Topological distributions of charged and neutral hadrons from the reaction e + e − → multihadrons are studied at √ s of about 30 GeV. An excess of planar events is observed at a rate which cannot be explained by statistical fluctuations in the standard two-jet process. The planar events, mostly consisting of a slim jet on one side and a broader jet on the other, are shown actually to possess three-jet structure by demonstrating that the broader jet itself consists of two collinear jets in its own rest system. Detailed agreement between data and predictions is obtained if the process e + e − →q q ̄ g is taken into account. This strongly suggests gluon bremsstrahlung as the origin of the planar three-jet events. By comparison of the data with the qq̄g-model we obtain a value for the strong coupling constant of α S ( q 2 = 0.17 ± 0.04.

The total cross section for the process e + e − → hadrons has been measured in the CM energy range between 12.0 and 36.4 GeV using the JADE detector with a typical systematic error of ±3%. The ratio R( σ( ee → hadrons ) σ pt ) is found to be constant over this range with an average value of 3.97 ± 0.05 (statistical and point-to-point systematic error) ± 0.10 (normalization error). The data were compared with the standard electro-weak interaction model including QCD corrections.

The energy dependence of the relative production rate of three-jet events is studied in hadronic e + e − annihilation events at center of mass energies between 22 and 46.7 GeV. Three-jet events are defined by a jet finding algorithm which is closely related to the definition of resolvable jets used in O( α s 2 ) perturbative QCD calculations, where the relative production rate of three-jet events is roughly proportional to the size of the strong coupling strength. The production rates of three-jet events in the data decrease significantly with increasing centre of mass energy. The experimental rates, which are independent of fragmentation model calculations, can be directly compared to theoretically calculated jet production rates and are in good agreement with the QCD expectations of a running coupling strength. The hypothesis of an energy independent coupling constant can be excluded with a significance of four standard derivations.

Topological distributions of hadrons from the reaction e + e − → hadrons are studied at center of mass energies of about 33 GeV. The experimental distributions in the parameters acoplanarity and tripodity, both sensitive to events with a four-jet structure, show significant deviations from the expectations for two- and three-jet events. They can be described well by the inclusion of four-jet events. The relative magnitude of the observed effect indicates second order QCD as its probable origin.

The angular distribution and the s dependence of the total cross section for the process e + e − → μ + μ − have been measured using the JADE detector at PETRA. After radiative corrections, a forward-backward asymmetry of −(11.8±3.8) % was observed at an average centre of mass energy of 33.5 GeV. For comparison, an asymmetry of −7.8 % is expected on the basis of the standard Glashow-Salam-Weinberg model.

Data on p and Λ production by e + e − -annihilation at CM energies between 30 and 36 GeV are presented. Indication for an angular anticorrelation in events with baryon-antibaryon pairs is seen.

Data on hadron production by e + e − annihilation at c.m. energies between 12 and 36.6 GeV have been collected using the JADE detector. They have been analysed in terms of single-photon and weak neutral-current exchange assuming production of quark-antiquark pairs with only d, u, s, c and b quarks to produce values for the quark weak neutral-current couplings. A further analysis in terms of the Glashow-Salam-Weinberg theory produced the result, sin 2 θ W = 0.22 ± 0.08 . The theory has therefore been tested in a new energy domain and within the context of the neutral weak couplings of the first, second and third generation quarks.

The inclusive production of η mesons at CM energies around 34 GeV has been studied for e + e − annihilation into hadrons. The average number of η-mesons per event is found to be 0.72 ± 0.10 (stat.) ± 0.18 (syst.). The abundance of η's is studied as a function of event shape parameters and it is compared to the corresponding π 0 rates.

We report on a measurement of the process e + e − →e + e − + hadrons, where one of the scattered electrons is detected at large angles, with an average Q 2 of 23 GeV. The results are analysed in terms of the photon structure function F 2 and are compared with QCD predictions.

Differential three-jet cross sections have been measured in e + e − -annihilation at an average CM energy of 33.8 GeV and were compared to first- and second-order predictions of QCD and of a QED-like abelian vector theory. QCD provides a good description of the observed distributions. The inclusion of second-order effects reduced the observed quark-gluon coupling strength by about 20% to α S = 0.16 ± 0.015 (stat.) ± 0.03 (syst.). The abelian vector theory is found to be incompatible with the data.

The reaction e + e - → e + e - η' has been observed in the JADE experiment at PETRA, by detecting the final state π + π - γ, resulting from the decay η' → γϱ 0 . The cross section was measured at an average beam energy of 17.15 GeV to be σ(e + e - → e + e - η') = 2.2 ± 0.2 (stat.) ± 0.4(syst.) nb, yielding the radiative width Γ η'γγ = 5.0 ± 0.5(stat.) ± 0.9 (syst.) keV.

The processes e + e − → e + e − and μ + μ − have been studied at PETRA using the JADE detector. The data, which were collected at s -values of up to 1300 GeV 2 have been analysed in terms of an electro-weak extension of QED to obtain values for the weak vector and axial vector couplings in the lepton sector. The values obtained agree with the predictions of the standard Salam-Weinberg model and the data are further analysed in terms of this model to obtain the limits 0.10 < sin 2 ϑ w < 0.40 (68% CL). The mass of the neutral weak gauge boson is deduced to be greater than 51 GeV/ c 2 .

A search for narrow resonances in e + e − annihilation at c.m. energies between 29.90 and 31.46 GeV provides no evidence for the existence of such states. The 90% confidence upper limit on the integrated resonance cross section is 38 nb MeV, significantly below the value expected for the lowest (t,t̄) bound state.

None

Cross sections for the reactionse+e−→e+e− (Bhabha scattering) ande+e−→γγ are measured for center-of-mass (c.m.) energies\(\sqrt s \) between 12.0 and 34.6 GeV. The results agree with the predictions of Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) and the cut-off parameters are determined. From Bhabha scattering at the highest energy,\(\left\langle {\sqrt s } \right\rangle= 34.6 GeV\), the 1 δ limits 0.12<sin2 ϑw<0.38 are obtained for the weak mixing angle. The higher order (α3) QED processese+e−→e+e−γ ande+e−→γγγ are also studied and are found to agree with the α3 QED predictions. A search for excited electrons is carried out by investigating the (e±γ) invariant mass distribution in the reactione+e−→e+e−γ.

A search for narrow resonances in e + e − annihilation between 33.00 and 36.72 GeV is reported. No evidence is found for the existence of such states. The 90% confidence upper limit on the integrated resonance cross section is determined to be 28 nb MeV, a value significantly below that expected for the lowest t t bound state.

The inclusive production of D ∗± mesons in single tagged photon-photon collisions is investigated using the JADE detector at PETRA. D ∗± mesons are reconstructed through their decay into D 0 +π ± where the D 0 decays via D 0 →Kππ 0 . The event rate and topology are compared to the expectations of c quark production in the quark-parton model: γγ→c c .

Total and differential cross sections for exclusive production of proton-antiproton pairs in photon-photon collisions have been measured using the JADE detector at PETRA. The total cross section in the CM angular |cos θ ∗ | < 0.6 reaches a maximum value of 3.8 nb for a γγ invariant mass of W γγ = 2.25 GeV, and decreases rapidly for higher values of W γγ . In the range 2.0 GeV < W γγ < 2.6 GeV the angular distribution is not isotopic. The nucleons are preferentially emitted at large angles to the collision axis.

The production and decay of τ-pairs was studied with the JADE detector at PETRA at center-of-mass energies of 30 ⩽√ s ⩽ 46.78 GeV. The total production cross section for τ-pairs agreed with QED predictions to order α 3 . Lower limits on QED cut-off parameters of Λ + > 285 GeV and Λ − > 210 GeV at 95% confidence level were ontained. The decay branching fractions into one and three charged particles were determined to be (86.1 ± 0.5 ± 0.9)% and (13.6±0.5 ±0.80)%. In the angular distributions a forward-backward asymmetry was observed, from which the axial-vector weak charge to the τ was determined to be a τ = −0.74 ± 0.22 in agreement with the standard model. An analysis of the process e + e − → τ + τ − γ showed agreement with QED calculations to O(α 3 ).

The total cross section and the inclusive muon cross section for the process e + e − → hadrons have been measured in the center of mass energy range between 39.79 and 46.78 GeV. The ratio R shows no significant structure. It has an average value of 4.13±0.08±0.14. An upper limit is set on the production of narrow resonances. Limits are obtained for pair-produced heavy quarks. The data are compared with the standard electroweak interaction model including QCD corrections taking into account the five known types of quarks. Upper limits are given for a possible structure of quarks and for effects of color octet leptons.

The particle flow distributions in the event plane of 3-jet\((e^ +e^ -\to q\bar qg)\) and of radiative 2-jet\((e^ +e^ -\to q\bar q\gamma )\) events are compared at a centre of mass energy of 35 GeV. The number of particles in the angular region opposite to the gluon in\(q\bar qg\) events is found to be significantly reduced relative to the number of particles in the region opposite to the hard photon in\(q\bar q\gamma \) events. This depletion is expected from the “string effect” observed in 3-jet events. It can be explained within the framework of QCD as arising from soft gluon interference.

The reaction γγ→π+π-π+π-π0 has been studied using the JADE detector at PETRA. The cross sections for γγ→ωπ+- and for γγ→ωρ0- are given. We observe no peak in these cross sections in the regionWγγ=1.9–2.0 GeV.

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.

Resonance production in the γγ reactionse+e−→e+e+e−π0π0 ande+e−π0η has been studied with the JADE detector at PETRA. The decay widths into γγ of thef2(1270),a0(980) anda2(1320) were measured to be\(\Gamma _{\gamma \gamma } (f_2 (1270)) = 3.19 \pm 0.09_{ - 0.38}^{ + 0.22} \) Kev,Γλλ(a0(980))=0.28±0.04±0.10 KeV/BR(a0(980)→π0η) andΓλλ(a2(1320))=1.01±0.14±0.22KeV. For thef0(975) andf4(2050) upper limits of the widths were obtained,Γλλ(f0(975))<0.6 KeV, andΓλλ(f4(2050))<1.1 KeV, both at the 95% C.L. Assuming that the spin 0 background under thef2(1270) is small, thef2(1270) was found to be produced exclusively in a helicity 2 state. The helicity 0 contribution is <15% at the 95% C.L. The cross section forλλ→π0π0 in the mass range 2.0–3.5 GeV/c2 was measured for the first time. Since the cross section forλλ→π+π− is a factor ∼2 larger, ππ production in this range can be interpreted as taking place via isospin 0 production.

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.