We have observed ϱ 0 production in e + e − annihilation to hadrons at high energies. The differential cross section at a centre of mass energy W , of 34 GeV, is presented. In the range 0.2< x < 0.7, we measure 0.33 ± 0.06 (stat.) ± 0.07 (syst.), 0.22 ± 0.06 ± 0.05 and 0.22 ± 0.02 ± 0.05 ϱ 0 /event at W = 14, 22 and 34 GeV respectively.
The ration R = σ (e + e − → hadrons) σ μμ was measured between 12.0 and 36.7 GeV c.m. energy W with a precision of typically ± 5.2%. R is found to be constant with an average R = 4.01 ± 0.03 (stat) ± (syst.) for W ⩾ 14 GeV. Quarks are found to be point-like, the mass parameter describing a possible quark form-factor being larger than 186 GeV. Fits including QCD corrections and a weak neutral-current contribution are presented.
The process e + e − → π 0 + anything has been measured at c.m. energies of 14 and 34 GeV for π 0 energies between 0.5 and 4 GeV. The ratio of π 0 to π ± production for π momenta between 0.5 and 1.5 GeV/ c is measured to be 2 σ ( π 0 )/ [ σ ( π + ) + σ ( π − )] = 1.3 ± 0.4 (1.2 ± 0.4) at 14 (34) GeV. The scaled cross section ( s / μ )d σ /d x when compared with lower energy (4.9–7.4 GeV) π 0 data indicates a substantial scaling violation.
Inclusive K 0 -production has been measured in e + e - annihilation at a center of mass energy of about W = 30 GeV. The ratio of K 0 + K 0 production to μ + μ - production is R K 0 = 5.6 ± 1.1 (statist. error) ± 0.8 (system.error) This value is about a factor of three higher than R K 0 at W = 7 GeV. The cross sections ( s / β ) d σ /d x is consistent with a scaling behaviour.
Production of pions, kaons, protons and antiprotons has been studied in e + e − annihilations at 12 and 30 GeV centre of mass energy using time of flight techniques. The fractional yield of charged kaons and baryons appears to rise with outgoing particle momentum. At our highest energy at least 40% of e + e − annihilations into hadrons are estimated to contain baryons.
We have observed e + e − hadrons at C.M. energies of 13 GeV and 17 GeV at PETRA using the TASSO detector. We find R (13 GeV) = 5.6 ± 0.7 and R (17 GeV) = 4.0 ± 0.7. The additional systematic uncertainty is 20%. Comparing inclusive charged hadron spectra we observe scaling between 5 GeV and 17 GeV for x = p / p beam > 0.2; however the 13 GeV cross section is above the 17 GeV cross section for smaller x . This may be due to copious bb̄ production. The events become increasingly jet like at high energies as evidenced by a shrinking sphericity distribution with increasing energy.
Measurements ofR, sphericity and thrust are presented for c.m. energies between 12 and 31.6 GeV. A possible contribution of at\(\bar t\) continuum can be ruled out for c.m. energies between 16 and 31 GeV.