Lifetime of charged and neutral B hadrons using event topology

The lifetimes of charged and neutral B hadrons have been measured using data collected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP between 1991 and 1993. B hadrons are tagged as jets with a secondary vertex and the charge of the B candidate is taken to be the sum of the charges of the particles in the secondary vertex. Approximately 1,434,000 multihadronic Z⁰ decays yielded 1817 B hadron candidates. The B purity was estimated to be around 99.1±0.3%, and 83% (70%) of the events measured as neutral (charged) came from neutral (charged) B's. The mean lifetimes of charged and neutral B hadrons were found to be 1.72±0.08 (stat.) ±0.06 (syst.) ps and 1.58±0.11 (stat.)±0.09 (syst.) ps respectively. The ratio of their lifertimes, _charged/_neutral, was 1.09 _–0.10 ^+0.11 (stat.)±0.08 (syst.). By making assumptions about the B _s ⁰ and _b ⁰ states, the B⁺ and B⁰ meson lifetimes were determined to be _B+ = 1.72 ± 0.08 (stat.) ±0.06 (syst.) ps and _B+ = 1.63 ± 0.14 (stat.)±0.13 (syst.) ps and the ratio of their lifetimes was:_B+/_B0 = 1.06 _–0.11 ^+0.13 ±0.10. The mean B lifetime was also deduced to be <> > = 1.64 ±0.06 (stat.)±0.04 (syst.) ps.     

B* production in Z decays

The decayB ^*B has been observed with the DELPHI detector at LEP, where theB ^* meson is produced inZ boson decays. The combination of inclusively reconstructedB mesons with well-measured converted photons yields a measurement of the flavour-averagedB ^*-B mass difference of 45.5±0.3 (stat.) ±0.8 (syst.) MeV/c². 95% confidence level upper limits at 6 MeV/c² are placed on both the isospin (i.e.B ⁺-B ⁰) and theB _s -B _ud splitting of the mass difference. The production ratio ofB ^* toB mesons inZ decays is measured to be 0.72±0.03 (stat.) ±0.06 (syst.). Limits on the production cross-section of other hypothetical excitedB hadron states decaying radiatively are established. The differentialB ^* cross section has been measured to be in good agreement with the averageb fragmentation, yielding an average fractionalB ^* energy of x _E =0.695±0.009 (stat.) ±0.013 (syst.). From the decay angular distribution the relative contribution of longitudinalB ^* polarisation states is measured to be _L/(_L + _T) = 0.32 ± 0.04 (stat.) ±0.03 (syst.).CICYT_AEN93-0832     

Charged particle multiplicity distributions inZ0 hadronic decays

This paper presents an analysis of the multiplicity distributions of charged particles produced inZ ⁰ hadronic decays in the DELPHI detector. It is based on a sample of 25364 events. The average multiplicity is n _ch>=20.71±0.04(stat)±0.77(syst) and the dispersionD=6.28±0.03(stat)±0.43(syst). The data are compared with the results at lower energies and with the predictions of phenomenological models. The Lund parton shower model describes the data reasonably well. The multiplicity distributions show approximate KNO-scaling. They also show positive forward-backward correlations that are strongest in the central region of rapidity and for particles of opposite charge.     

A precision measurement of the average lifetime ofB hadrons

The average lifetime ofB hadrons was measured using data collected with the DELPHI detector at the LEP collider during 1991 and 1992. The measurement was performed using two different anayses. The first method was an improvement on a previous technique, which used charged particle impact parameter distributions. This analysis measured an average lifetime forB hadrons of

Measurement of the e+e-→W+W- cross section and W decay branching fractions at LEP

From a total data sample of 701.1 pb^-1 recorded with e⁺e^- centre-of-mass energies of 161–209 GeV with the OPAL detector at LEP, 11693 W-pair candidate events are selected. These data are used to obtain measurements of the W-pair production cross sections at 10 different centre-of-mass energies. The ratio of the measured cross sections to the standard model expectation is found to be: , where the uncertainties are statistical, experimental systematics and theory systematics respectively. The data are used to determine the W boson branching fractions, which are found to be consistent with lepton universality of the charged current interaction. Assuming lepton universality, the branching ratio to hadrons is determined to be 67.41±0.37(stat.)±0.23(syst.)%, from which the CKM matrix element |V_cs| is determined to be 0.969±0.017(stat.)±0.012(syst.). The differential cross section as a function of the W^- production angle is measured for the qqeν and qqμν final states. The results described in this paper are consistent with the expectations from the standard model. This paper is dedicated to the memory of Ben Shen.     

A determination ofα s from the transverse momenta of hadrons produced in neutrino and antineutrino interactions

TheW andQ ² dependence of the transverse momentum of the forward-going hadrons in deep inelastic neutrino charged current interactions on neon is studied. The data were obtained by exposing BEBC filled with a Ne/H₂ mixture to the CERN SPS wide-band neutrino beam. The data on average transverse momentum are compared to a model which includes first order QCD, intrinsic quark momentum in the nucleon and Fermi motion, as well as a simple model for hadronization. The model is found to describe the data well. Values of _s =0.16±0.02(stat)±0.02(syst.)±0.03(frag.) at an averageQ ² of 15.4±0.4 GeV²/c² and (stat.) _–90 ⁺¹⁰⁰ (syst.) _–90 ⁺¹³⁰ , (frag.) MeV/v for three flavours are extracted.     

Measurement of the W boson mass and width in e+e- collisions at LEP

The mass of the W boson is determined from the direct reconstruction of W decays in WW→qq̄qq̄ and WW→ℓνqq̄ events in e⁺e^- collisions at LEP. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 683 pb^-1 collected with the ALEPH detector at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV. To minimise any effect from colour reconnection a new procedure is adopted in which low energy particles are not considered in the mass determination from the qq̄qq̄ channel. The combined result from all channels is where FSI represents the possible effects of final state interactions in the qq̄qq̄ channel and LEP indicates the uncertainty in the beam energy. From two-parameter fits to the W mass and width, the W width is found to be      

Determination of an upper limit for the mass of the τ-neutrino at LEP

An upper limit for the mass is determined through the kinematic reconstruction of the decay5 ^± in the OPAL detector at LEP. The limit is obtained using a new method based on the comparison of the two-dimensional distribution of energy and invariant mass of the five-pion system with expectations from different neutrino mass hypotheses. From a sample of five events surviving the selection criteria we obtain an upper limit of 74 MeV at 95% confidence level. It is the first measurement at LEP energies, where the larger average multiplicity of events makes the suppression of this background more robust compared to lower energies.     

Colour reconnection in e+e– → W+W–at {\sqrt s } =180–209 GeV

The effects of the final state interaction phenomenon known as colour reconnection are investigated at centre-of-mass energies in the range ≃ 189–209 using the OPAL detector at LEP. Colour reconnection is expected to affect observables based on charged particles in hadronic decays of . Measurements of inclusive charged particle multiplicities, and of their angular distribution with respect to the four jet axes of the events, are used to test models of colour reconnection. The data are found to exclude extreme scenarios of the Sj?strand-Khoze Type I () model and are compatible with other models, both with and without colour reconnection effects. In the context of the model, the best agreement with data is obtained for a reconnection probability of 37%. Assuming no colour reconnection, the charged particle multiplicity in hadronically decaying W bosons is measured to be =19.38±0.05(stat.)±0.08(syst.). Arrival of the final proofs: 28 November 2005     

Charged particle multiplicity distributions in restricted rapidity intervals inZ0 hadronic decays

The multiplicity distributions of charged particles in restricted rapidity intervals inZ ⁰ hadronic decays measured by the DELPHI detector are presented. The data reveal a shoulder structure, best visible for intervals of intermediate size, i.e. for rapidity limits around ±1.5. The whole set of distributions including the shoulder structure is reproduced by the Lund Parton Shower model. The structure is found to be due to important contributions from 3-and 4-jet events with a hard gluon jet. A different model, based on the concept of independently produced groups of particles, clans, fluctuating both in number per event and particle content per clan, has also been used to analyse the present data. The results show that for each interval of rapidity the average number of clans per event is approximately the same as at lower energies.This paper is dedicated to the memory of Léon Van Hove     

A direct measurement of theZ0 invisible width by single photon counting

The OPAL detector at LEP is used to measure the branching ratio of theZ ⁰ into invisible particles by measuring the cross section of single photon events ine ⁺ e ^– collisions at centre-of-mass energies near theZ ⁰ resonance. In a data sample of 5.3 pb^–1, we observe 73 events with single photons depositing more than 1.5 GeV in the electromagnetic calorimeter, with an expected background of 8±2 events not associated with invisibleZ ⁰ decay. With this data we determine theZ ⁰ invisible width to be 0.50±0.07±0.03 GeV, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. This corresponds to 3.0±0.4±0.2 light neutrino generations in the Standard Model.     

A study of the decays of tau leptons produced on theZ resonance at LEP

From the analysis of a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.63 pb^–1 taken during the 1990 run of LEP at centre of mass energies between 88.2 GeV an 94.2 GeV, the tau decays and their charge conjugates have been studied. The following branching ratios have been measured; , , Br(^{– –} (K^–)v)=11.9±0.7±0.7%, BR (^{– –} v)= 22.4±0.8±1.3%, in good agreement with world averages. The measured electronic and muonic branching ratios lead to a measurement of the strong coupling constant, _s (m) = 0.26 _–0.12 ^+0.09 . Extrapolating the _s value fromm tom _Z yields _s (m_Z) = 0.109 _–0.028 ^+0.012 .The average polarizationP of taus produced in Z ^{s s} decays has also been measured using the above decay modes. The weighted mean of the polarizations obtained from the four decay modes isP =–0.24±0.07. This value ofP gives, in the improved Born approximation, a ratio between the axial and vector coupling constants of the tau of /a = 0.12 ± 0.04, and hence a value of the effective electroweak mixing parameter sin² _W(m _Z ² ).     

Measurement of Vcb from the decay process

A new precise measurement of |V_cb| and of the branching ratio BR ) has been performed using a sample of about 5000 semileptonic decays , selected by the DELPHI detector at LEP I by tagging the soft pion from D^*+→D⁰π⁺. The results are: V_cb=(39.0±1.5 (stat.)^+2.5_−2.6 (syst. exp.)±1.3 (syst. th.))×10⁻³,

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. The analytic dependencies of the differential cross-section and of the Isgur–Wise form factor as functions of the variable w=v_B⁰·v_D^* have also been obtained by unfolding the experimental resolution.     

Tau decays into K* mesons

Using the ARGUS detector at the storage ring DORIS II we have measured decays into three charged mesons containingK ^* mesons. Exploiting the good particle identification capabilities of the detector we have determined the following branching ratios: ,B _r (^–K ^*0 K ^– v )= (0.20±0.05±0.04)%, andB _r (^–K ^*– X ⁰ v ) =(1.15±0.15_–0.18 ^+0.13)%.Supported by the German Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie, under contract number 054DO51P.     

Inclusive neutral vector meson production in hadronicZ0 decays

Results are reported of a study of neutral vector meson production in multihadronicZ ⁰ decays in the OPAL experiment at LEP. Pions and kaons have been identified by specific ionisation energy loss andK ^± andK ⁺ K ^– mass spectra have been fitted, in bins of the scaled momentum variablex _p , to combinations of resonance signals and non-resonant backgrounds. Rates are given forK ^*(892)° and ø(1020), and production cross sections are compared to the predictions of Monte Carlo models. Overall multiplicities have been determined as 0.76±0.07±0.06K ^*(892)° and 0.086±0.015±0.010 ø(1020) per hadronicZ ⁰ decay (the quoted errors are respectively statistical and systematic). Momentum dependent distortions of the mass spectra, possibly associated indirectly with Bose-Einstein effects, have prevented reliable measurement of the (770)° cross section in this study.     

The $\eta_{c}(2980)$ formation in two-photon collisions at LEP energies

production in interactions has been detected via its decays into ,K ⁺ K ^- K ⁺ K ^- and in the data taken with the DELPHI detector at LEP1 and LEP2 energies. The two-photon radiative width averaged over all observed decay channels is = 13.9 2.0 (stat.) 1.4(syst.) 2.7 (BR) keV. No direct decay channel has been observed. An upper limit < 5.5 keV at 95% confidence level has been evaluated for this decay mode.Received: 3 July 2003, Published online: 7 November 2003     

Determination of αS using jet rates at LEP with the OPAL detector

Hadronic events produced in e⁺e^- collisions by the LEP collider and recorded by the OPAL detector were used to form distributions based on the number of reconstructed jets. The data were collected between 1995 and 2000 and correspond to energies of 91 GeV, 130-136 GeV and 161-209 GeV. The jet rates were determined using four different jet-finding algorithms (Cone, JADE, Durham and Cambridge). The differential two-jet rate and the average jet rate with the Durham and Cambridge algorithms were used to measure in the LEP energy range by fitting an expression in which calculations were matched to a NLLA prediction and fitted to the data. Combining the measurements at different centre-of-mass energies, the value of () was determined to be α_S(M_Z) = 0.1177 ± 0.0006 (stat.) ± 0.0012 (expt.) ± 0.0010 (had.) ± 0.0032 (theo.).     

Measurement of the forward-backward asymmetry of charm and bottom quarks at theZ pole usingD*± mesons

The forward-backward asymmetries for the processes and at theZ resonance are measured using identifiedD ^*± mesons. In 905,000 selected hadronic events, taken in 1991 and 1992 with the DEL-PHI detector at LEP, 4757D ^*+D ⁰⁺ decays are reconstructed. Thec andb quark forward-backward asymmetries are determined to be:

A study of Bose-Einstein correlations ine+e? annihilation at 91 GeV

This paper describes a study of Bose-Einstein correlations made using the ALEPH detector at LEP. The correlations are found to enhance the two particle differential cross section for pairs of identical pions by a factor which can be roughly parametrized byR(Q)=1+ exp(-Q²²), whereQ is the difference in the 3-momenta of the two pions in their centre of mass frame, =0.51±0.04±0.11 and =3.3±0.2±0.8 GeV^–1, which corresponds to a source size of 0.65±0.04±0.16 fm. The large systematic errors on these results reflect their strong dependence on the choice of the reference sample used in the analysis. This problem is believed to occur primarily because of uncertainties in the rates of resonance production and a lack of knowledge about the pion-pion strong interaction. No significant correlations are seen amongst like-charged pion-kaon pairs.Supported by CAICYT, Spain     

A precise measurement of the B<Superscript> + </Superscript>, B<Superscript>0</Superscript> and mean b-hadron lifetime with the DELPHI detector at LEP I

Final results from the DELPHI Collaboration on the lifetime of B ⁺ and B⁰ mesons and the mean b-hadron lifetime, are presented using the data collected at the Z⁰ peak in 1994 and 1995. Elaborate, inclusive, secondary vertexing methods have been employed to ensure a b-hadron reconstruction with good efficiency. To separate samples of B ⁺ and B⁰ mesons, high performance neural network techniques are used that achieve very high purity signals. The results obtained are: and for the average b-hadron lifetime: Received: 6 October 2003, Revised: 12 December 2003, Published online: 25 February 2004