Decay-mode independent searches for new scalar bosons with the OPAL detector at LEP

This paper describes topological searches for neutral scalar bosons S⁰ produced in association with a Z⁰ boson via the Bjorken process at centre-of-mass energies of 91 GeV and 183-209 GeV. These searches are based on studies of the recoil mass spectrum of and events and on a search for with and S or photons. They cover the decays of the S⁰ into an arbitrary combination of hadrons, leptons, photons and invisible particles as well as the possibility that it might be stable. No indication for a signal is found in the data and upper limits on the cross section of the Bjorken process are calculated. Cross-section limits are given in terms of a scale factor k with respect to the Standart Model cross section for the Higgs-strahlung process . These results can be interpreted in general scenarios independently of the decay modes of the S⁰. The examples considered here are the production of a single new scalar particle with a decay width smaller than the detector mass resolution, and for the first time, two scenarios with continuous mass distributions, due to a single very broad state or several states close in mass. Received: 13 March 2002 / Published online: 19 February 2003     

Inclusive production of neutral vector mesons in hadronic Z decays

A data sample of about 3.0 million hadronicZ decays collected by the ALEPH experiment at LEP in the years 1991 through 1994 is used to make an inclusive selection of B hadron events. In this event sample 4227±140±252B* mesons in the decayB*→Bγ and 1944±108±161B** _u,d mesons decaying into a B meson and a charged pion are reconstructed. Here and in the followingB** _u,d denotes the eightL=1(bū) and (bd) states and their charge conjugate. For the well establishedB* meson the following quantities are obtained:ΔM=M _B*−M_B=(45.30±0.35±0.87) MeV/c² andN _B*/(N _B+N _B*)=(77.1±2.6±7.0)%. The angular distribution of the photons in theB* rest frame is used to measure the relative contribution of longitudinalB* polarization states to beσ _L/(σ _L+σ _T)=(33±6±5)%.     

Search for supersymmetric particles in light gravitino scenarios and sleptons NLSP

A search for sleptons, neutralinos, charginos, sgoldstinos and heavy stable charged sleptons in the context of scenarios where the lightest supersymmetric particle is the gravitino, is presented. Data collected during 2000 with the DELPHI detector at centre-of-mass energies from 204 to 208 GeV were analysed and combined with all the data collected from 1995 to 1999 at lower energies. No evidence for the production of sleptons, neutralinos and charginos has been found, therefore new limits on the mass of these supersymmetric particles and on the model parameter space are set. The search for heavy stable charged sleptons also updates the stable sleptons mass limit. The absence of evidence for sgoldstino production allows limits to be set on its mass and on the scale of supersymmetry breaking. Received: 6 November 2002 / Published online: 14 February 2003     

Improved search for $B_{s}^{0} - \overline{B}_{s}^{0}$ oscillations

An improved search for B _s ⁰ oscillations is performed in the ALEPH data sample collected during the first phase of LEP, and reprocessed in 1998. Three analyses based on complementary event selections are presented. First, decays of B _s ⁰ mesons into hadronic flavour eigenstates are fully reconstructed. This selection yields a small sample of candidates with excellent decay length and momentum resolution and hi gh average B _s ⁰ purity. Semileptonic decays with a reconstructed D _s ^- meson provide a second sample with larger statistics, high average B _s ⁰ purity, but a poorer momentum and decay length resolution due to the partial decay reconstruction. Finally, semileptonic b-hadron decays are inclusively selected and yield the data sample with the highest sensitivity to B _s ⁰ oscillations, as the much higher statistics compensate for the low average B _s ⁰ purity and poorer time resolution. A lower limit is set atps^-1 at 95% C.L., significantly lower than the expected limit of 15.2 ps^-1. Received: 21 February 2003 / Published online: 11 June 2003     

Measurement of the $b\overline{b}$ production cross section in 920 GeV fixed-target proton-nucleus collisions

Using the HERA - B detector, the production cross section has been measured in 920 GeV proton collisions on carbon and titanium targets. The production was tagged via inclusive bottom quark decays into by exploiting the longitudinal separation of decay vertices from the primary proton-nucleus interaction. Both e ⁺ e ^- and channels have been reconstructed and the combined analysis yields the cross section . Received: 6 June 2002 / Revised version: 2 September 2002 / Published online: 8 November 2002     

Mesure invariante pour l’équation stochastique d’un modéle de compétition limitée entre des espéces avec une diffusion spatiale

On considére l’équation stochastique decrivant un systéme den espéces avec une perturbation stochastique du type environnemental et une diffusion dans un territoire de chaque espéce. On suppose la compétition avec un effet limité entre le espéces différentes, tandis que l’effet logistique pour chaque espéce est supposé quadratique. Sous une condition convenable pour les coefficients, on démontre l’existence d’une mesure invariante pour cette équation stochastique, oú la densité de population de chaque espéce est presque surement positive.      

振动谱学研究中的光谱线型函数

本文讨论了在振动谱带计算拟合处理中的光谱线型函数问题,推导出适用于单道及多道拉曼光谱仪及色散型红外谱仪谱带线型公式。通过实验及拟合计算证实了它们的适用性并讨论了可能的误差源。理论计算和实验验证结果说明:在振动谱的谱带拟合计算中,应使用根据测谱条件计算求得的谱带线型函数,以保证拟合结果的可靠性。     

Asymptotic discrimination between renewal processes

Limit theorems for the logarithm of the likelihood ratio are proven. With their help the rate of decrease in the probability of errors of the second kind in the Neumann-Pierson criterion is established.Translated from Ukrainskii Matematicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 44, No. 10, pp. 1382–1388, October, 1992.     

Search for cosmic γ-ray bursts in the (1÷50) GeV energy range

Summary A search for cosmic gamma-ray bursts in the GeV energy range has been performed by means of the EAS-TOP Extensive Air Shower array at Campo Imperatore (Gran Sasso Laboratories) during the period March–December 1990. In 2566.5 hours of measurement the obtained upper limit to the rate of bursts of amplitude >2% of the cosmic-ray intensity and time duration τ=1 s, isR≤7.9y⁻¹ (90% c.l.). Assuming for γ-rays a differential energy spectrumS(E ₀ )≈E ₀ ^−2.5 , the corresponding upper limit to the energy flux of γ-rays with energy >5 GeV in bursts of duration τ≤1 s is Φ<8.3·10⁻⁵erg cm⁻².