Distributions are presented of event shape variables, jet roduction rates and charged particle momenta obtained from 53 000 hadronicZ decays. They are compared to the predictions of the QCD+hadronization models JETSET, ARIADNE and HERWIG, and are used to optimize several model parameters. The JETSET and ARIADNE coherent parton shower (PS) models with running αs and string fragmentation yield the best description of the data. The HERWIG parton shower model with cluster fragmentation fits the data less well. The data are in better agreement with JETSET PS than with JETSETO(αS2) matrix elements (ME) even when the renormalization scale is optimized.

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Approximately 350 A 2 + events have been observed in the reaction π + p → K + K S 0 p ( K S 0 → π + π − ) at an incident π + laboratory momentum of 12.7 GeV/ c . The events are distributed over a range of four-momentum transfer squared 0.01 ⩽ − t ⩽ 0.60 (GeV/ c ) 2 and K + K S 0 mass 1.11 ⩽ m K + K S 0 ⩽ 1.51 GeV . A Breit-Wigner fit to the mass spectrum yields a mass for the A 2 + , m A 2 + = 1.324 ± 0.005 GeV, and a width Γ 0 = 0.110 ± 0.018 GeV. We find a cross section σ ( π + p → A 2 + p) = 1.71 ± 0.30 μb referring to the above-mentioned mass and t range and A 2 + → K + K S O with K S 0 → π + π − . The spin-space density matrix in the Gottfried-Jackson frame is practically saturated by ϱ 11 ⋍ ϱ 1−1 = 1 2 suggesting natural parity exchanges only. There is a forward dip in the angular distribution consistent with dominance of s -channel net helicity flip amplitudes and ϱ and f Regge exchanges suffice to describe adequately our differential cross sections.

The reaction γ p → K + K − p has been investigated with tagged photons in the energy range of 20 < E γ < 70 GeV. A structure in the 1.7 GeV mass region is observed and interpreted in terms of a recurrence of the ø.

Evidence is presented for inclusive photoproduction of F ± mesons in three decay modes, ηπ ± , ηπ ± π + π − and ηπ ± π + π + π − π − . The average mass of the F ± is found to be 2.020±0.010 GeV.

Measurements of the reaction γ p → p π + π − π + π − are presented, in which π + π − π + π − systems with masses up to 3 GeV are produced from fragmentation of the incident photon. The reaction is dominated by production of the large peak of the ϱ′(1600) meson and, at higher masses ≳2 GeV, y production of jet-like 4 π systems. The ϱ′(1600) meson is produced by a predominantly s -channel helicity conserving mechanism. At higher masses there are also indications of ϱπ peaks, of masses 1.3 GeV (the A 2 meson) and 1.75 GeV, produced with a recoiling π meson by a mechanism consistent with the Deck effect.

We have measured 618 K + p → π + K S 0 p events at 12.7 GeV/ c incident lab momentum, mass range 790 ⩽ m π + K s 0 ⩽ 990 MeV and t range 0.01 ⩽ − t ⩽ 0.60 (GeV/ c ) 2 . The π + K S 0 mass spectrum is dominated by the K ∗+ (892) resonance and a Breit-Wigner fit yields a mass m = 893.5 ± 1.1 MeV and a width Γ = 33.2 ± 4.1 MeV which is much narrower than measured hitherto. The t distribution of K ∗+ (892) events shows a dip in the forward direction and an exponential fall off thereafter, consistent with dominance of helicity flip amplitudes. The spin density matrix is almost saturated by ρ 11 and ρ 1−1 which are very close to their maximum allowed value of 1 2 throughout the measured t range except in the very forward direction where ρ 00 and Re ρ 10 deviate from zero. Natural parity exchanges, therefore, dominate with unnatural parity exchanges being restricted to a small region in the forward direction. A Regge pole analysis of the differential cross sections of the present measurement in conjunction with previously measured total cross sections supports the f-coupled-pomeron hypothesis.

The reaction π − p→K + K − n has been studied on a hydrogen target (27 000 events) at 18.4 GeV/ c and on a polarized target (54 000 events) at 17.2 GeV/ c . A combination of results of both experiments allows a partial-wave analysis of the K + K − system between 1.1 and 1.74 GeV mass without any model assumptions. In general our fits yield unique solutions. Using results of our previous analysis of π + π − final states and assuming the dominance of the positive G -parity states in the K + K − system, the branching ratios BR ( K K /ππ) of partial waves into K K and ππ are determined. The S-wave appears to be mainly a broad ε (1300) with BR ( K K /ππ) = 0.068 −0.021 +0.017 . The weak P-wave can be described by a tail of the ϱ(770) with BR ( K K /ππ) = 0.081 −0.025 +0.029 . The D-wave is interpreted in terms of a superposition of f(1270) + A 2 (1310) + f′(1515) resonances. The fit yields BR ( K K /ππ) = 0.069 −0.031 +0.023 for the f(1270) and BR( ππ /all) = 0.027 −0.013 +0.071 for the f′(1515). The F-wave shows the g(1690) meson with BR ( K K /ππ) = 0.191 −0.037 +0.040 . All the above values refer to the t bin between 0.01 and 0.20 (GeV/ c ) 2 . Some results are also given for the high- t region.

A dipion enhancement of mass 1.59 GeV and width 0.23 GeV is observed in the channel γp→π + π − p. The spin-parity of the enhancement is consistent with being 1 − .

The decays η → γγ and η ′ → ηπ + π − have been observed in hadronic decays of the Z produced at LEP. The fragmentation functions of both the η and η ′ have been measured. The measured multiplicities for x > 0.1 are 0.298±0.023±0.021 and 0.068±0.016 for η and η ′ respectively. While the fragmentation function for the η is fairly well described by the JETSET Monte Carlo, it is found that the production rate of the η ′ is a factor of four less than the corresponding prediction.

We report the observation of a spin 4 resonance from the analysis of the reaction π − p→ K + K − n. The mass and width of the h-meson were determined to be 2050 MeV and 225 MeV. The quantum numbers are J P = 4 + , C = +1 and very probably I G = 0 + .

The ϒ′ state has been observed as a narrow resonance at M ( ϒ ′) = 10.02 ± 0.02 GeV in e + e − annihilations, using a NaI and lead-glass detector in the DORIS storage ring at DESY. The ratio Г ee Г had /Г tot of electronic, hadronic, and total widths has been measured to be 0.32 ± 0.13 keV. The parameters of the Г particle have also been determined to be/ M (Г)

In order to determine the ηNN coupling constant we have measured the two reactions K − p→ Λη and K − p→ Λπ 0 with a magnetic wire chamber spectrometer which contained a gamma counter for the γγ decays of π 0 and η. The Λ polarization and the differential cross sections are given. The latter have quite different u dependences. Their ratio is interpreted, in terms of a nucleon-Regge exchange model, as the effect of a small ηNN coupling constant for which we obtain G η NN 2 = G π NN 2 · (0.26 ± 0.10) as allowed by SU(3). The large value given by Heisenberg's non-linear field theory, G η NN 2 = G π NN 2 · 0.9, is excluded by this measurement if the characteristic u dependence of the Λπ 0 channel is attributed to N α Regge exchange.

We present results on photoproduction of ϱ 0 and ω in the reactions γ p→ π + π − p and γ p→ π + π − π 0 p by tagged photons in the energy ranges 20 to 70 GeV and 20 to 45 GeV, respectively. The production of the ϱ 0 shows dominantly the characteristics of a diffractive process with respect to the E γ and t dependence of the cross section and the spin density matrix. The ϱ 0 photoproduction yields on average over the photon energy range a total cross section of σ ( γ p→ ϱ 0 p) = 9.4±0.1 μ b with an additional systematic error of ±1 μ b, and average slope parameters of the t distribution d σ /d t ≈exp(− b | t | + ct 2 ), of b =9.1±0.1 GeV −2 and c = 3.1 ±±0.2 GeV −4 . The shape of the ϱ 0 peak in the π + π − invariant spectra shows a skewing similar to that observed at lower energies. The photoproduction of ω is also consistent with a diffractive process and has a cross section of σ ( γ p→ ω p) = 1.2± 0.1 μ b with an additional systematic error of ±0.2 μ b. The average slope parameters of the t distribution are b =8.3 ± 1.3 GeV −2 and c = 3.4±2.6 GeV −4 .

More extensive and precise results are reported on the parameters of Z decay. On the basis of 20 000 Z decays collected with the ALEPH detector at LEP we find M z =91.182±0.026 (exp.) ±0.030 (beam) GeV, Γ z =2.541±0.056 GeV and σ had 0 =41.4±0.8 nb. The partial widths for the hadronic and leptonic channels are Γ had =1804±44 MeV, Γ e + e − =82.1±3.4 MeV, Γ μ + μ − =87.9±6.0 MeV and Γ τ + τ − =86.1±5.6 MeV, in good agreement with the standard model. On the basis of the average leptonic width Γ ℓ + ℓ − =83.9±2.2 MeV, the effective weak mixing angle is found to be sin 2 θ w ( M z )=0.231±0.008. Usin g the partial widths calculated in the standard model, the number of light neutrino families is N ν =3.01±0.15 (exp.)±0.05 (theor.).

The cross-section for e + e − → hadrons in the vicinity of the Z boson peak has been measured with the ALEPH detector at the CERN Large Electron Positron collider, LEP. Measurements of the Z mass, M z = (91.174±0.070) GeV, the Z width Γ z =(2.68±0.15) GeV, and of the peak hadronic cross-section, σ had peak =(29.3±1.2) nb, are presented. With the constraints of the standard electroweak model, the number of light neutrino species is found to be N v =3.27±0.30. this results rules out of the possibility of a fourth type of light neutrino at 98% CL.

The reaction γ p→K + K − p has been investigated with photons in the energy range of 20< E γ <36 GeV and with K + K − pairs in the mass range of M K + K − <2.0 GeV. The production of the φ(1019) contributes with a cross section σ ( γ p → φ p) × BR( φ →K + K − ) = 240±6 nb with an additional systematic error of ±20 nb. In the higher mass range of 1.05< M K + K − <2.0 GeV the production of K + K − pairs yields a cross section σ ( γ p→K + K − p) = 160±8 nb with an additional systematic error of +40 −30 nb.

Searches for supersymmetric particles in channels with one or more photons and missing energy have been performed with data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP. The data consist of 11.1 pb-1 at $\sqrt{s} = 161 GeV$, 1.1 pb-1 at 170 GeV and 9.5 pb-1 at 172 GeV. The e+e- -> nunu+photon cross section is measured. The data are in good agreement with predictions based on the Standard Model, and are used to set upper limits on the cross sections for anomalous photon production. These limits are compared to two different SUSY models and used to set limits on the neutralino mass. A limit of 71 GeV/c^2 at 95% C.L. is set on the mass of the lightest neutralino ($\tau_{\chi_{1}^{0}} \leq $ 3 ns) for the gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking and LNZ models.

The e + e − → W + W − cross section is measured in a data sample collected by ALEPH at a mean centre-of-mass energy of 172.09 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 10.65 pb −1 . Cross sections are given for the three topologies, fully leptonic, semi-leptonic and hadronic of a W-pair decay. Under the assumption that no other decay modes are present, the W-pair cross section is measured to be 11.7±1.2 (stat.) ±0.3 (syst.) pb . The existence of the triple gauge boson vertex of the Standard Model is clearly preferred by the data. The decay branching ratio of the W boson into hadrons is measured to be B(W→hadrons) =67.7±3.1 (stat.) ±0.7 (syst.) % , allowing a determination of the CKM matrix element | V cs |=0.98±0.14(stat.)±0.03(syst.).

We report on the properties of theZ resonance from 62 500Z decays into fermion pairs collected with the ALEPH detector at LEP, the Large Electron-Positron storage ring at CERN. We findMZ=(91.193±0.016exp±0.030LEP) GeV, ΓZ=(2497±31) MeV, σhad0=(41.86±0.66)nb, and for the partial widths Γinv=(489±24) MeV, Γhad(1754±27) MeV, Γee=(85.0±1.6)MeV, Γμμ=(80.0±2.5) MeV, and Γττ=(81.3±2.5) MeV, all in good agreement with the Standard Model. Assuming lepton universality and using a lepton sample without distinction of the final state we measure Γu=(84.3±1.3) MeV. The forward-backward asymmetry in leptonic decays is used to determine the vector and axial-vector weak coupling constants of leptors,gv2(MZ2)=(0.12±0.12)×10−2 andgA2(MZ2)=0.2528±0.0040. The number of light neutrino species isNν=2.91±0.13; the electroweak mixing angle is sin2θW(MZ2)=0.2291±0.0040.

Based on 520 000 fermion pairs accumulated during the first three years of data collection by the ALEPH detector at LEP, updated values of the resonance parameters of theZ are determined to beMZ=(91.187±0.009) GeV, ΓZ=(2.501±0.012) GeV, σhad0=(41.60±0.27) nb, andRℓ=20.78±0.13. The corresponding number of light neutrino species isNν=2.97±0.05. The forward-backward asymmetry in lepton-pair decays is used to determine the ratio of vector to axial-vector couplings of leptons:gV2(MZ2)/gA2(MZ2)=0.0052±0.0016. Combining this with ALEPH measurements of theb andc quark asymmetries and τ polarization gives sin2θWeff=0.2326±0.0013. Assuming the minimal Standard Model, and including measurements ofMW/MZ fromp\(\bar p\) colliders and neutrino-nucleon scattering, the mass of the top quark is\(M_{top} = 156 \pm \begin{array}{*{20}c} {22} \\ {25} \\ \end{array} \pm \begin{array}{*{20}c} {17} \\ {22Higgs} \\ \end{array} \) GeV.

In June 1996, the LEP centre-of-mass energy was raised to 161 GeV. Pair production of W bosons in e + e − collisions was observed for the first time by the LEP experiments. An integrated luminosity of 11 pb −1 was recorded in the ALEPH detector, in which WW candidate events were observed. In 6 events both Ws decay leptonically. In 16 events, one W decays leptonically, the other into hadrons. In the channel where both Ws decay into hadrons, a signal was separated from the large background by means of several multi-variate analyses. The W pair cross-section is measured to be σ WW = 4.23 ± 0.73 (stat.) ± 0.19 (syst.) pb. From this cross-section, the W mass is derived within the framework of the Standard Model: m W = 80.14 ± 0.34 (stat.) ± 0.09 (syst.) ± 0.03 (LEP energy) GeV/ c 2

The total cross section and the forward-backward asymmetry for the process e + e − → μ + μ − ( nγ ) are measured in the energy range 20–136 GeV by reconstructing the effective centre-of-mass energy after initial state radiation. The analysis is based on the data recorded with the ALEPH detector at LEP between 1990 and 1995, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 143.5 pb −1 . Two different approaches are used: in the first one an exclusive selection of events with hard initial state radiation in the energy range 20–88 GeV is directly compared with the Standard Model predictions showing good agreement. In the second one, all events are used to obtain a precise measurement of the energy dependence of σ 0 and A FB 0 from a model independent fit, enabling constraints to be placed on models with extra Z bosons.

The inclusive production of D ∗± mesons in photon-photon collisions has been measured by the Aleph experiment at LEP with a beam energy of 45 GeV. The D ∗+ are detected in their decay to D 0 π + with the D 0 observed in three separate decay modes: (1) K − π + , (2) K − π + π 0 and (3) K − π + π − π + , and analagously for the D ∗− modes. A total of 33 events was observed from an integrated luminosity of 73 pb −1 which corresponds to a cross section for Σ( e + e − → e + e − D ∗± X ) of 155 ± 33 ± 21 pb. This result is compatible with both the direct production γγ → c c in the Born approximation and with a more complete calculation which includes both radiative QCD corrections and contributions in which one of the photons is first resolved into its quark and gluon constituents. The shapes of distributions for events containing a D ∗+ are found to be better described by the latter.

Using a sample of about 1.46 million hadronic Z decays collected between 1991 and 1993 with the ALEPH detector at LEP, the energy distribution of the B 0 and B ± mesons produced at the Z resonance is measured by reconstructing semileptonic decays B → ℓ ν ℓ D(X) or B → ℓν ℓ D ∗+ (X) . The charmed mesons are reconstructed through the decay modes D 0 → K − π + , D 0 → K − π + π − π + , D + → K − π + π + and D ∗+ → D 0 π + . The neutrino energy is estimated from the missing energy in the lepton hemisphere. Accounting for B ∗ and B ∗∗ production, the shape of the scaled energy distribution x E (b) for mesons containing a b quark is compared to the predictions of different fragmentation models. The mean value of x E (b) is found to be 〈 x E (b) 〉 = 0.715 ± 0.007(stat) ± 0.013(syst).