The production of Δ ++ baryons has been measured using 3.5 million hadronic Z 0 decays collected with the OPAL detector at LEP. The production rate and fragmentation function are presented. A total of 0.22 ± 0.04 ± 0.04 Δ ++ + ( Δ ) −− per hadronic Z 0 decay is observed. The fragmentation function is found to be softer than that predicted by the JETSET and HERWIG Monte Carlo event generators. With this measurement of Δ ++ production, at least one baryon of each strangeness level in the lightest baryon decuplet has now been measured at LEP.
A search is described to detect charged Higgs bosons via the process Z 0 → H + H − , using data collected by the OPAL detector at LEP which correspond to an integrated luminosity of approximately 110 pb −1 . It is assumed that the H + boson decays only to τ + ν τ and c s final states. From the negative outcome of this search a lower bound of 44.1 GeV (95% CL) is derived for the mass of the charged Higgs boson.
The production dynamics of baryon-antibaryon pairs are investigated using hadronic Z 0 decays, recorded with the OPAL detector, which contain at least two identified Λ baryons. The rapidly difference for Λ Λ pairs shows the correlations expected from models with a chain-like production of baryon-antibaryon pairs. If the baryon number of a Λ is compensated by a Λ , the Λ is found with a probability of 53% in an interval of ±0.6 around the Λ rapidity. This correlation strength is weaker than predicted by the Herwig Monte Carlo and the Jetset Monte Carlo with a production chain of baryon-antibaryon, and stronger than predicted by the UCLA model. The observed rapidity correlations can be described by the Jetset Monte Carlo with a dominant production chain of baryon-meson-antibaryon, the popcorn mechanism. In addition to the short range correlations, one finds an indication of a correlation of Λ Λ pairs in opposite hemispheres if both the Λ and the Λ have large rapidities. Such long range correlations are expected if the primary quark flavours are compensated in opposite hemispheres and if these quarks are found in energetic baryons. Rates for simultaneous baryon and strangeness number compensation for Λ Λ , Ξ − Ξ + and Ξ − Λ ( Λ + Λ ) are measured and compared with different Monte Carlo models.
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