PZz decays yielded 1817 B hadron candidates. The B purity was estimated to be around 99.1\pm0.3\%, and 83\% (70\%) of the events measured as neutral (charged) came from neutral (charged) B's. The mean lifetimes of charged and neutral B hadrons were found to be \TAUBC\pm\ERRBC\;(stat.)\pm\SYSBC\;(syst.)~ps and \TAUBN\pm\ERRBN\;(stat.)\pm\SYSBN\;(syst…

Search for neutral and charged Higgs bosons in $e^+ e^-$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$= 161 GeV and 172 GeV

A search for neutral and charged Higgs bosons has been performed in the data collected by the {\sc DELPHI} detector at centre-of-mass energies of 161~GeV and 172~GeV. The analysis assumes either the pair-production of charged Higgs bosons, ${\mathrm H}^{\pm}$, or the production of the lightest neutral Higgs boson, h, with either a Z or a neutral pseudoscalar Higgs boson, A. All final state topologies expected from the decay of h and A %neutral Higgs particles into hadrons or a pair of $\tau$ leptons, and from the decay of ${\mathrm H}^{\pm}$ %charged Higgs bosons into a pair of quarks or a $\tau \nu_{\tau}$ pair have been considered. %In the case of the associated production with a Z boson,…

Search for promptly produced heavy quarkonium states in hadronic Z decays

A search has been made for direct production of heavy quarkonium states in more than 3 million hadronic Z^{0} decays in the 1991-1994 DELPHI data. Prompt J/\psi, \psi(2S) and \Upsilon candidates have been searched for through their leptonic decay modes using criteria based on the kinematics and decay vertex positions. New upper limits are set at the 90 \% confidence level for {Br( Z^0 \rightarrow \left( Q \bar{Q} \right) X ) / Br( Z^0 \rightarrow \mbox{hadrons})} for various strong production mechanisms of J/\psi and \Upsilon; these range down to 0.9 \times 10^{-4}. The limits are set in the presence of a small excess (\sim 1 \% statistical probability of a background fluctuation) in the su…

Strange baryon production in Z hadronic decays

A study of the production of strange octet and decuplet baryons in hadronic decays of the Z recorded by the DELPHI detector at LEP is presented. This includes the first measurement of the ∑± average multiplicity. The total and differential cross sections, the event topology and the baryon-antibaryon correlations are compared with current hadronization models. © 1995 Springer-Verlag.

A measurement of the mean lifetimes of charged and neutral B-hadrons

The decays of B-hadrons have been reconstructed using the charged particles recorded in the DELPHI silicon microstrip detector. The sum of the charges of the secondaries determines the charge of the B-hadron parent. Some 232 114 multihadronic Z0 decays recorded during the 1991 run of LEP at centre-of-mass energies between 88.2 GeV and 94.2 GeV yield 253 B-hadron candidates with well-measured charge. From these the mean lifetimes of neutral and charged B-hadrons are found to be 1.44 +/- 0.21(stat.) +/- 0.14(syst.) ps and 1.56 +/- 0.19(stat.) +/- 0.13(syst.) ps respectively. The ratio of their lifetimes is 1.09(-0.23)+0.28 (Stat.) +/- 0.11 (syst.). Under some assumptions on the abundance and …

Measurement of the Z$^0$ branching fraction to b quark pairs using the boosted sphericity product

Abstract From a sample of about 120 000 hadronic Z 0 decays, using a technique based on a separation of the different event categories in the boosted sphericity product, the fraction of b b decays has been measured to be 0.219 ± 0.014 (stat)± 0.019 (syst). Using the DELPHI determination of the hadronic Z 0 width, this corresponds to a partial width τ b b = 378 ± 42 MeV (in good agreement with the standard model prediction of ∼-380 MeV). Combining this measurement with the determinations based on events with high p t leptons gives an estimate for the branching ratio of b into leptons at LEP of (11.2 ± 1.2)%, consistent with previous determinations.

Searches for heavy neutrinos from Z decays

We have searched for possible fourth family heavy neutrinos, pair produced in Z0 decays, in a sample of about 112 000 hadronic Z0 final states collected with the DELPHI detector. For all mixing matrix elements we exclude a new Dirac neutrino lighter than 44.5 GeV at a 95% confidence level, if the neutrino couples to the electron or muon family, and lighter than 44.0 GeV, if the neutrino couples to the tau family. Depending on the values of the mixing element and to which lepton family the neutrino couples, we obtain mass limits up to 46.2 GeV. For all mixing matrix elements we exclude a new Majorana neutrino lighter than 39.0 GeV, if it couples to the electron or the muon family, and lighte…

Search For Light Neutral Higgs Particles Produced In Z0-decays

A search for the neutral Higgs boson in Z0-decays has been performed using the DELPHI detector at the Large Electron Positron collider (LEP) at CERN. We looked for the decay of Z0 into a neutral Higgs particle and a pair of fermions. No events fulfilled the criteria for H0-production. Our results, which are based on an integrated luminosity of 530 nb-1, exclude a minimal Standard Model Higgs boson with a mass in the range 210 MeV/c2 to 14 GeV/c2 at 95% confidence level.

A measurement of the \(\tau\) leptonic branching fractions

Abstract: A sample of 25000 Z(0) --> tau(-)tau(+) events collected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP in 1991 and 1992 is used to measure the leptonic branching fractions of the tau lepton. The results are B(tau --> e nu) = (17.51+/-0.39)% and B(tau --> mu nu) = (17.02+/-0.31)%. The ratio of the muon and electron couplings to the weak charged current is measured to be g(mu)/g(e) = 1.000+/-0.013, satisfying e-mu universality. The average leptonic branching fraction corrected to the value for a massless lepton, assuming e-mu universality, is found to be B(tau --> l nu) = (17.50+/-0.25)%.

PRODUCTION-RATE AND DECAY LIFETIME MEASUREMENTS OF B(S)0 MESONS AT LEP USING D(S) AND PHI MESONS

The study of the properties of inclusive production of Ds mesons and of events in which a φ{symbol} and a muon are present in the same jet provides two independent measurements of the probability, fs w, for a heavy quark to hadronize into a strange B or D meson. The data sample analysed corresponds to 243,000 hadronic Z0 decays. The combined value of these measurements is fs w=0.19±0.06±0.08. From the flight distance distributions of Ds and of (φ{symbol}-lepton) secondary vertices, with the lepton emitted at high transverse momentum relative to the jet axis, two values are obtained for the Bs 0 meson lifetime. Combining these measurements with a previous result based on the study of Ds-μ ev…

A measurement of αs from the scaling violation in e+e- annihilation

The hadronic fragmentation functions of the various quark flavours and of gluons are measured in a study of the inclusive hadron production from $\zz$ decays with the DELPHI detector and are compared with the fragmentation functions measured elsewhere at energies between 14 GeV and 91 GeV. A large scaling violation is observed, which is used to extract the strong coupling constant from a fit using a numerical integration of the second order DGLAP evolution equations. The result is \begin{displaymath} \alpha_s(M_Z) = 0.124^{+0.006}_{-0.007}(exp)\pm 0.009 (theory) \end{displaymath} where the first error represents the experimental uncertainty and the second error is due to the factorization a…

Charged particle multiplicity in e^{+}e_{-}$ → q[L:q] events at 161 and 172 GeV and from the decay of the W boson

The data collected by DELPHI in 1996 have been used to measure the average charged particle multiplicities and dispersions in $q\bar{q}$ events at centre-of-mass energies of $\sqrt{s}=161$~GeV and $\sqrt{s}=172$~GeV, and the average charge multiplicity in WW events at $\sqrt{s}=172$~GeV. The multiplicities in $q\bar{q}$ events are consistent with the evolution predicted by QCD. The dispersions in the multiplicity distributions are consistent with Koba-Nielsen-Olesen (KNO) scaling. The average multiplicity of charged particles in hadronic W decays has been measured for the first time; its value, $19.23 \pm 0.74 (stat+syst)$, is consistent with that expected for an $e^+e^-$ interaction at a c…

Search for pair production of neutral Higgs bosons in Z$^0$ decays

The pair production of the lightest scalar Higgs boson, h, and a pseudoscalar Higgs boson, A, was searched for in a data sample containing 10 000 hadronic Z0 decays. The search involved both leptonic and purely hadronic decay channels of each Higgs boson. No signal was found, and limits on the Higgs boson masses, in the framework of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model, ar reported up to 35 GeV/c2 at 95% CL, for both tan β > 1 and tan β < 1, where tan β is the ratio of the vacuum expectation values of the two Higgs doublets.

Measurement of the transverse spin correlation in Z → τ+ τ- decays

The measurement of the correlation between the transverse spin components of tau(+)tau(-) pairs collected during 1992 to 1994 with the DELPHI detector at LEP1 is presented. A value C-TT = 0.87 +/- 0.20 (stat.)(-0.12)(+0.10) (syst.) was obtained for the correlation parameter, in agreement with the Standard Model expectation. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

A study of intermittency in Hadronic Z$^0$ Decays

The correlations in rapidity in hadron production from e+e- annihilation near the Z0 resonance were studied by means of the method of factorial moments, using data taken with the DELPHI detector at LEP. The parton shower hadronization model was found to be in quantitative agreement with the data, in contrast with previous results at lower energies. © 1990.

Measurement of the spin density matrix for the rho(0), K*(0)(892) and phi produced in Z(0) decays

The spin density matrix elements for the rho(0), K-*0(892) and phi produced in hadronic Z(0) decays are measured in the DELPHI detector. There is no evidence for spin alignment of the K-*0(892) and phi, in the region x(p) less than or equal to 0.3 (x(p) = p/p(beam)), where rho(00) = 0.33 +/- 0.05 and rho(00) = 0.30 +/- 0.04, respectively. In the fragmentation region, x(p) greater than or equal to 0.4, there is some indication for spin alignment of the rho(0) and K-*0(892), since rho(00) = 0.43 +/- 0.05 and rho(00) = 0.46 +/- 0.08, respectively. These values are compared with those found in meson-induced hadronic reactions. For the phi, rho(00) = 0.30 +/- 0.04 for x(p) greater than or equal …

Classification of the hadronic decays of the Z$^0$ into b and c quark pairs using a neural network

A classifier based on a feed-forward neural network has been used for separating a sample of about 123 500 selected hadronic decays of the Z 0 , collected by DELPHI during 1991, into three classes according to the flavour of the original quark pair: u u +d d +s s (unresolved), c c and b b . The classification has been used to compute the partial widths of the Z 0 into b and c quark pairs. This gave Γ c c /Γ h = 0.151 ± 0.008 ( stat. ) ± 0.041 ( syst. ) , Γ b b /Γ h = 0.232±0.005 ( stat. )±0.017 ( syst. ) .

Measurement of $\Delta^{++}$(1232) production in hadronic Z decays

A measurement of the \Delta^{++}(1232) inclusive production in hadronic decays of the Z at LEP is presented, based on 1.3 million hadronic events collected~ by the DELPHI~ detector in the 1994 LEP running~ period. The DELPHI ring imaging Cherenkov counters are used for identifying hadrons. The average \Delta^{++}(1232) multiplicity per hadronic event is 0.079 \pm 0.015 which is more than a factor of two below the JETSET, HERWIG and UCLA model predictions. It agrees with a recently proposed universal mass dependence of particle production rates in e^{+}e^- annihilations.

Measurement of correlations between pions from different W's in e+e- → W+W- events

Correlations between pions from different W's in e(+)e(-) --> W+W- events are studied using data collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP running at a centre-of-mass energy of 172 GeV in 1996. At the present level of statistics, no enhancement of the correlation function above that expected from a pair of uncorrelated W's is observed at small values of the four-momentum difference of the pions. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

A precise measurement of the Z resonance parameters through its hadronic decays

A measurement of the cross section for e+e-→ hadrons using 11 000 hadronic decays of the Z boson at ten different center-of-mass energies is presented. A three-parameter fit gives the following values for the Z mass MZ, the total width ΓZ, the product of the electronic and hadronic partial widths ΓeΓh, and the unfolded pole cross section σ0: MZ = 91.171 ± 0.030 (stat.) ± 0.030 (beam) GeV, ΓZ = 2.511 ± 0.065 GeV, ΓeΓh = 0.148 ± 0.006 (stat.) ± 0.004 (syst.) GeV2, σ0 = 41.6 ± 0.7 (stat.) ± 1.1 (syst.) nb, Good agreement with the predictions of the standard model is observed. From a two-parameter fit the number of massless neutrino generations is found to be Nv = 2.91 ± 0.26. Thus the hypothes…

Energy dependence of the differences between the quark and gluon jet fragmentation

Three jet events arising from decays of the Z beson, collected by the DELPHI detector, were used to measure differences in quark and gluon fragmentation. Gluon jets were anti-tagged by identifying b quark jets. Unbiased quark jets came from events with two jets plus one photon. Quark and gluon jet properties in different energy ranges were compared for the first time within the same detector. Quark and gluon jets of nearly the same energy in symmetric three jet event topologies were also compared. Using three independent methods, the average value of the ratio of the mean charged multiplicities of gluon and quark jets is [ r ] = 1.241 +/- 0.015 (stat.) +/- 0.025 (syst.). Gluon jets are broa…

Experimental study of the triple-gluon vertex

Abstract In four-jet events from e+e− →Z0 →multihadrons one can separate the three principal contributions from the triple-gluon vertex, double gluon-bremsstrahlung and the secondary quark-antiquark production, using the shape of the two-dimensional angular distributions in the generalized Nachtmann-Reiter angle θ NR ∗ and the opening angle of the secondary jets. Thus one can identify directly the contribution from the triple-gluon vertex without comparison with a specific non-QCD model. Applying this new method to events taken with the DELPHI-detector we get for the ratio of the colour factor Nc to the fermionic Casimir operator C F : N c C F = 2.55 ± 0.55 ( stat. ) ± 0.4 ( fragm. + models…

Study of the leptonic decays of the Z0 boson

Measurements are presented of the cross section ratios Rℓ = σℓ(e+e-→ℓ+ℓ -)/σhh(e+e-→hadrons) for ℓ = e, μ and τ using data taken from a scan around the Z0. The results are Re = (5.09±0.32±0.18)%, Rμ = (4.96±0.35±0.17)% and Rτ,=(4.72±0.38± 0.29)% where, for the ratio Re, the t-channel contribution has been subtracted. These results are consistent with the hypothesis of lepton universality and test this hypothesis at the energy scale s ∼ 8300 GeV2. The absolute cross sections σℓ(e+e-→ℓ +ℓ-) have also been measured. From the cross sections the leptonic partial widths Γe = (83.2±3.0±2.4) MeV, (ΓeΓμ) 1/2=(84.6±3.0±2.4) MeV and (ΓeΓτ) 1/2=(82.6±3.3±3.2) MeV have been extracted. Assuming lepton un…

Limits on the production of scalar leptoquarks from $Z^0$ decays at LEP

A search has been made for pairs and for single production of scalar leptoquarks of the first and second generations using a data sample of 392000 Z0 decays from the DELPHI detector at LEP 1. No signal was found and limits on the leptoquark mass, production cross section and branching ratio were set. A mass limit at 95% confidence level of 45.5 GeV/c2 was obtained for leptoquark pair production. The search for the production of a single leptoquark probed the mass region above this limit and its results exclude first and second generation leptoquarks D0 with masses below 65 GeV/c2 and 73 GeV/c2 respectively, at 95% confidence level, assuming that the D0lq Yukawa coupling alpha(lambda) is equ…

A Measurement of Sin2-theta-w From the Charge Asymmetry of Hadronic Events At the Z0 Peak

Abstract View references (24)The weak mixing angle has been measured from the charge asymmetry of hadronic events with two different approaches using the DELPHI detector at LEP. Both methods are based on a momentum-weighted charge sum to determine the jet charge in both event hemispheres. In a data sample of 247 300 multihadronic Z0 decays a charge asymmetry of 〈QF〉 - 〈QB〉 = -0.0076±0.0012(stat.)±0.0005(exp. syst.)±0.0014(frag.) and a raw forward-backward asymmetry of Araw FB = -0.0109±0.0020(stat.)±0.0010(exp. syst.)±0.0017(frag.) have been measured. This result corresponds to a value of sinθeff=0.2345±0.0030(exp.)±0.0027(frag.) ,sin2θMS=0.2341±0.0030(exp.)±0. 0027(frag.) and to sin2θW=1-m…

Search for scalar quarks in Z0 decays

A search has been made for pairs of scalar quarks (squarks) produced in e+e- annihilations at LEP (√s≃MZ0), and decaying into a standard quark and a neutral, non-interacting, stable, massive particle (the lightest supersymmetric particle, LSP). The search has been conducted for differences in the mass of the squark and LSP of 2 GeV/c2 and above. Up squarks with masses below 42 GeV/c2 and down squarks below 43 GeV/c2 were excluded. Six squark flavours degenerate in mass were excluded below 45 GeV/c2.

Multiplicity dependence of mean transverse momentum in $e^+e^-$ annihilations at LEP energies

A strong increase of the mean transverse momentum [p(t)] with the number of charged particles n(ch) is observed in e+e- annihilations into hadrons at LEP energies, The effect resembles correlations observed in hadron-hadron interactions. In e+e- annihilations the [p(t)] and n(ch) correlations can be accounted for by gluon radiation.

Charged particle multiplicity distributions in restricted rapidity intervals in Z0 hadronic decays.

The multiplicity distributions of charged particles in restricted rapidity intervals in Z0 hadronic decays measured by the DELPHI detector are presented. The data reveal a shoulder structure, best visible for intervals of intermediate size, i.e. for rapidity limits around ±1.5. The whole set of distributions including the shoulder structure is reproduced by the Lund Parton Shower model. The structure is found to be due to important contributions from 3-and 4-jet events with a hard gluon jet. A different model, based on the concept of independently produced groups of particles, "clans", fluctuating both in number per event and particle content per clan, has also been used to analyse the pres…

Determination of 55-155-155-1in second order QCD from hadronic Z decays

Distributions of event shape variables obtained from 120600 hadronic Z decays measured with the DELPHI detector are compared to the predictions of QCD based event generators. Values of the strong coupling constant αs are derived as a function of the renormalization scale from a quantitative analysis of eight hadronic distributions. The final result, αs(MZ), is based on second order perturbation theory and uses two hadronization corrections, one computed with a parton shower model and the other with a QCD matrix element model. © 1992 Springer-Verlag.

Lifetime and production rate of beauty baryons from Z decays

The production and decay of beauty baryons (b-baryons) have been studied using 1.7 \times 10^6 Z hadronic decays collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP. Three different techniques were used to identify the b-baryons. The first method used pairs of a \Lambda and a lepton to tag the b-baryon decay. The second method associated fully reconstructed \Lambda_c baryons with leptons. The third analysis reconstructed the b-baryon decay points by forming secondary vertices from identified protons and muons of opposite sign. Using these methods the following production rates were measured: \begin{eqnarray*} f(\qb \ra \Bb) \times \BR(\Bb \ra \mLs \ell\bar{\nu}_{\ell}\X) & = & (0.30 \pm 0.06 \pm0.04)\%…

Measurement of the partial width of the decay of the Z0 into charm quark pairs

A determination of the partial width Γc̄ of the Z0 boson into charm quark pairs is presented, based on a total sample of 36 900 Z0 hadronic decays measured with the DELPHI detector at the LEP collider. The production rate of cc events is derived from the inclusive analysis of charged pions coming from the decay of charmed meson D*+-→D0π+ and D*-→D̄0π- where the π± is constrained by kinematics to have a low pT with respect to the jet axis. The probability to procedure these π± from D*± decay in cc events is taken to be 0.31±0.05 as measured at √S = 10.55 GeV. The measured relative partial width Γ∞/Γh = 0.162± 0.030(stat.) ± 0.050(syst.) is in good agreement with the standard model value of 0…

MEASUREMENT OF THE FORWARD-BACKWARD ASYMMETRY OF CHARM AND BOTTOM QUARKS AT THE Z-POLE USING D-ASTERISK(+/-)-MESONS

The forward-backward asymmetries for the processes $$e^ + e^ - \to c\bar c$$ and $$e^ + e^ - \to b\bar b$$ at theZ resonance are measured using identifiedD *± mesons. In 905,000 selected hadronic events, taken in 1991 and 1992 with the DEL-PHI detector at LEP, 4757D *+→D 0π+ decays are reconstructed. Thec andb quark forward-backward asymmetries are determined to be: $$\begin{gathered} A_{FB}^{c\bar c} = 0.077 \pm 0.029(stat) \pm 0.012(sys), \hfill \\ A_{FB}^{b\bar b} = 0.059 \pm 0.062(stat) \pm 0.024(sys). \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ Constraining theb asymmetry to the value measured by DELPHI using independent analyses, the charm asymmetry is determined to be: $$A_{FB}^{c,const} = 0.068 \pm…

A measurement of the photon structure function F-2(gamma) at an average Q(2) of 12 GeV2/c(4)

The hadronic photon structure function F_{2}^{gamma} has been measured in the Q^{2} range from 4 to 30~GeV^2/c^{4} and down to x values of order 0.001, using data taken with the DELPHI detector at LEP between 1991 and 1993. A comparison is made with several F_{2}^{gamma} parameterizations with special emphasis on their low x behaviour. A result on the Q^{2} evolution of F_{2}^{gamma} is presented.

Search for scalar leptoquarks from Z$^0$ decays

We have searched for pair produced scalar leptoquarks each decaying to a quark and a charged lepton in a sample of 116 000 hadronic Z0 events produced at LEP. No candidate was detected and cross section and branching ratio limits are set for the above process at 95% CL. Mass limits are found to be about 42 GeV/c2 depending only slightly on the models used and a coupling times branching ratio exclusion line is drawn for a scalar leptoquark with a free coupling. We have also probed the mass region above 45 GeV/c2 for a singly produced scalar leptoquark and set limits on the cross section and the coupling lambda(2)/4-pi up to 60 GeV.

MEASUREMENT OF THE GAMMA(B-B-OVER-BAR)/GAMMA(HAD) BRANCHING RATIO OF THE Z BY DOUBLE HEMISPHERE TAGGING

Two measurements of {Mathematical expression} are presented. Both measurements use 250000 Z decays taken with the DELPHI detector in 1991 and rely mainly on the precision of the microvertex detector. One tagging method is as simple as possible so that background rates can be reliably predicted by simulation. The other one uses a more involved tagging technique and reduces the dependence on simulation as much as possible. Combining both results, {Mathematical expression} is found to be 0.2209±0.0041(stat.)±0.0042(syst.)±0.0018 {Mathematical expression}. © 1995 Springer-Verlag.