At the tagged photon facility PHOENICS at the Bonn accelerator ELSA a measurement of the target asymmetry of the reaction γp→pη from threshold to 1150 MeV has been performed. Simultaneously the reaction γp→pπ0 has been measured in the first resonance region. Results are presented for both reactions. The target asymmetry data are suited to put considerable constraints on the model parameters used for the theoretical description of meson photoproduction.

The differential cross sections \sigma_0=\sigma_T+\epsilon \sigma_L, \sigma_{LT}, and \sigma_{TT} of \pi^0 electroproduction from the proton were measured from threshold up to an additional center of mass energy of 40 MeV, at a value of the photon four-momentum transfer of Q^2= 0.05 GeV^2/c^2 and a center of mass angle of \theta=90^\circ. By an additional out-of-plane measurement with polarized electrons \sigma_{LT'} was determined. This showed for the first time the cusp effect above the \pi^+ threshold in the imaginary part of the s-wave. The predictions of Heavy Baryon Chiral Perturbation Theory are in disagreement with these data. On the other hand, the data are somewhat better predicted by the MAID phenomenological model and are in good agreement with the dynamical model DMT.

We report the first measurement of the lepton forward-backward asymmetry ${\cal A}_{\rm FB}$ as a function of the squared four-momentum of the dilepton system, $q^2$, for the electroweak penguin process $B \rightarrow X_s \ell^+ \ell^-$ with a sum of exclusive final states, where $\ell$ is an electron or a muon and $X_s$ is a hadronic recoil system with an $s$ quark. The results are based on a data sample containing $772\times10^6$ $B\bar{B}$ pairs recorded at the $\Upsilon(4S)$ resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB $e^+ e^-$ collider. ${\cal A}_{\rm FB}$ for the inclusive $B \rightarrow X_s \ell^+ \ell^-$ is extrapolated from the sum of 10 exclusive $X_s$ states whose invariant mass is less than 2 GeV/$c^2$. For $q^2 > 10.2$ GeV$^2$/$c^2$, ${\cal A}_{\rm FB} < 0$ is excluded at the 2.3$\sigma$ level, where $\sigma$ is the standard deviation. For $q^2 < 4.3$ GeV$^2$/$c^2$, the result is within 1.8$\sigma$ of the Standard Model theoretical expectation.

Using linearly polarized tagged photons from coherent bremsstrahlung, differential cross sections and beam asymmetries for Compton scattering by 4 He have been measured at MAMI in the energy interval between 150 MeV and 500 MeV for scattering angles of θ γ lab =37°, 93° and 137°, thus largely increasing the available data base. Improved calculations in terms of the Δ -hole model completely fail to describe the data at large scattering angles. The same proved to be true for a schematic model, even after taking into account properties of nuclear photo-absorption in very detail.

We present a direct measurement of the parity-violation parameter $A_c$ in the coupling of the $Z^0$ to $c$-quarks with the SLD detector. The measurement is based on a sample of 530k hadronic $Z^0$ decays, produced with a mean electron-beam polarization of $|P_e| = 73 %$. The tagging of $c$-quark events is performed using two methods: the exclusive reconstruction of $D^{\ast+}$, $D^+$, and $D^0$ mesons, and the soft-pions ($\pi_s$) produced in the decay of $D^{\ast+}\to D^0 \pi_s^+$. The large background from $D$ mesons produced in $B$ hadron decays is separated efficiently from the signal using precision vertex information. The combination of these two methods yields $A_c = 0.688 \pm 0.041.$

The forward-backward charge asymmetries of theb andc quarks are measured with the JADE detector at PETRA at\(\sqrt s= 35\) GeV and 44 GeV using both electrons and muons to tag the heavy quarks. At\(\sqrt s= 35\) GeV, a simultaneous fit for the two asymmetries yields the resultAb=−9.3±5.2% (state.) ndAc=−9.6±4.0% (stat.). The systematic errors are comparable with the statistical uncertainties. Combining the measurements at both energies and alternately constraining the weak coupling of thec andb quark to their Standard Model values (ac=1,ab=−1) increases the precision of the measurement of coupling constant of the other quark. Using this procedureab=−0.72±0.34 andac=0.79±0.40, where the numbers are corrected for\(B\bar B - mixing\) and the errors include both statistical and systematic contributions. The mixing parameter for continuum\(b\bar b - production\) is determined to be χ-0.24±0.12 if both heavy quark coupling constants are constrained to their values in the Standard Model.

The production ofb andc quarks ine+e− annihilation has been studied with the CELLO detector in the range from 35 GeV up to the highest PETRA energies. The heavy quarks have been tagged by their semileptonic decays. The charge asymmetries forb quarks at 35 and 43 GeV have been found to beAb=−(22.2±8.1)% andAb=−(49.1±16.5)%, respectively, using a method incorporating jet variables and their correlations for the separation of the heavy quarks from the back ground of the lighter quarks. Forc quarks we obtainAc=−(12.9±8.8)% andAc=+(7.7±14.0)%, respectively. The axial vector coupling constants of the heavy quarksc andb are found to beac=+(0.29±0.46) andab=−(1.15±0.41) taking\(B^0 \overline {B^0 } \) mixing into account. The results are in agreement with the expectations from the standard model.

The charmed quark charge asymmetry has been measured at the average centre of mass energy of 35 GeV with the JADE detector at thee+e− storage ring PETRA. Charmed quarks were identified byD*± tagging using the ΔM technique.D*± mesons were reconstructed through their decay intoD0 mesons resulting in (Kπ) π and (K π π π) π final states. The measured charge asymmetryA=−0.149±0.067 is in agreement with the expectation from the electroweak interference effect in quantum flavour dynamics (QFD).

A measurement of the forward--backward asymmetry of $e^{+}e^{-} \to c\bar{c}$ and $e^{+}e^{-} \to b\bar{b}$ on the $Z$ resonance is performed using about 3.5 million hadronic $Z$ decays collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP in the years 1992 to 1995. The heavy quark is tagged by the exclusive reconstruction of several $D$ meson decay modes. The forward--backward asymmetries for $c$ and $b$ quarks at the $Z$ resonance are determined to be: \[ \renewcommand{\arraystretch}{1.6} \begin{array}{rcr@{}l} \Afbc(\sqrt{s} = 91.235 {\rm GeV}) &=& &0.0659 \pm 0.0094 (stat) \pm 0.0035 (syst) \Afbb (\sqrt{s} = 91.235 {\rm GeV}) &=& &0.0762 \pm 0.0194 (stat) \pm 0.0085 (syst) \Afbc(\sqrt{s} = 89.434 {\rm GeV}) &=&-&0.0496 \pm 0.0368 (stat) \pm 0.0053 (syst) \Afbb(\sqrt{s} = 89.434 {\rm GeV}) &=& &0.0567 \pm 0.0756 (stat) \pm 0.0117 (syst) \Afbc(\sqrt{s} = 92.990 {\rm GeV}) &=& &0.1180 \pm 0.0318 (stat) \pm 0.0062 (syst) \Afbb(\sqrt{s} = 92.990 {\rm GeV}) &=& &0.0882 \pm 0.0633 (stat) \pm 0.0122 (syst) \end{array} \] The combination of these results leads to an effective electroweak mixing angle of: SINEFF = 0.2332 \pm 0.0016

The forward-backward asymmetries of$$e^ + e^ - \to Z^0 \to b\bar b and e^ + e^ - \to Z^0 \to c\bar c$$

We have measured the properties of Z 0 → b b decays using a sample of 944 inclusive muon events, corresponding to 18 000 hadron events obtained with the L3 detector at LEP. We measured the partial decay width of the Z 0 into b b , Γ b b =353±48 MeV , and we determined the vector coupling of the Z 0 to the b quark; g rmv 2 (b)=0.095±0.047. We measured the forward-backward charge asymmetry in e + e − → b b events at √ s ≈ M v , and obtained A b b =13.3±9.9% .

The production of electrons by bottom and charm hadrons has been studied in e + e − annihilation at 34.6 GeV center of mass energy. It is observed that the b quark fragmentation function is peaked at large values of the scaling variable z with 〈 z b 〉 = 0.84 +0.15 + 0.15 −0.10 − 0.11 . For c quarks 〈 z c 〉 = 0.57 +0.10 + 0.05 −0.09 − 0.06 is observed. A forward-backward charge asymmetry of A = −0.25 ± 0.22 was measured in b production.

The production of prompt muons ine+e− annihilation has been studied at centre of mass energies near 34.5 GeV. The measured semi-muonic branching ratios ofb andc quarks areB(b»Xμv) =0.117±0.028±0.01 andB(c→Xμv)=0.082 ±0.012a−0.01+0.02. The fragmentation functions of heavy quarks are hard, <zb>=0.85a−0.12–0.07+0.10+0.02 and <zc> =0.77a−0.07–0.11+0.05+0.03. Limits have been set on flavour changing neutral current decays:B(b→Xµ+µ−) <0.02 andB(b→Xµ+µ− (95% confidence level).

None

We present a direct measurement of Ac=2vcac(vc2+ac2) from the left-right forward-backward asymmetry of D*+ and D+ mesons in Z0 events produced with the longitudinally polarized SLAC Linear Collider beam. These Z0→cc¯ events are tagged on the basis of event kinematics and decay topology from a sample of hadronic Z0 decays recorded by the SLAC Large Detector. We measure Ac0=0.73±0.22(stat)±0.10(syst).

We present direct measurements of the $Z~0$-lepton coupling asymmetry parameters, $A_e$, $A_\mu$, and $A_\tau$, based on a data sample of 12,063 leptonic $Z~0$ decays collected by the SLD detector. The $Z$ bosons are produced in collisions of beams of polarized $e~-$ with unpolarized $e~+$ at the SLAC Linear Collider. The couplings are extracted from the measurement of the left-right and forward-backward asymmetries for each lepton species. The results are: $A_e=0.152 \pm 0.012 {(stat)} \pm 0.001 {(syst)}$, $A_\mu=0.102 \pm 0.034 \pm 0.002$, and $A_\tau=0.195 \pm 0.034 \pm 0.003$.

The polarisation of $\tau$'s produced in Z decay is measured using 160 pb$^{-1}$ of data accumulated at LEP by the ALEPH detector between 1990 and 1995. The variation of the polarisation with polar angle yields the two parameters ${\cal A}_e = 0.1504 \pm 0.0068 $ and ${\cal A}_{\tau} = 0.1451 \pm 0.0059$ which are consistent with the hypothesis of $e$-$\tau$ universality. Assuming universality, the value ${\cal A}_{e{-}\tau} = 0.1474 \pm 0.0045$ is obtained from which the effective weak mixing angle $\sin^2 {\theta_{\mathrm{W}}^{\mathrm{eff}}} =0.23147 \pm 0.00057 $ is derived.

We present final measurements of the Z boson-lepton coupling asymmetry parameters Ae, Amu, and Atau with the complete sample of polarized Z bosons collected by the SLD detector at the SLAC Linear Collider. From the left-right production and decay polar angle asymmetries in leptonic Z decays we measure Ae = 0.1544 +- 0.0060, Amu = 0.142 +- 0.015, and Atau = 0.136 +- 0.015. Combined with our left-right asymmetry measured from hadronic decays, we find Ae = 0.1516 +- 0.0021. Assuming lepton universality, we obtain a combined effective weak mixing angle of sin**2 theta^{eff}_W = 0.23098 +- 0.00026.

We have measured the parity-violating electroweak asymmetry in the elastic scattering of polarized electrons from the proton. The kinematic point (theta_lab = 12.3 degrees and Q^2=0.48 (GeV/c)^2) is chosen to provide sensitivity, at a level that is of theoretical interest, to the strange electric form factor G_E^s. The result, A=-14.5 +- 2.2 ppm, is consistent with the electroweak Standard Model and no additional contributions from strange quarks. In particular, the measurement implies G_E^s + 0.39G_M^s = 0.023 +- 0.034 (stat) +- 0.022 (syst) +- 0.026 (delta G_E^n), where the last uncertainty arises from the estimated uncertainty in the neutron electric form factor.

We report the first measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry in elastic electron scattering from the proton. The asymmetry depends on the neutral weak magnetic form factor of the proton which contains new information on the contribution of strange quark-antiquark pairs to the magnetic moment of the proton. We obtain the value $G_M~Z= 0.34 \pm 0.09 \pm 0.04 \pm 0.05$ n.m. at $Q~2=0.1$ (GeV/c)${}~2$.

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.

We report a new measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry in elastic electron scattering from the proton at backward scattering angles. This asymmetry is sensitive to the strange magnetic form factor of the proton as well as electroweak axial radiative corrections. The new measurement of A=-4.92 +- 0.61 +- 0.73 ppm provides a significant constraint on these quantities. The implications for the strange magnetic form factor are discussed in the context of theoretical estimates for the axial corrections.

The forward-backward asymmetry of bottom quarks is measured with statistics of approximately 80 000 hadronic Z 0 decays produced in e + e − collisions at a centre of mass energy of √ s ≈ M z . The tagging of b quark events has been performed using the semileptonic decay channel b→X+ μ . Because the asymmetry depends on the weak coupling, this leads to a precise measurement of the electroweak mixing angle sin 2 θ w . The experimental result is A FB b = 0.115±0.043(stat.)±0.013(syst.). After correcting the value for the B 0 B 0 mixing this becomes A FB b =0.161±0.060(stat.)±0.021(syst.) corresponding to sin 2 θ W MS =0.221±0.011( stat. )±0.004( syst. ) .

The cross-sections and the forward-backward charge asymmetries of muon and tau pairs produced ine+e− collisions at\(\sqrt s= 35 GeV\) have been measured by the JADE Collaboration. The cross-sections,\(\sigma _\mu(\sqrt s= GeV) = 69.79 \pm 1.35 \pm 1.40 pb\) and\(\sigma _\mu(\sqrt s= GeV) = 71.72 \pm 1.48 \pm 1.61 pb\), are in agreement with the QED α3 prediction. The charge asymmetries areAμ=−(9.9±1.5±0.5)% andAτ=−(8.1±2.0±0.6)% in agreement with the value −9.2% predicted by the standard model, usingMZ=91.0 GeV and sin2θW=0.230.

Hadronic and leptonic cross-sections and forward-backward asymmetries are measured using 5.7 pb −1 of data taken with the ALEPH detector at LEP at centre-of-mass energies of 130 and 136 GeV. The results agree with Standard Model expectations. The measurement of hadronic cross-sections far away from the Z resonance improves the determination of the interference between photon and Z exchange. Constraints on models with extra Z bosons are presented.