The QED processes e^+ e^- -> e^+ e^- \mu^+ \mu^- and e^+ e^- -> e^+ e^- \tau^+ \tau^- are studied with the L3 detector at LEP using an untagged data sample collected at centre-of-mass energies 161 GeV < sqrt{s} < 209 GeV. The tau-pairs are observed through the associated decay of one tau into e\nu\nu and the other into \pi\pi\nu . The cross sections are measured as a function of sqrt{s}. For muon pairs, the cross section of the \gamma\gamma -> \mu^+\mu^- process is also measured as a function of the two-photon centre-of-mass energy for 3 GeV < W_{\gamma\gamma} < 40 GeV. Good agreement is found between these measurements and the O(\alpha^4) QED expectations. In addition, limits on the anomalous magnetic and electric dipole moments of the tau lepton are extracted.
Cross sections for muon-pair production as a function of centre of mass energy.
Cross sections for tau-pair production as a function of centre of mass energy.
Cross sections for the process GAMMA GAMMA --> MU+ MU- as a function of W.
This paper reports a complete analysis of data taken at DCI to measure lepton and pion pair production close to the threshold in two-photon processes: e<sup loc="post">+</sup>e<sup loc="post">−</sup> → e<sup loc="post">+</sup>e<sup loc="post">−</sup>(e<sup loc="post">+</sup>e<sup loc="post">−</sup>, μ<sup loc="post">+</sup>μ<sup loc="post">−</sup>, π<sup loc="post">+</sup>π<sup loc="post">−</sup>). Preliminary results have been previously published including one-half of the total statistics. Final results presented here are in good agreement with QED for lepton pair production. The measured cross section for pion pair production is twice as large as that expected from Born terms only — a two standard deviation effect.
Normalised to number of observed electron pairs. Fully corrected for acceptance, radiative effects etc.