The cross section of the pure QED process e+ e-> "/"/ has been measured using data accumulated during the 1989 and 1990 scans of the Z resonance at LEP. Both the energy dependence and the angular distribution are in good agreement with the QED prediction, Upper limits on the branching ratios of Z -> "f"f, Z -> 1r "f and Z -> rn have been set at lAx I o-4 , 1 Ax 10-'1 and 2.0 x 10-4 respectively. Lower limits on the cutoff parameters of the modified electron propagator have been found to be A+> 117 GeV and A_ > 110 GeV. The reaction e+e-> "/"1"1 has also been studied and was found to be consistent with the QED prediction_ An upper limit on the branching ratio of Z _,"/"/"/has been set at 6 .. 6 x 10• All the limits are given at 95% confidence leveL (Submitted to Physics Letters D) The OPAL Collaboration lii.Z. Akrawy 12 , G. Alexander22 , J. Allison 15 , P.P. Allport5 , K.J. Anderson9 , J.C. Armitage6 , G.T.J. Arnison 9, P. Ashton15 , G. Azuelos·d, J.T.l\I. Baines15 , A. H. Ball 16 , J. Banks15 , G.J. Barker , R.J. Barlow 15 , .I.R. Batley5 , G. Beaudoin'\ A. Beck 22 , J. Becker10 , T. Behnkes, K.W. Bell' 9 , G. Bella22 , S. Bethken, 0. Bicbel , U. Binder 10 , I.J. Bloodworth', P. Bockn, II. Breukers, R.l\1. Brown 19 , R. Bruns, A. Buijss, H.J. Burckharts, P. Capiluppi2 , R. K. Carncgie , A.A. Carler12 , J .R. Carter5 , C.Y. Chang16 , D.G. Charltons, J .T.l\1. Chrin 15 , P.E.L. Clarkc , I. Cohen , W.J. Collins , J .E. Conboy14 , i\1. Couch , 1\l. Coupland , 1\l. Cuffiani , S. Dado21 , G.l\1. Dallamlle , S. De Jongs, P. Dcbu20 , 1\l.l\l. Deninno , A. Dieckmann ll, 1\l. Dittmar', 1\l.S. Dixit 1 , E. Duchovni25 , l.P. Duerdoth 15 , D .. J.P. Dumas6 , P.A. Elcombe , P.G. Estabrooks6 , E. Etzion , F. Fabbr?, P. Farthouat20 , H.l\1. Fischer , D.G. Fong , 1\LT. French19 , C. Fukunaga , A. Gaidot20 , 0. GaneF5 , J.W. Garyll, .) . Gascon , N .I. Geddes19 , C.N .P. Gee19 , C. Geich-GimbeP, S. W. Gensler9 , F .X. Gentit20 , G. Giacomcll?, V. Gibson 5 , W.R. Gibson 12 , J.D. Gillies , J. Goldberg21 , i\I.J. Goodrick5 , W. Gorn4 , D. Granite21 , E. Gross25 , J. Grunhaus , H. Hagedorn 10 , J. llagemanns, 1\l.llansrouls, C.K.IIargrove7, I. Harrus21 , J. Hart5 , P.l\1. Hattersley', 1\l.llauschilds, C.l\1. Haw kess, E. Heflin 4 , R.J. llemingway6 , ltD. Heuers, J .C. llill5 , S.J. Hillier1 , D.A.llinshaw 17 , C. Ho4, J.D. Hobbs9 , P.R. Hobson', D. Hochman25 , B. HoUS, R.J. l!omer1 , S.R. Ilou16 , C.P.llowarth1\ R.E.llughcs-Jones , R. Humbert10 , P.lgo-Kemcnesn, H. lhssenll, D.C. lmrie24 , L. Janissen6 , A. Jawahery , P.\V. Jcffreys19 , H. Jeremie , M.Jimacks,.M.Jobes1 , R.W.L.Jones12 , P.Jovanovic1 , D. Karlen6 , K.Kawagoe23 , T. Kawamoto23 , R.G. Kcllogg16 , B.W. Kennedy 14 , C. Klein worts, D.E. Klem1s, G. Knop3 , T. Kobayash? , T.P. Kokott3 , L. Kopkes, R. Kowalewski6 , H. Kreutzmann\ J. Kroll , 1\I. Kuwano , P. Kyberd 12 , G.D. Lalferty'5 , F. Lamarche17 , W.J. Larson', J.G. Layter , P. Le Du20 , P. Leblanc17 , A.M. Lee16 , I\!. H. Lehto14 , D. Lellouchs, P. Lennertn, C. Leroy17 , L. Lessard17 , S. Levegriin3 , L. Levinson25 , S.L. Lloyd , F.K. Loebinger15 , J.l\1. Lorah16 , B. Lora.zo17 , 1\l.J. Losty 7, J. Ludwig10 , J. l\Ia4•b, A.A.l\!acbeth15 , 1\L 1\Iannellis, S. Marcellini2, G.l\Iaringer , A.J.l\Iartin12 , J.P. i\Iartin , T. Mashimo , P.l\Iiittig , U.l\Iaur , T.J. Mcl\!ahon 1 , J.R.l\IcNutt24 , F. Meijerss, D. Mensznern, F.S.l\Ierritt9 , H.l\Ies 7, A.l\Iichelinis, R.P. Middleton 19 , G.l\Iikenberg, J. l\!ildenbcrger6 , D.J. Miller 14 , C.l\Iilstcne22 , l\l.l\Iinowa23 , W.l\lohr10 , C.l\loisan17 , A. Montanari2 , T. Mori23 , 1\l.W. Moss , P.G.l\Iurphy' 5 , W.J.l\lurray , B. Ncllen , lUI. Nguyen , 1\l. Nozaki , A.J.P. O'Dowd15 , S.W. O'Neales,c, B.P. O'Neill', F.G. Oakham', F. Odorici2 , 1\I. Ogg6 , II. Oh 4 , 1\I.J. Oreglia9 , S. Orito23 , J.P. Pansart , G.N. Patrick19 , S.J. Pawley' 5 , P. Pfister10 , J.E. Pilcher9 , J.L. Pinfold25 , D.E. Planes, B. Pol?, A. Pouladdej", E. Prebyss, T.W. Pritchard 12 , II. Przysiezniak17 , G. Quasts, M.W. Redmond 9 , D.L. Rees1 , 1\1. Regimbald11 , K. Riles', C.M. Roach , S.A. Robins 12 , A. Rollnik3 , J.l\1. Roney9 , S. Rossberg 10 , A.M. Rossi2·•, P. Routenburg , K. Runge 10 , 0. Runolfssons, S. Sanghera6 , R.A. Sansum , 1\1. Sasaki23 , B.J. Saunders , A.D. Schaile10 , 0. Scha.ile10 , W. Schappert6 , P. Scha.rlf-Ha.nsens, S. Schreiber3 , J. Schwarz , A. Shapira.25 , B.C. Shen\ P. Sherwood", A. Simon3 , P. Singh 12 , G.P. Siroli2 , A. Skuja16 , A.M. Smiths, T.J. Smiths, G.A. Snow 16 , R.W. Springer , 1\I. Sproston , K. Stephens , H.E. Stier10 , R. Stroehmerll, D. Strom9 , H. Ta.kcda , T. Takeshita. , P. Taras, N.J. Tha.ckra.y', T. Tsukamoto23 , I\!. F. Turner5 , G. Tysarczyk-Niemeyeru, D. Va.n den pla.s , R. Va.n Kootens, G.J. VanDalen', G. Va.sseur20 ,

We present evidence for the existence of the strange b-flavoured meson B~ in a data sample of 470 628 hadronic Z decays recorded with the OPAL detector at LEP. A signal of 18.3±5.2(stat.)±0.9(syst.) D;;-£+ pairs (or charge conju,gate, R=e or R=Jl) is found after background subtraction, where the D, meson is detected in the )'lr and K*°K final states. Interpreting this signal as coming from the semileptonic deeay B~ --+ D; e+ v X and combining the two decay modes of the D., we find J(b--+ B~) · B(B~--+ D;;-R+vX) · B(D;;---+ >7r-)= (3.9±l.l(stat.)±0.8(syst.))x10-\ where J(b--+ B~) is the fraction of b quarks that result in a B~ meson in Z decays. This signal for the B~ is supported by our observation of an excess of 147±48 inclusive D, mesons in the >1r and K*°K modes above the number expected from B0 and B+ decays and from the fragmentation of primary c quarks. In addition, a search is made for the exclusive decay B~--+ JflP>. Based on one candidate event the 90% confidence level upper limit is determined to be f(b-+ B~) · B(B~ -+Jj./J>) < 0.22%. (Submitted to Physics Letters B) The 0 PAL Collaboration P.D. Acton, G. Alexander, J. Allison's, P.P. Allports, K.J. Anderson9 , S. Arcell?, A. Astbury2s, D. Axen29 , G. Azuelos1s,a, G.A. Bahan's, J.T.M. Baines's, A.H. Ball17, J. Banks's, R.J. Barlow's, S. Barnett's, J.R. Batley\ G. Bea.udoin18, A. Beck23, J. Becker10, T. Behnke27, K.W. BelP0, G. Bella, P. Berlich, S. Bethke , 0. Biebel', U. Binder10, l.J.Bloodworth , P.Bock11 , B.Boden3 , H.M.Bosch11 , S.Bougerolle29, H.Breukers, R.M. Brown20, A. Buijss, H.J. Burckharts, C. Burgard, I'. Capilupp?, R.K. Carnegies, A.A. Carter, J.R. CarterS, C.Y. Chang , D.G. Charlton8 , P.E.L. Clarke2S, I. Cohen23 , J.C. Clayton', W.J. Collins , J.E. Conboy , M. Cooper , M. Coupland , M. Cuffiani , S. Dado , G.M. Dallavalle, S. De Jong , L.A. del Pozos, H. Deng17, A. Dieckmann11 , M. Dittmar\ M.S. Dixit7 , E. do Couto e Silva12 , J.E. Duboscq , E. Duchovnis, G. Duckeck11 , l.P. Duerdoth1s, D.J.P. Dumass, P.A. ElcombeS, P.G. Estabrooks6 , E. Etzion23 , H. G. Evans9 , F. Fabbri2, M. Fincke-Keeler28, H.M. Fischer3, D.G. Fong17 , M. Foucher17, A. Gaidot 21 , 0. GaneFs, J.W. Gary\ J. Gascon , R.F. McGowan's, N.I. Geddes20, C. Geich-Gimbel3, S.W. Gensler , F.X. Gentit 21 , G. Giacomelli 2, V. Gibsons, W.R. Gibson13, J.D. Gillies20, J.Goldberg22 , M.J.Goodrick5 , W.Gorn\ C.Grandi , F.C.Grant5 , J.Hagemann27, G.G. Hanson , M. Hansroul8 , C.K. Hargrove7, P.F. Harrison1\ J. Hart8 , P.M. Hattersley', M. Hauschild , C.M. Haw kess, E. Heflin\ R.J. Hemingways, R.D. Heuer , J.C. Hill, S.J. Hillier', T. Hilse, D.A. Hinshaw, J.D. Hobbs , P.R. Hobson2s, D. Hochman26, R.J. Homer', A.K. Honma28·•, C.P. Howarth15 , R.E. Hughes-Jones16 , R. Humbert10, P. lgo-Kemenes11 , H. Ihssen11 , D.C. Imrie, A. C. Janissens, A. Jawahery, P.W. Jeffreys20 , H. Jeremie, M. Jimack2 , M. Jobes', R.W.L. Jones13, P. Jovanovic', C. Jui4 , D. Karlen6 , K. Kawagoe24, T. Kawamoto4, R.K. Keeler, R.G. Kellogg, B.W. Kennedy, S. Kluth', T. Kobayashi; T.P. Kokott3 , S. Komamiya24, L. Kopke8 , J.F. Krals, R. Kowalewski6, J. von Krogh11 , J. Kroll , M. Kuwano4, P. Kyberd, G.D. Lafferty's, F. Lamarche, J.G. Layter\ P. Le Du2', P. Leblanc1s, A.M. Lee17, M.H. Lehto15, D. Lellouch2s, P. Lennert11 , C. Leroy18, J. Letts\ S. Levegriin3 , L. Levinsons, S.L. Lloyd'', F.K. Loebinger16, J.M. Lorah17 , B. Lorazo , M.J. Losty7, X. C. Lou12 , J. Ludwig10 , M. Mannellis, S. Marcellini 2, G. Maringer3 , C. Markus3 , A.J. Martin, J.P. Martin, T. Mashimo<, P. Mattig , U. Maur', J. McKenna2s, T.J. McMahon', J.R. McNutt2s, F. Meijerss, D. Menszner11 , F.S. Merritt9 , H. Mes , A. Michelinis, R.P. Middleton, G. Mikenberg, J. Mildenberger, D.J. Miller, R. Mir, W. Mohr, C. Moisan18 , A. Montanari2 , T. Mori24, M. Mo:rii24, T. Mouthuy12 •b, B. Nellen3, H.H. Nguyen9 , M. Nozaki24, S.W. O'Neale•', F.G. Oakham, F. Odorici, H.O. Ogren12 , C.J. Oram•", M.J. Oreglia9 , S. Orito24, J.P. Pansart2', B. Panzer-Steindel8 , P. Paschievici2s, G.N. Patrick, N. Paz-Jaoshvili" , P. Pfister10 , J.E. Pilcher9 , D. Pitman28, D.E. Plane8 , P. Poffenberger28 , B. Poli2 , A. Pouladdejs, E. Prebys8 , T.W. Pritchard13, H. Przysiezniak1s, G. Quast, M.W. Redmond , D.L. Rees', G.E. RichardE

Using the distance from the average primary vertex to reconstructed secondary vertices in jets, samples of events with b purity varying from about 13% to 89% have been selected. The charged particle multiplicity in the hemispheres opposite those containing these jets has been studied as a function of the b purity of the events. Extrapolating to 0% and 100% b purity, values of the hemisphere charged particle multiplicity in Z0 --> bbBAR events and in non-bbBAR events have been measured to be n(b)BAR = 11.71 +/- 0.03 +/- 0.18 +/- 0.21, n(udsc)BAR = 10.32 +/- 0.01 +/- 0.07 +/- 0.19.The first error is statistical, the second systematic and the third is a common systematic error.The difference in charged particle multiplicity between b quark events and light (u, d, s) quark events has been measured and found to be delta(bl) = 3.02 +/- 0.05 +/- 0.79.The result is compared to the predictions of MLLA QCD calculations.By studying the impact parameter distributions of charged particles in the hemispheres opposite these jets, the charged particle decay multiplicity of B hadrons from Z0 decay, including particles from K(s)0 and LAMBDA decay, has been measured to be n(B)BAR = 5.51 +/- 0.05 +/- 0.51.From the mean momentum of these decay products and separately from the number of primary charged particles per b event, the average x(E) of b flavoured hadrons has been measured to be [x(E)]b = 0.693 +/- 0.003 +/- 0.030.

We present an update with increased statistics to our published analysis of hadronic and leptonic cross sections and of the leptonic forward-backward asymmetries ine+e − collisions. The published results were based on a total 454 000 hadronic and 58 000 leptonic events. This analysis adds 733 000 hadronic and 88 000 leptonic events recorded at theZ0 peak in 1992 by the OPAL experiment at LEP. A model independent analysis ofZ0 parameters based on an extension of the improved Born approximation leads to tests of lepton universality and gives an interpretation of the results within the Standard Model framework. We also present a model independent test for new physics.

A measurement of <img src="/fulltext-image.asp?format=htmlnonpaginated&src=V215850J23122043_html\10052_2005_Article_BF01413175_TeX2GIFIE2.gif" border="0" alt=" $$\Gamma _{b\bar b} /\Gamma _{had} \equiv \Gamma (Z^0 \to b\bar b)/\Gamma (Z^0 \to hadrons)$$ " /> is presented using a “mixed tag” method involving the identification of <img src="/fulltext-image.asp?format=htmlnonpaginated&src=V215850J23122043_html\10052_2005_Article_BF01413175_TeX2GIFIE3.gif" border="0" alt=" $$Z^0 \to b\bar b$$ " /> events by two different techniques. The first uses the large impact parameter of tracks emerging from the decay ofb-flavoured hadrons and the second their semi-leptonic decay. The identification efficiencies are measured from the data using all possible combinations of the two tags in opposite hemispheres. The method is therefore insensitive to Monte Carlo modelling of bottom quark production and ofb-flavoured hadron production and decay properties, and depends only weakly on the simulation of the detector. The data sample collected by OPAL at LEP in 1990 and 1991 is considered. The result is:

We report a study of forward-backward multiplicity correlations and a measurement of the dependence on charged multiplicity of the mean transverse momentum of charged hadrons, measured with respect to the thrust axis. The study was performed on a high statistics sample of Z0 decays to multihadronic final states collected by the OPAL Collaboration at LEP. The positive forward-backward multiplicity correlation observed in our inclusive sample can be understood in terms of a superposition of distinct event topologies characterized by a different amount of hard gluon radiation (2-, 3- and 4-jet events) and with different mean multiplicities. The residual positive correlation that we see in a clean 2-jet sample can be interpreted in terms of fragmentation properties of different quark flavours and of the production and decay of resonances. We have compared the observed effects with the predictions of QCD-based parton shower models. The data are well described by the Jetset 7.3 Monte Carlo, while Herwig 5.5 does not satisfactorily reproduce the measured correlations. Hard gluon radiation is also shown to be responsible for the observed increase of about 40% in the mean transverse momentum of produced charged hadrons in the multiplicity range from 10 to 30. The comparison with the results obtained in an analysis of a sample enriched in Z0 → bb̄ events, shows that the presence of heavy flavours does not contribute significantly to the observed effect.

We present measurements of the hadronic photon structure functionF 2 γ (x), in twoQ2 ranges with mean values of 5.9 GeV2 and 14.7 GeV2. The data were taken by the OPAL experiment at LEP, with\(\sqrt s\) close to theZ0 mass and correspond to an integratede+e− luminosity of 44.8 pb−1. In the context of a QCD-based model we find the quark transverse momentum cutoff separating the vector meson dominance (VMD) and perturbative QCD regions to be 0.27±0.10 GeV. We confirm that there is a significant pointlike component of the photon when the probe photon hasQ2>4 GeV2. Our measurements extend to lower values ofx than any previous experiment, and no increase ofF 2 γ (x) is observed.

We have studied the reactionsγγ→μ + μ − andγγ→τ + τ − by measuring the properties of events of the typese + e −→e + e − μ + μ − ande + e −→e + e − τ + τ − ate + e − centre-of-mass energies between 88 and 94 GeV. The data sample corresponds to an integratede + e − luminosity of 40.4 pb−1 collected by the OPAL detector at LEP. The QED structure functionF 2 is extracted from a sample of 1462γγ→μ + μ − events in which one photon is off the mass shell (single-tagged). TheQ 2 range for these massive photons is 4–400 GeV2, with an averageQ 2 of 8 GeV2. We have observed 48e + e −→e + e − μ + μ − events in which both final state electrons are detected. In the sample of single-tag events we have identified 34.9±6.7 events as due to the reactionγ;→τ + τ −, on an estimated background of 5.1±2.7 events. In all cases the measured event distributions agree with QED calculations.

The forward-backward asymmetries of e+e- --> Z0 --> bbBAR and e+e- --> Z0 --> ccBAR have been measured by the OPAL Collaboration using samples of hadronic Z0 decays in which electron or muon candidates were observed. The asymmetries were measured simultaneously in a two parameter fit, which used the distributions of the track momentum and transverse momentum component with respect to the associated jet to distinguish lepton candidates from different sources. From a sample of 360 000 hadronic events with centre-of-mass energies within +/- 0.5 GeV of the Z0 mass and mean energy 91.24 GeV, the values obtained for the bbBAR asymmetry before and after correcting for the effect of B0B0BAR mixing, and for the ccBAR asymmetry are, respectively: A(FB)b,mix = 0.070 +/- 0.014 (stat) +/- 0.005 (sys) , A(FB)b = 0.092 +/- 0.018 (stat) +/- 0.007 (sys) +/- 0.003 (mix), A(FB)c = 0.014 +/- 0.030 (stat) +/- 0.020 (sys).The measurement of the bbBAR asymmetry Is confirmed by a measurement using only leptons with high transverse momentum. This sample is highly enriched in semileptonic decays of b hadrons. Measurements using high transverse momentum leptons were also performed using samples of events with centre-of-mass energies further from the Z0 mass. After correcting for the effect of B0B0 mixing, the results are: A(FB)b ([square-root s] = 89.66 GeV) = 0.071 +/- 0.054 (stat) +/- 0.007 (sys) +/- 0.002 (mix), A(FB)b ([square-root s] = 92.75 GeV) = 0. 1 31 +/- 0.047 (stat) +/- 0.012 (sys) +/- 0.004 (mix).

The average lifetime of b hadrons has been measured using the L3 detector at LEP, running at √s ≈ MZ. A b-enriched sample was obtained from 432538 hadronic Z events collected in 1990 and 1991 by tagging electrons and muons from semileptonic b hadron decays. From maximum likelihood fits to the electron and muon impact parameter distributions, the average b hadron lifetime was measured to be τb = (1535 ± 35 ± 28) fs, where the first error is statistical and the second includes both the experimental and the theoretical systematic uncertainties.

Quark and gluon jets with equal energies are identified in three-jet hadronic Z0 events, using reconstructed secondary vertices from heavy quark decay in conjunction with energy ordering of the jets to anti-tag the gluon jets. Selection of jets from a symmetric event topology allows their properties to be compared in a simple and direct manner. The jets under study have an energy of about 24 GeV. It is observed that gluon jets have a larger angular width than quark jets and yield a softer particle energy spectrum. Correspondingly, the mean particle multiplicity is found to be larger for gluon than for quark jets. Correcting the distributions for residual misidentification of the quark and gluon jets, the ratio of mean particle multiplicty of gluon relative to quark jets is measured to be [n]gluon/[n]quark = 1.27 +/- 0.04 (stat.) +/- 0.06 (syst.), where the jets are defined using the k(perpendicular-to) jet finder. The numerical value of this ratio is found to be sensitive to the choice of the jet algorithm. The experimental results are compared to Monte Carlo calculations which incorporate perturbative QCD along with different assumptions about the hadronization process.

The strong coupling constant, alpha(s), has been determined in hadronic decays of the Z0 resonance, using measurements of seven observables relating to global event shapes, energy correlations and jet rates. The data have been compared with resummed QCD calculations, which are combined with the O(alpha(s)2) theory. The seven measurements agree to about 10%, and the final result, based on a weighted average, is: alpha(s) (M(Z)0) = 0. 120 +/- 0.006, where the error includes both experimental and theoretical uncertainties. This value corresponds to renormalization scale mu = M(Z)0 and the error includes the uncertainty in this choice of scale. The present measurement complements previous determinations using the O(alpha(s)2) QCD matrix elements alone, and yields a compatible result, with comparable errors.

The fractional partial width of the Z0 to b quarks, GAMMA(bbBAR)/GAMMA(had), has been measured by OPAL using an impact parameter technique. The method has been developed using 130 000 hadronic events collected by OPAL in 1990. We find: GAMMA(bbBAR)/GAMMA(had) = 0.222 +/- 0.007 (stat) +/- 0.008 (sys).The measurement assumes the relative rates of the Z0 to uds and c quarks given by the Standard Model. Varying the charm fraction from the Standard Model value of GAMMA(ccBAR)/GAMMA(had) = 0.171 changes the result by an additional DELTAGAMMA(bbBAR)/GAMMA(bbBAR) = -0.135 x DELTAGAMMA(ccBAR)/GAMMA(ccBAR).