Events with a (2+1) jet topology in deep-inelastic scattering at HERA are studied in the kinematic range 200 < Q^2< 10,000 GeV^2. The rate of (2+1) jet events has been determined with the modified JADE jet algorithm as a function of the jet resolution parameter and is compared with the predictions of Monte Carlo models. In addition, the event rate is corrected for both hadronization and detector effects and is compared with next-to-leading order QCD calculations. A value of the strong coupling constant of alpha_s(M_Z^2)= 0.118+- 0.002 (stat.)^(+0.007)_(-0.008) (syst.)^(+0.007)_(-0.006) (theory) is extracted. The systematic error includes uncertainties in the calorimeter energy calibration, in the description of the data by current Monte Carlo models, and in the knowledge of the parton densities. The theoretical error is dominated by the renormalization scale ambiguity.
Y2 distribution corrected for detector effects.
Y2 distribution corrected for both detector and hadronization effects.
Y2 distribution using the E, E0 and P variants of the JADE alogrithm, corrected for both detector and hadronization effects. Statistical errors only.
Jet rates in deep inelastic electron proton scattering are studied with the H1 detector at HERA for momentum transfers squared between 10 and 4000 GeV 2 . It is shown that they can be quantitatively described by perturbative QCD in next to leading order making use of the parton densities of the proton and with the strong coupling constant α s as a free parameter. The measured value, α s ( M Z 2 ) = 0.123 ± 0.018, is in agreement both with determinations from e + e − annihilation at LEP using the same observable and with the world average.
Determination of ALP_S(MZ**2). Error contains both statistics and systematics.