Using the data recorded with the L3 detector at LEP, we study the process e + e − → μ + μ − ( γ ) for events with hard initial-state photon radiation. The effective centre-of-mass energies of the muons range from 50 GeV to 86 GeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 103.5 pb −1 and yields 293 muon-pair events with a hard photon along the beam direction. The events are used to determine the cross sections and the forward-backward charge asymmetries at centre-of-mass energies below the Z resonance.
Forward-Backward Asymmetry from fit as function of the reduced centre-of-mass energy.
Background corrected Forward-Backward Asymmetry as function of the reduced centre-of-mass energy.
From the measured ratio of the invisible and the leptonic decay widths of theZ0, we determine the number of light neutrino species to beNv=3.05±0.10. We include our measurements of the forward-backward asymmetry for the leptonic channels in a fit to determine the vector and axial-vector neutral current coupling constants of charged leptons to theZ0. We obtain\(\bar g_V=- 0.046_{ - 0.012}^{ + 0.015}\) and\(\bar g_A=- 0.500 \pm 0.003\). In the framework of the Standard Model, we estimate the top quark mass to bemt=193−69+52±16 (Higgs) GeV, and we derive a value for the weak mixing angle of sin2θW=1−(MW/MZ)2=0.222 ± 0.008, corresponding to an effective weak mixing angle of\(\sin ^2 \bar \theta _W= 0.2315\pm0.0025\).
Asymmetry determined from the number of events in the forward and backward hemisphere. Estimated systematic error is 0.005.
Asymmetry determined using the maximum likelihood method. Estimated systematic error is 0.005.
Asymmetry determined from the number of events in the forward and backward hemisphere. Estimated systematic error is <0.01.
We have measured the partial width and forward-backward charge asymmetry for the reaction e + e - →Z 0 →μ + μ - (γ). We obtain a partial width Γ μμ of 83.3±1.3(stat)±0.9(sys) MeV and the following values for the vector and axial vector couplings: g v =−0.062 −0.015 +0.020 and g A =−0.497 −0.005 +0.005 . From our measurement of the partial width and the mass of the Z 0 boson we determine the effective electroweak mixing angle, sin 2 θ w =0.232±0.005, and the neutral current coupling strength parameter, ϱ =0.998±0.016.
Forward backward charge asymmetry.