Infrared and collinear safe event shape distributions and their mean values are determined in e+e- collisions at centre-of-mass energies between 45 and 202 GeV. A phenomenological analysis based on power correction models including hadron mass effects for both differential distributions and mean values is presented. Using power corrections, alpha_s is extracted from the mean values and shapes. In an alternative approach, renormalisation group invariance (RGI) is used as an explicit constraint, leading to a consistent description of mean values without the need for sizeable power corrections. The QCD beta-function is precisely measured using this approach. From the DELPHI data on Thrust, including data from low energy experiments, one finds beta_0 = 7.86 +/- 0.32 for the one loop coefficient of the beta-function or, assuming QCD, n_f = 4.75 +/- 0.44 for the number of active flavours. These values agree well with the QCD expectation of beta_0=7.67 and n_f=5. A direct measurement of the full logarithmic energy slope excludes light gluinos with a mass below 5 GeV.
This paper presents an analysis of the multiplicity distributions of charged particles produced inZ0 hadronic decays in the DELPHI detector. It is based on a sample of 25364 events. The average multiplicity is <nch>=20.71±0.04(stat)±0.77(syst) and the dispersionD=6.28±0.03(stat)±0.43(syst). The data are compared with the results at lower energies and with the predictions of phenomenological models. The Lund parton shower model describes the data reasonably well. The multiplicity distributions show approximate KNO-scaling. They also show positive forward-backward correlations that are strongest in the central region of rapidity and for particles of opposite charge.
We report a measurement of the exclusive \$e^+e^- \to \Lambda_c^+ \Lambda_c^-$ cross section as a function of center-of-mass energy near the $\Lambda_c^+ \Lambda_c^-$ threshold. A clear peak with a significance of $8.8\sigma$ is observed in the $\Lambda_c^+ \Lambda_c^-$ invariant mass distribution just above threshold. With an assumption of a resonance origin for the observed peak, a mass and width of $M=(4634^{+8}_{-7} \mathrm{(stat.)} ^{+5}_{-8} \mathrm{(sys.)})\mevc$ and $\Gamma_{\mathrm{tot}}=(92^{+40}_{-24} \mathrm{(stat.)}^{+10}_{-21} \mathrm{(sys.)})\mev$ are determined. The analysis is based on a study of events with initial-state-radiation photons in a data sample collected with the Belle detector at the $\Upsilon(4S)$ resonance and nearby continuum with an integrated luminosity of 695 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^_$ collider.
The strong coupling alpha_s(M_Z^2) has been measured using hadronic decays of Z^0 bosons collected by the SLD experiment at SLAC. The data were compared with QCD predictions both at fixed order, O(alpha_s^2), and including resummed analytic formulae based on the next-to-leading logarithm approximation. In this comprehensive analysis we studied event shapes, jet rates, particle correlations, and angular energy flow, and checked the consistency between alpha_s(M_Z^2) values extracted from these different measures. Combining all results we obtain alpha_s(M_Z^2) = 0.1200 \pm 0.0025(exp.) \pm 0.0078(theor.), where the dominant uncertainty is from uncalculated higher order contributions.
We report the first observation of the $\psi(4415)$ resonance in the reaction $\e^+e^-\to D^0 D^-\pi^+$ and a measurement of its cross section in the center-of-mass energy range $4.0\mathrm{GeV}$ to $5.0\mathrm{GeV}$ with initial state radiation. From a study of resonant structure in $\psi(4415)$ decay we conclude that the $\psi(4415)\to D^0 D^-\pi^+$ decay is dominated by $\psi(4415)\to D \bar D{}^{*}_2(2460)$. We obtain $\mathcal{B}(\psi(4415)\to D^0 D^-\pi^+_{\mathrm {non-resonant}})/\mathcal{B}(\psi(4415)\to D \bar D{}^{*}_2(2460)\to D^0 D^-\pi^+)<0.22$ at 90% C.L. The analysis is based on a data sample collected with the Belle detector with an integrated luminosity of 673 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$.
We study the process $e^+e^-\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-\gamma$, with a hard photon radiated from the initial state. About 60,000 fully reconstructed events have been selected from 89 $fb^{-1}$ of BaBar data. The invariant mass of the hadronic final state defines the effective \epem center-of-mass energy, so that these data can be compared with the corresponding direct $e^+e^-$ measurements. From the $4\pi$-mass spectrum, the cross section for the process $e^+e^-\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-$ is measured for center-of-mass energies from 0.6 to 4.5 $GeV/c^2$. The uncertainty in the cross section measurement is typically 5%. We also measure the cross sections for the final states $K^+ K^- \pi^+\pi^-$ and $K^+ K^- K^+ K^-$. We observe the $J/\psi$ in all three final states and measure the corresponding branching fractions. We search for X(3872) in $J/\psi (\to\mu^+\mu^-) \pi^+\pi^-$ and obtain an upper limit on the product of the $e^+e^-$ width of the X(3872) and the branching fraction for $X(3872) \to J/\psi\pi^+\pi^-$.
We present measurements of the total production rates and momentum distributions of the charmed baryon $\Lambda_c^+$ in $e^+e^- \to$ hadrons at a center-of-mass energy of 10.54 GeV and in $\Upsilon(4S)$ decays. In hadronic events at 10.54 GeV, charmed hadrons are almost exclusively leading particles in $e^+e^- \to c\bar{c}$ events, allowing direct studies of $c$-quark fragmentation. We measure a momentum distribution for $\Lambda_c^+$ baryons that differs significantly from those measured previously for charmed mesons. Comparing with a number of models, we find none that can describe the distribution completely. We measure an average scaled momentum of $\left< x_p \right> = 0.574\pm$0.009 and a total rate of $N_{\Lambda c}^{q\bar{q}} = 0.057\pm$0.002(exp.)$\pm$0.015(BF) $\Lambda_c^+$ per hadronic event, where the experimental error is much smaller than that due to the branching fraction into the reconstructed decay mode, $pK^-\pi^+$. In $\Upsilon (4S)$ decays we measure a total rate of $N_{\Lambda c}^{\Upsilon} = 0.091\pm$0.006(exp.)$\pm$0.024(BF) per $\Upsilon(4S)$ decay, and find a much softer momentum distribution than expected from B decays into a $\Lambda_c^+$ plus an antinucleon and one to three pions.
We report measurements of the exclusive cross section for $e^+e^- \to D \overline D $, where $D=D^0$ or $D^+$, in the center-of-mass energy range from the $D \overline D $ threshold to $5\mathrm{GeV}/c^2$ with initial-state radiation. The analysis is based on a data sample collected with the Belle detector with an integrated luminosity of $673$ $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$.
We report a study of the processes e+e- -> eta gamma and e+e- -> etaprime gamma at a center-of-mass energy of 10.58 GeV, using a 232 fb^-1 data sample collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II collider at SLAC. We observe 20+6-5 eta gamma and 50+8-7 etaprime gamma events over small backgrounds, and measure the cross sections sigma(e+e- -> eta gamma) =4.5+1.2-1.1(stat)+-0.3(sys) fb and sigma(e+e- -> etaprime gamma)=5.4+-0.8(stat)+-0.3(sys) fb. The corresponding transition form factors at q^2 = 112 GeV^2 are q^2|F_eta(q^2)|=0.229+-0.030+-0.008 GeV, and q^2|F_etaprime(q^2)|=0.251+-0.019+-0.008 GeV, respectively.
We present improved measurements of the differential production rates of stable charged particles in hadronic Z0 decays, and of charged pions, kaons and protons identified over a wide momentum range using the SLD Cherenkov Ring Imaging Detector. In addition to flavor-inclusive Z0 decays, measurements are made for Z0 decays into light (u, d, s), c and b primary flavors, selected using the upgraded Vertex Detector. Large differences between the flavors are observed that are qualitatively consistent with expectations based upon previously measured production and decay properties of heavy hadrons. These results are used to test the predictions of QCD in the Modified Leading Logarithm Approximation, with the ansatz of Local Parton-Hadron Duality, and the predictions of three models of the hadronization process. The light-flavor results provide improved tests of these predictions, as they do not include the contribution of heavy-hadron production and decay; the heavy-flavor results provide complementary model tests. In addition we have compared hadron and antihadron production in light quark (as opposed to antiquark) jets. Differences are observed at high momentum for all three charged hadron species, providing direct probes of leading particle effects, and stringent constraints on models.