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.
THRUST AND PLANARITY DISTRIBUTIONS. FINAL (BETTER) THRUST DISTRIBUTIONS WITH DETECTOR CORRECTIONS TO BE PUBLISHED LATER.
No description provided.
The cross section for the process e + e − → multihadrons has been measured at the highest PETRA energies. We measure R (the total cross section in units of the point-like e + e - → μ + μ - cross section) to be 2.9 ± 0.7, 4.0 ± 0.5, 4.6 ± 0.4 and 4.2 ± 0.6 at s of 22, 27.7, 30 and 31.6 GeV, respectively. The observed average multiplicity, together with existing low energy data, indicate a rapid increase in multiplicity with increasing energy.
STATISTICAL ERRORS ONLY. RADIATIVE CORRECTIONS APPLIED AND TAU HEAVY LEPTON CONTRIBUTION SUBTRACTED. AVERAGE VALUE OF R FOR ALL THESE DATA IS 4.14 +- 0.26.
AVERAGE CHARGE MULTIPLICITY. ADDITIONAL, SYSTEMATIC ERROR IS ABOUT 1.5.