Width effects of theZ resonance and CP-violating asymmetry ine + e − annihilation

CP-violating rate asymmetry can be generated in a process only if its amplitude possesses an absorptive part. It is pointed out that such an absorptive part can be provided ine ⁺ e ⁻ annihilation by the presence of aZ(Z′) resonance of non-zero width. The CP asymmetry in the process , wherel _i are charged leptons, is discussed in several models. In a specific two-Z model, large and observable CP asymmetry ine ⁺ e ⁻ →τ ⁺ e ⁻ (τ ⁻ e ⁺) is shown to be possible at LEP/SLC energies.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>′ signals from the LEP2 data

The LEP2 data on e ⁺ e ⁻ → e ⁺ e ⁻, μ⁺μ⁻, and τ ⁺ τ ⁻ processes are fitted to estimate possible signals of the Abelian Z′ boson. In the many-parametric fits, four independent parameters must be fitted if the derived already low-energy relations between the Z′ couplings to the standard-model fermions are taken into consideration. No signals are found for the complete LEP2 data set for these processes. In the fit of the backward bins, the hint at the 1.25σ C.L. is detected. The Z′ couplings to the vector and axial-vector lepton currents are constrained. Comparisons with the one-parameter fits are performed. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Quantum chromodynamics studies at LEP2

Several studies have been made to the hadronic final states in e ⁺ e ⁻ collisions at LEP. Studies of the annihilation process at LEP2 have given rise to results on jet rate, event shape, heavy flavour production, inclusive momentum spectra, Bose-Einstein correlation and colour reconnection effects. Event shape studies have given rise to accurate determination of the strong coupling constant α _s using O (α _s ² ) with resummed leading and next-to-leading log calculation and also with power law corrections. Studies of 2-photon processes have yielded results on γγ cross-section, heavy flavour production, photon structure function and γ*γ* scattering.     

LEP Higgs boson searches beyond the standard model and minimum supersymmetric standard model

Ever since the center-of-mass energy was increased in 1995 above the Zℴ resonance, the four LEP experiments (ALEPH, DELPHI, OPAL and L3) have renewed their effort to search for the Higgs boson. Data taking ended in the year 2000 with about 130 pb⁻¹ of data collected per experiment above 206 GeV ine ⁺ e ⁻¹ collisions but the data analysis is still very active. Most recently, the wealth of theoretical models and predictions has stimulated new analyses and model interpretations which go beyond the standard model and minimal supersymmetric standard model. These include the searches for charged Higgs bosons, models with two Higgs field doublets, searches for ‘fermiophobic’ Higgs decay, invisible Higgs boson decays, decay-mode independent searches, and limits on Yukawa and anomalous Higgs couplings. I review the searches done by the four LEP experiments and present the LEP combined results when they exist.     

Recent results from LEP

Recent results from the LEP collider at CERN are presented: on the identification of e ⁺ e ⁻ → W ⁺ W ⁻ and the determination of the W mass and width and limits on its anomalous couplings; the search for the Standard Model and non-minimal Higgs; search for SUSY and other new particles. Fits to all electroweak data leading to predictions of the Higgs mass within the Standard Model are presented.     

Neutral Higgs bosons in the standard model and in the minimal supersymmetric model: Searches at LEP

During the twelve years of operation of thee ⁺ e ⁻ collider LEP, the associated collaborations, ALEPH, DELPHI, L3 and OPAL, have extensively searched for Higgs bosons over a broad range of masses. We present the final results from LEP for the standard model Higgs boson which are obtained from a statistical combination of the data from the four experiments. We also present preliminary combined results for neutral Higgs bosons in the minimal supersymmetric model (MSSM) where the Higgs sector is assumed to be CP invariant. Finally, we discuss an alternative MSSM scenario including CP violation in the Higgs sector.     

Resolved photon processes

We review high-energy scattering processes that are sensitive to the hadronic structure of the photon, describing theoretical predictions as well as recent experimental results. These processes include deep-inelastic electron-photon scattering ate ⁺ e ⁻ colliders; and the production of jets, heavy quarks and isolated photons in the collision of real photons ate ⁺ e ⁻ colliders, as well as in photon-photon collisions atep colliders. We also comment on minijet based calculations of totalγp andγγ cross-sections, and discuss the possibility that future lineare ⁺ e ⁻ colliders might produce very large photon fluxes due to the beamstrahlung phenomenon; in the most extreme cases, we predict more than one hadronicγγ event to occur at every bunch crossing.     

Two-Photon Channel in <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis>−<Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis> Models

In this paper we examine the possibility of having an exception to the recent observation by L. Randall amd M. Wise, which states that “a significant branching ratios to both e ⁺ e ⁻ and γ γ is possible only if new physics beyond that in the SM couples directly to electrons”. We consider resonances decaying into diphotons and dielectrons final states predicted in U(1) _B−L extensions of the SM. We find that these new resonances can’t decay into e ⁺ e ⁻ and γ γ final states with comparably measurable branching ratios although such resonances are directly coupled to electrons.     

Fermion pair production in e+e- collisions at 189–209?GeV and constraints on physics beyond the standard model

Cross sections, angular distributions and forward-backward asymmetries are presented, of two-fermion events produced in e⁺e^- collisions at centre-of-mass energies from 189 to 209 GeV at LEP, measured with the ALEPH detector. Results for e⁺e^-, μ⁺μ^-, τ⁺τ^-, qq̄, bb̄ and cc̄ production are in agreement with the standard model predictions. Constraints are set on scenarios of new physics such as four-fermion contact interactions, leptoquarks, Z^′ bosons, TeV-scale quantum gravity and R-parity violating squarks and sneutrinos. Dedicated to the memory of John Strong who died on July 31, 2006     

Transverse polarization in <Emphasis Type="Italic">γZ,H Z</Emphasis> production

With the use of transverse polarization (TP), a CP-odd and T-odd observable can be constructed when the final-state particles are self-conjugate. In the case of HZ production, this observable can be used to probe a certain effective four-point e ⁺ e ⁻ ZH CP-violating coupling, not accessible without TP. Effective CP-violating ZZH coupling does not contribute to this observable. A similar observable in γZ production can be used to probe e ⁺ e ⁻ γZ four-point couplings.      

Dilepton production in pp and CC collisions with HADES

e ⁺ e ^- production was studied using the High Acceptance DiElectron Spectrometer (HADES). In pp collisions at 2.2GeV kinetic beam energy, the exclusive η production and the Dalitz decay η→γe ⁺ e ^- have been reconstructed. The electromagnetic form factor of the latter decay was found to be in good agreement with the existing theoretical predictions. In addition, an inclusive e ⁺ e ^- invariant-mass spectrum from the ¹²C + ¹²C reaction at 2AGeV is presented and compared with a simplified thermal model.     

Analyzing thee + e −→e + e − angular distibution at LEP

The analysis of the lepton angular distribution at LEP is reviewed and the specific concerns in the case ofe ⁺ e ^– final state are singled out. Studies of the physical information contained in thee ⁺ e ^– angular distribution are shown to justify the need for a new approach. Two different solutions that enable the complete use of the angular distribution information for the extraction of theZ parameters are presented. We show that these approaches have accuracies well above the future experimental needs.     

The E687 cryptoexotic vector meson candidate

A new study of the dip observed at 1.9GeV by the Fermilab experiment E687 in diffractive photoproduction of 3π ⁺3π ^- is presented. The E687 and the BABAR data on the annihilation cross-section σ(e ⁺ e ^-→3π ⁺3π ^-), obtained with initial-state radiation, are fitted all together. The fit function is based on a simple mixing mechanism that explains the manifestation of a resonance as a dip. Possible interpretations in terms of hybrids and tetraquark states are considered.     

Theψ-particles in an SU4 scheme with anomalous currents

The recently discovered narrow peaks (theψ-particles) in e⁺e⁻ system at 3.105 and 3.695 GeV are interpreted as hadrons in a broken SU₄ symmetry scheme. A new additional additive quantum number, parachargeZ, is combined with the usual SU₃ quantum numbers in the group SU₄. Theψ (3.1) is assigned to a near ideally mixed15⊕1 multiplet of vector mesons (containing theρ) as theI=Y=0, charge conjugationC=−combination ofZ=±1.members. Theψ (3.7) is assigned correspondingly to another mixed15⊕1 multiplet containing theρ′ (1600). The hadronic electromagnetic interactions are modified by the addition of (non-minimal) anomalous pieces that can changeZ. The decays of theψ-particles are discussed. New enlarged SU₄ multiplets of other hadrons are proposed. Tests of our scheme are put forward. The most crucial test will be the observation of two rather broad resonances in e⁺ e⁻ collisions with masses around 4.2 GeV and 5.1 GeV. Another prediction is the presence of energetic photons in the decays of theψ-particles. Important results concerning the recently observed phenomena in the process e⁺e⁻→hadrons follow in this scheme.     

Recent KLOE results on hadron physics

The KLOE experiment at the Frascati e ⁺ e ^- collider DAFNE has completed this year its data taking. An integrated luminosity of 2.7fb^-1 has been collected mostly at the φ-resonance peak. A wide experimental program is in progress. The detection of φ radiative decays allows to study the properties of the lowest-mass scalar and pseudoscalar mesons and to obtain information on their structure. The main results are reviewed together with the prospects for low-energy e ⁺ e ^- physics at Frascati.     

Limits on 3 boson vertex parameters from LEP200

LEP will be operating at cm energies above W pair threshold from 1996. The process e⁺e⁻ → W⁺W⁻ will provide a unique opportunity to test some important aspects of the Standard Model. The methodology of studying this process has been reviewed in this report. The study of the process will probe at the triple vector boson coupling. The sensitivity to anomalous coupling of W boson has been discussed in detail.     

Improved (1s)<Superscript>2</Superscript> variational model for helium

The ground-state energy of neutral helium is estimated variationally with a trial wavefunction of the form ϕ≈e ^−γ(rA/a _o)ⁿe^−γ(rB/a _o)ⁿ. This model represents a modification of traditional textbook examinations of this problem via inclusion of the power “n” as a second nonlinear variational parameter in addition to the usual effective nuclear charge γ and leads to an upper-limit on the ground state energy of −2.86107 E _h (E _h =1 hartree) in comparison with the traditional (n=1) result of −2.84766 E _h . This result represents a reduction of the percentage overestimate from the true ground-state energy (−2.90373 E _h ) of from 1.93 to 1.47. In comparison with the maximum accuracy obtainable from an uncorrelated trial wavefunction, −2.86168 E _h , the present trial wavefunction reduces the percentage overestimate from 0.49 (n=1) to 0.021. The optimum values of (n, γ) are determined to be ≈(0.897, 1.825).     

On hadron multiplicity ine + e − events induced by massive quarks

We analyse the difference in the energy behaviour of hadron multiplicities associated withe ⁺ e ^– events induced by light and heavy quarks in the framework of two approaches: the so-called Naïve Model and the QCD-motivated one. Expectations of both approaches are presented in comparison with the existing data (LEP, SLC).     

Universal relation between spectroscopic constants

A universal relation between the Sutherland parameter, Δ (= k _e r _e ^/2 /2D _e) and the dimensionless parameter G (= 8ω _e x _e /B _e ), has been established using 40 electronic states, which include ground as well as excited states of polar and non-polar molecules. This relation is used to predict the dissociation energy of four lowest electronic states of S ₂ molecule. The respective values for the states X ³Σ _g ^/− , a ¹Δ _g , b ¹Σ _g ^/+ and B ³Σ _u ^/− turn out to be 36557, 31431, 28247 and 13429 cm⁻¹, and are in good agreement with the experimental values. Furthermore, metastable states a ¹Δ _g and b ¹Σ _g ^/+ of S ₂ are shown to dissociate into ³ P ₁ + ³ P ₁ as against the dissociation of X ³Σ _g ^/− into ³ P ₂ + ³ P ₁. In addition, a relation between Sutherland parameter Δ and internuclear distance r _e , viz., Δ=2.2r _e has been obtained for the ground state of alkali diatomic molecules.     

A determination of the centre-of-mass energy at LEP2 using radiative two-fermion events

Using e⁺e^-→μ⁺μ^-(γ) and events radiative to the Z pole, DELPHI has determined the centre-of-mass energy, , using energy and momentum constraint methods. The results are expressed as deviations from the nominal LEP centre-of-mass energy, measured using other techniques. The results are found to be compatible with the LEP Energy Working Group estimates for a combination of the 1997 to 2000 data sets.