We report on an improved measurement of the value of the strong coupling constant σ s at the Z 0 peak, using the asymmetry of the energy-energy correlation function. The analysis, based on second-order perturbation theory and a data sample of about 145000 multihadronic Z 0 decays, yields α s ( M z 0 = 0.118±0.001(stat.)±0.003(exp.syst.) −0.004 +0.0009 (theor. syst.), where the theoretical systematic error accounts for uncertainties due to hadronization, the choice of the renormalization scale and unknown higher-order terms. We adjust the parameters of a second-order matrix element Monte Carlo followed by string hadronization to best describe the energy correlation and other hadronic Z 0 decay data. The α s result obtained from this second-order Monte Carlo is found to be unreliable if values of the renormalization scale smaller than about 0.15 E cm are used in the generator.
Value of LAMBDA(MSBAR) and ALPHA_S.. The first systematic error is experimental, the second is from theory.
The EEC and its asymmetry at the hadron level, unfolded for initial-state radiation and for detector acceptance and resolution. Errors include full statistical and systematic uncertainties.
From an analysis of multi-hadron events from Z 0 decays, values of the strong coupling constant α s ( M 2 Z 0 )=0.131±0.006 (exp)±0.002(theor.) and α s ( M z 0 2 ) = −0.009 +0.007 (exp.) −0.002 +0.006 (theor.) are derived from the energy-energy correlation distribution and its asymmetry, respectively, assuming the QCD renormalization scale μ = M Z 0 . The theoretical error accounts for differences between O ( α 2 s ) calculations. A two parameter fit Λ MS and the renormalization scale μ leads to Λ MS =216±85 MeV and μ 2 s =0.027±0.013 or to α s ( M 2 Z 0 )=0.117 +0.006 −0.008 (exp.) for the energy-energy correlation distribution. The energy-energy correlation asymmetry distribution is insensitive to a scale change: thus the α s value quoted above for this variable includes the theoretical uncertainty associated with the renormalization scale.
Data are at the hadron level, unfolded for initial-state radiation and for detector acceptance and resolution. Note that the systematic errors between bins are correlated.
Alpha-s determined from the EEC measurements. The systematic error is an error in the theory.
Alpha-s determined from the AEEC measurements. The systematic error is an error in the theory.
The energy-energy correlation cross section for hadrons produced in electron-positron annihilation at a center-of-mass energy of 29 GeV has been measured with the MAC detector at SLAC. The result is corrected for the effects of detector resolution, acceptance, and initial-state radiation. The correlation is measured in two independent ways on the same data sample: the energy weights and angles are obtained either from the energy flow in the finely segmented total absorption calorimeters or from the momenta of charged tracks in the central drift chamber. This procedure helps reduce systematic errors by cross-checking the effects of the detector on the measurement, particularly important because the corrections depend on complex Monte Carlo simulations. The results are compared with the predictions of Monte Carlo models of complete second-order perturbative quantum chromodynamics and fragmentation, with the following conclusions: (1) fitting the asymmetry for large correlation angles gives values for αS of 0.120±0.006 in perturbation theory, 0.185±0.013 in the Lund string model, and values which vary from 0.105 to 0.140 (±0.01) in the incoherent jet models, depending on the gluon fragmentation scheme and the algorithm used for momentum conservation; and (2) the string fragmentation model provides a satisfactory description of the measured energy-energy correlation cross section, whereas incoherent jet formation does not.
VALUES FOR THE ASSYMETRY ARE GIVEN ALSO.
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