The pure QED reaction e + e − → γγ has been studied at centre of mass energies around the mass of the Z 0 boson using data recorded by the OPAL detector at LEP. The results are in good agreement with the QED prediction. Lower limits on the cutoff parameters of the modified electron propagator are found to be Λ + >89 GeV and Λ. The lower limit on the mass of an excited electron is 82 GeV assuming the coupling constant λ =1. Upper limits on the branching ratios of Z 0 → γγ , Z 0 → π 0 γ and Z 0 → ηγ are set at 3.7×10 −4 , 3.9×10 −4 and 5.8×10 −4 respectively. Two events from the reaction e + e − → γγγ have been observed, consistent with the QED prediction. An upper limit on the branching ratio of Z 0 → γγγ is set at 2.8×10 −4 . All the limits are given at 95% confidence level.
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This paper reports measurements of the differential cross sections for the reactions e+e−→e+e− (Bhabha scattering) and e+e−→γγ (γ-pair production). The reactions are studied at a center-of-mass energy of 29 GeV and in the polar-angular region ‖costheta‖<0.55. A direct cross-section comparison between these two reactions provides a sensitive test of the predictions of quantum electrodynamics (QED) to order α3. When the ratio of γ-pair to Bhabha experimental cross sections, integrated over ‖costheta‖<0.55, is divided by the same ratio predicted from α3 QED theory, the result is 1.007±0.009±0.008. The 95%-confidence limits on the QED-cutoff parameters are Λ+>154 GeV and Λ−>220 GeV for Bhabha scattering, and Λ+>59 GeV and Λ−>59 GeV for γ-pair production.
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The ratio of differential cross sections for the reactions e + e − → γγ and e + e − → e + e − is measured at s = 29 GeV in the central polar angle region, |cos θ | < 0.55, and compared to the same ratio calculated by QED to order α 3 . The ratio of these ratios, integrated over this angular region, is 1.007±0.009±0.008, demonstrating excellent agreement between theory and experiment. The 95% confidence limits on the QED cut-off parameters for the γγ final state are Λ + > 59 GeV and Λ - > 59 GeV.
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