0000000000517249
AUTHOR
D.e. Hutchcroft
Determination of the LEP centre-of-mass energy from Zγ events
Radiative returns to the Z resonance (Zgamma events) are used to determine the LEP2 centre-of-mass energy from the data collected with the ALEPH detector in 1997. The average centre-of-mass energy is measured to be: E_CM = 182.50 +- 0.19(stat) +- 0.08(syst) GeV in good agreement with the precise determination by the LEP energy working group of 182.652 +- 0.050 GeV. If applied to the measurement of the W mass, its precision translates into a systematic error on M_W which is smaller than the statistical error achieved from the corresponding dataset.
Measurement of W-pair production in $e^{+}e^{-}$ collisions at centre-of-mass energies from 183 to 209 GeV
The W + W- production cross section is measured from a data sample corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 683 pb-1, collected by the ALEPH experiment at LEP at centre-of-mass energies from 183 to 209 GeV. Individual cross sections for the different topologies arising from W decays into leptons or hadrons, as well as the total W-pair cross section are given at eight centre-of-mass energies. The results are found to be in agreement with recently developed Standard Model calculations at the one percent level. The hadronic branching fraction of the W boson is measured to be B(W→qq¯) = 67.13 ± 0.37(stat.) ± 0.15(syst.)%, from which the CKM matrix element |\ensuremathVcs| is determined…
Search for neutral Higgs bosons decaying into four taus at LEP2
A search for the production and non-standard decay of a Higgs boson, h, into four taus through intermediate pseudoscalars, a, is conducted on 683 pb-1 of data collected by the ALEPH experiment at centre-of-mass energies from 183 to 209 GeV. No excess of events above background is observed, and exclusion limits are placed on the combined production cross section times branching ratio, β2 = σ(e+e -→Zh)/σSM(e+e-→Zh) ×B(h→aa)×B(a→τ+τ-) 2. For mh 1 is excluded at the 95% confidence level.
Search for $\gamma\gamma$ decays of a Higgs boson produced in association with a fermion pair in $e^+ e^-$ collisions at LEP
A serach for gamma gamma decays of Higgs boson is performed in the data sample collected at LEP with the ALEPH detector between 1991 and 1999. This corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 672 pb-1 centre-of-mass energies ranging from 88 to 202 GeV. The search is based on topologies arising from a Higgs boson produced in association with a fermion pair via the Higgs-strahlung process e+e- -> Hffbar, with ffbar = nunubar, e+e-, mu+mu-, tau+tau- or qqbar... (CERN)
Branching Ratios and Spectral Functions of $\tau$ Decays: final ALEPH measurements and physics implications
The full LEP-1 data set collected with the ALEPH detector at the $Z$ pole during 1991-1995 is analysed in order to measure the $\tau$ decay branching fractions. Extensive systematic studies are performed, in order to match the large statistics of the data sample corresponding to over 300 000 measured and identified $\tau$ decays. Branching fractions are obtained for the two leptonic channels and eleven hadronic channels defined by their respective numbers of charged particles and $\pi^0$'s. Using previously published ALEPH results on final states with charged and neutral kaons, corrections are applied to the hadronic channels to derive branching ratios for exclusive final states without kao…
A study of single W production in e+e− collisions at –183 GeV
Abstract Single W production is studied in the data recorded with the ALEPH detector at LEP at centre-of-mass energies between 161 and 183 GeV. The cross section is measured to be σW=0.41±0.17(stat.)±0.04(syst.) pb at 183 GeV, consistent with the Standard Model expectation. Limits on non-standard WWγ couplings are deduced as −1.6 γ (λ γ =0) and −1.6 γ (κ γ =1) at 95% C.L. A search for effectively invisible decays of the W boson in W pair production is performed, leading to an upper limit on the branching ratio of 1.3% ( Γ inv =27 MeV ) at 95% C.L.
Absolute Lower Limits on the Masses of Selectrons and Sneutrinos in the MSSM
The results of searches for selectrons, charginos and neutralinos performed with the data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV are interpreted in the framework of the Minimal Supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model with R-parity conservation. Under the assumptions of gaugino and sfermion mass unification and no sfermion mixing, an absolute lower limit of 73 GeV/c2 is set on the mass of the lighter selectron at the 95% confidence level. Similarly, limits on the masses of the heavier selectron and of the sneutrino are set at 107 and 84 GeV/c2, respectively. Additional constraints are derived from the results of the searches for Higgs bosons. T…
Constraints on anomalous QGC's in $e^{+}e^{-}$ interactions from 183 to 209 GeV
The acoplanar photon pairs produced in the reaction e+ e- --> nu nubar gamma gamma are analysed in the 700 inverse nanobarns of data collected by the ALEPH detector at centre-of-mass energies between 183 and 209 GeV. No deviation from the Standard Model predictions is seen in any of the distributions examined. The resulting 95% C.L. limits set on the anomalous QGC's, az_0, az_c, aw_0 and aw_c, are -0.012 GeV**-2 < az_0/Lambda**2 < +0.019 GeV**-2, -0.041 GeV**-2 < az_c/Lambda**2 < +0.044 GeV**-2, -0.060 GeV**-2 < aw_0/Lambda**2 < +0.055 GeV**-2, -0.099 GeV**-2 < aw_c/Lambda**2 < +0.093 GeV**-2, where Lambda is the energy scale of the new Physics responsible for the anomalous couplings.
Inclusive production of the η and ω mesons in Z decays, and the muonic branching ratio of the ω
AbstractThe inclusive production of the η and ω(782) mesons is measured in the π+π−π0 decay mode in hadronic Z decays and compared to model predictions. The analysis is based on 4 million hadronic Z decays recorded by the ALEPH detector between 1991 and 1995. The η production rate for xp=pmeson/pbeam>0.10 is found to be 0.355±0.011stat±0.024sys per event, and the ω production rate for xp>0.05 is measured as 0.585±0.019stat±0.033sys per event. The branching ratio for ω→μ+μ− is investigated. A total of 18.1±5.9 events are observed, from which the muonic branching ratio is measured for the first time to be BR(ω→μ+μ−)=(9.0±2.9stat±1.1sys)×10−5.
Search for charged Higgs bosons in $e^+ e^-$ collisions at energies up to $\sqrt{s}$ = 189 GeV
The data collected at centre-of-mass energies of 188.6 GeV by ALEPH at LEP, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 176.2 pb-1, are analysed in a search for pair-produced charged Higgs bosons H+/-. Three analyses are employed to select the taunutaunu, taunucs and cscs final states. No evidence for a signal is found. Upper limits are set on the production cross section as a function of the branching fraction BR(H+ to tau nu) and of the mass M(H+), assuming that the sum of the branching ratios is equal to one. In the framework of a two-Higgs-doublet model, charged Higgs bosons with masses below 65.4 GeV/c2 are excluded at 95% confidence level independently of the decay mode.
Search for a scalar top almost degenerate with the lightest neutralino e(+)e(-) collisions at root s up to 202 GeV
Data collected at centre-of-mass energies from 189 GeV to 202 GeV by the ALEPH detector at LEP corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 411 pb(-1), are analysed in a search for the scalar top in the decay channels (t) over tilde --> c/u chi for small mass differences between the stop and the lightest neutralino. No evidence for deviations from the Standard Model expectation is found and a lower limit of 59 GeV/c(2) is set for the stop mass, independent of the stop to neutralino mass difference and of the stop lifetime. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
A direct measurement of |Vcs| in hadronic W decays using a charm tag
Abstract The inclusive charm production rate in W decays is measured from a study of the properties of final state particles. The sample of W pairs is selected from 67.7 pb−1 collected by ALEPH in 1996 and 1997 at centre-of-mass energies near 172 and 183 GeV in the channels W+W−→4q and W + W − →lνq q . The branching fraction of hadronic W decays to a final state containing a c quark, RWc= Γ(W→cX)/Γ(W→hadrons), is measured to be 0.51±0.05stat±0.03syst. This allows a direct determination of the CKM matrix element |Vcs|=1.00±0.11stat±0.07syst.
Search for Supersymmetric Particles in e+e- Collisions at sqrt(s) up to 202GeV and Mass Limit for the Lightest Neutralino
Searches for pair production of squarks, sleptons, charginos, and neutralinos are performed with the data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP at centre-of-mass energies from 188.6 to 201.6 GeV. No evidence for any such signals is observed in a total integrated luminosity of about 410pb-1. The negative results of the searches are translated into exclusion domains in the space of the relevant MSSM parameters, which improve significantly on the constraints set previously. Under the assumptions of gaugino and sfermion mass unification, these results allow a 95% C.L. lower limit of 37GeV/c2 to be set on the mass of the lightest neutralino for any tan beta and sfermion mass. Additional constra…
Studies of QCD at $e^{+}e^{-}$ centre-of-mass energies between 91 and 209 GeV
The hadronic final states observed with the ALEPH detector at LEP in e(+)e(-) annihilation are analysed using 730 pb(-1) of data collected between 91 and 209 GeV in the framework of QCD. In particular event-shape variables and inclusive charged particle spectra are measured. The energy evolution of quantities derived from these measurements is compared to analytic QCD predictions. The mean charged particle multiplicity, the charged particle momentum spectrum and its peak position are compared to predictions of the modified-leading-logarithmic approximation. The strong coupling constant alpha(s) is determined from a fit of the QCD prediction to distributions of six event-shape variables at e…
Measurement of W-pair production in e+e- collisions at 183 GeV
The production of W+W- pairs is analysed in a data sample collected by ALEPH at a mean centre-of-mass energy of 182.7 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 57 pb-1. Cross sections are given for different topologies of W decays into leptons or hadrons. Under Standard Model assumptions for the W-pair production and decay, the W-pair cross section is measured to be 15.57+-0.62(stat.)+-0.29(syst.) pb. Using also the W-pair data samples collected by ALEPH at lower centre-of-mass energies, the decay branching ratio of the W boson into hadrons is measured to be B(W->hadrons)= 68.93+-1.21(stat.)+-0.51(syst.)%, allowing a determination of the CKM matrix element |Vcs|= 1.043 +- 0.058(s…
Final results of the searches for neutral Higgs bosons in e+e- collisions at sqrt(s) up to 209GeV
The final results of the ALEPH search for the Standard Model Higgs boson at LEP, with data collected in the year 2000 at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV, are presented. The changes with respect to the preceding publication are described and a complete study of systematic effects is reported. The findings of this final analysis confirm the preliminary results published in November 2000 shortly after the closing down of the LEP collider: a significant excess of events is observed, consistent with the production of a $115 \Gcs$ Standard Model Higgs boson. The final results of the searches for the neutral Higgs bosons of the MSSM are also reported, in terms of limits on $\mh$, $\mA$ and $…
Deuteron and anti-deuteron production in e+e− collisions at the Z resonance
Deuteron and anti-deuteron production in Z decays has been observed in the ALEPH experiment at LEP. The production rate of anti-deuterons is measured to be 5.9+-1.8+-0.5 10^-6 per hadronic Z decay in the anti-deuteron momentum range 0.62 to 1.03 GeV/c. The coalescence parameter B_2, which characterizes the likelihood of anti-deuteron production, is measured to be 0.0033+-0.0013 GeV^2 in Z dedays. These measurements indicate that the production of anti-deuterons is suppressed in e+e- collisions compared to pp and photoproduction collisions.
Searches for sleptons and squarks in e(+)e(-) collisions at 189 GeV
The data collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 188.6 GeV by ALEPH at LEP, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 173.6 pb$^{-1}$, are analysed in a search for the scalar partners of quarks and leptons predicted in supersymmetric models. No evidence for any such particles was found in the decay channels $\sle \to \ell \chi$, $\stop \rightarrow \mathrm{c}\neu$, $\stop \rightarrow \mathrm{b}\ell\snu$, $\sbot \rightarrow \mathrm{b}\neu$, and $\mathrm{\tilde{q}} \rightarrow \mathrm{q}\neu$. Improved mass lower limits have been obtained in the framework of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model.
Bose-Einstein correlations in W-pair decays with an event-mixing technique
Bose-Einstein correlations in W-pair decays are studied using data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP at e(+)e(-) centre-of-mass energies from 183 to 209 GeV. The analysis is based on the comparison of WW --> q (q) over barq (q) over bar events to "mixed" events constructed with the hadronic part of WW --> q (q) over bar lv events. The data are in agreement with the hypothesis that Bose-Einstein correlations are present only for pions from the same W decay. The JETSET model with Bose-Einstein correlations between pions from different W bosons is disfavoured. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Search for single top production in e+e− collisions at –202 GeV
Abstract Single top production via flavour changing neutral currents in the reactions e + e − → t c / u is searched for in approximately 411 pb −1 of data collected by ALEPH at centre-of-mass energies in the range between 189 and 202 GeV. In total, 58 events are selected in the data to be compared with 50.3 expected from Standard Model backgrounds. No deviation from the Standard Model expectation is observed. Upper limits at 95% CL on single top production cross sections at s =189 –202 GeV are derived. A model-dependent limit on the sum of branching ratios BR(t→Zc)+BR(t→Zu)
Production of Ds** mesons in hadronic Z decays
The production rates of the orbitally excited Ds** mesons, Ds1 and Ds2*, are measured with the 4.1 million hadronic Z decays recorded by the ALEPH detector during 1991--1995. The Ds** mesons are reconstructed in the decay modes Ds1+ -> D*+ K0, Ds1+ -> D*0 K+ and Ds2*+ -> D0 K+. The production rate of the Ds1 is measured to be n(Z->Ds1+-)=(0.52+-0.09+-0.06)%, under the assumption that the two considered decay modes of the Ds1 saturate the branching ratio. The production rate of the Ds2* is determined to be n(Z->Ds2*+-)=(0.83+-0.29+0.07-0.13)%, assuming that the branching fraction of the decay Ds2*+ -> D0 K+ is 45%. The production rates in Z->cc and Z->bbar decays are …
Measurement of the e+e- → ZZ production cross section at centre-of-mass energies of 183 and 189 GeV
The ee -> ZZ cross section at sqrt(s)=182.7 and 188.6 GeV has been measured using the ALEPH detector. The analysis covers all of the visible ZZ final states and yields cross section measurements of sigma_ZZ(182.7 GeV) = 0.11 +- (0.16,0.11) (stat.) +- 0.04 (syst.) pb and sigma_ZZ(188.6 GeV) = 0.67 +- 0.13 (stat.) +- 0.04 (syst.) pb consistent with the Standard Model expectations.
Leptonic decays of the D-s meson
The purely leptonic decays Ds -> tau nu and Ds -> mu nu are studied in a sample of four million hadronic Z decays collected with the ALEPH detector at the LEP e+e- collider from 1991 to 1995. The branching fractions are extracted from a combination of two analyses, one optimized to select Ds -> tau nu decays with tau -> e nu nubar or mu nu nubar, and the other optimized for Ds-> mu nu decays. The results are used to evaluate the Ds decay constant, within the Standard Model: fDs = [285 +- 19(stat) +- 40 (syst)] MeV