The reaction e + e − → τ + τ − has been measured using the high resolution spectrometer at PEP. The angular distribution shows a forward-backward asymmetry of −(6.1±2.3±0.5)%, corresponding to an axial-vector coupling if g a τ g a e = 0.28 ±0.11± 0.03, in good agreement with the standard model of electroweak interactions. The measured cross section yields ifR ττ = 1.10± 0.03±0.04, consistent with QED and giving QED cutoff parameters of Λ + >92 GeV and Λ − >246 GeV at 95% C.L.
Forward-backward asymmetry based on fit to angular distributions.
Cross-sections and angular distributions for hadronic and lepton pair final states in e+e- collisions at a centre-of-mass energy near 189 GeV, measured with the OPAL detector at LEP, are presented and compared with the predictions of the Standard Model. The results are used to measure the energy dependence of the electromagnetic coupling constant alpha_em, and to place limits on new physics as described by four-fermion contact interactions or by the exchange of a new heavy particle such as a sneutrino in supersymmetric theories with R-parity violation. A search for the indirect effects of the gravitational interaction in extra dimensions on the mu+mu- and tau+tau- final states is also presented.
The forward-backward asymmetry in muon- and tau-pair production in the two sprime/s regions.
The forward-backward asymmetry in electron-pair production for cos(theta_e) <0.7.
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