The interaction of virtual photons is investigated using the reaction e+e- -> e+e- hadrons based on data taken by the OPAL experiment at e+e- centre-of-mass energies sqrt(s_ee)=189-209 GeV, for W>5 GeV and at an average Q^2 of 17.9 GeV^2. The measured cross-sections are compared to predictions of the Quark Parton Model (QPM), to the Leading Order QCD Monte Carlo model PHOJET to the NLO prediction for the reaction e+e- -> e+e-qqbar, and to BFKL calculations. PHOJET, NLO e+e- -> e+e-qqbar, and QPM describe the data reasonably well, whereas the cross-section predicted by a Leading Order BFKL calculation is too large.
Total cross section in the given phase space and assuming ALPHA = 1/137.
Differential cross section as a function of X where X is the maximum value of X1 or X2, the upper and lower vertex values.
Differential cross section as a function of Q**2 where Q**2 is the maximum value of Q1**2 or Q2**2, the upper and lower vertex values.
Dimuon and trimuon events produced by the interaction of 250 GeV muons in an iron target have been studied and are shown to originate predominantly from charm production. The data are used to measure the contribution of charm to the nucleon structure function F 2 . The cross sections for real photoproduction ( Q 2 =0) of charm in the current fragmentation region are derived as a function of photon energy and are found to be ∼0.6% of the total, hadronic photoproduction cross section in this energy range. The measured cross sections are found to be well represented by the photon-gluon fusion model. The charmed quark fragmentation function is obtained by using this model to fit the measured decay muon energy distribution and is found to be well represented by exp(1.6±1.6) Z . The data are used to study the momentum distribution of the gluons in the nucleon. An upper limit of 1.4% (90% confidence level) is set on the branching ratio D→ μν and a model-dependent upper limit on the branching ratio F→ μν is derived.
The charm contribution to the nucleon structure function from the dimuon data.
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