Search for anomalous production of acoplanar di-lepton events in {\rm e^+e^-} collisions at \sqrt{s} = 183 and 189 GeV

A selection of di-lepton events with significant missing transverse momentum has been performed using a total data sample of 237.4 pb at centre-of-mass energies of approximately 183 GeV and 189 GeV. The observed numbers of events – 78 at 183 GeV and 301 at 189 GeV – are consistent with the numbers expected from Standard Model processes, which arise predominantly from production with both W bosons decaying leptonically. This topology is also an experimental signature for the pair production of new particles that decay to a charged lepton accompanied by one or more invisible particles. Discrimination techniques are described that optimise the sensitivity to particular new physics channels. No evidence for new phenomena is apparent. Upper limits on the production cross-section times branching ratio squared for sleptons and for leptonically decaying charginos and charged Higgs are presented in a manner intended to minimise the number of model assumptions. Assuming a 100% branching ratio for the decay , where is the lightest neutralino, we exclude at 95% CL: right-handed smuons with masses below 82.3 GeV for GeV and right-handed staus with masses below 81.0 GeV for GeV. Right-handed selectrons are excluded at 95% CL for masses below 87.1 GeV for GeV, within the framework of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model assuming GeV and . Charged Higgs bosons, H, are excluded at 95% CL for masses below 82.8 GeV, assuming a 100% branching ratio for the decay . Received: 6 September 1999 / Published online: 6 April 2000     

QCD studies with {\rm e^+e^-} annihilation data at 172-189 GeV

We have studied hadronic events from annihilation data at centre-of-mass energies of 172, 183 and 189 GeV. The total integrated luminosity of the three samples, measured with the OPAL detector, corresponds to 250 pb. We present distributions of event shape variables, charged particle multiplicity and momentum, measured separately in the three data samples. From these we extract measurements of the strong coupling , the mean charged particle multiplicity and the peak position in the distribution. In general the data are described well by analytic QCD calculations and Monte Carlo models. Our measured values of , and are consistent with previous determinations at . Received: 17 December 1999 / Published online: 18 May 2000     

Measurement of triple gauge-boson couplings at LEP energies up to 189 GeV

The triple gauge-boson couplings involving the W are determined using data samples collected with the ALEPH detector at mean centre-of-mass energies of 183 GeV and 189 GeV, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 57 pb and 174 pb, respectively. The couplings, , and , are measured using W-pair events, single-{\it W} production and single- production. Each coupling is measured individually with the other two couplings fixed at their standard model value. Including ALEPH results from lower energies, the 95% confidence level intervals for the deviation to the standard model are , , and . Fits are also presented where two or all three couplings are allowed to vary. In addition, W-pair events are used to set limits on the C- or P-violating couplings , , , and , where V denotes either or Z. No deviations from the standard model expectations are observed. Received: 28 February 2001 / Published online: 24 August 2001     

Search for single leptoquark and squark production in electron-photon scattering at $\sqrt{s_{\rm ee}}=189$ GeV at LEP

A search for first generation scalar and vector leptoquarks (LQ) as well as for squarks () in R-parity violating SUSY models with the direct decay of the into Standard Model particles has been performed using ee collisions collected with the OPAL detector at LEP at an ee centre-of-mass energy of 189 GeV. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of about 160 pb. The dominant process for this search is , where a photon, which has been radiated by one of the beam electrons, serves as a source of quarks. The numbers of selected events found in the two decay channels are in agreement with the expectations from Standard Model processes. This result allows to set lower limits at the 95% confidence level on the mass of first generation scalar and vector leptoquarks, and of squarks in R-parity violating SUSY models. For Yukawa couplings to fermions larger than , the mass limits range from 121 GeV to GeV ( GeV to GeV) depending on the branching ratio of the scalar (vector) leptoquark state. Furthermore, limits are set on the Yukawa couplings for leptoquarks and for squarks, and on as a function of the scalar leptoquark/squark mass. Received: 22 May 2001 / Published online: 25 January 2002     

Search for resonances decaying to e^+-jet in e^+p interactions at HERA

The -jet invariant mass spectrum produced in the reaction has been studied at a center-of-mass energy of 300 GeV. The data were collected using the ZEUS detector operating at the HERA collider, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of pb. The observed mass spectrum is in good agreement with Standard Model expectations up to an -jet mass of GeV. Above this mass, some excess is seen. The angular distribution of these events is typical of high- neutral current events and does not give convincing evidence for the presence of a narrow scalar or vector state. Limits are presented on the product of cross section and branching ratio for such a state and are interpreted as limits on leptoquark or R-parity-violating squark production. Specific leptoquark types are ruled out at 95% confidence level for coupling strength for masses between 150 and 280 GeV. Received: 15 February 2000 / Published online: 18 May 2000     

Search for chargino and neutralino production at \sqrt{s} = 189 GeV at LEP

A search for charginos and neutralinos, predicted by supersymmetric theories, is performed using a data sample of 182.1 pb taken at a centre-of-mass energy of 189 GeV with the OPAL detector at LEP. No evidence for chargino or neutralino production is found. Upper limits on chargino and neutralino pair production (, ) cross-sections are obtained as a function of the chargino mass (), the lightest neutralino mass () and the second lightest neutralino mass (). Within the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model framework, and for GeV, the 95% confidence level lower limits on are 93.6 GeV for and 94.1 GeV for . These limits are obtained assuming a universal scalar mass 500 GeV. The corresponding limits for all are 78.0 and 71.7 GeV. The 95% confidence level lower limits on the lightest neutralino mass, valid for any value of are 32.8 GeV for GeV and 31.6 GeV for all . Received: 14 October 1999 / Published online: 6 March 2000     

Study of dimuon production in photon-photon collisions and measurement of QED photon structure functions at LEP

Muon pair production in the process is studied using the data taken at LEP1 () with the DELPHI detector during the years 1992-1995. The corresponding integrated luminosity is 138.5 pb. The QED predictions have been tested over the whole range accessible at LEP1 (from several GeV to several hundred GeV) by comparing experimental distributions with distributions resulting from Monte Carlo simulations using various generators. Selected events are used to extract the leptonic photon structure function . Azimuthal correlations are used to obtain information on additional structure functions, and , which originate from interference terms of the scattering amplitudes. The measured ratios and are significantly different from zero and consistent with QED predictions. Received: 23 February 2000 / Revised version: 7 December 2000 / Published online: 23 February 2001     

Measurement of the low-x behaviour of the photon structure function F_2^\gamma

The photon structure function has been measured using data taken by the OPAL detector at centre-of-mass energies of 91 GeV, 183 GeVand 189 \GeV, in ranges of 1.5–30.0 GeV (LEP1), and 7.0–30.0 GeV (LEP2), probing lower values of x than ever before. Since previous OPAL analyses, new Monte Carlo models and new methods, such as multi-variable unfolding, have been introduced, reducing significantly the model dependent systematic errors in the measurement. The results do not conclusively prove, but are completely consistent with, the presence of a rise in at low-x as expected from QCD. Received: 9 June 2000 / Published online: 13 November 2000     

Search for composite and exotic fermions at LEP 2

A search for unstable heavy fermions with the DELPHI detector at LEP is reported. Sequential and non-canonical leptons, as well as excited leptons and quarks, are considered. The data analysed correspond to an integrated luminosity of about 48 pb at an centre-of-mass energy of 183 GeV and about 20 pb equally shared between the centre-of-mass energies of 172 GeV and 161 GeV. The search for pair-produced new leptons establishes 95% confidence level mass limits in the region between 70 GeV/ and 90 GeV/, depending on the channel. The search for singly produced excited leptons and quarks establishes upper limits on the ratio of the coupling of the excited fermion to its mass () as a function of the mass. Received: 30 October 1998 / Published online: 1 March 1999     

Search for chargino and neutralino production at \sqrt{s} = 170 and 172 GeV at LEP

A search for charginos and neutralinos, predicted by supersymmetric theories, has been performed using a data sample of pb at centre-of-mass energies of 170 and 172 GeV with the OPAL detector at LEP. No evidence for these particles has been found. The results are combined with those from previous OPAL chargino and neutralino searches at lower energies to obtain limits. Exclusion regions at 95% C.L. of parameters of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model are determined. Within this framework, for , lower mass limits are placed on the lightest chargino and the three lightest neutralinos. The 95% C.L. lower mass limit on the lightest chargino, assuming that it is heavier than the lightest neutralino by more than 10 GeV, is 84.5 GeV for the case of a large universal scalar mass ( 1 TeV) and 65.7 GeV for the smallest compatible with current limits on the sneutrino mass and slepton cross-sections. The lower limit on the lightest neutralino mass at 95% C.L. for is 24.7 GeV for TeV and 13.3 GeV for the minimum scenario. These mass limits are higher for increasing values of . The interpretation of the limits in terms of gluino and scalar quark mass limits is also given. Received: 11 July 1997 / Online publication: February 26, 1998     

Measurement of Z/\gamma^* production in compton scattering of quasi-real photons

The process is studied with the OPAL detector at LEP at a centre of mass energy of = 189 GeV. The cross-section times the branching ratio of the Z/ decaying into hadrons is measured within Lorentz invariant kinematic limits to be pb for invariant masses of the hadronic system between 5 GeV and 60 GeV and pb for hadronic masses above 60 GeV. The differential cross-sections of the Mandelstam variables , and are measured and compared with the predictions from the Monte Carlo generators grc4f and PYTHIA. From this, based on a factorisation ansatz, the total and differential cross-sections for the subprocess are derived. Received: 16 July 2001 / Published online: 5 April 2002     

Search for technicolor with DELPHI

Technicolor represents a viable alternative to the Higgs mechanism for generating gauge boson masses. Searches for technicolor particles and have been performed in the data collected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP at centre-of-mass energies between 192 and 208 GeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 452 pb. Good agreement is observed with the SM expectation in all channels studied. This is translated into an excluded region in the plane. The production is excluded for all GeV/c. Assuming a point-like interaction of the with gauge bosons, an absolute lower limit on the charged mass at 95% CL is set at 79.8 GeV/c, independently of other parameters of the technicolor model. Received: 10 August 2001 / Published online: 5 November 2001     

Measurement of open beauty production in photoproduction at HERA

The production and semi-leptonic decay of heavy quarks have been studied in the photoproduction process with the ZEUS detector at HERA using an integrated luminosity of 38.5 pb. Events with photon-proton centre-of-mass energies, , between 134 and 269 GeV and a photon virtuality, , less than 1 GeV were selected requiring at least two jets of transverse energy GeV and an electron in the final state. The electrons were identified by employing the ionisation energy loss measurement. The contribution of beauty quarks was determined using the transverse momentum of the electron relative to the axis of the closest jet, . The data, after background subtraction, were fit with a Monte Carlo simulation including beauty and charm decays. The measured beauty cross section was extrapolated to the parton level with the b quark restricted to the region of transverse momentum 5 GeV and pseudorapidity 2. The extrapolated cross section is . The result is compared to a perturbative QCD calculation performed to next-to-leading order. Received: 22 November 2000 / Published online: 5 February 2001     

Search for R-parity violating production of single sneutrinos in ee collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 189-209 GeV

A search for single sneutrino production under the assumption that R-parity is violated via a single dominant coupling is presented. This search considers the process and is performed using the data collected by the ALEPH detector at centre-of-mass energies from 189 GeV up to 209 GeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 637.1 pb^-1. The numbers of observed candidate events are in agreement with Standard Model expectations and 95% confidence level upper limits on five of the couplings are given as a function of the assumed sneutrino mass. Received: 19 December 2001 / Published online: 26 July 2002     

Search for chargino and neutralino production at \sqrt{s} = 181–184 GeV at LEP

A search for charginos and neutralinos, predicted by supersymmetric theories, has been performed using a data sample of 57 pb at centre-of-mass energies of 181–184 GeV taken with the OPAL detector at LEP. No evidence for chargino or neutralino production has been found. Upper limits on chargino and neutralino pair production (, ) cross-sections are obtained as a function of the chargino mass (), the lightest neutralino mass () and the second lightest neutralino mass (). For large chargino masses the limits have been improved with respect to the previous analyses at lower centre-of-mass energies. Exclusion regions at 95% confidence level (C.L.) of parameters of the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model are determined for the case of a large universal scalar mass, , implying heavy scalar fermions, and for the case of a small resulting in light scalar fermions and giving the worst-case limits. Within this framework and for GeV the 95% C.L. lower limits on for GeV are 90.0 and 90.2 GeV for and 35 respectively. These limits for all (the worst-case) are 69.1 and 65.2 GeV for and 35 respectively. Exclusion regions are also presented for neutralino masses, including an absolute lower limit at 95% C.L. for the mass of the lightest neutralino of 30.1 GeV for GeV (24.2 GeV for all ), with implications for experimental searches for the lightest neutralino as a dark matter candidate. Received: 19 August 1998 / Published online: 11 March 1999     

Dijet photoproduction at HERA and the structure of the photon

The dijet cross section in photoproduction has been measured with the ZEUS detector at HERA using an integrated luminosity of 38.6 pb. The events were required to have a virtuality of the incoming photon, , of less than 1 GeV and a photon-proton centre-of-mass energy in the range GeV. Each event contains at least two jets satisfying transverse-energy requirements of GeV and GeV and pseudorapidity requirements of \mbox{}. The measurements are compared to next-to-leading-order QCD predictions. The data show particular sensitivity to the density of partons in the photon, allowing the validity of the current parameterisations to be tested. Received: 21 December 2001 / Published online: 5 April 2002     

Search for Higgs bosons in {\rm e^+e^-} collisions at 183 GeV

The data collected by the OPAL experiment at GeV were used to search for Higgs bosons which are predicted by the Standard Model and various extensions, such as general models with two Higgs field doublets and the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of approximately 54 pb. None of the searches for neutral and charged Higgs bosons have revealed an excess of events beyond the expected background. This negative outcome, in combination with similar results from searches at lower energies, leads to new limits for the Higgs boson masses and other model parameters. In particular, the 95% confidence level lower limit for the mass of the Standard Model Higgs boson is 88.3 GeV. Charged Higgs bosons can be excluded for masses up to 59.5 GeV. In the MSSM, GeV and GeV are obtained for , no and maximal scalar top mixing and soft SUSY-breaking masses of 1 TeV. The range is excluded for minimal scalar top mixing and GeV. More general scans of the MSSM parameter space are also considered. Received: 27 October 1998 / Published online: 19 February 1999     

Search for unstable heavy and excited leptons at LEP2

Searches for unstable neutral and charged heavy leptons, N and , and for excited states of neutral and charged leptons, , , , and , have been performed in collisions using data collected by the OPAL detector at LEP. The data analysed correspond to an integrated luminosity of about 58 pb at a centre-of-mass energy of 183 GeV, and about 10 pb each at 161 GeV and 172 GeV. No evidence for new particles was found. Lower limits on the masses of unstable heavy and excited leptons are derived. From the analysis of charged-current, neutral-current, and photonic decays of singly produced excited leptons, upper limits are determined for the ratio of the coupling to the compositeness scale, , for masses up to the kinematic limit. For excited leptons, the limits are established independently of the relative values of the coupling constants f and . Received: 29 November 1999 / Published online: 6 March 2000     

Measurement of the W mass and width in e^+e^- collisions at 189 GeV

The mass of the W boson is determined in ee collisions at LEP by the direct reconstruction of W decays in and events, supplemented by measurements using the kinematic properties of the leptons in the decay channel. The main sample of W pairs is selected from an integrated luminosity of 174 pb collected with the ALEPH detector in 1998 at a centre-of-mass energy of 188.63 GeV. The combined result from all channels is where FSI represents the possible effects of final state interactions in the channel. In a second two-parameter fit to the , and channels, where the W mass and width are decoupled, the average W width is found to be { GeV/}, consistent with the Standard Model prediction. The combination of the mass measurement presented in this paper together with those derived previously from the W pair cross section at 161 and 172 GeV and direct reconstruction at 172 and 183 GeV gives Received: 15 March 2000 / Published online: 8 September 2000     

Cross-sections and leptonic forward-backward asymmetries from the Z^0 running of LEP

During 1993 and 1995 LEP was run at 3 energies near the Z peak in order to give improved measurements of the mass and width of the resonance. During 1994, LEP operated only at the Z peak. In total DELPHI accumulated data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 116 pb. Analyses of the hadronic cross-sections and of the cross-sections and forward-backward asymmetries in the leptonic channels used the most precise evaluations of the LEP energies. In the dimuon channel, events with a photon radiated from the initial state have been used to probe the cross-sections and asymmetries down to PETRA energies. Model independent fits to all DELPHI lineshape and asymmetry data from 1990 to 1995 have been carried out giving values of the resonance parameters: These values are significantly more precise than those previously published. The results are interpreted in terms of the Standard Model. Received: 4 February 2000 / Revised version: 7 March 2000 / Published online: 8 June 2000