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 report on the properties of theZ resonance from 62 500Z decays into fermion pairs collected with the ALEPH detector at LEP, the Large Electron-Positron storage ring at CERN. We findMZ=(91.193±0.016exp±0.030LEP) GeV, ΓZ=(2497±31) MeV, σhad0=(41.86±0.66)nb, and for the partial widths Γinv=(489±24) MeV, Γhad(1754±27) MeV, Γee=(85.0±1.6)MeV, Γμμ=(80.0±2.5) MeV, and Γττ=(81.3±2.5) MeV, all in good agreement with the Standard Model. Assuming lepton universality and using a lepton sample without distinction of the final state we measure Γu=(84.3±1.3) MeV. The forward-backward asymmetry in leptonic decays is used to determine the vector and axial-vector weak coupling constants of leptors,gv2(MZ2)=(0.12±0.12)×10−2 andgA2(MZ2)=0.2528±0.0040. The number of light neutrino species isNν=2.91±0.13; the electroweak mixing angle is sin2θW(MZ2)=0.2291±0.0040.

An analysis of global event-shape variables has been carried out for the reaction e + e − →Z 0 →hadrons to measure the strong coupling constant α s . This study is based on 52 720 hadronic events obtained in 1989/90 with the ALEPH detector at the LEP collider at energies near the peak of the Z-resonance. In order to determine α s , second order QCD predictions modified by effects of perturbative higher orders and hadronization were fitted to the experimental distributions of event-shape variables. From a detailed analysis of the theoretical uncertainties we find that this approach is best justified for the differential two-jet rate, from which we obtain α s ( M Z 2 ) = 0.121 ± 0.002(stat.)±0.003(sys.)±0.007(theor.) using a renormalization scale ω = 1 2 M Z . The dependence of α s ( M Z 2 ) on ω is parameterized. For scales m b <ω< M Z the result varies by −0.012 +0.007 .

Using 106 000 hadronic events obtained with the ALEPH detector at LEP at energies close to the Z resonance peak, the strong coupling constant α s is measured by an analysis of energy-energy correlations (EEC) and the global event shape variables thrust, C -parameter and oblateness. It is shown that the theoretical uncertainties can be significantly reduced if the final state particles are first combined in clusters using a minimum scaled invariant mass cut, Y cut , before these variables are computed. The combined result from all shape variables of pre-clustered events is α s ( M Z 2 = 0.117±0.005 for a renormalization scale μ= 1 2 M Z . For μ values between M Z and the b-quark mass, the result changes by −0.009 +0.006 .

The production of charmed mesons$$\mathop {D^0 }\limits^{( - )} $$,D

From a sample of about 75000 τ decays identified with the ALEPH detector, K 0 production in 1-prong hadronic decays is investigated by tagging the K L 0 component in a hadronic calorimeter. Results are given for the final states ν τ h − K 0 and ν τ h − π 0 K 0 where the h − is separated into π and K contributions by means of the dE / dx measurement in in the central detector. The resulting branching ratios are: ( Bτ → ν τ π − K 0 ) = (0.88±0.14±0.09)%, ( Bτ → ν τ K − K 0 ) = (0.29±0.12±0.03)%, ( Bτ → ν τ π − π 0 K 0 ) = (0.33±0.14±0.07)% aand ( Bτ → ν τ K − π 0 K 0 ) = (0.05±0.05±0.01)%. The K ∗ decay rate in the K 0 π channel agrees with that in the Kπ 0 mode: the combined value for the branching ratio is (Bτ → ν τ K ∗− ) = (1.45±0.13±0.11)% .

Form a sample of about 75000 τ decays measured in the ALEPH detector, 1-prong charged kaon decays are identified by the dE / dx measurement in the central detector. The resulting branching ratios for the inclusive and exclusive modes are: B ( τ → ν τ K − ≥ 0 π 0 ≥ 0 K 0 ) = (1.60±0.07±0.12)%, B ( τ → ν τ K − = (0.64±0.05±0.05)%, B ( τ → ν τ − π 0 = (0.53±0.05±0.07)% and B ( τ → ν τ K − π 0 π 0 ) = (0.04±0.03±0.02)%. Exclusive modes are corrected for measured K L 0 production. The rate for τ → ν τ K − agrees well with the prediction based on τ - μ universality.

Measurements of the inclusive cross-sections forK0 and Λ production in hadronic decays of the Z are presented together with measurements of two-particle correlations within pairs of Λ andK0. The results are compared with predictions from the hadronization models Jetset, based on string fragmentation, and Herwig, based on cluster decays. TheK0 spectrum is found to be harder than predicted by both models, while the Λ spectrum is softer than predicted. The correlation measurements are all reproduced well by Jetset, while Herwig misses some of the qualitative features and overestimates the size of the\(\Lambda \bar \Lambda \) correlation. Finally, the possibility of Bose-Einstein correlation in theKS0KS0 system is discussed.

Inclusive π±, K± and\((p,\bar p)\) differential cross-sections in hadronic decays of the Z have been measured as a function ofz=Phadron/Pbeam, the scaled momentum. The results are based on approximately 520 000 events measured by the ALEPH detector at LEP during 1992. Charged particles are identified by their rate of ionization energy loss in the ALEPH Time Projection Chamber. The position, ξ*, of the peak in the ln(1/z) distribution is determined, and the evolution of the peak position with centre-of-mass energy is compared with the prediction of QCD.

Using about 950000 hadronic events collected during 1991 and 1992 with the ALEPH detector, the ratios r b = α s b α s udsc and r uds = α s uds α s cb have been measured in order to test the flavour independence of the strong coupling constant α s . The analysis is based on event-shape variables using the full hadronic sample, two b -quark samples enriched by lepton tagging and lifetime tagging, and a light-quark sample enriched by lifetime antitagging. The combined results are r b = 1.002±0.023 and r uds = 0.971 ± 0.023.