The differential cross sections for lepton pair production in e+e− annihilation at 29 GeV have been measured and found to be in good agreement with the standard model of the electroweak interaction. With the assumption of e−μ−τ universality, the weak neutral-current couplings are determined to be ga2=0.23±0.05 and gv2=0.03±0.04.

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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.

By combining results from the MARK-J at PETRA on Bhabha scattering, μ + μ - and τ + τ - production with recent world data from neutrino-electron scattering experiments, we determine unique values for the leptonic weak neutral current coupling constants g V and g A in the framework of electroweak models containing a single Z 0 . In contrast to previous analyses, we only use data from purely leptonic interactions, and therefore avoid the inherent uncertainties resulting from the use of hadronic targets. From the MARK-J data alone in the context of the standard SU(2) ⊗ U (1) model of Glashow, Weinberg and Salam, we find sin 2 θ W =0.24±0.11.

In 2015, the PHENIX collaboration has measured single-spin asymmetries for charged pions in transversely polarized proton-proton collisions at the center of mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV. The pions were detected at central rapidities of $|\eta|<0.35$. The single-spin asymmetries are consistent with zero for each charge individually, as well as consistent with the previously published neutral-pion asymmetries in the same rapidity range. However, they show a slight indication of charge-dependent differences which may suggest a flavor dependence in the underlying mechanisms that create these asymmetries.

Exclusive production of $\rho^0$ mesons was studied at the COMPASS experiment by scattering 160 GeV/$c$ muons off transversely polarised protons. Five single-spin and three double-spin azimuthal asymmetries were measured as a function of $Q^2$, $x_{Bj}$, or $p_{T}^{2}$. The $\sin \phi_S$ asymmetry is found to be $-0.019 \pm 0.008(stat.) \pm 0.003(syst.)$. All other asymmetries are also found to be of small magnitude and consistent with zero within experimental uncertainties. Very recent calculations using a GPD-based model agree well with the present results. The data is interpreted as evidence for the existence of chiral-odd, transverse generalized parton distributions.

Presented are the first measurements of the transverse single-spin asymmetries ($A_N$) for neutral pions and eta mesons in $p$+Au and $p$+Al collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV in the pseudorapidity range $|\eta|<$0.35 with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The asymmetries are consistent with zero, similar to those for midrapidity neutral pions and eta mesons produced in $p$+$p$ collisions. These measurements show no evidence of additional effects that could potentially arise from the more complex partonic environment present in proton-nucleus collisions.

In 2015 the PHENIX collaboration at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider recorded $p+p$, $p+$Al, and $p+$Au collision data at center of mass energies of $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV with the proton beam(s) transversely polarized. At very forward rapidities $\eta>6.8$ relative to the polarized proton beam, neutrons were detected either inclusively or in (anti)correlation with detector activity related to hard collisions. The resulting single spin asymmetries, that were previously reported, have now been extracted as a function of the transverse momentum of the neutron as well as its longitudinal momentum fraction $x_F$. The explicit kinematic dependence, combined with the correlation information allows for a closer look at the interplay of different mechanisms suggested to describe these asymmetries, such as hadronic interactions or electromagnetic interactions in ultra-peripheral collisions, UPC. Events that are correlated with a hard collision indeed display a mostly negative asymmetry that increases in magnitude as a function of transverse momentum with only little dependence on $x_F$. In contrast, events that are not likely to have emerged from a hard collision display positive asymmetries for the nuclear collisions with a kinematic dependence that resembles that of a UPC based model. Because the UPC interaction depends strongly on the charge of the nucleus, those effects are very small for $p+p$ collisions, moderate for $p+$Al collisions, and large for $p+$Au collisions.

In 2015, the PHENIX collaboration has measured very forward ($\eta>6.8$) single-spin asymmetries of inclusive neutrons in transversely polarized proton-proton and proton-nucleus collisions at a center of mass energy of 200 GeV. A previous publication from this data set concentrated on the nuclear dependence of such asymmetries. In this measurement the explicit transverse-momentum dependence of inclusive neutron single spin asymmetries for proton-proton collisions is extracted using a bootstrapping-unfolding technique on the transverse momenta. This explicit transverse-momentum dependence will help improve the understanding of the mechanisms that create these asymmetries.

We present a new measurement of the virtual photon proton asymmetry A 1 p from deep inelastic scattering of polarized muons on polarized protons in the kinematic range 0.0008 < x < 0.7 and 0.2 < Q 2 < 100 GeV 2 . With this, the statistical uncertainty of our measurement has improved by a factor of 2 compared to our previous measurements. The spin-dependent structure function g 1 p is determined for the data with Q 2 > 1 GeV 2 . A perturbative QCD evolution in next-to-leading order is used to determine g 1 p ( x ) at a constant Q 2 . At Q 2 = 10 GeV 2 we find, in the measured range, ∫ 0.003 0.7 g 1 P (x) d x=0.139±0.006 ( stat ) ±0.008 ( syst ) ±0.006( evol ) . The value of the first moment Г 1 P = ∫ 0 1 g 1 p (x) d x of g 1 p depends on the approach used to describe the behaviour of g 1 p at low x . We find that the Ellis-Jaffe sum rule is violated. With our published result for Γ 1 d we confirm the Bjorken sum rule with an accuracy of ≈ 15% at the one standard deviation level.

The data set collected with the ALEPH detector from 1991 to 1995 at LEP has been analysed to measure the charm forward-backward asymmetry at the Z. Out of a total of 4.1 million hadronic Z decays, about 36000 high momentum D*+, D+ and D0 decays were reconstructed, of which 80% originate from Z -> ccbar events...

We have observed τ pair production at average CM energies of 13.9, 22.3, 34.5 and 43.1 GeV. The cross-sections are consistent with QED, the cut off parameters beingΛ+>161 GeV andΛ−169 GeV (95% CL). The topological branching fraction of the τ to 1 charged particle,B1, is 0.847±0.011 (stat)−0.013+0.016(syst) and no decays to 5 charged particles were observed resulting inB5<0.007 (95% CL). Within the 3 charged track final stateB(τ−→π−π+π−v)/(B(τ−→π−π+π−v)+B(τ−→π−π+π−π0v))=0.37−0.20+0.35

A study of τ-lepton production in the CMS energy region from 14 to 46.8 GeV at PETRA is reported. The cross section, the decay branching ratio into μν ν , and the electroweak parameters are determined with a total integrated luminosity of 115 pb −1 .

The forward-backward asymmetries of$$e^ + e^ - \to Z^0 \to b\bar b and e^ + e^ - \to Z^0 \to c\bar c$$

From 1.4 million hadronic Z decays collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP, an enriched sample of Z → cc̄ events is extracted by requiring the presence of a high momentum D ∗± . The charm quark forward-backward charge asymmetry at the Z pole is measured to be A FB 0. c = (8.0 ± 2.4) % corresponding to an effective electroweak mixing angle of sin 2 θ W eff = 0.2302 ± 0.0054.

The charge asymmetry has been measured using $19,039W$ decays recorded by the CDF detector during the 1992-93 run of the Tevatron Collider. The asymmetry is sensitive to the ratio of $d$ and $u$ quark distributions to $x<0.01$ at $Q~2 \approx M_W~2$, where nonperturbative effects are minimal. It is found that of the two current sets of parton distributions, those of Martin, Roberts and Stirling (MRS) are favored over the sets most recently produced by the CTEQ collaboration. The $W$ asymmetry data provide a stronger constraints on $d/u$ ratio than the recent measurements of $F_2~{\mu n}/F_2~{\mu p}$ which are limited by uncertainties originating from deutron corrections.

Cross-section and angular distributions for hadronic and lepton-pair final states in e+e- collisions at centre-of-mass energies between 189 GeV and 209 GeV, measured with the OPAL detector at LEP, are presented and compared with the predictions of the Standard Model. The measurements are used to determine the electromagnetic coupling constant alphaem at LEP2 energies. In addition, the results are used together with OPAL measurements at 91-183 GeV within the S-matrix formalism to determine the gamma-Z interference term and to make an almost model-independent measurement of the Z mass. Limits on extensions to the Standard Model described by effective four-fermion contact interactions or the addition of a heavy Z boson are also presented.

Cross-sections and angular distributions for hadronic and lepton pair final states in e+e- collisions at a centre-of-mass energy near 189 GeV, measured with the OPAL detector at LEP, are presented and compared with the predictions of the Standard Model. The results are used to measure the energy dependence of the electromagnetic coupling constant alpha_em, and to place limits on new physics as described by four-fermion contact interactions or by the exchange of a new heavy particle such as a sneutrino in supersymmetric theories with R-parity violation. A search for the indirect effects of the gravitational interaction in extra dimensions on the mu+mu- and tau+tau- final states is also presented.

Cross-sections for hadronic, b-bbar and lepton pair final states in e+e- collisions at sqrt(s) = 183 GeV, measured with the OPAL detector at LEP, are presented and compared with the predictions of the Standard Model. Forward-backward asymmetries for the leptonic final states have also been measured. Cross-sections and asymmetries are also presented for data recorded in 1997 at sqrt(s) = 130 and 136 GeV. The results are used to measure the energy dependence of the electromagnetic coupling constant alpha_em, and to place limits on new physics as described by four-fermion contact interactions or by the exchange of a new heavy particle such as a leptoquark, or of a squark or sneutrino in supersymmetric theories with R-parity violation.

Production of events with hadronic and leptonic final states has been measured in e^+e^- collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 130-172 GeV, using the OPAL detector at LEP. Cross-sections and leptonic forward-backward asymmetries are presented, both including and excluding the dominant production of radiative Z \gamma events, and compared to Standard Model expectations. The ratio R_b of the cross-section for bb(bar) production to the hadronic cross-section has been measured. In a model-independent fit to the Z lineshape, the data have been used to obtain an improved precision on the measurement of \gamma-Z interference. The energy dependence of \alpha_em has been investigated. The measurements have also been used to obtain limits on extensions of the Standard Model described by effective four-fermion contact interactions, to search for t-channel contributions from new massive particles and to place limits on chargino pair production with subsequent decay of the chargino into a light gluino and a quark pair.

An analysis of the three leptonic reactionse+e−→e+e−,μ+μ− andτ+τ− over a wide range of energy,\(12< \sqrt s< 46.78 GeV\) is presented. The data were obtained with the JADE detector at thee+e− storage ring PETRA. They are compared to predictions of electroweak theories, in particular the standard model. For the total cross-sections of all three reactions and for the differential cross-section of Bhabha scattering no deviation from QED is found over the entire energy range. The differential cross-sections of μ and τ pairs at high energies show the angular asymmetry predicted by electroweak interference. The axial-vector and vector weak coupling constant, sin2θW andMZ are determined and compared to other measurements. Finally, limits on deviations from the standard model are given.

During the initial data run with the High Resolution Spectrometer (HRS) at SLAC PEP, an integrated luminosity of 19.6 pb−1 at a center-of-mass energy of 29 GeV was accumulated. The data on Bhabha scattering and muon pair production are compared with the predictions of QED and the standard model of electroweak interactions. The measured forward-backward charge asymmetry in the angular distribution of muon pairs is -8.4%±4.3%. A comparison between the data and theoretical predictions places limits on alternative descriptions of leptons and their interactions. The existence of heavy electronlike or photonlike objects that alter the structure of the QED vertices or modify the propagator are studied in terms of the QED cutoff parameters. The Bhabha-scattering results give a lower limit on a massive photon and upper limits on the effective size of the electron of Λ+>121 GeV and Λ−>118 GeV at the 95% confidence level. Muon pair production yields Λ+>172 GeV and Λ−>172 GeV. If electrons have substructure, the magnitude and character of the couplings of the leptonic constituents affects the Bhabha-scattering angular distributions to such an extent that limits on the order of a TeV can be extracted on the effective interaction length of the components. For models in which the constituents interact with vector couplings of strength g24π∼1, the energy scale ΛVV for the contact interaction is measured to be greater than 1419.0 GeV at the 95% confidence level. We set limits on the production of supersymmetric scalar electrons through s-channel single-photon annihilation and t-channel inelastic scattering. Using events with two noncollinear electrons and no other charged or observed neutral particles in the final state, we see one event which is consistent with a simple supersymmetric model but which is also consistent with QED. This allows us to exclude the scalar electron to 95% confidence level in the mass range 1.8 to 14.2 GeV/c2.

The production and decay of τ-pairs was studied with the JADE detector at PETRA at center-of-mass energies of 30 ⩽√ s ⩽ 46.78 GeV. The total production cross section for τ-pairs agreed with QED predictions to order α 3 . Lower limits on QED cut-off parameters of Λ + > 285 GeV and Λ − > 210 GeV at 95% confidence level were ontained. The decay branching fractions into one and three charged particles were determined to be (86.1 ± 0.5 ± 0.9)% and (13.6±0.5 ±0.80)%. In the angular distributions a forward-backward asymmetry was observed, from which the axial-vector weak charge to the τ was determined to be a τ = −0.74 ± 0.22 in agreement with the standard model. An analysis of the process e + e − → τ + τ − γ showed agreement with QED calculations to O(α 3 ).

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.

Data of the ηπ − system were obtained in the reaction π − p → ηπ − p at 6.3 GeV/ c beam momentum. About 17 k events of ηπ − were collected in the mass range 0.8 ⩽ M ηπ - ⩽ 1.8 GeV/ c 2 and in the range of the momentum transfer squared 0.075 ⩽ | t ′| ⩽ 0.60 (GeV/ c ) 2 . A large forward-backward asymmetry was observed around 1.3 GeV/ c 2 in the Gottfried-Jackson frame of the ηπ − system. A partial wave analysis of the data was performed. A peak of the D + wave attributed to a 2 (1320) is clearly seen. An enhancement is observed around 1.3 GeV/ c 2 in the P + wave.