0000000001102653
AUTHOR
G.j. Barker
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.
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…