Electroweak parameters of the z0 resonance and the standard model

Contains fulltext : 124399.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Properties of hadronic events in e+e− annihilation at S(1/2)S^(1/2) = 91-GeV

We report on properties of hadronic events from e+e− annihilation observed by the ALEPH detector at the large Electron Positron Collider at CERN. The center-of-mass energy was . Measured distributions of the global event-shape variables sphericity, aplanarity, thrust and minor value, and of the inclusive variables xp, p⊥in, p⊥out and y are presented. We measure a mean charged multiplicity in hadronic events of 〈Nch〉=21.3±0.1 (statistical)±0.6 (systematic). The data are in good agreement with QCD-based models which use the leading-logarithm approximation, and are less well described by a model using O(αs2) QCD

Search for supersymmetric particles using acoplanar charged-particle pairs from Z0 decays

We have performed a search for supersymmetric particles using acoplanar pairs of oppositely-charged particles in decays of the Z0. In 0.53 pb−1 of integrated luminosity near the Z0 peak, we observe two events where approximately four are expected from background, allowing limits to be extended on combined photino and slepton masses, and also on combined photino and chargino masses

Heavy flavour production in Z decays

From an analysis of inclusive leptons in data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP, we measure the fractions of b and c events in hadronic Z decays. The b fraction times semileptonic branching ratio is measured to be . Assuming a b semileptonic branching ratio of 0.102 ± 0.010 gives , in good agreement with the standard model prediction of 0.217. The c fraction times semileptonic branching ratio is measured to be . Assuming a c semileptonic branching ratio of 0.090 ± 0.013 gives , in agreement with the standard model prediction of 0.171

Searches for the standard Higgs boson

A data sample corresponding to about 100 000 hadronic Z decays collected by ALEPH at LEP has been used to search for the standard Higgs boson produced in the reaction . No indication for any signal was found, and a 95% CL lower limit on the Higgs boson mass has been set at 41.6 GeV

Search for neutral Higgs bosons from supersymmetry in Z decays

The light scalar Higgs boson h and the pseudoscalar Higgs boson A of the minimal supersymmetric standard model have been searched for in the processes e+ e- -> h f fbar and e+e−->hA using data collected by ALEPH at the LEP e+e− collider, with center of mass energies at and near the Z peak. Using a variety of signatures adapted to various mass ranges for h and A, we have excluded a large domain in the parameter space. For large values of nu_2/nu_1, the ratio of the vacuum expectation values of the two Higgs fields, the whole range from 0 to 38.8 GeV is excluded for Mh and MA at 95% CL

A search for new quarks and leptons from Z0 decay at LEP

A search for Z0 decays into pairs of possible new heavy quarks (t and b′), new heavy charged leptons (L±), stable heavy neutral leptons (νL) and unstable heavy neutral leptons (L0) is performed on data collected by the ALEPH detector corresponding to 11 550 events of Z0→hadrons. The limits on the masses of the heavy quarks are Mt > 45.8 GeV and Mb′ > 46.0 GeV, allowing for both charged-current and flavor-changing neutral-current decays of the b′. If an L± decays into a stable νL, then for MνL MνL. Finally, while the mass of the stable νL is excluded up to 42.7 GeV, the mass of the unstable L0 is excluded up to 45.7 GeV with the mixing parameters |UℓL0|2 down to 10−13 at this mass. For 25.0 GeV < ML0 < 42.7 GeV, all values of |UℓL0|2 are excluded. All limits are given at 95% CL

Search for decays of the Z0 into a photon and a pseudoscalar meson

A search is reported for decays of the Z0 into π0γ, ηγ and η′ (958)γ in e+e− collisions using data collected during a scan around the Z0 mass. In order to search for π0γ final states, in which the two photons from the π0 decay are unresolved, the production of pairs of high-energy electromagnetic clusters is studied. The data are compared with the expectations from the pure QED process e+e− → γγ, and a 95% confidence level upper limit on the branching ratio of the Z0 into π0γ of 4.9 × 10−4 is derived. For η′γ, the decay modes of the mesons that contain two charged particles are largely free from QED background. These modes are used to place upper limits of 4.6 × 10−4 and 2.2 × 10−4 on the corresponding branching ratios of the Z0