The g p -> K^0 Sigma^+ reaction has been measured from threshold to Eg=1.45 GeV (W_cm=1.9 GeV) using the Crystal Ball and TAPS multiphoton spectrometers together with the photon tagging facility at the Mainz Microtron MAMI. In the present experiment, this reaction was searched for in the 3pi^0 p final state, by assuming K^0_S -> pi^0 pi^0 and Sigma^+ -> pi^0 p. The experimental results include total and differential cross sections as well as the polarization of the recoil hyperon. The new data significantly improve empirical knowledge about the g p -> K^0 Sigma^+ reaction in the measured energy range. The results are compared to previous measurements and model predictions. It is demonstrated that adding the present g p -> K^0 Sigma^+ results to existing data allowed a better description of this reaction with various models.

The helicity-dependent single $\pi^{0}$ photoproduction cross section on the deuteron and the angular dependence of the double polarisation observable $E$ for the quasi-free single $\pi^0$ production off the proton and the neutron have been measured for the first time from the threshold region up to the photon energy 1.4 GeV. The experiment was performed at the tagged photon facility of the MAMI accelerator and used a circularly polarised photon beam and longitudinally polarised deuteron target. The reaction products were detected using the large acceptance Crystal Ball/TAPS calorimeter, which covered 97% of the full solid angle. Comparing the cross section from the deuteron with the sum of free nucleon cross sections provides a quantitative estimate of the effects of the nuclear medium on pion production. In contrast, comparison of $E$ helicity asymmetry data from quasi-free protons off deuterium with data from a free proton target indicates that nuclear effects do not significantly affect this observable. As a consequence, it is deduced that the helicity asymmetry $E$ on a free neutron can be reliably extracted from measurements on a deuteron in quasi-free kinematics.

This work measured $d\sigma/d\Omega$ for neutral kaon photoproduction reactions from threshold up to a c.m.\ energy of 1855MeV, focussing specifically on the $\gamma p\rightarrow K^0\Sigma^+$, $\gamma n\rightarrow K^0\Lambda$, and $\gamma n\rightarrow K^0 \Sigma^0$ reactions. Our results for $\gamma n\rightarrow K^0 \Sigma^0$ are the first-ever measurements for that reaction. These data will provide insight into the properties of $N^*$ resonances and, in particular, will lead to an improved knowledge about those states that couple only weakly to the $\pi N$ channel. Integrated cross sections were extracted by fitting the differential cross sections for each reaction as a series of Legendre polynomials and our results are compared with prior experimental results and theoretical predictions.

The reactions $\gamma p\to \eta p$ and $\gamma p\to \eta' p$ have been measured from their thresholds up to the center-of-mass energy $W=1.96$GeV with the tagged-photon facilities at the Mainz Microtron, MAMI. Differential cross sections were obtained with unprecedented accuracy, providing fine energy binning and full production-angle coverage. A strong cusp is observed in the total cross section and excitation functions for $\eta$ photoproduction at the energies in vicinity of the $\eta'$ threshold, $W=1896$MeV ($E_\gamma=1447$MeV). This behavior is explained in a revised $\eta$MAID isobar model by a significant branching of the $N(1895)1/2^-$ nucleon resonance to both, $\eta p$ and $\eta' p$, confirming the existence and constraining the properties of this poorly known state.

The $\gamma n \to \pi^0 n$ differential cross section evaluated for 27 energy bins span the photon-energy range 290-813 MeV (W = 1.195-1.553 GeV) and the pion c.m. polar production angles, ranging from 18 deg to 162 deg, making use of model-dependent nuclear corrections to extract pi0 production data on the neutron from measurements on the deuteron target. Additionally, the total photoabsorption cross section was measured. The tagged photon beam produced by the 883-MeV electron beam of the Mainz Microtron MAMI was used for the 0-meson production. Our accumulation of 3.6 x 10^6 $\gamma n \to \pi^0 n$ events allowed a detailed study of the reaction dynamics. Our data are in reasonable agreement with previous A2 measurements and extend them to lower energies. The data are compared to predictions of previous SAID, MAID, and BnGa partial-wave analyses and to the latest SAID fit MA19 that included our data. Selected photon decay amplitudes $N^* \to \gamma n$ at the resonance poles are determined for the first time.

Differential and total cross sections for the quasifree reactions $\gamma p\rightarrow\eta p$ and $\gamma n\rightarrow\eta n$ have been determined at the MAMI-C electron accelerator using a liquid deuterium target. Photons were produced via bremsstrahlung from the 1.5 GeV incident electron beam and energy-tagged with the Glasgow photon tagger. Decay photons of the neutral decay modes $\eta\rightarrow 2\gamma$ and $\eta\rightarrow 3\pi^0 \rightarrow 6\gamma$ and coincident recoil nucleons were detected in a combined setup of the Crystal Ball and the TAPS calorimeters. The $\eta$-production cross sections were measured in coincidence with recoil protons, recoil neutrons, and in an inclusive mode without a condition on recoil nucleons, which allowed a check of the internal consistency of the data. The effects from nuclear Fermi motion were removed by a kinematic reconstruction of the final-state invariant mass and possible nuclear effects on the quasifree cross section were investigated by a comparison of free and quasifree proton data. The results, which represent a significant improvement in statistical quality compared to previous measurements, agree with the known neutron-to-proton cross-section ratio in the peak of the $S_{11}(1535)$ resonance and confirm a peak in the neutron cross section, which is absent for the proton, at a center-of-mass energy $W = (1670\pm 5)$ MeV with an intrinsic width of $\Gamma\approx 30$ MeV.

The quasifree $\overrightarrow{\gamma} d\to\pi^0n(p)$ photon beam asymmetry, $\Sigma$, has been measured at photon energies, $E_\gamma$, from 390 to 610 MeV, corresponding to center of mass energy from 1.271 to 1.424 GeV, for the first time. The data were collected in the A2 hall of the MAMI electron beam facility with the Crystal Ball and TAPS calorimeters covering pion center-of-mass angles from 49 to 148$^\circ$. In this kinematic region, polarization observables are sensitive to contributions from the $\Delta (1232)$ and $N(1440)$ resonances. The extracted values of $\Sigma$ have been compared to predictions based on partial-wave analyses (PWAs) of the existing pion photoproduction database. Our comparison includes the SAID, MAID, and Bonn-Gatchina analyses; while a revised SAID fit, including the new $\Sigma$ measurements, has also been performed. In addition, isospin symmetry is examined as a way to predict $\pi^0n$ photoproduction observables, based on fits to published data in the channels $\pi^0p$, $\pi^+n$, and $\pi^-p$.

A study of the reaction π + p → p π + π o at 16 GeV/ c incident momentum has been made using the prism plot analysis to reject background events arising from elastic and multineutral contaminations and to separate different reaction channels ( ϱ + p, g + p, Δ + π + , Δ ++ π o , π + (p π o ) DD ). Cross sections, invariant mass distributions and production and decay angular distributions are presented. For the channel corresponding to proton diffraction dissociation strong violation of both s - and t -channel helicity conservation is found for low values of the (p π o ) mass. We demonstrate that the prism plot method provides a better separation of background events than conventional methods using kinematic cuts.

We have measured the differential and total cross sections ofD meson production in 200 GeV π−-beryllium interactions, using a sample of 48 fully reconstructed and nearly background-freeD mesons in the decay channelsK∓π±,K∓π±π± andK∓π∓π±π±. A single electron trigger has been used to select events containing a pair of charmed particles. A vertex telescope of 6 silison microstrip detectors allowed the reconstruction of tracks of charged secondaries and the reconstruction of primary and decay vertices with high precision. The ratio of branching fractions for\(\mathop {D^0 }\limits^{( - )}\to K^ \mp\pi ^ \pm\) to\(\mathop {D^0 }\limits^{( - )}\to K^ \mp\pi ^ \mp\pi ^ \pm\pi ^ \pm\), and an upper limit for\(D^0- \bar D^0 \) mixing are presented.

The inclusive reactions h+p→ φ +X, (h= π ±, ,K ± ,p ± ), are studied for 0⪅ x F ⪅0.3 and p ⊥ ⩽ 1 GeV at 93 and and 63 GeV incident momentum. Differential cross sections d σ /d p ⊥ 2 and dσ /d x F are presented and are compared with predictions of the naive parton model.

We present results from the NA32 experiment at CERN on the production characteristics of the charmed baryon Λ + c in 230 GeV π − Cu and K − Cu interactions. A high resolution vertex detector consisting of change-coupled devices and silicon microstrip detectors allowed the selection of a very clean sample of 154 Λ + c → pK − π + (and charge conjugate) decays. Results on differential and integrated cross sections are given.

We have studied the hadronic production of charmed mesons in the NA 32 experiment at CERN. A special trigger together with a high resolution vertex detector consisting of charge coupled devices and silicon microstrip detectors allowed the selection of very clean samples of charmed mesons. We have collected 852 fully reconstructed decays: 60Ds+→K+K−π+, 543D°→K−π+ andK−π+π−π+ as well as 249D+→K−π+π+ (or charge conjugate). 147 mesons out of our\({{D^0 } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{D^0 } {\bar D^0 }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\bar D^0 }}\) sample were produced via chargedD* state. For all charmed mesons we determine the total production cross-section and study thexF andpt2 distributions.

A search has been made for the hadronic production of charmed baryons and mesons with a large aperture forward magnetic spectrometer using 150 GeV protons originating from the CERN-SPS. A prompt electron trigger was used as a signature for charm. Upper limits at 90% confidence level have been obtained for the production of Λ c + D 0 , D 0 D + and D − : σ(Λ c ) ⩽ 8 μ b , σ( D 0 ) ⩽ 64 μ b , σ( D 0 ) < 37 μ b , σ( D + ) ⩽ 51 μ b and σ( D − ) ⩽ 49 μ b per nucleon, assuming linear A dependence. Systematic errors due to uncertainties in branching ratios and to model dependence of the acceptance calculation are discussed.

Diffractive production of the 3 π system has been studied at 63 and 94 GeV using a two magnet spectrometer with high, uniform acceptance. The total number of events used in the analysis is ∼600 000. The A 2 meson is shown to be diffractively produced. The existence of a resonant component in both the 1 + and 2 − enhancements is established and resonance parameters for the corresponding A 1 and A 3 mesons are given. There are several indications in the data of states which would correspond to radial excitations in the quark model.

Nearly 200 000 examples of the diffractive process K − p → K − π − π + p at 63 GeV have been obtained using a two magnet spectrometer equipped with Čerenkov counters for secondary particle identification. In addition some 2000 examples of the process K − p → ω K − p have been obtained. The K ππ data have been subjected to partial-wave analysis. The dominant J P = 1 + system couples to K ∗ π , in both S and D waves, ϱ K, κπ and ε K. The data confirm the existence of two J P = 1 + Q mesons and their masses, widths and branching ratios are given. The ifωK data show that the couplings of the Q mesons to ω K are approximately equal to the couplings to ϱ 0 K. The two 1 + nonets expected in the quark model are discussed in the light of this and other recent experiments. There is strong evidence for a broad J P = 0 − resonance at about 1.46 GeV. At higher masses, structure in the J P = 2 − partial waves establishes the existence of at least one J P = 2 − L meson.

An experiment has been performed to search for associated hadronic production of charmed mesons, using a large-aperture forward magnetic spectrometer setup in a π − beam at the CERN SPS. A prompt electron trigger was used to select events containing a pair by charmed particles. D mesons have been identified by reconstruction of hadronic decay modes such as Kπ, Kππ. Data have been taken at 120, 175, and 200 GeV, The D D cross section measured at 175 200 GeV is σ( D D ) = (48 ± 15) μ b with a systematic uncertainty of ±50%. The energy dependence of the cross section is measured to be σ( D D ) [120 GeV )/σ( D D [175/200 GeV ] = 0.62 ± 0.34 .

In partial wave analyses of the ( π − π − π + ) system, substantial shape changes of the 1 + S ( ϱπ ) intensity as a function of t , and relative phase changes of ≈ 90°, provide compelling evidence for a resonant A 1 of mass ≈ 1280 MeV and width ≈ 300 MeV.

The A 2 meson is studied in the decay mode ϱ 0 π − using partial wave analyses of 600 000 events from the reaction π − p→ π − π − π + p at 63 and 94 GeV incident momentum. Common production mechanisms are indicated for this resonance and diffractive 1 + and 2 − components.

The J PC = 2 −+ partial wave intensities and their large phase changes prove the resonant nature of the A 3 meson (mass ≈ 1670 MeV, width ≈ 210 MeV). The decay modes are f 0 π , ϱ 0 π , and ϵ 0 π . Evidence is found for a further 2 − enhancement.

Using data from the NA32 experiment at CERN we have studied the Λ + c decays containing a Σ + among the decay products. The interactions of 230 GeV π − with a Cu target were analysed using a precise vertex telescope (charge-coupled devices and silicon microstrip detectors) and the ACCMOR spectrometer. We have found eleven Λ + c →Σ + π + π − , one Λ + c →Σ + K + K − , two Λ + c →Σ + K + π − and one Λ + c →Σ + π + π − π + π − decays practically without any backgroun d. We have measured the branching ratios with respect to the Λ + c →pK − π + channel.

The NA 32 experiment at the CERN SPS has collected 38 million hadronic interactions with incident 200 GeV/c π−,K− andp beam. Using a segmented silicon active target and a telescope of high resolution silicon microstrip counters we have selected fully reconstructedD0→K−π+,D0→K−π+π+π−,D+→K−π+π+,Ds+→K−K+π+π+ and charge conjugate decays. The integrated cross-sections forDo,D+D*+ andDs+ meson production and the dependence of the cross-section on longitudinal and transverse momentum of theD are presented.

None

The production of the neutralK− (892) resonances by 200 GeVK− andπ− has been studied over the kinematic range 0.0<xf<1.0 andpt2<5.0 GeV2. Longitudinal and transverse momentum distributions are presented. In addition the decay angular distributions inK− fragmentation to\(\bar K^{0*} \) have been investigated.

The reactions\(K^ -Be \to {}^(\bar K^) *^0 (890)X,\pi ^ -Be \to {}^(\bar K^) *^0 (890)X\), have been studied in a 175 GeV unseparated hadron beam in the kinematic range 0<xF<1.0 andpT2<5 GeV2. Integrated cross-sections and the dependence of the cross-sections on the longitudinal and transverse momentum are presented, together with quark counting rules predictions. The nuclear dependence ofK− fragmentation intoK*0(890) with respect to Feynmanx is investigated from hydrogen to beryllium.

Inclusive ϕ-meson production has been measured for 100 GeV/cK−,\(\bar p\) andp incident on a Be target. Differential cross sectionsdσ/dxF anddσ/dp⊥2 are presented in the interval 0.075<xF<0.225 and 0<p⊥<1 GeV/c respectively. The shape of thedσ/dxF distributions agrees with predictions from a quark fusion model. Comparison with cross sections measured on a hydrogen target in the samexF andp⊥ range suggest a linearA-dependence fromA=1 toA=9.

We have observed four unambiguous decays of the charmed strange baryon Ξ c o in the NA32 experiment at CERN. Charge- coupled devices and silicon microstrip detectors were used to reconstruct the decay mode Ξ c o → pK − K ∗ (892) o seen in events produced by the interaction of 230 GeV/ c negative poins and kaons on a copper target. We present the first measurement of the lifetime of the Ξ c o , together with a determination of its mass and production cross section. The resonant components of the Ξ c o decay are studied. We use our earlier measurement of the mass of the Ξ c + in the determination of the isospin mass splitting of the Ξ c states.

None

We have observed six unambiguous decays of the charmed strange baryon Ξ c + (or charge conjugate Ξ c − ) in the 230 GeV/c negative pions or kaons on a copper target at the CERN SPS using silicon microstrip detectors and charge-coupled devices for vertex reconstruction. Three of them have been reconstructed through the decay chain Ξ c + → Ξ − π + π + , Ξ − → Λ 0 π − , Λ 0 → pπ − and the other three through the decay chain Ξ c + → Σ + K − π + → pπ 0 . We present our measurements of the mass, lifetime and production cross-section of the Ξ c + , as well as of the branching ration for the two decay modes.

Distributions are presented of event shape variables, jet roduction rates and charged particle momenta obtained from 53 000 hadronicZ decays. They are compared to the predictions of the QCD+hadronization models JETSET, ARIADNE and HERWIG, and are used to optimize several model parameters. The JETSET and ARIADNE coherent parton shower (PS) models with running αs and string fragmentation yield the best description of the data. The HERWIG parton shower model with cluster fragmentation fits the data less well. The data are in better agreement with JETSET PS than with JETSETO(αS2) matrix elements (ME) even when the renormalization scale is optimized.

Using data collected from 1992 to 1995 with the ALEPH detector at LEP, a measurement of the colour factor ratios CA/CF and TF /CF and the strong coupling constant αs = CFαs(MZ)/(2π) has been performed by fitting theoretical predictions simultaneously to the measured differential two-jet rate and angular distributions in four-jet events. The result is found to be in excellent agreement with QCD, {fx4-1} Fixing CA/CF and TF/CF to the QCD values permits a determination of αs(MZ) and ηf, the number of active flavours. With this measurement the existence of a gluino with mass below 6.3 GeV/c2 is excluded at 95% confidence level.

Two samples of exclusive semileptonic decays, 579 B 0 → D ∗+ ℓ − ν ℓ events and 261 B 0 → D + ℓ − ν ℓ events, are selected from approximately 3.9 million hadronic Z decays collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP. From the reconstructed differential decay rate of each sample, the product of the hadronic form factor F (ω) at zero recoil of the D (∗)+ meson and the CKM matrix element | V cb | are measured to be F D ∗+ (1)|V cb | = (31.9 ± 1.8 stat ± 1.9 syst ) × 10 −3 , F D + (1)| V cb | = (27.8 ± 6.8 stat ± 6.5 syst ) × 10 −3 . The ratio of the form factors F D + (1) and F D ∗+ (1) is measured to be F D + (1) F D ∗+ (1) = 0.87 ± 0.22 stat ± 0.21 syst . A value of | V cb | is extracted from the two samples, using theoretical constraints on the slope and curvature of the hadronic form factors and their normalization at zero recoil, with the result | V cb | = (34.4 ± 1.6 stat ± 2.3 syst ± 1.4 th ) × 10 −3 . The branching fractions are measured from the two integrated spectra to be Br ( B 0 → D ∗+ ℓ − ν ℓ ) = (5.53 ± 0.26 stat ±0.52 syst ) %, Br ( B 0 → D ∗+ ℓ − ν ℓ ) = (2.35 ± 0.20 stat ± 0.44 syst ) %.

The decays η → γγ and η ′ → ηπ + π − have been observed in hadronic decays of the Z produced at LEP. The fragmentation functions of both the η and η ′ have been measured. The measured multiplicities for x > 0.1 are 0.298±0.023±0.021 and 0.068±0.016 for η and η ′ respectively. While the fragmentation function for the η is fairly well described by the JETSET Monte Carlo, it is found that the production rate of the η ′ is a factor of four less than the corresponding prediction.

The charged particle multiplicity distribution of hadronic Z decays was measured on the peak of the Z resonance using the ALEPH detector at LEP. Using a model independent unfolding procedure the distribution was found to have a mean 〈 n 〉=20.85±0.24 and a dispersion D =6.34±0.12. Comparison with lower energy data supports the KNO scaling hypothesis in the energy range s =29−91.25 GeV. At s =91.25 GeV the shape of the multiplicity distribution is well described by a log-normal distribution, as predicted from a cascading model for multi-particle production. The same model also successfully describes the energy dependence of the mean and width of the multiplicity distribution. A next-to-leading order QCD prediction in the framework of the modified leading-log approximation and local parton-hadron duality is found to fit the energy dependence of the mean but not the width of the charged multiplicity distribution, indicating that the width of the multiplicity distribution is a sensitive probe for higher order QCD or non-perturbative effects.

The polarization of τ leptons produced in the reaction e + e − → τ + τ − at the Z resonance has been measured using the τ decay modes e ν e ν τ , μν μ ν τ , πν τ , ϱν τ , and a 1 ν τ . The mean value obtained is P τ = −0.152±0.045, indicating that parity is violated in the neutral current process e + e − → τ + τ − . The result corresponds to a ratio of a neutral current vector and axial vector coupling constants of the τ lepton g V τ (M 2 Z ) g A τ (M 2 Z ) = 0.076±0.023 and a value of the electroweak mixing parameter sin 2 θ w ( M 2 Z ) = 0.2302 ± 0.0058.

From a sample of 150 000 hadronic Z decays collected with the ALEPH detector at LEP, events containing prompt leptons are used to measure the forward-backward asymmetries for the channels Z → b b and Z → c c , giving the results A FB b =0.126±0.028±0.012 and A FB c =0.064±0.039±0.030. These asymmetries correspond to the value of effective electroweak mixing angle at the Z mass sin 2 θ W ( m Z 2 ) = 0.2262±0.0053.

The hadronic photon structure function $F_2^\gamma(x,Q^2)$ is measured from data taken with the ALEPH detector at LEP. At centre-of-mass energies between

We report on properties of hadronic events from e + e − annihilation observed by the ALEPH detector at the large Electron Positron Collider at CERN. The center-of-mass energy was s =91.0−91.3 GeV . Measured distributions of the global event-shape variables sphericity, aplanarity, thrust and minor value, and of the inclusive variables x p , p ⊥ in , p ⊥ out and y are presented. We measure a mean charged multiplicity in hadronic events of 〈 N ch 〉=21.3±0.1 (statistical)±0.6 (systematic). The data are in good agreement with QCD-based models which use the leading-logarithm approximation, and are less well described by a model using O( α s 2 ) QCD.

More extensive and precise results are reported on the parameters of Z decay. On the basis of 20 000 Z decays collected with the ALEPH detector at LEP we find M z =91.182±0.026 (exp.) ±0.030 (beam) GeV, Γ z =2.541±0.056 GeV and σ had 0 =41.4±0.8 nb. The partial widths for the hadronic and leptonic channels are Γ had =1804±44 MeV, Γ e + e − =82.1±3.4 MeV, Γ μ + μ − =87.9±6.0 MeV and Γ τ + τ − =86.1±5.6 MeV, in good agreement with the standard model. On the basis of the average leptonic width Γ ℓ + ℓ − =83.9±2.2 MeV, the effective weak mixing angle is found to be sin 2 θ w ( M z )=0.231±0.008. Usin g the partial widths calculated in the standard model, the number of light neutrino families is N ν =3.01±0.15 (exp.)±0.05 (theor.).

An analysis of global event-shape variables has been carried out for the reaction e + e − →Z 0 →hadrons to measure the strong coupling constant α s . This study is based on 52 720 hadronic events obtained in 1989/90 with the ALEPH detector at the LEP collider at energies near the peak of the Z-resonance. In order to determine α s , second order QCD predictions modified by effects of perturbative higher orders and hadronization were fitted to the experimental distributions of event-shape variables. From a detailed analysis of the theoretical uncertainties we find that this approach is best justified for the differential two-jet rate, from which we obtain α s ( M Z 2 ) = 0.121 ± 0.002(stat.)±0.003(sys.)±0.007(theor.) using a renormalization scale ω = 1 2 M Z . The dependence of α s ( M Z 2 ) on ω is parameterized. For scales m b <ω< M Z the result varies by −0.012 +0.007 .

The cross-section for e + e − → hadrons in the vicinity of the Z boson peak has been measured with the ALEPH detector at the CERN Large Electron Positron collider, LEP. Measurements of the Z mass, M z = (91.174±0.070) GeV, the Z width Γ z =(2.68±0.15) GeV, and of the peak hadronic cross-section, σ had peak =(29.3±1.2) nb, are presented. With the constraints of the standard electroweak model, the number of light neutrino species is found to be N v =3.27±0.30. this results rules out of the possibility of a fourth type of light neutrino at 98% CL.

Searches for supersymmetric particles in channels with one or more photons and missing energy have been performed with data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP. The data consist of 11.1 pb-1 at $\sqrt{s} = 161 GeV$, 1.1 pb-1 at 170 GeV and 9.5 pb-1 at 172 GeV. The e+e- -> nunu+photon cross section is measured. The data are in good agreement with predictions based on the Standard Model, and are used to set upper limits on the cross sections for anomalous photon production. These limits are compared to two different SUSY models and used to set limits on the neutralino mass. A limit of 71 GeV/c^2 at 95% C.L. is set on the mass of the lightest neutralino ($\tau_{\chi_{1}^{0}} \leq $ 3 ns) for the gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking and LNZ models.

The e + e − → W + W − cross section is measured in a data sample collected by ALEPH at a mean centre-of-mass energy of 172.09 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 10.65 pb −1 . Cross sections are given for the three topologies, fully leptonic, semi-leptonic and hadronic of a W-pair decay. Under the assumption that no other decay modes are present, the W-pair cross section is measured to be 11.7±1.2 (stat.) ±0.3 (syst.) pb . The existence of the triple gauge boson vertex of the Standard Model is clearly preferred by the data. The decay branching ratio of the W boson into hadrons is measured to be B(W→hadrons) =67.7±3.1 (stat.) ±0.7 (syst.) % , allowing a determination of the CKM matrix element | V cs |=0.98±0.14(stat.)±0.03(syst.).

We report on the properties of theZ resonance from 62 500Z decays into fermion pairs collected with the ALEPH detector at LEP, the Large Electron-Positron storage ring at CERN. We findMZ=(91.193±0.016exp±0.030LEP) GeV, ΓZ=(2497±31) MeV, σhad0=(41.86±0.66)nb, and for the partial widths Γinv=(489±24) MeV, Γhad(1754±27) MeV, Γee=(85.0±1.6)MeV, Γμμ=(80.0±2.5) MeV, and Γττ=(81.3±2.5) MeV, all in good agreement with the Standard Model. Assuming lepton universality and using a lepton sample without distinction of the final state we measure Γu=(84.3±1.3) MeV. The forward-backward asymmetry in leptonic decays is used to determine the vector and axial-vector weak coupling constants of leptors,gv2(MZ2)=(0.12±0.12)×10−2 andgA2(MZ2)=0.2528±0.0040. The number of light neutrino species isNν=2.91±0.13; the electroweak mixing angle is sin2θW(MZ2)=0.2291±0.0040.

Based on 520 000 fermion pairs accumulated during the first three years of data collection by the ALEPH detector at LEP, updated values of the resonance parameters of theZ are determined to beMZ=(91.187±0.009) GeV, ΓZ=(2.501±0.012) GeV, σhad0=(41.60±0.27) nb, andRℓ=20.78±0.13. The corresponding number of light neutrino species isNν=2.97±0.05. The forward-backward asymmetry in lepton-pair decays is used to determine the ratio of vector to axial-vector couplings of leptons:gV2(MZ2)/gA2(MZ2)=0.0052±0.0016. Combining this with ALEPH measurements of theb andc quark asymmetries and τ polarization gives sin2θWeff=0.2326±0.0013. Assuming the minimal Standard Model, and including measurements ofMW/MZ fromp\(\bar p\) colliders and neutrino-nucleon scattering, the mass of the top quark is\(M_{top} = 156 \pm \begin{array}{*{20}c} {22} \\ {25} \\ \end{array} \pm \begin{array}{*{20}c} {17} \\ {22Higgs} \\ \end{array} \) GeV.

In June 1996, the LEP centre-of-mass energy was raised to 161 GeV. Pair production of W bosons in e + e − collisions was observed for the first time by the LEP experiments. An integrated luminosity of 11 pb −1 was recorded in the ALEPH detector, in which WW candidate events were observed. In 6 events both Ws decay leptonically. In 16 events, one W decays leptonically, the other into hadrons. In the channel where both Ws decay into hadrons, a signal was separated from the large background by means of several multi-variate analyses. The W pair cross-section is measured to be σ WW = 4.23 ± 0.73 (stat.) ± 0.19 (syst.) pb. From this cross-section, the W mass is derived within the framework of the Standard Model: m W = 80.14 ± 0.34 (stat.) ± 0.09 (syst.) ± 0.03 (LEP energy) GeV/ c 2

The total cross section and the forward-backward asymmetry for the process e + e − → μ + μ − ( nγ ) are measured in the energy range 20–136 GeV by reconstructing the effective centre-of-mass energy after initial state radiation. The analysis is based on the data recorded with the ALEPH detector at LEP between 1990 and 1995, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 143.5 pb −1 . Two different approaches are used: in the first one an exclusive selection of events with hard initial state radiation in the energy range 20–88 GeV is directly compared with the Standard Model predictions showing good agreement. In the second one, all events are used to obtain a precise measurement of the energy dependence of σ 0 and A FB 0 from a model independent fit, enabling constraints to be placed on models with extra Z bosons.

The inclusive production of D ∗± mesons in photon-photon collisions has been measured by the Aleph experiment at LEP with a beam energy of 45 GeV. The D ∗+ are detected in their decay to D 0 π + with the D 0 observed in three separate decay modes: (1) K − π + , (2) K − π + π 0 and (3) K − π + π − π + , and analagously for the D ∗− modes. A total of 33 events was observed from an integrated luminosity of 73 pb −1 which corresponds to a cross section for Σ( e + e − → e + e − D ∗± X ) of 155 ± 33 ± 21 pb. This result is compatible with both the direct production γγ → c c in the Born approximation and with a more complete calculation which includes both radiative QCD corrections and contributions in which one of the photons is first resolved into its quark and gluon constituents. The shapes of distributions for events containing a D ∗+ are found to be better described by the latter.

The Λ b polarization in hadronic Z decays is measured in semileptonic decays from the average energies of the charged lepton and the neutrino. In a data sample of approximately 3 million hadronic Z decays collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP between 1991 and 1994, 462 ± 31 Λ b candidates are selected using ( Λπ + )-lepton correlations. From this event sample, the Λ b polarization is measured to be P Λ b = −0.23 −0.20 +0.24 (stat.) −0.07 +0.08 (syst.).

Quark and gluon jets with the same energy, 24 GeV, are compared in symmetric three-jet configurations from hadronic Z decays observed by the ALEPH detector. Jets are defined using the Durham algorithm. Gluon jets are identified using an anti-tag on b jets, based on a track impact parameter method. The comparison of gluon and mixed flavour quark jets shows that gluon jets have a softer fragmentation function, a larger angular width and a higher particle multiplicity, Evidence is presented which shows that the corresponding differences between gluon and b jets are significantly smaller. In a statistically limited comparison the multiplicity in c jets was found to be comparable with that observed for the jets of mixed quark flavour.

Charged particle multiplicity distributions have been measured with the ALEPH detector in restricted rapidity intervals |Y| ≤0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 along the thrust axis and also without restriction on rapidity. The distribution for the full range can be parametrized by a log-normal distribution. For smaller windows one finds a more complicated structure, which is understood to arise from perturbative effects. The negative-binomial distribution fails to describe the data both with and without the restriction on rapidity. The JETSET model is found to describe all aspects of the data while the width predicted by HERWIG is in significant disagreement.