Search for composite and exotic fermions at LEP 2

A search for unstable heavy fermions with the DELPHI detector at LEP is reported. Sequential and non-canonical leptons, as well as excited leptons and quarks, are considered. The data analysed correspond to an integrated luminosity of about 48~pb$^{-1}$ at an $e^+e^-$ centre-of-mass energy of 183~GeV and about 20~pb$^{-1}$ equally shared between the centre-of-mass energies of 172~GeV and 161~GeV. The search for pair-produced new leptons establishes 95\% confidence level mass limits in the region between 70~GeV/$c^2$ and 90~GeV/$c^2$, depending on the channel. The search for singly produced excited leptons and quarks establishes upper limits on the ratio of the coupling of the excited fermio…

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.}

Production of strange particles in the hadronic decays of the Z0

Abstract An analysis of the production of strange particles from the decays of the Z 0 boson into multihadronic final states is presented. The analysis is based on about 90 000 selected hadronic Z 0 decays collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP in 1990. K s 0 , K ∗± , Λ( Λ ) and Ξ − ( Ξ + ) have been identified by their characteristic decays. The measured production cross sections are compared with predictions of the Lund Monte Carlo tuned to data at PEP/PETRA energies.

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.

Measurement of trilinear gauge couplings in e(+)e(-) collisions at 161 GeV and 172 GeV

Trilinear gauge boson couplings are measured using data taken by DELPHI at 161 GeV and 172 GeV, Values for WWV couplings (V = Z,gamma) are determined from a study of the reactions e(+)e(-) --> W+W- and e(+)e(-) --> We nu, using differential distributions from the WW final state in which one W decays hadronically and the other leptonically, and total cross,section data from other channels, Limits are also derived on neutral ZV gamma couplings from an analysis of the reaction e(+)e(-) --> gamma + invisible particles. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

Search for neutralino pair production at root s = 189 GeV

A search for pair-production of neutralinos at a LEP centre-of-mass energy of 189 GeV gave no evidence for a signal. This limits the neutralino production cross-section and excludes regions in the parameter space of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM).

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.

A measurement of the Tau topological branching ratios

Using data collected in the DELPHI detector at LEP-1, measurements of the inclusive tau branching ratios for decay modes containing one, three, or five charged particles have been performed, giving the following results: B_1 = B(\tau^- -> (particle)^- \geq 0pi^0 \geq 0K^0 \nu_\tau(\bar{\nu})) = (85.316 +/- 0.093 +/- 0.049)%; B_3 = B(\tau^- -> 2h^-h^+ \geq 0pi^0 \geq 0K^0 \nu_\tau) = (14.569 +/- 0.093 +/- 0.048)%; B_5 = B(\tau^- -> 3h^-2h^+ \geq 0pi^0 \geq 0K^0 \nu_\tau) = (0.115 +/- 0.013 +/- 0.006)%, where h is either a charged pi or K meson. The first quoted uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic.

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.

A search for $\eta'_c$ production in photon-photon fusion at LEP

A search for the production of the $\eta'_c$ meson, the first radial excitation of the ground state of charmonium $\eta_c$(2980), in the photon-photon fusion reaction at LEP has been performed using the data collected by the DELPHI detector during 1992-1996. No evidence of $\eta'_c$ production is found in the mass region 3520--3800 MeV/c^2. An upper limit for the ratio of the two-photon widths of the $\eta'_c$ and $\eta_c$ is obtained.

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.

A Precise Measurement of the $\tau$ Polarisation at LEP-1

The $\tau$ polarisation has been studied with the ${\rm e^+e^-}\to \tau^+\tau^-$ data collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP in 1993, 1994 and 1995 around the Z resonance firstly through the exclusive decay channels ${\rm e}\nu\bar{\nu}$ , $\mu\nu\bar{\nu}$ , $\pi\nu$ , $\rho\nu$ and ${\rm a}_1\nu$ and secondly with an inclusive hadronic analysis which benefits from a higher efficiency and a better systematic precision. The results have been combined with those previously published on 1990 to 1992 DELPHI data, to produce results which reflect the full LEP-1 statistics. The fit of the $\tau$ polarisation dependence on the production angle yielded the polarisation parameters ${\cal A}_{_{\sc…

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…

Identified charged particles in quark and gluon jets

A sample of 2.2 million hadronic Z decays, selected from the data recorded by the Delphi detector at LEP during 1994-1995 was used for an improved measurement of inclusive distributions of pi+, K+ and p and their antiparticles in gluon and quark jets. The production spectra of the individual identified particles were found to be softer in gluon jets compared to quark jets, with a higher multiplicity in gluon jets as observed for inclusive charged particles. A significant proton enhancement in gluon jets is observed indicating that baryon production proceeds directly from colour objects. The maxima, xi^*, of the xi-distributions for kaons in gluon and quark jets are observed to be different.

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…

Measurement of the inclusive charmless and double-charm B branching ratios

The DELPHI experiment at LEP has measured the inclusive charmless B hadron decay branching ratio, the B branching ratio into two charmed particles, and the total number of charmed particles per B decay, using the hadronic Z data taken between 1992 and 1995. The results are extracted from a fit to the b-tagging probability distribution based on the precise impact parameter measurements made using the microvertex detector. The inclusive charmless B branching ratio, including B decays into hidden charm (c (c) over bar), is measured to be 0.033 +/- 0.021. The B branching ratio into two open charmed particles is 0.136 +/- 0.042. The mean number of charmed particles per B decay (including hidden …

First evidence for a charm radial excitation, D

Using D*+ mesons exclusively reconstructed in the DELPHI detector at LEP, an excess of 66 +/- 14(stat.) events is observed in the D(*+)pi(+)pi(-) final state with a mass of 2637 +/- 2(stat.) +/- 6(syst.) MeV/c(2) and a full width smaller than 15 MeV/c(2) (95% C.L.). This signal is compatible with the expected decay of a radially excited D*' (J(P) = 1(-))meson. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

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)

Energy dependence of inclusive spectra in e+ e- annihilation

Inclusive charged hadron distributions as obtained from the DELPHI measurements at 130, 136, 161, 172 and 183 GeV are presented as a function of the variables rapidity, xi(p), p and transversal momenta. Data are compared with event generators and with MLLA calculations, in order to examine the hypothesis of local parton hadron duality. The differential momentum spectra show an indication for coherence effects in the production of soft particles. The relation between the energy dependence of the charged multiplicity and the rapidity distribution is examined. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Update of the search for charginos nearly mass-degenerate with the lightest neutralino

The data collected by DELPHI in 1998 at the centre-of-mass energy of 189 GeV have been used to update the search for charginos nearly mass-degenerate with the lightest supersymmetric particle, which is assumed to be the lightest neutralino. Mass differences below \Delta M = 3 GeV/c^2 are considered. No excess of events with respect to the Standard Model expectation has been observed, and exclusions in the plane of \Delta M versus chargino mass are given. The new \Delta M independent lower limit on the mass of the chargino is 62.4 GeV/c^2 in the higgsino scenario (which includes the gaugino mass unification scenario), if all sfermions are heavier than the lightest chargino. In the approximat…

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 the sgoldstino at √s = 189 to 202 GeV.

A search for the supersymmetric partner of the goldstino, the sgoldstino S, at LEP2 is presented. The production Sgamma followed by S decay into two gluons or into two photons was studied at 189 - 202 GeV LEP centre-of-mass energies. No evidence for the S production was found and limits on the S mass corresponding to different theory parameters are given.

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…

Measurement of trilinear gauge boson couplings WWV, (V Z,gamma) in e(+)e(-) collisions at 189 GeV

Measurements of the trilinear gauge boson couplings WWgamma and WWZ are presented using the data taken by DELPHI in 1998 at a centre-of-mass energy of 189 GeV and combined with DELPHI data at 183 GeV. Values are determined for Delta(g_1^Z) and Delta(kappa_gamma), the differences of the WWZ charge coupling and of the WWgamma dipole coupling from their Standard Model values, and for lambda_gamma, the WWgamma quadrupole coupling. A measurement of the magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole moment of the W is extracted from the results for Delta(kappa_gamma) and lambda_gamma. The study uses data from the final states jjlv, jjjj, lX, jjX and gammaX, where j represents a quark jet, l an identifie…

A Precise Measurement of the Tau Lepton Lifetime

The tau lepton lifetime has been measured using three different methods with the DELPHI detector. Two measurements of one-prong decays are combined, accounting for correlations, giving a result of \tau_\tau = 291.8 \pm 3.3 \mbox{ (stat.)} \pm 2.0 \mbox{(sys.) fs} while the decay length distribution of three-prong decays gives the result \tau_{\tau} = 286.7 \pm 4.9 \mbox{ (stat.)} \pm 3.3 \mbox{ (sys.) fs}. Combining the results presented here with previous DELPHI measurements, we get \tau_{\tau} = 291.4 \pm 3.0 fs and find that the ratio of the coupling constant for tau decay relative to that for muon decay is 0.990 \pm 0.009, compatible with lepton universality.

A search for invisible Higgs bosons produced in e+e- interactions at LEP 2 energies

Searches for HZ production with the Higgs boson decaying into an invisible final state have been performed with the data collected by the DELPHI experiment up to the centre-of-mass energy of 183 GeV. The hadronic and muon pair final states of the Z boson were analysed. From the absence of signal, upper limits on the cross-section and the corresponding Higgs boson mass limits were set at 95% confidence level. The results are interpreted as excluded parameter regions in the framework of the minimal supersymmetric standard model and in the simplest Majoron model with one Higgs doublet and one Higgs singlet field. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

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.

Search for chargino pair production in scenarios with gravitino LSP and stau NLSP at GeV at LEP

Promptly decaying lightest charginos were searched for in the context of scenarios with gravitino LSP. It was assumed that the stau is the next to lightest supersymmetric particle (NLSP). Data collected with the DELPHI detector at a centre-of-mass energy near 183~{~mbox{${mathrm{GeV}}$}}\nwere analysed combining the methods developed in previous searches. No evidence for the production of these particles was found. Hence, limits were derived at 95% confidence level. The mass of charginos was found to be greater than 85.5~GeV/$c^2$ for $m_{ ilde{chi}^+_1}-m_{ ilde{ au}_1}geq 0.3 {mathrm{GeV}}/c^2$, independently of the mass of the gravitino.

Masses, lifetimes and production rates of Ξ− and Ξ¯+ at LEP 1

Measurements of the Xi(-) and (Xi) over bar (+) masses, mass differences, lifetimes and lifetime differences are presented. The (Xi) over bar (+) sample used is much larger than those used previously for such measurements. In addition, the S production rates in Z -> b (b) over bar and Z -> q (q) over bar events are compared and the position xi* of the maximum of the distribution in Z -> q (q) over bar events is measured.

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…

Measurement of the Λb0 decay form factor

The form factor of Λb0 baryons is estimated using 3.46×106 hadronic Z decays collected by the DELPHI experiment between 1992 and 1995. Charmed Λc+ baryons fully reconstructed in the pK-π+, pK S0, and Λπ+π+π - modes, are associated to a lepton with opposite charge in order to select Λb0→Λc+l-ν̄l decays. From a combined likelihood and event rate fit to the distribution of the Isgur-Wise variable w, and using the Heavy Quark Effective Theory (HQET), the slope of the b-baryon form factor is measured to be ρ̂2=2.03±0.46(stat) -1.00+0.72(syst). The exclusive semileptonic branching fraction Br(Λb0→Λc+l-ν̄l) can be derived from ρ̂2 and is found to be (5.0-0.8+1.1(stat)-1.2+1.6(syst))%. Limits on ot…

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)%.

Search for supersymmetric particles in scenarios with a gravitino LSP and stau NLSP

Sleptons, neutralinos and charginos were searched for in the context of scenarios where the lightest supersymmetric particle is the gravitino. It was assumed that the stau is the next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle. Data collected with the DELPHI detector at a centre-of-mass energy near 189 GeV were analysed combining the methods developed in previous searches at lower energies. No evidence for the production of these supersymmetric particles was found. Hence, limits were derived at 95% confidence level.

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…

Energy dependence of event shapes and of $\alpha_s$ at LEP 2

Infrared and collinear safe event shape distributions and their mean values are determined using the data taken at five different centre of mass energies above M-Z with the DELPHI detector at LEP. From the event shapes, the strong coupling alpha(s) is extracted in O(alpha(s)(2)), NLLA and a combined scheme using hadronisation corrections evaluated with fragmentation model generators as well as using an analytical power ansatz. Comparing these measurements to those obtained at M-Z, the energy dependence (running) of alpha(s) is accessible. The logarithmic energy slope of the inverse strong coupling is measured to be d alpha(s)(-1)/d log(E-cm) = 1.39 +/- 0.34 (stat) +/- 0.17(syst), in good ag…

Study of dimuon production in photon-photon collisions and measurement of QED photon structure functions at LEP

Muon pair production in the process e+e- -> e+e-mu+mu- is studied using the data taken at LEP1 (sqrt(s) \simeq m_Z) with the DELPHI detector during the years 1992-1995. The corresponding integrated luminosity is 138.5 pb^{-1}. The QED predictions have been tested over the whole Q^2 range accessible at LEP1 (from several GeV^2/c^4 to several hundred GeV^2/c^4) by comparing experimental distributions with distributions resulting from Monte Carlo simulations using various generators. Selected events are used to extract the leptonic photon structure function F_2^\gamma. Azimuthal correlations are used to obtain information on additional structure functions, F_A^\gamma and F_B^\gamma, which orig…

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…

Single intermediate vector boson production in e(+)e(-) collisions at root s=183 and 189 GeV

The cross sections for the production of single charged and neutral intermediate vector bosons were measured using integrated luminosities of 52 pb-1 and 154 pb-1 collected by the experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 182.6 GeV and 188.6 GeV, respectively. The cross sections for the reactions were determined in limited kinematic regions. The results found are in agreement with the Standard Model predictions for these channels. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.

A measurement of the branching fractions of the b quark into charged and neutral b hadrons

The production fractions of charged and neutral b-hadrons in b-quark events from Z0 decays have been measured with the DELPHI detector at LEP. An algorithm has been developed, based on a neural network, to estimate the charge of the weakly-decaying b-hadron by distinguishing its decay products from particles produced at the primary vertex. From the data taken in the years 1994 and 1995, the fraction of bbar-quarks fragmenting into positively charged weakly-decaying b-hadrons has been measured to be: f^+ = (42.09 +/- 0.82 (stat.) +/- 0.89 (syst.))%. Subtracting the rates for charged Xibar_b^+ and Omegabar_b^+ baryons gives the production fraction of B^+ mesons: f_Bu = (40.99 +/- 0.82 (stat.)…

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.

Multiplicity fluctuations in hadronic final states from the decay of the Z0

An analysis of the fluctuations in the phase space distribution of hadrons produced in the decay of 78829 Z0 has been carried out, using the method of factorial moments. The high statistics collected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP during 1990 allowed studies of the event sample both globally and in intervals of p(t) and multiplicity, and for different jet topologies and for single jets. A large contribution to the factorial moments of the one-dimensional data on rapidity with respect to the event axis comes from hard gluons. Details of factorial moments in two and three dimensions are presented. Influences of resonance decays have been studied by Monte Carlo simulation: one-dimensional fac…

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.

Two-particle angular correlations in e(+)e(-) interactions compared with QCD predictions

Two-particle angular correlations in jet cones have been measured in e(+)e(-) annihilation into hadrons at LEP energies (root s = 91 and 183 GeV) and are compared with QCD predictions using the LPHD hypothesis. Two different functions have been tested. While the differentially normalized correlation function shows substantial deviations from the predictions, a globally normalized correlation function agrees well. The size of alpha(s)(eff) land other QCD parameters) and its running with the relevant angular scale, the validity of LPHD, and problems due to non-perturbative effects are discussed critically. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

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…

A study of the Lorentz structure in tau decays

This paper describes a measurement of the Michel parameters, \eta, \rho, \xi, \xi\delta, and the average \nu_{\tau} helicity, h_{\nu_{\tau}}, in tau lepton decays together with the first measurement of the tensor coupling in the weak charged current. The tau+tau- pairs were produced at the LEP e+e- collider at CERN from 1992 through 1995 in the DELPHI detector. Assuming lepton universality in the decays of the tau the measured values of the parameters were: \eta = -0.005 +/- 0.036 +/- 0.037, \rho = 0.775 +/- 0.023 +/- 0.020, \xi = 0.929 +/- 0.070 +/- 0.030, \xi\delta = 0.779 +/- 0.070 +/- 0.028, h_{\nu_{\tau}} = -0.997 +/- 0.027 +/- 0.011. The strength of the tensor coupling was measured to…

Search for a fermiophobic Higgs at LEP 2

Higgs bosons predicted by the fermiophobic scenario within Two Higgs Doublets Models were searched for in the data collected by the DELPHI detector at centre-of-mass energies between 189 GeV and 202 GeV, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 380 pb^{-1}. No signal was found and confidence limits were derived in the framework of possible extensions of the Standard Model Higgs sector.

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…

Determination of |Vub|/|Vcb| with DELPHI at LEP

The ratio of the CKM quark-mixing matrix elements |Vub|/|Vcb| has been measured using B hadron semileptonic decays. The analysis uses the reconstructed mass M_X of the secondary hadronic system produced in association with an identified lepton. Since B -&gt; X_u lepton anti-nu transitions are characterised by hadronic masses below those of the D mesons produced in B -&gt; X_c lepton anti-nu transitions, events with a reconstructed value of M_X significantly below the D mass are selected. Further signal enrichments are obtained using the topology of reconstructed decays and hadron identification. A fit to the numbers of decays in the b -&gt; u enriched and depleted samples with M_X above and…

A Search for Heavy Stable and Long-Lived Squarks and Sleptons in $e^+ e^-$ Collisions at Energies from 130 to 183 GeV

A search for stable and long-lived heavy charged particles used the data taken by the DELPHI experiment at energies from 130 to 183 GeV. The Cherenkov light detected in the Ring Imaging Cherenkov Detector and the ionization loss measured in the Time Projection Chamber identify heavy particles from masses of 2 to nearly 89 GeV/c$^2$. Upper limits are given on the production cross-section and masses of sleptons, free squarks with a charge of $q = \pm 2/3e$ and hadronizing squarks. A search for stable and long-lived heavy charged particles used the data taken by the DELPHI experiment at energies from 130 to 183 GeV. The Cherenkov light detected in the Ring Imaging Cherenkov Detector and the io…

Measurement of the mass of the W boson using direct reconstruction at √s = 183 GeV

From data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 53.5 pb(-1) taken during the 183 GeV run in 1997, DELPHI has measured the W mass from direct reconstruction of WW --> lq (q) over bar and WW --> q (q) over bar q (q) over bar events. Combining these channels, a value of m(w) = 80.238 +/- 0.154(stat) +/- 0.035(syst) +/- 0.035(fsi) +/- 0.021 (LEP) GeV/c(2) is obtained, where fsi denotes final state interaction. Combined with the W mass obtained by DELPHI from the WW production cross-section and with the direct measurement at 172 GeV this leads to a measured value of m(w) = 80.270 +/- 0.137(stat) +/- 0.031(syst) +/- 0.030(fsi) +/- 0.021(LEP)GeV/c(2), in good agreement with the Standard Mod…

Study of the four-jet anomaly observed at LEP centre-of-mass energies of 130 and 136 GeV

The four-jet events collected by DELPHI during the special LEP run at centre-of-mass energies of 130 and 136 GeV in 1997 with an integrated luminosity of 5.9 pb(-1) are analysed. Their rate and the distributions of their di-jet masses, their smallest jet charges, and their di-jet charge separations all agree well with Standard Model predictions. Thus the hypothesis of pair production of a new particle with a sum of di-jet masses around 105 GeV/c(2) is not supported. The combined result of the four LEP collaborations refuting this hypothesis at over 99% confidence level is also given. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

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…

Search for $B^0_s-\overline{B^0_s}$ oscillations and a measurement of $B^0_d-\overline{B^0_d}$ oscillations using events with an inclusively reconstructed vertex

Neutral B meson oscillations in the B-s(0) - , and B-d(0) - systems were studied using a sample of about 4.0 million hadronic Z decays recorded by the DELPHI detector between 1992 and 2000. Events with a high transverse momentum lepton were removed and a sample of 770 k events with an inclusively reconstructed vertex was selected. The mass difference between the two physical states in the B-d(0) - system was measured to be: Deltam(d) = (0.531 +/- 0.025(stat.) +/- 0.007(syst.))ps(-1). The following limit on the width difference of these states was also obtained: DeltaGamma(Bd)/Gamma(Bd) oscillations was found, a limit on the mass difference of the two physical states was given:, Deltam(s) > …

Consistent measurements of alpha(s) from precise oriented event shape distributions

An updated analysis using about 1.5 million events recorded at $\sqrt{s} = M_Z$ with the DELPHI detector in 1994 is presented. Eighteen infrared and collinear safe event shape observables are measured as a function of the polar angle of the thrust axis. The data are compared to theoretical calculations in ${\cal O} (\alpha_s^2)$ including the event orientation. A combined fit of $\alpha_s$ and of the renormalization scale $x_{\mu}$ in $\cal O(\alpha_s^2$) yields an excellent description of the high statistics data. The weighted average from 18 observables including quark mass effects and correlations is $\alpha_s(M_Z^2) = 0.1174 \pm 0.0026$. The final result, derived from the jet cone energ…

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…

Cross-sections and leptonic forward-backward asymmetries from the Z(0) running of LEP

During 1993 and 1995 LEP was run at 3 energies near the Z $^0$ peak in order to give improved measurements of the mass and width of the resonance. During 1994, LEP operated only at the Z $^0$ peak. In total DELPHI accumulated data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 116 pb $^{-1}$ . Analyses of the hadronic cross-sections and of the cross-sections and forward-backward asymmetries in the leptonic channels used the most precise evaluations of the LEP energies. In the dimuon channel, events with a photon radiated from the initial state have been used to probe the cross-sections and asymmetries down to PETRA energies. Model independent fits to all DELPHI lineshape and asy…

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.

Measurement of inclusive ρ0, f0(980), f2(1270), K and f′2(1525) production in Z0 decays

DELPHI results are presented on the inclusive production of the neutral mesons ρ0, f0(980), f2(1270), KView the MathML source and f′2(1525) in hadronic Z0 decays. They are based on about 2 million multihadronic events collected in 1994 and 1995, using the particle identification capabilities of the DELPHI Ring Imaging Cherenkov detectors and measured ionization losses in the Time Projection Chamber. The total production rates per hadronic Z0 decay have been determined to be: 1.19±0.10 for ρ0; 0.164±0.021 for f0(980); 0.214±0.038 for f2(1270); 0.073±0.023 for KView the MathML source; and 0.012±0.006 for f′2(1525). The total production rates for all mesons and differential cross-sections for …

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)\%…

Search for charged Higgs bosons in e^{+}e^{-}$ collisions at √s=172 GeV

This paper presents results on charged Higgs boson production, based on LEP data collected at √s = 172 GeV, that complement the previous DELPHI results obtained at centre of mass energies up to 161 GeV. The charged Higgs bosons are assumed to be pair produced and to decay either into a quark pair or into τVτ. The three different possible final states are included in the analysis. Data from ring imaging Cherenkov and microvertex detectors are used to identify the quarks as a cs pair. The number of candidates found is compatible with the background expected from standard processes. Combining the results of the present analysis with those of the previous analysis at lower energies, a new lower…

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…

Search for neutral MSSM Higgs bosons at LEP

The four LEP collaborations, ALEPH, DELPHI, L3 and OPAL, have searched for the neutral Higgs bosons which are predicted by the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). The data of the four collaborations are statistically combined and examined for their consistency with the background hypothesis and with a possible Higgs boson signal. The combined LEP data show no significant excess of events which would indicate the production of Higgs bosons. The search results are used to set upper bounds on the cross-sections of various Higgs-like event topologies. The results are interpreted within the MSSM in a number of "benchmark" models, including CP-conserving and CP-violating scenarios. Thes…

Measurements of the trilinear gauge boson couplings WWV (V = $\gamma$ Z) in e$^+$e$^-$ collisions at 183 GeV

Measurements of the trilinear gauge boson couplings WWγ and WWZ are presented from data taken by DELPHI in 1997 at an energy of 183 GeV. From a study of the reactions e + e − → W + W − , e + e − → Weν and e + e − → ννγ , values are obtained for Δg 1 Z and Δκ γ , the differences of the WWZ charge coupling and of the WWγ dipole couplings from their Standard Model values, and for λ γ , the WWγ quadrupole coupling. The observations are consistent with the predictions of the Standard Model. (Elsevier)

mb at MZ

Abstract The value of the b quark mass at the M Z scale defined in the MS renormalization scheme, m b ( M Z ), was determined using 2.8 million hadronic Z decays collected during 1992-1994 by the DELPHI detector to be m b (M Z )=2.67±0.25 ( stat. )±0.34 ( frag. )±0.27 ( theo. ) GeV/c 2 . The analysis considers NLO corrections to the three-jet production rate including mass effects, and the result obtained agrees with the QCD prediction of having a running b quark mass at an energy scale equal to M Z . This is the first time that such a measurement is performed far above the b b production threshold. The study also verifies the flavour independence of the strong coupling constant for b and l…

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.