We report on a study of radiative Bhabha and quasi-real Compton scattering at centre-of-mass energies between 50 GeV and 170 GeV, and 20 GeV and 140 GeV, respectively, using the L3 detector at LEP. The analysis is based on data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 232.2 pb −1 . A total of 2856 radiative Bhabha and 4641 Compton scattering events are collected. Total and differential cross sections for both reactions are presented and found to be in good agreement with QED expectations. Our measurement of Compton scattering at the highest energies obtained so far is used to derive exclusion limits on the coupling λ for the on-shell production of an excited electron e ★ decaying into a γ e pair in the mass range 20 GeV
Measured cross sections for radiative Bhabha scattering events.
Measured cross sections for the quasi-real Compton scattering events.
Compton scattering of quasi-real virtual photons, gamma e+- -> gamma e+-, is studied with 0.6fb-1 of data collected by the L3 detector at the LEP e+e- collider at centre-of-mass energies root(s')=189-209GeV. About 4500 events produced by the interaction of virtual photons emitted by e+- of one beam with e-+ of the opposite beam are collected for effective centre-of-mass energies of the photon-electron and photon-positron systems in the range from root(s')= 35GeV up to root(s')=175GeV, the highest energy at which Compton scattering was ever probed. The cross sections of the gamma e+- -> gamma e+- process as a function of root(s') and of the rest-frame scattering angle are measured, combined with previous L3 measurements down to root(s')~20GeV, and found to agree with the QED expectations.
Measured Compton scattering cross section as a function of the effective centre of mass of the photon-electron system. THETA(RF=CM) is the electron rest frame scattering angle.
The measured angular distribution over the photon-electron centre of mass energy range 35 to 175 GeV.
The measured Compton scattering cross section using the full data sample including the lower energy data from Acciarri et al. PL B439(1998)183. Errors are combined statistics and systematics.
Double-tag events in two-photon collisions are studied using the L3 detector at LEP centre-of-mass energies from root(s)=189 GeV to 209 GeV. The cross sections of the e+e- -> e+e- hadrons and gamma*gamma* -> hadrons processes are measured as a function of the photon virtualities, Q1^2 and Q2^2, of the two-photon mass, W_gammagamma, and of the variable Y=ln(W_gammagamma^2/(Q1 Q2)), for an average photon virtuality <Q2> = 16 GeV2. The results are in agreement with next-to-leading order calculations for the process gamma*gamma* -> q qbar in the interval 2 <= Y <= 5. An excess is observed in the interval 5 < Y <= 7, corresponding to W_gammagamma greater than 40 GeV . This may be interpreted as a sign of resolved photon QCD processes or the onset of BFKL phenomena.
Differential cross section as a function of the photon virtualities Qi**2. Here Q1 is the virtuality w.r.t the electron vertex, and Q2 w.r.t the positron vertex. Data are given both before and after radiative corrections.
Differential cross section as a function of W, the invariant mas of the virtual GAMMA*GAMMA* system. Data are given both before and after radiative corrections.
Differential cross section as a function of the variable LN(W**2/Q1*Q2). Data are given both before and after radiative corrections.
The reactions e^+e^- -> e^+e^- Lambda X and e^+e^- -> e^+e^- Lambda X are studied using data collected at LEP with the L3 detector at centre-of-mass energies between 189 and 209 GeV. Inclusive differential cross sections are measured as a function of the lambda transverse momentum, p_t, and pseudo-rapidity, eta, in the ranges 0.4 GeV < p_t < 2.5 GeV and |\eta| < 1.2. The data are compared to Monte Carlo predictions. The differential cross section as a function of p_t is well described by an exponential of the form A exp (- p_t / <p_t>)$.
The differential cross section for LAMBDA production as a function of PT.
The differential cross section for LAMBDA production as a function of pseudorapidity in two PT regions.
The reactions ee->ee+pi0+X and ee->ee+K0s+X are studied using data collected at LEP with the L3 detector at centre-of-mass energies between 189 and 202 GeV. Inclusive differential cross sections are measured as a function of the particle transverse momentum pt and the pseudo-rapidity. For pt < 1.5 GeV, the pi0 and K0s differential cross sections are described by an exponential, typical of soft hadronic processes. For pt > 1.5 GeV, the cross sections show the presence of perturbative QCD processes, described by a power-law. The data are compared to Monte Carlo predictions and to NLO QCD calculations.
The PI0 differential cross section as a function of PT.
The PI0 differential cross section as a function of pseudorapidity.
The K0S differential cross section as a function of PT.
The structure functions of real and virtual photons are derived from cross section measurements of the reaction e^+e^ -> e^+e^- + hadrons at LEP. The reaction is studied at \sqrt{s} ~ 91 GeV with the L3 detector. One of the final state electrons is detected at a large angle relative to the beam direction, leading to Q^2 values between 40 GeV^2 and 500 GeV^2. The other final state electron is either undetected or it is detected at a four-momentum transfer squared P^2 between 1 GeV^2 and 8 GeV^2. These measurements are compared with predictions of the Quark Parton Model and other QCD based models.
Measured values of F2 for the single-tag data as a function of X for the full Q**2 range.
Measured values of F2 for the single-tag data as a function of Q**2 for different X ranges.
The effective F2 measured in double-tag events as a function of X.
The reactions gamma gamma -> pi^+pi^-pi^+pi^- and gamma gamma -> pi^+pi^0pi^-pi^0 are studied with the L3 detector at LEP in a data sample collected at centre-of-mass energies from 161GeV to 209GeV with a total integrated luminosity of 698/pb. A spin-parity-helicity analysis of the rho^0 rho^0 and rho^+ rho^- systems for two-photon centre-of-mass energies between 1GeV and 3GeV shows the dominance of the spin-parity state 2+ with helicity 2. The contribution of 0+ and 0- spin-parity states is also observed, whereas contributions of 2- states and of a state with spin-parity 2+ and zero helicity are found to be negligible.
Cross section for 4PI and (RHO0 RHO0) production.
Cross section for 4PI and (RHO+ RHO-) production.
Spin parity analysis fits for RHO0 RHO0.
Measurements of inclusive production of the Lambda, Xi- and Xi*(1530) baryons in two-photon collisions with the L3 detector at LEP are presented. The inclusive differential cross sections for Lambda and Xi- are measured as a function of the baryon transverse momentum, pt, and pseudo-rapidity, eta. The mean number of Lambda, Xi- and Xi*(1530) baryons per hadronic two-photon event is determined in the kinematic range 0.4 GeV < pt< 2.5 GeV, |eta| < 1.2. Overall agreement with the theoretical models and Monte Carlo predictions is observed. A search for inclusive production of the pentaquark theta+(1540) in two-photon collisions through the decay theta+ -> proton K0s is also presented. No evidence for production of this state is found.
Differential cross section for LAMBDA production.
Differential cross section for LAMBDA production.
Differential cross section for XI- production.
Exclusive rho^+ rho^- production in two-photon collisions involving a single highly-virtual photon is studied with data collected at LEP at centre-of-mass energies 89 GeV < \sqrt{s} < 209 GeV with a total integrated luminosity of 854.7 pb^-1. The cross section of the process gamma gamma^* -> rho^+ rho^- is determined as a function of the photon virtuality, Q^2, and the two-photon centre-of-mass energy, W_gg, in the kinematic region: 1.2 GeV^2 < Q^2 < 30 GeV^2 and 1.1 GeV < W_gg < 3 GeV. The \rho^+\rho^- production cross section is found to be of the same magnitude as the cross section of the process gamma gamma^* -> rho^0 rho^0, measured in the same kinematic region by L3, and to have similar W_gg and Q^2 dependences.
Cross sections for the reaction E+ E- --> E+ E- RHO+ RHO-. The differentialcross sections are corrected to the centre of each bin.
Cross sections for the two photon production of RHO+ RHO-.
Differential cross section for the process E+ E- --> E+ E- (RHO+ PI- PI0 + RHO+ RHO- PI0 PI0) corrected to bin centre.
Inclusive charged hadron production, e+e- -> e+e- h+- X, is studied using 414 pb-1 of data collected at LEP with the L3 detector at centre-of-mass energies between 189 and 202 GeV. Single particle inclusive differential cross sections are measured as a function of the particle transverse momentum, pt, and pseudo-rapidity, eta. For p_t < 1.5 GeV, the data are well described by an exponential, typical of soft hadronic processes. For higher pt, the onset of perturbative QCD processes is observed. The pi+- production cross section for pt > 5 GeV is much higher than the NLO QCD predictions.
Transverse momentum distribution for inclusive charged hadron production.
Transverse momentum distributions for charged pion and charged kaon production separately.
Transverse momentum distributions for charged pion production with different W (effective mass of the GAMMA GAMMA system) cuts.
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