Limits on the production of scalar leptoquarks from Z (0) decays at LEP

A search has been made for pairs and for single production of scalar leptoquarks of the first and second generations using a data sample of 392000 Z0 decays from the DELPHI detector at LEP 1. No signal was found and limits on the leptoquark mass, production cross section and branching ratio were set. A mass limit at 95% confidence level of 45.5 GeV/c2 was obtained for leptoquark pair production. The search for the production of a single leptoquark probed the mass region above this limit and its results exclude first and second generation leptoquarks D0 with masses below 65 GeV/c2 and 73 GeV/c2 respectively, at 95% confidence level, assuming that the D0lq Yukawa coupling alpha(lambda) is equal to the electromagnetic one. An upper limit is also given on the coupling alpha(lambda) as a function of the leptoquark mass m(D0)

Measurement of the triple-gluon vertex from 4-jet events at LEP

From the combined data of 1990 and 1991 of the DELPHI experiment at LEP, 13057 4-jet events are obtained and used for determining the contribution of the triple-gluon vertex. The relevant variables are the generalized Nachtmann Reiter angle θNR* and the opening angle of the two least energetic jets. A fit to their two-dimensional distribution yields Mathematical expression where CA/CF is the ratio of the coupling strength of the triple-gluon vertex to that of gluon bremsstrahlung from quarks, and NC/NA, the ratio of the number of quark colours to the number of gluons. This constitutes a convincing model-independent proof of the existence of the triple-gluon vertex, since its contribution is directly proportional to CA/CF. The results are in agreement with the values expected from QCD:CA/CF=2.25, and NC/NA=3/8. © 1993 Springer-Verlag

Determination of αs using the next-to-leading-log approximation of QCD

A new measurement of αs is obtained from the distributions in thrust, heavy jet mass, energy-energy correlation and two recently introduced jet broadening variables following a method proposed by Catani, Trentadue, Turnock and Webber. This method includes the full calculation of O(s2) terms and leading and next-to-leading logarithms resummed to all orders of αs. The analysis is based on data taken with the DELPHI detector at LEP during 1991. I its found that the inclusion of the resummed leading and next-to-leading logarithms reduces the scale dependence of αs and allows an extension of the fit range towards the infrared limit of the kinematical range. The combined value for αs obtained at the scale μ2=MZ2 is: Mathematical expression © 1993 Springer-Verlag

A Measurement of the tau lifetime

The tau lepton lifetime is measured using four different methods with the DELPHI detector. Three measurements using one prong decays are combined, accounting for correlations, resulting in ττ=298 ±7 (stat.)±4 (syst.) fs while the decay length distribution of three prong decays gives ππ=298±13 (stat)±(syst.) fs. The combined result is ττ=298±7 fs. The ratio of the Fermi coupling constant from tau decay relative to that from muon decay is found to be 0.985±0.013, compatible with lepton universality

A measurement of D meson production in Z0 hadronic decays

A study of the fragmentation properties of charm and bottom quarks into D mesons is presented. From 263 700 Z0 hadronic decays collected in 1991 with the DELPHI detector at the LEP collider, D0, D+ and D*+ are reconstructed in the modes K-π+, K-π+K+ and D0π+ followed by D0→K-π+, respectively. The fractional decay widths {Mathematical expression} are determined, and first results are presented for the production of D mesons from {Mathematical expression} and {Mathematical expression} events separately. The average energy fraction of D*± in charm quark fragmentation is found to be 〈XE(D*)〉c=0.487± 0.015 (stat)±0.005 (sys.). Assuming that the fraction of Ds and charm-baryons produced at LEP is similar to that around 10 GeV, the Z0 partial width into charm quark pairs is determined to be Γc/Γh=0.187±0.031 (stat)±0.023 (sys). The probability for a b quark to fragment into {Mathematical expression} or b-baryons is inferred to be 0.268±0.094 (stat)±0.100 (sys) from the measured probability that it fragments into a {Mathematical expression} or B-. © 1993 Springer-Verlag

Production rate and decay lifetime measurements of Bs0 mesons at LEP using Ds and ϕ mesons

The study of the properties of inclusive production of Ds mesons and of events in which a φsymbol and a muon are present in the same jet provides two independent measurements of the probability, fsw, for a heavy quark to hadronize into a strange B or D meson. The data sample analysed corresponds to 243,000 hadronic Z0 decays. The combined value of these measurements is fsw=0.19±0.06±0.08. From the flight distance distributions of Ds and of (φsymbol-lepton) secondary vertices, with the lepton emitted at high transverse momentum relative to the jet axis, two values are obtained for the Bs0 meson lifetime. Combining these measurements with a previous result based on the study of Ds-μ events, the Bs0 meson lifetime is measured to be: 0.96±0.37 ps. © 1994 Springer-Verlag

Measurement of the average lifetime of B hadrons

The average lifetime of B hadrons produced in hadronic Z0 decays has been measured with the DELPHI detector at LEP. The measurement is based on the analysis of the impact parameter distributions of high pt muons and hadrons. The resulting mean B lifetimes are τB=(1.30±0.10±0.08)ps and τB=(1.27±0.04±0.12)ps respectively, giving a combined value of τB=(1.28±0.10)ps. The hadronic sample was also used to measure the partial Z0 width Mathematical expression and gave a value of 0.222-0.031+0.033±0.017. © 1992 Springer-Verlag

A measurement of B meson production and lifetime using Dl- events in Z0 decays

A study of B meson decays into DlX final states is presented. In these events, neutral and charged D mesons originate predominantly from B+ and B0 decays, respectively. The dilution of this correlation due to D** production has been taken into account. From 263 700 hadronic Z0 decays collected in 1991 with the DELPHI detector at the LEP collider, 92 D0→K-π+, 35 D+→K-π+π+ and 61 D*0→D0π+ followed by D0→K-π+ or D0→K-π+π+π -, are found with an associated lepton of the same charge as the kaon. From the D0l- and D*+l-, the probability fd that a b quark hadronizes into a B- (or {Mathematical expression}) meson is found to be 0.44 ±0.08±0.09, corresponding to a total (Bs+Λb) hadronization fraction of 0.12-0.12+0.24. By reconstructing the energy of each B meson, the b quark fragmentation is directly measured for the first time. The mean value of the B meson energy fraction is: {Mathematical expression} Reconstructing D-lepton vertices, the following B lifetimes are measured: {Mathematical expression} and an average τ(B)=1.23-0.13+0.14(stat.)±0.15(syst.) ps is found. Allowing for decays into {Mathematical expression}, the B+ and B0 lifetimes are: {Mathematical expression} © 1993 Springer-Verlag