Topological distributions of charged and neutral hadrons from the reaction e + e − → multihadrons are studied at √ s of about 30 GeV. An excess of planar events is observed at a rate which cannot be explained by statistical fluctuations in the standard two-jet process. The planar events, mostly consisting of a slim jet on one side and a broader jet on the other, are shown actually to possess three-jet structure by demonstrating that the broader jet itself consists of two collinear jets in its own rest system. Detailed agreement between data and predictions is obtained if the process e + e − →q q ̄ g is taken into account. This strongly suggests gluon bremsstrahlung as the origin of the planar three-jet events. By comparison of the data with the qq̄g-model we obtain a value for the strong coupling constant of α S ( q 2 = 0.17 ± 0.04.

A search for narrow resonances in e + e − annihilation at c.m. energies between 29.90 and 31.46 GeV provides no evidence for the existence of such states. The 90% confidence upper limit on the integrated resonance cross section is 38 nb MeV, significantly below the value expected for the lowest (t,t̄) bound state.

The processes e + e − → e + e − and μ + μ − have been studied at PETRA using the JADE detector. The data, which were collected at s -values of up to 1300 GeV 2 have been analysed in terms of an electro-weak extension of QED to obtain values for the weak vector and axial vector couplings in the lepton sector. The values obtained agree with the predictions of the standard Salam-Weinberg model and the data are further analysed in terms of this model to obtain the limits 0.10 < sin 2 ϑ w < 0.40 (68% CL). The mass of the neutral weak gauge boson is deduced to be greater than 51 GeV/ c 2 .

A search for narrow resonances in e + e − annihilation between 33.00 and 36.72 GeV is reported. No evidence is found for the existence of such states. The 90% confidence upper limit on the integrated resonance cross section is determined to be 28 nb MeV, a value significantly below that expected for the lowest t t bound state.

Data on hadron production by e + e − annihilation at c.m. energies between 12 and 36.6 GeV have been collected using the JADE detector. They have been analysed in terms of single-photon and weak neutral-current exchange assuming production of quark-antiquark pairs with only d, u, s, c and b quarks to produce values for the quark weak neutral-current couplings. A further analysis in terms of the Glashow-Salam-Weinberg theory produced the result, sin 2 θ W = 0.22 ± 0.08 . The theory has therefore been tested in a new energy domain and within the context of the neutral weak couplings of the first, second and third generation quarks.

Data on p and Λ production by e + e − -annihilation at CM energies between 30 and 36 GeV are presented. Indication for an angular anticorrelation in events with baryon-antibaryon pairs is seen.

The process e + e − → π 0 + anything has been measured at c.m. energies of 14 and 34 GeV for π 0 energies between 0.5 and 4 GeV. The ratio of π 0 to π ± production for π momenta between 0.5 and 1.5 GeV/ c is measured to be 2 σ ( π 0 )/ [ σ ( π + ) + σ ( π − )] = 1.3 ± 0.4 (1.2 ± 0.4) at 14 (34) GeV. The scaled cross section ( s / μ )d σ /d x when compared with lower energy (4.9–7.4 GeV) π 0 data indicates a substantial scaling violation.

The angular distribution and the s dependence of the total cross section for the process e + e − → μ + μ − have been measured using the JADE detector at PETRA. After radiative corrections, a forward-backward asymmetry of −(11.8±3.8) % was observed at an average centre of mass energy of 33.5 GeV. For comparison, an asymmetry of −7.8 % is expected on the basis of the standard Glashow-Salam-Weinberg model.

We have measured, at an average centre-of-mass energy of 34.22 GeV a forward-backward charge asymmetry in the reaction e + e − → μ + μ − of value −0.161 ± 0.032. This demonstrates the existence of an axial vector neutral current with coupling strength of g e a g μ a =0.53 ± 0.10. We have also obtained a limit on the vector coupling strength of g e v g μ v <0.12. The Weinberg angle is found to be sin 2 θ W =0.29 +0.09 −0.11 . From the reaction e + e − → τ + τ − we have found g e a g τ a <0.34, g e v g τ v <0.55.

The ration R = σ (e + e − → hadrons) σ μμ was measured between 12.0 and 36.7 GeV c.m. energy W with a precision of typically ± 5.2%. R is found to be constant with an average R = 4.01 ± 0.03 (stat) ± (syst.) for W ⩾ 14 GeV. Quarks are found to be point-like, the mass parameter describing a possible quark form-factor being larger than 186 GeV. Fits including QCD corrections and a weak neutral-current contribution are presented.

The inclusive production of π ± mesons in e + e − annihilation has been measured at c.m. energies of 14, 22 and 34 GeV for pion momenta between 0.3 ans 10 GeV/ c . The fraction of pions among the charged hadrons is above 90% at 0.4 GeV/ c and decreases to about 50% at high momenta. The scaled cross sections ( s β ) d σ d x at 14, 22 and 34 GeV as well as the 5.2 GeV data from DASP have a rather similar x dependence. After integration over the x range from 0.2 to 0.6 the cross sections indicate a monotonic decrease with increasing centre-of-mass energy.

Topological distributions of hadrons from the reaction e + e − → hadrons are studied at center of mass energies of about 33 GeV. The experimental distributions in the parameters acoplanarity and tripodity, both sensitive to events with a four-jet structure, show significant deviations from the expectations for two- and three-jet events. They can be described well by the inclusion of four-jet events. The relative magnitude of the observed effect indicates second order QCD as its probable origin.

The scale cross section s d σ d x p for inclusive charged-particle production in e + e − annihilation has been studied for c.m. energies W between 12.0 and 36.7 GeV. Scale breaking is observed. For x p >0.2 the cross section decreases by ≈20% when W increases from 14 to 35 GeV. The production angular distribution was used to separate the longitudinal and transverse cross-section contributions and to determine the ratio of the structure functions m W 1 and v W 2 .

A high statistics experiment was performed on Bhabha scattering at energies between 14 and 34 GeV. Good agreement with QED was observed. The combined data on Bhabha scattering and μ pair production were found to agree with the standard theory of electroweak interaction giving sin 2 θ = 0.27 −0.07 +0.06 . Assuming for the Z 0 mass a value of 90 GeV the leptonic weak coupling constants were determined to g V 2 = −0.04 ± 0.06 and g A 2 = 0.35 ± 0.09. A search for scalar leptons sets lower limits on the mass of scalar electrons of M s e > 16.6 GeV and of scalar muons of M s μ > 16.4 GeV.

We have observed ϱ 0 production in e + e − annihilation to hadrons at high energies. The differential cross section at a centre of mass energy W , of 34 GeV, is presented. In the range 0.2< x < 0.7, we measure 0.33 ± 0.06 (stat.) ± 0.07 (syst.), 0.22 ± 0.06 ± 0.05 and 0.22 ± 0.02 ± 0.05 ϱ 0 /event at W = 14, 22 and 34 GeV respectively.

The inclusive production of π± andK± mesons and of protons and antiprotons ine+e− annihilation has been measured at c.m. energies ofW=14, 22 and 34GeV. Using time of flight measurements and Cerenkov counters the full momentum range has been covered. Differential cross sections and total particle yields are given. At particle momenta of 0.4 GeV/c more than 90% of the charged hadrons are pions. With increasing momentum the fraction of pions among the charged hadrons decreases. AtW=34 GeV and a momentum of 5 GeV/c the particle fractions are approximately π±:K±:p,\(\bar p = 0.55:0.3:0.15\). On average an event atW=34 GeV contains 10.3±0.4π±, 2.0±0.2K± and 0.8±0.1p,\(\bar p\). In addition, we present results on baryon correlations using a sample of events where two or more protons and/or antiprotons are observed in the final state.

D ∗± production via e + e − →D ∗± X has been measured at an average CM energy of 34.4 GeV. The D ∗± energy spectrum is hard, with a maximum near χ = 0.6. The size of the D ∗ cross section, R D ∗ = σ( e + e − → D ∗ X ) σ μμ = 2.50 ± 0.64 ± 0.88 (assuming R D ∗0 = R D ∗+ ) indicates that a large fraction of charm quark production yields D ∗ mesons. The D ∗± angular distribution exhibits a forward—backward asymmetry, A = −0.28 ± 0.13. This is consistent with that expected in the standard theory for weak neutral currents and leads to | g A c | = 0.89 ± 0.44 for the axial vector coupling of the charm quark.

Transverse particle momenta have been measured ine+e− annihilation into hadrons at c.m. energies between 9.4 and 31.6 GeV. The data are fully corrected for detector effects and radiation in the initial state. A comparison is made with recent QCD calculations.

Exclusive production of proton-antiproton pairs by two photon scattering at CM energies between 2.0 GeV and 3.1 GeV has been measured with the TASSO detector at the e + e − storage ring PETRA. The angular distribution is flat within the accepted CM angular range | cos Θ ∗ |⩽0.7 . The integrated cross section (| cos Θ ∗ |⩽0.6) drops from about 4 nb at 2 GeV to less than 0.5 nb above 3 GeV. For the two-photon production of the η c (2984) and its subsequent decay into proton-antiproton the upper limit Γ(η c →γγ)· B (η c → p p )<0.32 keV (95% CL) is found.

We present evidence for the production of Ξ· − , Ξ − in e + e − annihilation into hadrons. Our measurements yields: 0.026 ± 0.008 (stat.) ± 0.009 (syst.) Ξ − , Ξ − per hadronic event at W ∼ 34 GeV. Using our previous measurements of Λ, Λ and p, p production we obtain the relative yields (Ξ − , Ξ − /(Λ, Λ = 0.087 ± 0.03 ( stat. ) ± 0.03 ( syst. ) and (Ξ − , Ξ − /( p , p = 0.033 ± 0.011 ( stat. ) ± 0.011 ( syst. ) .

We present an analysis of electroweak leptonic couplings from high statistics experiments on Bhabha scattering and μ pair production at an energy of 34.5 GeV. The forward-backward charge asymmetry of the μ pairs was measured to be −0.098±0.023±0.005. The data were found to agree well with the standard theory of electroweak interaction giving sin2θW=0.27±0.07. The leptonic weak couplings were determined to begv=0.000±0.170 andgA=−0.481±0.055. The data were also used to investigate a class of composite models for leptons.

We report on the exclusive production of π, K and proton pairs from photon-photon interactions at momentum transfers | t |⩾1 GeV 2 . Using the PLUTO detector at the e + e − storage ring PETRA, we have observed 15 events in an integrated luminosity of 41.7 pb −1 . The data lie far below the expectations for point-like hadrons, and are in reasonable agreement with the QCD-based predictions of Brodsky and Lepage.

D ∗± production via e + e − → D ∗± X was studied at CM energies near 34 GeV. The charged particles produced in the hemisphere opposite to that of the D ∗ were used to investigate the fragmentation of charm jets. All spectra studied show a close similarity between the charm jet and the average jet obtained by summing over all quark flavours. The spectra of particles produced in the D ∗ hemisphere were used to study separately first rank and higher rank fragmentation.

Production of the F meson by e + e − annihilation at high energies has been obsrved in the ϕπ final state with a mass of 1.975 ± 0.009 ± 0.010 GeV and a width consistent with the mass resolution. The yield of F production times branching ratio relative to μ pair production is R F ( x ⩾ 0.3) B (F ± → ϕπ ± ) = 0.061 ± 0.012 ± 0.018.

The production of prompt muons ine+e− annihilation has been studied at centre of mass energies near 34.5 GeV. The measured semi-muonic branching ratios ofb andc quarks areB(b»Xμv) =0.117±0.028±0.01 andB(c→Xμv)=0.082 ±0.012a−0.01+0.02. The fragmentation functions of heavy quarks are hard, <zb>=0.85a−0.12–0.07+0.10+0.02 and <zc> =0.77a−0.07–0.11+0.05+0.03. Limits have been set on flavour changing neutral current decays:B(b→Xµ+µ−) <0.02 andB(b→Xµ+µ− (95% confidence level).

We present the general properties of jets produced bye+e− annihilation. Their production and fragmentation characteristics have been studied with charged particles for c.m. energies between 12 and 43 GeV. In this energy rangee+e− annihilation into hadrons is dominated by pair production of the five quarksu, d, s, c andb. In addition, hard gluon bremsstrahlung effects which are invisible at low energies become prominent at the high energies. The observed multiplicity distributions deviate from a Poisson distribution. The multiplicity distributions for the overall event as well as for each event hemisphere satisfy KNO scaling to within ∼20%. The distributions ofxp=2p/W are presented; scale breaking is observed at the level of 25%. The quantityxpdδ/dxp is compared with multigluon emission calculations which predict a Gaussian distribution in terms of ln(1/x). The observed energy dependence of the maximum of the distributions is in qualitative agreement with the calculations. Particle production is analysed with respect to the jet axis and longitudinal and transverse momentum spectra are presented. The angular distribution of the jet axis strongly supports the idea of predominant spin 1/2 quark pair production. The particle distributions with respect to the event plane show clearly the growing importance of planar events with increasing c.m. energies. They also exclude the presence of heavy quark production,e+e−→Q\(\bar Q\) for quark masses up to 5<mQ<20.3 GeV (|eQ|=2/3) and 7<mQ<19 GeV (|eQ|=1/3). The comparison of 1/σtotdδ/dpT measured at 14, 22 and 34 GeV suggests that hard gluon bremsstrahlung contributes mainly to transverse momenta larger than 0.5 GeV/c. The rapidity distribution forW≧22 GeV shows an enhancement away fromy=0 which corresponds to an increase in yield of 10–15% compared to the centre region (y=0). The enhancement probably results from heavy quark production and gluon bremsstrahlung. The particle flux around the jet axis shows with increasing c.m. energy a rapidly growing number of particles collimated around the jet axis, while at large angles to the jet axis almost noW dependence is observed. For fixed longitudinal momentump‖ approximate “fan invariance” is seen: The shape of the angular distribution around the jet axis is almost independent ofW. The collimation depends strongly onp‖. For smallp‖,p‖<0.2 GeV/c, isotropy is observed. With increasingp‖ the particles tend to be emitted closer and closer to the jet axis.

e + e − annihilation into hadrons was studied at CM energies between 39.8 and 45.2 GeV and a search was made for new heavy quarks. No evidence was found for the existence of a narrow state excluding the possible existence of the lowest vector toponium state in this mass range. A search for continuum production of heavy quarks led to lower mass limits for new quarks of 22.0 GeV ( e Q = 2 3 ) and 21.0 GeV ( e Q = 1 3 ). Quarks are found to be pointlike, the corresponding mass parameter being larger than 288 GeV. A fit of the QCD and the electroweak contributions to R = σ tot / σ μμ yielded sin 2 θ W = 0.30 −0.07 +0.23 .

Reconstruction of charged D ∗ 's produced inclusively in e + e −. annihilation at CM energies near 34.4 GeV is accomplished in the decay modes D ∗ + → D 0 π + → K − gp + π 0 π + and D ∗ + → D 0 π + → K − gp + π − π + π + and their charge conjugates. Using these and previously reported D ∗ + → D 0 π + → K − gp + π + and D ∗ + → D 0 π + → K − gp + π + + missing π 0 channels we present evidence for hard gluon bremsstrahlung from charm quarks and show that the ratio of the quark-gluon coupling constant of charm quarks to the coupling constant obtained in the average hadronic event, α s c α rms = 100 ± 0.20 ± 1.20 . Our result provides evidence that the quark-gluon coupling constant is independent of flavor.

We have studied at CM energies of 14, 22 and 30–36.7 GeV e + e − annihilation events in which the hadronic final state contains both a proton and an antiproton in the momentum range 1.0 < p < GeV/ c . We find that such pairs are produced predominantly in the same jet and conclude that baryon-antibaryon production is dominated by a mechanism involving local compensation of baryon number.

The differential cross section of the reactione+e−→e+e− at a c.m. energy of 34.7 GeV has been measured. The result, together with our previously measurede+e−→α+α− data, are compared with the standard model predictions. We obtain for the weak neutral current couplings the valuesgv2=0.09×0.06,ga2=0.38×0.08. A fit of the Weinberg mixing angle gives the valuegv2=0.09×0.06,ga2=0.038×0.08. The data are also used to set limits on possible deviations from the pointlike structure of leptons. An upper limit for thee+e− coupling to a heavy spin 0 boson is also given.

We have studied 419 τ pair events produced in the reactione+e−→τ+ τ− at a c.m. energy of 34.6 GeV. We measure the cross section and angular distribution, as well as the decay branching ratios. The production characteristics are consistent with the Standard Electroweak Model predictions of γ andZ0 interference. The branching ratios are generally consistent with the τ decaying according to standard weak interaction principles, but we observe somewhat more decays resulting in single charged hadrons plus neutrals than are predicted by present theory.

We present high statistics measurements of the energy-energy correlation (EEC) and its related asymmetry (AEEC) ine+e− annihilation at a c.m. energy of 34.6 GeV. We find that the energy dependence as well as the large angle behaviour of the latter are well described by perturbative QCD calculations toOα(s2). Non-perturbative effects are estimated with the help of fragmentation models in which different jet topologies are separated using (ɛ, δ) cuts, and found to be small. The extracted values of\(\Lambda _{\overline {MS} }\) lie between 100 and 300 MeV.

This Letter reports a search for the production by e+e− annihilation of a single photon accompanied by particles that interact only weakly in matter. The search was performed at the SLAC e+e− storage ring PEP (√s =29 GeV) with a new detector, ASP. No unexpected signal was observed. The limit Nν<14 (90% C.L.) is placed on the number of light neutrino species, and the mass of scalar electrons predicted by theories of supersymmetry is constrained to mẽ>51 GeV/c2 (90% C.L.) for mγ̃=0 and degenerate ẽ mass states.

This Letter reports results of a search for radiative production, by e+e− annihilation of particles that interact only weakly in matter. The search has been made in the total data set of 115 pb−1 acquired with the ASP detector at the SLAC storage ring PEP (s=29 GeV). No anomalous signal was observed. The number of generations of light neutrinos has been limited to Nν<7.5 (90% confidence level). Limits are also placed on the masses of particles predicted to exist by models of supersymmetry.

This paper reports results of a search for production by radiative e+e− annihilation of particles that interact only weakly in matter. The search has been made in a data set corresponding to 110 pb−1 acquired with the ASP detector at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center storage ring PEP (√s =29 GeV). No anomalous signal has been observed, which limits the number of generations of light neutrinos to be Nν<7.9 (at 90% C.L.). Limits are also placed on the masses of particles predicted to exist by models of supersymmetry.

We have observed hadronic final states produced in the decays of Z bosons. In order to study the parton structure of these events, we compare the distributions in sphericity, thurst, aplanarity, and number of jets to the predictions of several QCD-based models and to data from lower energies. The data and models agree within the present statistical precision.

We have measured the mass of the Z boson to be 91.11±0.23 GeV/c2, and its width to be 1.61−0.43+0.60 GeV. If we constrain the visible width to its standard-model value, we find the partial width to invisible decay modes to be 0.62±0.23 GeV, corresponding to 3.8±1.4 neutrino species.

We report on properties of hadronic events from e + e − annihilation observed by the ALEPH detector at the large Electron Positron Collider at CERN. The center-of-mass energy was s =91.0−91.3 GeV . Measured distributions of the global event-shape variables sphericity, aplanarity, thrust and minor value, and of the inclusive variables x p , p ⊥ in , p ⊥ out and y are presented. We measure a mean charged multiplicity in hadronic events of 〈 N ch 〉=21.3±0.1 (statistical)±0.6 (systematic). The data are in good agreement with QCD-based models which use the leading-logarithm approximation, and are less well described by a model using O( α s 2 ) QCD.

We report an experimental determination of the cross section for e + e − → hadrons from a scan around the Z 0 pole. On the basis of 4350 hadronic events collected over seven energy points between 89.26 GeV and 93.26 GeV we obtain a mass of m z =91.01±0.05±0.05 GeV, and a total decay width of Γ z =2.60±0.13 GeV. In the context of the standard model t these results imply 3.1 ± 0.4 neutrino generations.

First measurements of the mass and width of the Z 0 performed at the newly commissioned LEP Collider by the DELPHI Collaboration are presented. The measuements are derived from the study of multihadronic final states produced in e + e − annihilations at several energies around the Z 0 mass. The values found for the mass and width are M (Z 0 )=91.06±0.09 (stat) ±0.045 (syst.) GeV and Γ (Z 0 )=2.42±0.21 (stat.) GeV respectively, froma three-parameter fit to the line shape. A two-parameter fit in the framework of the standard model yields for the number of light neutrino species N ν =2.4±0.4 (stat.) ±0.5 (syst.).

The cross-section for e + e − → hadrons in the vicinity of the Z boson peak has been measured with the ALEPH detector at the CERN Large Electron Positron collider, LEP. Measurements of the Z mass, M z = (91.174±0.070) GeV, the Z width Γ z =(2.68±0.15) GeV, and of the peak hadronic cross-section, σ had peak =(29.3±1.2) nb, are presented. With the constraints of the standard electroweak model, the number of light neutrino species is found to be N v =3.27±0.30. this results rules out of the possibility of a fourth type of light neutrino at 98% CL.

We have measured the mass of the Z boson to be 91.14±0.12 GeV/c2, and its width to be 2.42−0.35+0.45 GeV. If we constrain the visible width to its standard-model value, we find the partial width to invisible decay modes to be 0.46±0.10 GeV, corresponding to 2.8±0.6 neutrino species, with a 95%-confidence-level upper limit of 3.9.

We report on a measurement of the processes e + e − →e + e − , e + e − → μ + μ − , and e + e − → τ + τ − near the Z 0 pole. On the basis of 163 e + e − , 101 μ + μ − and 87 τ + τ − events we obtain Γ ee =89±4±4 MeV, Γ μμ =85±9±6 MeV and Γ ττ =87±10±8 MeV, compatible with the standard model. Combining these with our previous results on hadronic Z 0 decays, we find a hadronic width Γ had =1787±81±90 MeV and an invisible width Γ inv =552±85±71 MeV.

Relative production rates of multijet hadronic final states of Z 0 boson decays, observed in e + e − annihilation around 91 GeV centre of mass energy, are presented. The data can be well described by analytic O( α s 2 ) QCD calculations and by QCD shower model calaculations with parameters as determined at lower energies. A first judgement of Λ MS and of the renormalization scale μ 2 in O( α s 2 ) QCD results in values similar to those obtained in the continuum of e + e − annihilations. Significant scaling violations are observed when the 3-jet fractions are compared to the corresponding results from smaller centre of mass energies. They can be interpreted as being entirely due tot the energy dependence of α s , as proposed by the nonabelian nature of QCD, The possibility of an energy independent coupling constant can be excluded with a significance of 5.7 standard deviations.

We report on a search for new quarks in hadronic Z° decays. From the event shape analysis of a data sample containing 2185 multihadronic annihilation events, we observe no evidence for the top or b' quarks. We derive limits for the top and b' quark masses under the assumption of various possible standard model and non-standard model decay schemes. Our search is sensitive to quark masses larger than 23 GeV/ c 2 ; it yields the following lower limits at a 95% confidence level: 44.5 GeV/ c 2 for the top quark mass and 45.2 GeV/ c 2 for the b′ quark mass.

We measured the differential jet-multiplicity distribution in e+e− annihilation with the Mark II detector. This distribution is compared with the second-order QCD prediction and αs is determined to be 0.123±0.009±0.005 at √s≊MZ (at the SLAC Linear Collider) and 0.149±0.002±0.007 at √s=29 GeV (at the SLAC storage ring PEP). The running of αs between these two center-of-mass energies is consistent with the QCD prediction.

More extensive and precise results are reported on the parameters of Z decay. On the basis of 20 000 Z decays collected with the ALEPH detector at LEP we find M z =91.182±0.026 (exp.) ±0.030 (beam) GeV, Γ z =2.541±0.056 GeV and σ had 0 =41.4±0.8 nb. The partial widths for the hadronic and leptonic channels are Γ had =1804±44 MeV, Γ e + e − =82.1±3.4 MeV, Γ μ + μ − =87.9±6.0 MeV and Γ τ + τ − =86.1±5.6 MeV, in good agreement with the standard model. On the basis of the average leptonic width Γ ℓ + ℓ − =83.9±2.2 MeV, the effective weak mixing angle is found to be sin 2 θ w ( M z )=0.231±0.008. Usin g the partial widths calculated in the standard model, the number of light neutrino families is N ν =3.01±0.15 (exp.)±0.05 (theor.).

We have measured inclusive distributions for charged particles in hadronic decays of the Z boson. The variables chosen for study were charged-particle multiplicity, scaled momentum, and momenta transverse to the sphericity axes. The distributions have been corrected for detector effects and are compared with data from e+e− annihilation at lower energies and with the predictions of several QCD-based models. The data are in reasonable agreement with expectations.

We report on a measurement of the mass of the Z 0 boson, its total width, and its partial decay widths into hadrons and leptons. On the basis of 25 801 hadronic decays and 1999 decays into electrons, muons or taus, selected over eleven energy points between 88.28 GeV and 95.04 GeV, we obtain from a combined fit to hadrons and leptons a mass of M z =91.154±0.021 (exp)±0.030 (LEP) GeV, and a total width of Γ z =2.536±0.045 GeV. The errors on M z have been separated into the experimental error and the uncertainty due to the LEP beam energy. The measured leptonic partial widths are Γ ee =81.2±2.6 MeV, Γ μμ =82.6± 5.8 MeV, and Γ ττ =85.7±7.1 MeV, consistent with lepton universality. From a fit assuming lepton universality we obtain Γ ℓ + ℓ − = 81.9±2.0 MeV. The hadronic partial width is Γ had =1838±46 MeV. From the measured total and partial widths a model independent value for the invisible width is calculated to be Γ inv =453±44 MeV. The errors quoted include both the statistical and the systematic uncertainties.

The pure QED reaction e + e − → γγ has been studied at centre of mass energies around the mass of the Z 0 boson using data recorded by the OPAL detector at LEP. The results are in good agreement with the QED prediction. Lower limits on the cutoff parameters of the modified electron propagator are found to be Λ + >89 GeV and Λ. The lower limit on the mass of an excited electron is 82 GeV assuming the coupling constant λ =1. Upper limits on the branching ratios of Z 0 → γγ , Z 0 → π 0 γ and Z 0 → ηγ are set at 3.7×10 −4 , 3.9×10 −4 and 5.8×10 −4 respectively. Two events from the reaction e + e − → γγγ have been observed, consistent with the QED prediction. An upper limit on the branching ratio of Z 0 → γγγ is set at 2.8×10 −4 . All the limits are given at 95% confidence level.