Measurements of the b anti-b production cross-section and forward backward asymmetry at center-of-mass energies above the Z pole at LEP

The L3 collaboration Acciarri, M. ; Achard, P. ; Adriani, O. ; et al.
Phys.Lett.B 485 (2000) 71-84, 2000.
Inspire Record 527337 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.49963

The measurements of Rb = sigma(e+e- -> bb~)/sigma(e+e- -> qq~) and of the b quark forward-backward charge asymmetry, A^b_fb, at centre-of-mass energies above the Z pole are described. The measurement of Rb is performed at \root{s} between 130 and 189 GeV using a b-tagging method that exploits the relatively large decay length of b-hadrons. The measurement of A^b_fb is performed using the large statistics event sample collected at \root{s}=189 GeV with a lepton-tag analysis based on the selection of prompt muons and electrons. The results at \root{s}=189 GeV are: Rb = 0.163 +/- 0.013 (stat.) +/- 0.005 (syst.), A^b_fb = 0.61 +/- 0.18 (stat.) +/- 0.09 (syst.).

2 data tables

No description provided.

No description provided.


Direct observation of longitudinally polarized W+- bosons

The L3 collaboration Acciarri, M. ; Achard, P. ; Adriani, O. ; et al.
Phys.Lett.B 474 (2000) 194-204, 2000.
Inspire Record 509581 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.49002

The three different helicity states of W bosons, produced in the reaction e+e- -> W+W- -> l nu q q~ are studied using leptonic and hadronic W decays at sqrt{s}=183GeV and 189GeV. The W polarisation is also measured as a function of the scattering angle between the W- and the direction of the e- beam. The analysis demonstrates that W bosons are produced with all three helicities, the longitudinal and the two transverse states. Combining the results from the two center-of-mass energies and with leptonic and hadronic W decays, the fraction of longitudinally polarised W bosons is measured to be 0.261 +/- 0.051(stat.) +/- 0.016(syst.) in agreement with the expectation from the Standard Model.

1 data table

Fraction of longitudinally polarized W bosons. Combined results from 183 and 189 GeV.