We report on an improved measurement of the value of the strong coupling constant σ s at the Z 0 peak, using the asymmetry of the energy-energy correlation function. The analysis, based on second-order perturbation theory and a data sample of about 145000 multihadronic Z 0 decays, yields α s ( M z 0 = 0.118±0.001(stat.)±0.003(exp.syst.) −0.004 +0.0009 (theor. syst.), where the theoretical systematic error accounts for uncertainties due to hadronization, the choice of the renormalization scale and unknown higher-order terms. We adjust the parameters of a second-order matrix element Monte Carlo followed by string hadronization to best describe the energy correlation and other hadronic Z 0 decay data. The α s result obtained from this second-order Monte Carlo is found to be unreliable if values of the renormalization scale smaller than about 0.15 E cm are used in the generator.

We have studied the production of D*± mesons in a sample of 1.25 million multihadronic decays of the Z0, in which 1969 candidates have been identified. We have determined the total multiplicity of charged D* mesons in multihadronic Z0 decays to be

The decay τ−→π−−+vτ has been studied using data collected with the OPAL detector at LEP during 1992 and 1993. The hadronic structure functions for this decay are measured model independently assuming G-parity invariance and neglecting scalar currents. Simultaneously the parity violating asymmetry parameter is determined to be\(\gamma VA = 1.08 _{ - 0.41- 0.25}^{ + 0.46+ 0.14} \), consistent with the Standard Model prediction of γVA=1 for left-handed tau neutrinos. Models of Kühn and Santamaria and of Isgur et al. are used to fit distributions of the invariant 3π mass as well as 2π mass projections of the Dalitz plot. The model dependent mass and width of thea1 resonance are measured to be\(m_{a_1 }= 1.266 \pm 0.014_{ - 0.002}^{ + 0.012} \) GeV and\(\Gamma _{a_1 }= 0.610 \pm 0.049_{ - 0.019}^{ + 0.053} \) GeV for the Kühn and Santamaria model and\(m_{a_1 }= 1.202 \pm 0.009_{ - 0.001}^{ + 0.009} \) GeV and\(\Gamma _{a_1 }= 0.422 \pm 0.023_{ - 0.004}^{ + 0.033} \) GeV for the Isgur et al. model. The model dependent values obtained for the parity violating asymmetry parameter are γVA=0.87±0.27−0.06+0.05 for the Kühn and Santamaria model and γVA=1.10±0.31−0.14+0.13 for the Isgur et al. model. Within the Isgur et al. model the ratio of theS-andD-wave amplitudes is measured to beD/S=−0.09±0.03±0.01.

The production of the octet and decuplet baryons Λ, Ξ − , Σ (1385) ± , Ξ(1530) 0 and Ω − and the corresponding antibaryons has been measured in a sample of 485 000 hadronic Z 0 decays. Results on differential and integrated cross sections are presented. The differential cross section of Λ baryons is found to be softer than the one predicted by the Jetset and Herwig Monte Carlo generators. The measured decuplet yields are found to disagree with the simple diquark picture where only one tuning parameter for spin 1 diquarks is used. Comparisons of the momentum spectra for Λ and Ξ − with the predictions of an analytical QCD formula are also presented.

We present an analysis of multiplicity distributions of charged particles produced inZ0 hadronic decays. The results are based on the analysis of 82941 events collected within 100 MeV of theZ0 peak energy with the OPAL detector at LEP. The charged particle multiplicity distribution, corrected for initial-state radiation and for detector acceptance and resolution, was found to have a mean 〈nch〉=21.40±0.02(stat.)±0.43(syst.) and a dispersionD=6.49±0.02(stat.)±0.20(syst.). The shape is well described by the Lognormal and Gamma distributions. A negative binomial parameterisation was found to describe the shape of the multiplicity distribution less well. A comparison with results obtained at lower energies confirms the validity of KNO(-G) scaling up to LEP energies. A separate analysis of events with low sphericity, typically associated with two-jet final states, shows the presence of features expected for models based on a stochastic production mechanism for particles. In all cases, the features observed in the data are well described by the Lund parton shower model JETSET.

This paper describes an analysis of sub-jet multiplicities, which are expected to be sensitive to the properties of soft gluon radiation, in hadronic decays of theZ0. Two- and three-jet event samples are selected using thek⊥ jet clustering algorithm at a jet resolution scaley1. The mean sub-jet multiplicity as a function of the sub-jet resolution,y0, is determined separately for both event samples by reapplying the same jet algorithm at resolution scalesy0<y1. These measurements are compared with recent perturbative QCD calculations based on the summation of leading and next-to-leading logarithms, and with QCD Monte Carlo models. The analytic calculations provide a good description of the sub-jet multiplicity seen in three- and two-jet mvents in the perturbative region (y0≈y1)), and the measured form of the data is in agreement with the expectation based on coherence of soft gluon radiation. The analysis provides good discrimination between Monte Carlo models, and those with a coherent parton shower are preferred by the data. The analysis suggests that coherence effects are present in the data.

Quark and gluon jets in e + e − three-jet events at LEP are identified using lepton tagging of quark jets, through observation of semi-leptonic charm and bottom quark decays. Events with a symmetry under transposition of the energies and directions of a quark and gluon jet are selected: these quark and gluon jets have essentially the same energy and event environment and as a consequence their properties can be compared directly. The energy of the jets which are studied is about 24.5 GeV. In the cores of the jets, gluon jets are found to yield a softer particle energy spectrum than quark jets. Gluon jets are observed to be broader than quark jets, as seen from the shape of their particle momentum spectra both in and out of the three-jet event plane. The greater width of gluon jets relative to quark jets is also visible from the shapes of their multiplicity distributions. Little difference is observed, however, between the mean value of particle multiplicity for the two jet types.

The inclusive production rates of π±,K± andp\(\bar p\) inZ0 decays have been measured with the OPAL detector at LEP. Using the energy loss measurement in the jet chamber, the momentum range up to the beam energy (45.6 GeV/c) has been covered. Differential cross sections and total particle yields are given. Comparisons of the inclusive momentum spectra and the total rates with predictions of the JETSET and the HERWIG Monte Carlo model are presented. The total single rates are found to be 17.05±0.43 π±, 2.42±0.13K± and 0.92±0.11p\(\bar p\) per hadronic event. Predictions of JETSET for cross sections and total rates agree very well for π±; however, for momenta greater than 4 GeV/c,K± rates are underestimated and\(\bar p\) rates are overestimated. Combined with data of other particle species there is evidence that the peak positions in the ξ=ln(1/xp) distributions show a different mass dependence for mesons and baryons. However, both JETSET and HERWIG Monte Carlo predictions agree with the observed data.

We have measured the photon yield in lepton pair events recorded by the OPAL detector in a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 7.1 pb −1 at centre-of-mass energies between 88 GeV and 94 GeV. The results are compared to QED expectations for initial and final state photon radiation. No anomalous photon yield has been found, and stringent limits on the branching ratio for exotic radiative three body Z 0 decays into a photon and a pair of leptons are obtained. We also place limits on possible Z 0 decays into a photon and a resonance X with subsequent decays of X into a pair of leptons. Acollinear μ + μ − events with missing momentum along the beam direction are identified as events with hard initial state photon radiation and used to measure an average cross section of 15 ± 8 6 pb for e + e − annihilation into μ + μ − , in the so far untested range of centre-of-mass energies between 60 GeV and 84 GeV. This value is consistent with a cross section of 24 pb, expected from Z 0 and photon exchange.

New measurements of the hadronic and leptonic cross sections and of the leptonic forward-backward asymmetries ine+e− collisions are presented. The analysis includes data recorded up to the end of 1991 by the OPAL experiment at LEP, with centre-of-mass energies within ±3 GeV of the Z0 mass. The results are based on a recorded total of 454 000 hadronic and 58 000 leptonic events. A model independent analysis of Z0 parameters based on an extension of the improved Born approximation is presented leading to test of lepton universality and an interpretation of the results within the Standard Model framework. The determination of the mass and width of the Z0 benefit from an improved understanding of the LEP energy calibration.