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 energy fraction, the observable with the smallest theoretical and experimental uncertainty, is $\alpha_s(M_Z^2) = 0.1180 \pm 0.0006 (exp.) \pm 0.0013 (hadr.) \pm 0.0008 (scale) \pm 0.0007 (mass)$. Further studies include an $\alpha_s$ determination using theoretical predictions in the next-to-leading log approximation (NLLA), matched NLLA and $\cal O(\alpha_s^2$) predictions as well as theoretically motivated optimized scale setting methods. The influence of higher order contributions was also investigated by using the method of Pad\'{e} approximants. Average $\alpha_s$ values derived from the different approaches are in good agreement.
Infrared and collinear safe event shape distributions and their mean values are determined in e+e- collisions at centre-of-mass energies between 45 and 202 GeV. A phenomenological analysis based on power correction models including hadron mass effects for both differential distributions and mean values is presented. Using power corrections, alpha_s is extracted from the mean values and shapes. In an alternative approach, renormalisation group invariance (RGI) is used as an explicit constraint, leading to a consistent description of mean values without the need for sizeable power corrections. The QCD beta-function is precisely measured using this approach. From the DELPHI data on Thrust, including data from low energy experiments, one finds beta_0 = 7.86 +/- 0.32 for the one loop coefficient of the beta-function or, assuming QCD, n_f = 4.75 +/- 0.44 for the number of active flavours. These values agree well with the QCD expectation of beta_0=7.67 and n_f=5. A direct measurement of the full logarithmic energy slope excludes light gluinos with a mass below 5 GeV.
Measurements of the Xi- and anti-Xi+ masses, mass differences, lifetimes and lifetime differences are presented. The anti-Xi+ sample used is much larger than those used previously for such measurements. In addition, the Xi production rates in Z -> b anti-b and Z -> q anti-q events are compared and the position xi* of the maximum of the xi distribution in Z -> q anti-q events is measured.
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 f′ 2 〉 = 1535 ± 5 (stat) ± 4 (syst) MeV/c 2 , (T f′ 2 ;) = 60 ± 20 (stat) ± 19 (syst) MeV/c 2
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.
This analysis, based on a sample of 170000 hadronic Z0 decays, provides a measurement of the K ± and p/ p differential cross sections which is compared to string- and cluster fragmentation models. The total multiplicities for K ± and p/ p per hadronic event were found to be: NK = 2.26 ± 0.18 and N p = 1.07 ± 0.14. The positions ξ * of the maxima of the differential cross sections as a function of ξ = ln(1/ x p ) for K ± and p/ p were determined to be 2.63 ± 0.07 and 2.96 ± 0.16 respectively. A comparison of the ξ * values for various identified particles measured at LEP with the prediction of the Modified Leading Logarithm Approximation with Local Parton Hadron Duality model has been performed. The measured ξ * position as a function of the hadron mass, after corrections due to particle decays, is in agreement with the model calculation.
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.
A measurement of the Δ ++ (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 Δ ++ (1232) multiplicity per hadronic event is 0.079 ± 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.
An analysis is presented of inclusive π0 production in Z0 decays measured with the DELPHI detector. At low energies, π0 decays are reconstructed by using pairs of converted photons and combinations of converted photons and photons reconstructed in the barrel electromagnetic calorimeter (HPC). At high energies (up to $x_p={2cdot p≪/{sqrt s}=0.75}$) the excellent granularity of the HPC is exploited to search for two-photon substructures in single showers. The inclusive differential cross section is measured as a function of energy for qq̅ and bb̅ events. The number of π0’s per hadronic Z0 event is $N(≪^0)/Z_{had} ^0=9.2pm 0.2({⤪ stat})pm 1.0 ({⤪ syst})$ and for bb̅ events the number of π0’s is ${⤪ N}(≪^0)/{⤪ b⋏r b}=10.1pm 0.4({⤪ stat})pm 1.1 ({⤪ syst})$. The ratio of the number of π0’s in bb̅ events to hadronic Z0 events is less affected by the systematic errors and is found to be 1.09 ±0.05 ±0.01. The measured π0 cross sections are compared with the predictions of different parton shower models. For hadronic events, the peak position in the $xi_{⤪ p}={⤪ ln}(1/{⤪ x_p})$ distribution is $xi_p^{⋆ar}=3.90_{-0.14}^{+0.24}.$ The average number of π0’s from the decay of primary B hadrons is found to be N(B → π0X)/B hadron = 2.78 ± 0.15(stat) ± 0.60(syst).