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.
Additional systematic error of 0.003.
Forward-backward asymmetry from counting number of events. Additional systematic error of 0.003.
Forward-backward asymmetry from maximum likelihood fit to cos(theta) distribution. Additional systematic error of 0.003.
This final analysis of hadronic and leptonic cross-sections and of leptonic forward-backward asymmetries in e+e- collisions with the OPAL detector makes use of the full LEP1 data sample comprising 161 pb^-1 of integrated luminosity and 4.5 x 10^6 selected Z decays. An interpretation of the data in terms of contributions from pure Z exchange and from Z-gamma interference allows the parameters of the Z resonance to be determined in a model-independent way. Our results are in good agreement with lepton universality and consistent with the vector and axial-vector couplings predicted in the Standard Model. A fit to the complete dataset yields the fundamental Z resonance parameters: mZ = 91.1852 +- 0.0030 GeV, GZ = 2.4948 +- 0.0041 GeV, s0h = 41.501 +- 0.055 nb, Rl = 20.823 +- 0.044, and Afb0l = 0.0145 +- 0.0017. Transforming these parameters gives a measurement of the ratio between the decay width into invisible particles and the width to a single species of charged lepton, Ginv/Gl = 5.942 +- 0.027. Attributing the entire invisible width to neutrino decays and assuming the Standard Model couplings for neutrinos, this translates into a measurement of the effective number of light neutrino species, N_nu = 2.984 +- 0.013. Interpreting the data within the context of the Standard Model allows the mass of the top quark, mt = 162 +29-16 GeV, to be determined through its influence on radiative corrections. Alternatively, utilising the direct external measurement of mt as an additional constraint leads to a measurement of the strong coupling constant and the mass of the Higgs boson: alfa_s(mZ) = 0.127 +- 0.005 and mH = 390 +750-280 GeV.
The forward-backward charge asymmetry in E+ E- --> MU+ MU- production corrected to the simple kinematic acceptance region ABS(COS(THETA(P=5))) < 0.95 and THETA(C=ACOL) < 15 degrees, and the energy of each fermion required to be greaterthan 6 GeV. Statistical errors only are shown. Also given are the asymmetries a fter correction for the beam energy spread to correspond to the physical asymmetry at the central value of SQRT(S).
The forward-backward charge asymmetry in E+ E- --> TAU+ TAU- production corrected to the simple kinematic acceptance region ABS(COS(THETA(P=5))) < 0.90 andTHETA(C=ACOL) < 15 degrees, and the energy of each fermion required to be great er than 6 GeV. Statistical errors only are shown. Also given are the asymmetriesafter correction for the beam energy spread to correspond to the physical asymm etry at the central value of SQRT(S).
The forward-backward charge asymmetry in E+ E- --> E+ E- production corrected to the simple kinematic acceptance region ABS(COS(THETA(P=5))) < 0.70 and THETA(C=ACOL) < 10 degrees, and the energy of each fermion required to be greater than 6 GeV. Statistical errors only are shown. Also given are the asymmetries after correction for the beam energy spread to correspond to the physical asymmetryat the central value of SQRT(S).
Cross-section and angular distributions for hadronic and lepton-pair final states in e+e- collisions at centre-of-mass energies between 189 GeV and 209 GeV, measured with the OPAL detector at LEP, are presented and compared with the predictions of the Standard Model. The measurements are used to determine the electromagnetic coupling constant alphaem at LEP2 energies. In addition, the results are used together with OPAL measurements at 91-183 GeV within the S-matrix formalism to determine the gamma-Z interference term and to make an almost model-independent measurement of the Z mass. Limits on extensions to the Standard Model described by effective four-fermion contact interactions or the addition of a heavy Z boson are also presented.
Measured forward backward asymmetries for MU+ MU- production. The data are corrected to no interference between initial and final state radiation.
Measured forward backward asymmetries for TAU+ TAU- production. The data are corrected to no interference between initial and final state radiation.
Measured forward backward asymmetries for E+ E- production.
Cross-sections and angular distributions for hadronic and lepton pair final states in e+e- collisions at a centre-of-mass energy near 189 GeV, measured with the OPAL detector at LEP, are presented and compared with the predictions of the Standard Model. The results are used to measure the energy dependence of the electromagnetic coupling constant alpha_em, and to place limits on new physics as described by four-fermion contact interactions or by the exchange of a new heavy particle such as a sneutrino in supersymmetric theories with R-parity violation. A search for the indirect effects of the gravitational interaction in extra dimensions on the mu+mu- and tau+tau- final states is also presented.
The forward-backward asymmetry in muon- and tau-pair production in the two sprime/s regions.
The forward-backward asymmetry in electron-pair production for cos(theta_e) <0.7.
Forum