We report on a measurement of the mass of the Z 0 boson, its total width, and its partial decay widths into hadrons and leptons. On the basis of 25 801 hadronic decays and 1999 decays into electrons, muons or taus, selected over eleven energy points between 88.28 GeV and 95.04 GeV, we obtain from a combined fit to hadrons and leptons a mass of M z =91.154±0.021 (exp)±0.030 (LEP) GeV, and a total width of Γ z =2.536±0.045 GeV. The errors on M z have been separated into the experimental error and the uncertainty due to the LEP beam energy. The measured leptonic partial widths are Γ ee =81.2±2.6 MeV, Γ μμ =82.6± 5.8 MeV, and Γ ττ =85.7±7.1 MeV, consistent with lepton universality. From a fit assuming lepton universality we obtain Γ ℓ + ℓ − = 81.9±2.0 MeV. The hadronic partial width is Γ had =1838±46 MeV. From the measured total and partial widths a model independent value for the invisible width is calculated to be Γ inv =453±44 MeV. The errors quoted include both the statistical and the systematic uncertainties.

Symmetric three-jet events are selected from hadronic Z0 decays such that the two lower energy jets are each produced at an angle of about 150° with respect to the highest energy jet. In some cases, a displaced secondary vertex is reconstructed in one of the two lower energy jets, which permits the other lower energy jet to be identified as a gluon jet through anti-tagging. In other cases, the highest energy jet is tagged as a b jet or as a light quark (uds) jet using secondary vertex or track impact parameter and momentum information. Comparing the two lower energy jets of the events with a tag in the highest energy jet to the anti-tagged gluon jets yields a direct comparison of b, uds and gluon jets, which are produced with the same energy of about 24 GeV and under the same conditions. We observe b jets and gluon jets to have similar properties as measured by the angular distribution of particle energy around the jet directions and by the fragmentation functions. In contrast, gluon jets are found to be significantly broader and to have a markedly softer fragmentation function than uds jets. For the k⊥ jet finder with ycut=0.02, we find $${«ngle n^{⤪ ch.}»ngle {⤪ gluon}⩈er «ngle n^{⤪ ch.}»ngle {⤪ b} {⤪ quark}}=1.089pm 0.024 ({⤪ stat.})pm0.024 ({⤪ syst.})$$ $${«ngle n^{⤪ ch.}»ngle {⤪ gluon}⩈er «ngle n^{⤪ ch.}»ngle {⤪ uds} {⤪ quark}}=1.390pm 0.038 ({⤪ stat.})pm0.032 ({⤪ syst.})$$ as the ratios of the mean charged particle multiplicity in the gluon jets compared to the b and uds jets. Results are also reported using the cone jet finder.

The strong coupling constant, αs, has been determined in hadronic decays of theZ0 resonance, using measurements of seven observables relating to global event shapes, energy correlatio

Quark and gluon jets in e + e − three-jet events at LEP are identified using lepton tagging of quark jets, through observation of semi-leptonic charm and bottom quark decays. Events with a symmetry under transposition of the energies and directions of a quark and gluon jet are selected: these quark and gluon jets have essentially the same energy and event environment and as a consequence their properties can be compared directly. The energy of the jets which are studied is about 24.5 GeV. In the cores of the jets, gluon jets are found to yield a softer particle energy spectrum than quark jets. Gluon jets are observed to be broader than quark jets, as seen from the shape of their particle momentum spectra both in and out of the three-jet event plane. The greater width of gluon jets relative to quark jets is also visible from the shapes of their multiplicity distributions. Little difference is observed, however, between the mean value of particle multiplicity for the two jet types.

The value of the strong coupling constant,$$\alpha _s (M_{Z^0 } )$$, is determined from a study of 15 d

We present measurements of global event shape distributions in the hadronic decays of theZ0. The data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 1.3 pb−1, was collected with the OPAL detector at LEP. Most of the experimental distributions we present are unfolded for the finite acceptance and resolution of the OPAL detector. Through comparison with our unfolded data, we tune the parameter values of several Monte Carlo computer programs which simulate perturbative QCD and the hadronization of partons. Jetset version 7.2, Herwig version 3.4 and Ariadne version 3.1 all provide good descriptions of the experimental distributions. They in addition describe lower energy data with the parameter values adjusted at theZ0 energy. A complete second order matrix element Monte Carlo program with a modified perturbation scale is also compared to our 91 GeV data and its parameter values are adjusted. We obtained an unfolded value for the mean charged multiplicity of 21.28±0.04±0.84, where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic.

Measurements are presented of the inclusive cross section for K ∗ (892) ± production in hadronic decays of the Z 0 using a sample of about half a million events recorded with the OPAL experiment at LEP. Charged K ∗ mesons are reconstructed in the decay channel K 0 S π ± . A mean rate of 0.72±0.02±0.08 K ∗ mesons per hadronic event is found. Comparison of the results with predictions of the JETSET and HERWIG models shows that JETSET overestimates the K ∗± production cross section while HERWIG is consistent with the data.

We have used data from the OPAL detector at LEP to reconstruct D ∗ mesons and secondary vertices in jets. We have studied the hemispheres of the events opposite these jets and obtain values of the hemisphere charged particle multiplicity in Z 0 → u u , d d , s s , Z 0 → c c and Z 0 → b b events of n uds = 10.41 ± 0.06 ± 0.09 ± 0.19 ; n c = 10.76 ± 0.20 ± 0.14 ± 0.19 ; n b = 11.81 ± 0.01 ± 0.12 ± 0.21 where the first errors are statistical, the second systmatic and the third a common scale uncertainty. We find the difference in total charged particle multiplicity between c and b quark events and light (u, d, s) quark events to be δ cl = 0.69 ± 0.51 ± 0.35; δ bl = 2.79 ± 0.12 ± 0.27. These results are compared to the predictions of various models and QCD based calculations.

From an analysis of multi-hadron events from Z 0 decays, values of the strong coupling constant α s ( M 2 Z 0 )=0.131±0.006 (exp)±0.002(theor.) and α s ( M z 0 2 ) = −0.009 +0.007 (exp.) −0.002 +0.006 (theor.) are derived from the energy-energy correlation distribution and its asymmetry, respectively, assuming the QCD renormalization scale μ = M Z 0 . The theoretical error accounts for differences between O ( α 2 s ) calculations. A two parameter fit Λ MS and the renormalization scale μ leads to Λ MS =216±85 MeV and μ 2 s =0.027±0.013 or to α s ( M 2 Z 0 )=0.117 +0.006 −0.008 (exp.) for the energy-energy correlation distribution. The energy-energy correlation asymmetry distribution is insensitive to a scale change: thus the α s value quoted above for this variable includes the theoretical uncertainty associated with the renormalization scale.

We have measured the photon yield in lepton pair events recorded by the OPAL detector in a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 7.1 pb −1 at centre-of-mass energies between 88 GeV and 94 GeV. The results are compared to QED expectations for initial and final state photon radiation. No anomalous photon yield has been found, and stringent limits on the branching ratio for exotic radiative three body Z 0 decays into a photon and a pair of leptons are obtained. We also place limits on possible Z 0 decays into a photon and a resonance X with subsequent decays of X into a pair of leptons. Acollinear μ + μ − events with missing momentum along the beam direction are identified as events with hard initial state photon radiation and used to measure an average cross section of 15 ± 8 6 pb for e + e − annihilation into μ + μ − , in the so far untested range of centre-of-mass energies between 60 GeV and 84 GeV. This value is consistent with a cross section of 24 pb, expected from Z 0 and photon exchange.

The production of the octet and decuplet baryons Λ, Ξ − , Σ (1385) ± , Ξ(1530) 0 and Ω − and the corresponding antibaryons has been measured in a sample of 485 000 hadronic Z 0 decays. Results on differential and integrated cross sections are presented. The differential cross section of Λ baryons is found to be softer than the one predicted by the Jetset and Herwig Monte Carlo generators. The measured decuplet yields are found to disagree with the simple diquark picture where only one tuning parameter for spin 1 diquarks is used. Comparisons of the momentum spectra for Λ and Ξ − with the predictions of an analytical QCD formula are also presented.

The production rate of final state photons in hadronic Z 0 decays is measured as a function of y cut = M ij 2 / E cm 2 the jet resolution parameter and minimum mass of the photon-jet system. Good agreement with the theoretical expectation from an O( αα s ) matrix element calculation is observed. Comparing the measurement and the prediction for y cut = 0.06, where the experimental systematic and statistical errors and the theoretical uncertainties are small, and combining this measurement with our result for the hadronic width of the Z 0 , we derived partial widths of up and down type quarks to be Γ u = 333 ± 55 ± 72 MeV and Γ d = 358 ± 37 ± 48 MeV in agreement with the standard model expectations. We compare our yield with the QCD shower models including photon radiation. At low γ cut JETSET underestimates the photon yield, and ARIADNE describes the production rate well.

We present a measurement of the forward-backward charge asymmetry in hadronic decays of the Z 0 using data collected with the OPAL detector at LEP. The forward-backward charge asymmetry was measured using a weight function method which gave the number of forward events on a statistical basis. In a data sample of 448 942 hadronic Z 0 decays, we have observed a charge asymmetry of A h = 0.040±0.004 (stat.)±0.006 (syst.)±0.002 (B 0 B 0 mix.), taking into account the effect of B 0 B 0 mixing. In the framework of the standard model, this asymmetry corresponds to an effective weak mixing angle averaged over five quark flavours of sin 2 θ W = 0.2321 ± 0.0017 ( stat. ) ± 0.0027 ( syst. ) ± 0.0009 (B 0 B 0 mix.). The result agrees with the value obtained from the Z 0 line shape and lepton pair forward-backward asymmetry.

We have studied the production of D*± mesons in a sample of 1.25 million multihadronic decays of the Z0, in which 1969 candidates have been identified. We have determined the total multiplicity of charged D* mesons in multihadronic Z0 decays to be

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We report on a search for new quarks in hadronic Z° decays. From the event shape analysis of a data sample containing 2185 multihadronic annihilation events, we observe no evidence for the top or b' quarks. We derive limits for the top and b' quark masses under the assumption of various possible standard model and non-standard model decay schemes. Our search is sensitive to quark masses larger than 23 GeV/ c 2 ; it yields the following lower limits at a 95% confidence level: 44.5 GeV/ c 2 for the top quark mass and 45.2 GeV/ c 2 for the b′ quark mass.

In this paper an investigation of the production of D ∗ ± mesons produced in e + e − collisions at energies around the Z 0 pole is presented. Based on 115 D ∗ ± mesons with x D∗  2E D ∗ /E cm > 0.2 the properties of D ∗ mesons produced in the reaction Z 0 → c c are studied. Fixing the yield and the fragmentation function of bottom quarks to the values obtained at LEP using lepton tags, and average energy fraction of the D ∗ ± mesons from primary charmed quarks of 〈x c → D ∗ 〉 = 0.52 ± 0.03 +- 0.01 is found and Γ z 0 →c c = (323 ± 61 ± 35) MeV is determined. The first error is the combined statistical and systematic error from this experiment, and the second the total error from other sources.

Relative production rates of multijet hadronic final states of Z 0 boson decays, observed in e + e − annihilation around 91 GeV centre of mass energy, are presented. The data can be well described by analytic O( α s 2 ) QCD calculations and by QCD shower model calaculations with parameters as determined at lower energies. A first judgement of Λ MS and of the renormalization scale μ 2 in O( α s 2 ) QCD results in values similar to those obtained in the continuum of e + e − annihilations. Significant scaling violations are observed when the 3-jet fractions are compared to the corresponding results from smaller centre of mass energies. They can be interpreted as being entirely due tot the energy dependence of α s , as proposed by the nonabelian nature of QCD, The possibility of an energy independent coupling constant can be excluded with a significance of 5.7 standard deviations.

The production of K 0 mesons in e + e − interactions at center of mass energies in the region of the Z 0 mass has been investigated with the OPAL detector at LEP. The rate is found to be 2.10±0.02±0.14 K 0 , Z 0 per hadronic event. The predictions from the JETSET and HERWIG generators agree very well with both the rate and the scale invariant cross section (1/σ had β) (dσ/d x E ) for K 0 production. Comparisons of the inclusive momentum spectrum with predictions of an analytical QCD formula and with data from lower center of mass energies are presented.

A study of b quark fragmentation at LEP is presented using a sample of semileptonic B decays containing a fully reconstructed charm meson. The data are compared to several theoretical models for heavy quark fragmentation; the free parameters in these models are fitted and the sensitivity of the model parameters to the rate of P-wave B meson production is studied. The mean scaled energy fraction of B 0 and B + mesons has been determined to be < x E > = 0.695 ± 0.006 ± 0.003 ± 0.007, where the errors are statistical, systematic and model dependence respectively. This result is consistent with previous, less direct measurements from inclusive leptonic B decays. Also presented is a model independent fit to the shape of the energy distribution of weakly decaying B mesons at LEP.

We present an analysis of multiplicity distributions of charged particles produced inZ0 hadronic decays. The results are based on the analysis of 82941 events collected within 100 MeV of theZ0 peak energy with the OPAL detector at LEP. The charged particle multiplicity distribution, corrected for initial-state radiation and for detector acceptance and resolution, was found to have a mean 〈nch〉=21.40±0.02(stat.)±0.43(syst.) and a dispersionD=6.49±0.02(stat.)±0.20(syst.). The shape is well described by the Lognormal and Gamma distributions. A negative binomial parameterisation was found to describe the shape of the multiplicity distribution less well. A comparison with results obtained at lower energies confirms the validity of KNO(-G) scaling up to LEP energies. A separate analysis of events with low sphericity, typically associated with two-jet final states, shows the presence of features expected for models based on a stochastic production mechanism for particles. In all cases, the features observed in the data are well described by the Lund parton shower model JETSET.

We study the inclusive momentum distribution of charged particles in multihadronic events produced in e + e − annihilations at E CM ∼ M (Z 0 ). We find agreement with the analytical formulae for gluon production that include the phenomena of soft gluon interference. Using data from CM energies between 14 and 91 GeV, we study the dependence of the inclusive momentum distribution on the centre of momentum energy. We find that the analytical formulae describe the data over the entire energy range. Both the momentum distribution at a fixed energy and the change with energy are described by QCD shower Monte Carlo's which include either coherent gluon branchings or string fragmentation. Simple incoherent models with independent fragmentation fail to reproduce the energy dependence and momentum spectra.

Quark and gluon jets with equal energies are identified in three-jet hadronicZ0 events, using reconstructed secondary vertices from heavy quark decay in conjunction with energy orderi

This paper describes an analysis of sub-jet multiplicities, which are expected to be sensitive to the properties of soft gluon radiation, in hadronic decays of theZ0. Two- and three-jet event samples are selected using thek⊥ jet clustering algorithm at a jet resolution scaley1. The mean sub-jet multiplicity as a function of the sub-jet resolution,y0, is determined separately for both event samples by reapplying the same jet algorithm at resolution scalesy0<y1. These measurements are compared with recent perturbative QCD calculations based on the summation of leading and next-to-leading logarithms, and with QCD Monte Carlo models. The analytic calculations provide a good description of the sub-jet multiplicity seen in three- and two-jet mvents in the perturbative region (y0≈y1)), and the measured form of the data is in agreement with the expectation based on coherence of soft gluon radiation. The analysis provides good discrimination between Monte Carlo models, and those with a coherent parton shower are preferred by the data. The analysis suggests that coherence effects are present in the data.

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.