Studies of QCD in ${\rm e^+ e^-}\to $ hadrons at $E_{\rm cm} = 130$ and 136 GeV

An analysis of the properties of hadronic final states produced in electron-positron annihilation at centre-of-mass energies of 130 and 136 GeV is presented. The measurements are based on a data sample of 5.7 pb(-1) collected in November 1995 with the ALEPH detector at LEP. Inclusive charged particle distributions, jet rates and event-shape distributions are measured and the results are compared with the predictions of QCD-based models. From the measured distributions quantities are determined for which the dependence on the centre-of-mass energy can be predicted by QCD, including the mean multiplicity of charged particles, the peak position of the inclusive distribution of xi = - 1nx(p) (x(p) = p/p(beam)), and the strong coupling constant alpha(s). The QCD predictions are tested by comparing with corresponding measurements at E(cm) = 91.2 GeV and at lower energies.