239 research outputs found
A Precision Measurement of pp Elastic Scattering Cross Sections at Intermediate Energies
We have measured differential cross sections for \pp elastic scattering with
internal fiber targets in the recirculating beam of the proton synchrotron
COSY. Measurements were made continuously during acceleration for projectile
kinetic energies between 0.23 and 2.59 GeV in the angular range deg. Details of the apparatus and the data analysis are
given and the resulting excitation functions and angular distributions
presented. The precision of each data point is typically better than 4%, and a
relative normalization uncertainty of only 2.5% within an excitation function
has been reached. The impact on phase shift analysis as well as upper bounds on
possible resonant contributions in lower partial waves are discussed.Comment: 23 pages 29 figure
Measurement of the charm structure function F_{2,c)^{γ} of the photon at LEP
The production of charm quarks is studied in deep-inelastic electron–photon scattering using data recorded by the OPAL detector at LEP at nominal e⁺e⁻ centre-of-mass energies from 183 to 209 GeV. The charm quarks have been identified by full reconstruction of charged D* mesons using their decays into D⁰π with the D⁰ observed in two decay modes with charged particle final states, Kπ and Kπππ. The cross-section σ^{D*} for production of charged D* in the reaction e⁺e⁻→e⁺e⁻D*Χ is measured in a restricted kinematical region using two bins in Bjorken x, 0.00140.1 the perturbative QCD calculation at next-to-leading order agrees perfectly with the measured cross-section. For x<0.1 the measured cross-section is 43.8±14.3±6.3±2.8 pb with a next-to-leading order prediction of 17.0⁺²·⁹_₂.₃ pb
Measurement of the hadronic photon structure function F_{2}^{γ} at LEP2
The hadronic structure function of the photon F_{2}^{γ} (x, Q²) is measured as a function of Bjorken x and of the photon virtuality Q² using deep-inelastic scattering data taken by the OPAL detector at LEP at e⁺e⁻ centre-of-mass energies from 183 to 209 GeV. Previous OPAL measurements of the x dependence of F_{2}^{γ} are extended to an average Q² of 〈Q²〉=780 GeV² using data in the kinematic range 0.15<x<0.98. The Q² evolution of F_{2}^{γ} is studied for 12.1<〈Q²〉<780 GeV² using three ranges of x. As predicted by QCD, the data show positive scaling violations in F_{2}^{γ} with F_{2}^{γ} (Q²)/α = (0.08±0.02⁺⁰·⁰⁵_₀.₀₃) + (0.13±0.01⁺⁰·⁰¹_₀.₀₁) lnQ², where Q² is in GeV², for the central x region 0.10–0.60. Several parameterisations of F_{2}^{γ} are in qualitative agreement with the measurements whereas the quark-parton model prediction fails to describe the data
Tests of model of color reconnection and a search for glueballs using gluon jets with a rapidity gap
Gluon jets with a mean energy of 22 GeV and purity of 95% are selected from
hadronic Z0 decay events produced in e+e- annihilations. A subsample of these
jets is identified which exhibits a large gap in the rapidity distribution of
particles within the jet. After imposing the requirement of a rapidity gap, the
gluon jet purity is 86%. These jets are observed to demonstrate a high degree
of sensitivity to the presence of color reconnection, i.e. higher order QCD
processes affecting the underlying color structure. We use our data to test
three QCD models which include a simulation of color reconnection: one in the
Ariadne Monte Carlo, one in the Herwig Monte Carlo, and the other by Rathsman
in the Pythia Monte Carlo. We find the Rathsman and Ariadne color reconnection
models can describe our gluon jet measurements only if very large values are
used for the cutoff parameters which serve to terminate the parton showers, and
that the description of inclusive Z0 data is significantly degraded in this
case. We conclude that color reconnection as implemented by these two models is
disfavored. The signal from the Herwig color reconnection model is less clear
and we do not obtain a definite conclusion concerning this model. In a separate
study, we follow recent theoretical suggestions and search for glueball-like
objects in the leading part of the gluon jets. No clear evidence is observed
for these objects.Comment: 42 pages, 18 figure
Scaling violations of quark and gluon jet fragmentation functions in e+e- annihilations at sqrt(s) = 91.2 and 183-209 GeV
Flavour inclusive, udsc and b fragmentation functions in unbiased jets, and
flavour inclusive, udsc, b and gluon fragmentation functions in biased jets are
measured in e+e- annihilations from data collected at centre-of-mass energies
of 91.2, and 183-209 GeV with the OPAL detector at LEP. The unbiased jets are
defined by hemispheres of inclusive hadronic events, while the biased jet
measurements are based on three-jet events selected with jet algorithms.
Several methods are employed to extract the fragmentation functions over a wide
range of scales. Possible biases are studied in the results are obtained. The
fragmentation functions are compared to results from lower energy e+e-
experiments and with earlier LEP measurements and are found to be consistent.
Scaling violations are observed and are found to be stronger for the
fragmentation functions of gluon jets than for those of quarks. The measured
fragmentation functions are compared to three recent theoretical
next-to-leading order calculations and to the predictions of three Monte Carlo
event generators. While the Monte Carlo models are in good agreement with the
data, the theoretical predictions fail to describe the full set of results, in
particular the b and gluon jet measurements.Comment: 46 pages, 17 figures, Submitted to Eur. Phys J.
W Boson Polarisation at LEP2
Elements of the spin density matrix for W bosons in e+e- -> W+W- -> qqln
events are measured from data recorded by the OPAL detector at LEP. This
information is used calculate polarised differential cross-sections and to
search for CP-violating effects. Results are presented for W bosons produced in
e+e- collisions with centre-of-mass energies between 183 GeV and 209 GeV. The
average fraction of W bosons that are longitudinally polarised is found to be
(23.9 +- 2.1 +- 1.1)% compared to a Standard Model prediction of (23.9 +-
0.1)%. All results are consistent with CP conservation.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figures, Submitted to Phys. Letts.
A study of charm production in beauty decays with the OPAL detector at LEP
Using an inclusive method, BR(b -> D\bar{D}X) has been measured in hadronic
Z^0 decays with the OPAL detector at LEP. The impact parameter significance of
tracks opposite tagged b-jets is used to differentiate b -> D\bar{D}X decays
from other decays. Using this result, the average number of charm and
anti-charm quarks produced per beauty quark decay, n_c, is determined.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figure
Search for the Standard Model Higgs Boson with the OPAL Detector at LEP
This paper summarises the search for the Standard Model Higgs boson in e+e-
collisions at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV performed by the OPAL
Collaboration at LEP. The consistency of the data with the background
hypothesis and various Higgs boson mass hypotheses is examined. No indication
of a signal is found in the data and a lower bound of 112.7GeV/C^2 is obtained
on the mass of the Standard Model Higgs boson at the 95% CL.Comment: 51 pages, 21 figure
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