C. Grandi

The past few years have seen the creation of the first production level Grid infrastructures that offer their users a dependable service at an unprecedented scale.Depending on the flavor of middleware services these infrastructures deploy (for instance Condor, gLite, Globus, UNICORE, to name only a few) different interfaces to program the Grid infrastructures are provided.Despite ongoing efforts to standardize Grid service interfaces, there are still significant differences in how applications can interface to a Grid infrastructure.In this paper we describe the middleware (gLite) and services deployed on the EGEE Grid infrastructure and explain how applications can interface to them.

Photonic events with large missing energy have been observed in $\rm e^+e^-$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 189 GeV using the OPAL detector at LEP. Results are presented for event topologies consistent with a single photon or with an acoplanar photon pair. Cross-section measurements are performed within the kinematic acceptance of each selection, and the number of light neutrino species is measured. Cross-section results are compared with the expectations from the Standard Model process $\mathrme^+\mathrme^-\to \nu\overline{\nu}$ + photon(s). No evidence is observed for new physics contributions to these final states. Upper limits on $\sigma(\mathrme^+\mathrme^-\to\mathrm{X}\mathrm{Y})\cdot\mathrm{BR}(\mathrm{X}\to\mathrm{Y}\gamma)$ and $\sigma(\mathrme^+\mathrme^-\to\mathrm{XX})\cdot\mathrm{BR}^2(\mathrm{X}\to\mathrm{Y}\gamma)$ are derived for the case of stable and invisible $\mathrm{Y}$ . These limits apply to single and pair production of excited neutrinos ( $\mathrm{X} = \nu^*, \mathrm{Y} = \nu$ ), to neutralino production ( $\mathrm{X}={{{\tilde{\chi}}^{0}}_{2}}, \mathrm{Y}={{{\tilde{\chi}}^{0}}_{1}}$ ) and to supersymmetric models in which $\mathrm{X} ={{{\tilde{\chi}}^{0}}_{1}}$ and $\mathrm{Y}={\tilde{\mathrm{G}}}$ is a light gravitino. The case of macroscopic decay lengths of particle X is considered for $\mathrme^+\mathrme^- \to \mathrm{XX}$ , $\rm X \to Y \gamma$ , when $M_{\mathrm Y}\approx 0$ . The single-photon results are also used to place upper limits on superlight gravitino pair production as well as graviton-photon production in the context of theories with additional space dimensions.

Quark and gluon jets with equal energies are identified in three-jet hadronicZ 0 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 $$\frac{{\left\langle n \right\rangle _{gluon} }}{{\left\langle n \right\rangle _{quark} }} = 1.27 \pm 0.04(stat.) \pm 0.06(syst.),$$ where the jets are defined using thek ⊥ 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.

We have studied hadronic events produced at LEP at centre-of-mass energies of 130 and 136 GeV. Distributions of event shape observables, jet rates, momentum spectra and multiplicities are presented and compared to the predictions of several Monte Carlo models and analytic QCD calculations. From fits of event shape and jet rate distributions to $${\mathcal{O}}(\alpha _s^2 ) + NLLA$$ QCD calculations, we determineα s (133 GeV)=0.110±0.005(stat.)±0.009(syst.). We measure the mean charged particle multiplicity 〈n ch〉=23.40±0.45(stat.) ±0.47(syst.) and the position ζ0 of the peak in the ζ p = ln(1/x p ) distribution ζ0=3.94±0.05(stat.)±0.11(syst.). These results are compared to lower energy data and to analytic QCD or Monte Carlo predictions for their energy evolution.

From a sample of 3308 e+e− → τ+τ− events with an estimated background of 1.9%, we find 964 τ → eνν, 903 τ → μνν, and 309 τ → π(K)ν candidates. Efficiency and background estimates determined from both Monte Carlo and control sample studies yield the following branching ratios: B(τ → eνν) = 17.4 ± 0.5 (stat) ± 0.4 (sys)%, B(τ → μνν) = 16.8 ± 0.5 ± 0.4%, and B(τ → π(K)ν) = 12.1 ± 0.7 ± 0.5%. These values are in good agreement with previous measurements. The measured lepton branching ratios, when combined with the world-average measured value for the τ lifetime, yield a ratio of the τ Fermi coupling constant to that of the lighter leptons given by Gτ/Ge,μ = 0.92 ± 0.04, where it is assumed Ge = Gμ ≡ Ge,μ. The average τ polarization at the Z° resonance is measured to be −0.01±0.09 from an analysis of the momentum spectra of the electron, muon, and pion candidates, implying that the ratio of vector to axial vector couplings of the τ to the Z° is ντ/ατ = 0.01 ± 0.04. The measurements of the average polarizations in the forward and backward hemispheres lead to the efficiency-corrected, forward-backward polarization asymmetry AFBpol = −0.22 ± 0.10, implying for the electron couplings to the Z° the ratio νe/αe = 0.15±0.07. Since these values for the tau and electron couplings are consistent with one another, we assume lepton universality to derive ν/α = 0.05 ± 0.04 and a value for the weak mixing angle of sin2θW = 0.237 ± 0.009, with no ambiguity introduced by the relative signs of ν and α.

We describe a cone-based jet finding algorithm (similar to that used in $$\bar p$$ p experiments), which we have applied to hadronic events recorded using the OPAL detector at LEP. Comparisons are made between jets defined with the cone algorithm and jets found by the “JADE” and “Durham” jet finders usually used ine + e − experiments. Measured jet rates, as a function of the cone size and as a function of the minimum jet energy, have been compared with O(α 2 ) calculations, from which two complementary measurements $$\alpha _s \left( {M_{Z^0 } } \right)$$ have been made. The results are $$\alpha _s \left( {M_{Z^0 } } \right)$$ =0.116±0.008 and $$\alpha _s \left( {M_{Z^0 } } \right)$$ =0.119±0.008 respectively, where the errors include both experimental and theoretical uncertainties. Measurements are presented of the energy flow inside jets defined using the cone algorithm, and compared with equivalent data from $$\bar p$$ p interactions, reported by the CDF collaboration. We find that the jets ine + e − are significantly narrower than those observed in $$\bar p$$ p. The main contribution to this effect appears to arise from differences between quark- and gluon-induced jets.

Quark and gluon jets in e+e− three-jet events at LEP are identified using lepton tagging of quark jets, through observation of semi-leptonic charm and bottom quark decays. Events with a symmetry under transposition of the energies and directions of a quark and gluon jet are selected: these quark and gluon jets have essentially the same energy and event environment and as a consequence their properties can be compared directly. The energy of the jets which are studied is about 24.5 GeV. In the cores of the jets, gluon jets are found to yield a softer particle energy spectrum than quark jets. Gluon jets are observed to be broader than quark jets, as seen from the shape of their particle momentum spectra both in and out of the three-jet event plane. The greater width of gluon jets relative to quark jets is also visible from the shapes of their multiplicity distributions. Little difference is observed, however, between the mean value of particle multiplicity for the two jet types.

Bose-Einstein correlations between like-sign charged track pairs have been studied in e+e− annihilation hadronic events at centre-of-mass energies around the Z0 peak as a function of Q, the four-momentum difference of the pair. The measurement was performed with the OPAL detector at LEP. Assuming the charged tracks to be pions, the observed Bose-Einstein enhancement was used to extract the values of the strength of the effect and the radius of the pion emitting source, which were found to be λ=0.866±0.032±0.140 and R0=0.928±0.019±0.150 fm, respectively, where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic. The results do not show significant variation in comparison to e+e− annihilation measurements at lower centre-of-mass energies. If non-pion track contamination is taken into account, the value of the strength λ becomes consistent with unity.

A search for the Standard Model Higgs boson has been performed with the OPAL detector at LEP based on the full data sample collected at s≈192–209 GeV in 1999 and 2000, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 426 pb−1. The data are examined for their consistency with the background-only hypothesis and various Higgs boson mass hypotheses. A lower bound of 109.7 GeV is obtained on the Higgs boson mass at the 95% confidence level. At higher masses, the data are consistent with both the background and the signal-plus-background hypotheses.

The strong coupling constant, αs, has been determined in hadronic decays of theZ 0 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 theO( s 2 ) theory. The seven measurements agree to about 10% and the final results, based on a weighted average, is: $$\alpha _s (M_{Z^0 } ) = 0.120 \pm 0.006,$$ 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 theO( s 2 ) QCD matrix elements alone, and yields a compatible result, with comparable errors.

From a sample of about 450 000 hadronicZ 0 decays, measurements of the average $$B^0 - \bar B^0 $$ mixing parameter, χ, the branching fraction ofZ 0 bosons into hadrons containing bottom quarks, $${{\Gamma (Z^0 \to b\bar b)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\Gamma (Z^0 \to b\bar b)} {\Gamma (Z^0 \to hadrons)}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\Gamma (Z^0 \to hadrons)}}$$ , the average semileptonic branching ratios for such hadrons,B(b→l) andB(b→c→l), and the mean scaled energy of these hadrons, 〈xE〉, are presented. The measurements were obtained using a simultaneous fit to single-lepton and dilepton events collected with the OPAL detector at LEP, including both electrons and muons. The results are where the errors are statistical and systematic, respectively, in each case. The result forB)b→c→l) excludes decays of the typeb→→ℓ.

The production of the octet and decuplet baryons Λ, Ξ−, Σ(1385)±, Ξ(1530)0 and Ω− and the corresponding antibaryons has been measured in a sample of 485 000 hadronic Z0 decays. Results on differential and integrated cross sections are presented. The differential cross section of Λ baryons is found to be softer than the one predicted by the Jetset and Herwig Monte Carlo generators. The measured decuplet yields are found to disagree with the simple diquark picture where only one tuning parameter for spin 1 diquarks is used. Comparisons of the momentum spectra for Λ and Ξ− with the predictions of an analytical QCD formula are also presented.

The observation and measurement of the time-dependence of B0d↔B0d mixing are described. The B0d meson is reconstructed in final states that contain a D∗− and an ℓ+, where the b flavour of the B0d at decay time is tagged by the electric charge of the lepton. A new and efficient method, using a jet charge technique, is developed for identifying the b flavour of the produced B0d. From a sample of 556 D∗±ℓ∓ candidates reconstructed in the OPAL data collected during 1990–1993, the B0d↔B0d oscillation frequency is measured to be Δmd = 0.508 ± 0.075 (stat) ±0.025(syst) ps−1 giving an oscillation parameter of χd = 0.73 ± 0.11 (stat) ±0.08 (syst), where 0.076 of the systematic error on χd arises from the uncertainty on the B0d lifetime.

7-Azatryptophan (AW), a noncoded isostere of tryptophan (W), possesses interesting spectral properties. In particular, the presence of a nitrogen atom at position 7 in the indolyl nucleus of AW results in a red shift of the absorption maximum and fluorescence emission by 10 and 46 nm, respectively, compared to W. In the present work, we report the chemical synthesis and the conformational and functional characterization of an analog (denoted as Y3AW) of the N-terminal domain 1-47 of hirudin, a highly potent thrombin inhibitor, in which Tyr 3 has been replaced by AW. The results obtained were compared with those of the corresponding Y3W analog. We found that the replacement W --> AW reduces affinity for thrombin by 10-fold, likely because of the lower hydrophobicity of AW compared with that of W. Measurements of the resonance energy transfer effect, which was observed between Tyr13 and the amino acid at position 3 upon disulfide-coupled folding, demonstrate that AW behaves as a better energy acceptor than W for studying protein renaturation. The interaction of Y3AW with thrombin was studied by exciting the sample at 320 nm and recording the change in fluorescence of Y3AW on binding to the enzyme. Our results indicate that the fluorescence of AW of hirudin 1-47 in the Y3AW-thrombin complex is strongly quenched, possibly because of the presence of two structural water molecules at the hirudin-thrombin interface that can promote the nonradiative decay of AW in the excited state. The data herein reported demonstrate that the incorporation of AW can be of broad applicability in the study of protein folding and protein-protein interaction.

Using a sample of 5558 Z0 → τ+τ− decays produced at LEP a direct test of CP-invariance in the neutral current reaction e+e− → τ+τ− is performed. Samples of events where eachy τ decays into a single particle have been isolated for the construction of CP-odd observables. Three different event classes are considered: lepton-lepton, lepton-hadron, and hadron-hadron. No evidence for a non-zero expectation value of the considered CP-observables and hence for CP-violation is observed. Quantitatively, we deduce from this null result an estimate on the weak dipole moment d̃τ(m2Z = (−4.5 ± 5.3 ± 1.4) × 10−17 e cm for the lepton-lepton signature and d̃τ(m2Z = (1.4 ± 3.7 ± 1.3) × 10−17 e cm for the hadron-hadron signature. Combining these results we place a limit with 95% confidence of |d̃τ|⩽7.0 × 10−17 e cm.

A search for scalar leptoquarks has been performed with data from the OPAL detector at the e+e− storage ring LEP. In a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6.3 pb−1 no evidence for leptoquark production was observed where the leptoquark decays into a quark and either a charged lepton (e, μ, τ) or a neutrino. An upper limit of 1.7 pb on the production cross section for leptoquarks is obtainedassuming a branching ratio of 50% for the decay of the leptoquark into the channels with a charged lepton. Lower limits on the leptoquark mass between 41.4 and 46.4 GeV/c2 at 95% CL are obtained, depending on the effecte SU(2) × U(1) invariant couplings assigned to the leptoquark.

Using data from $e^+e^-$ annihilation into hadrons, taken with the OPAL detector at LEP at the Z pole between 1991 and 1995, we performed a simultaneous measurement of the colour factors of the underlying gauge group of the strong interaction, $C_F$ and $C_A$ , and the strong coupling, $\alpha_s$ . The measurement was carried out by fitting next-to-leading order perturbative predictions to measured angular correlations of 4-jet events together with multi-jet related variables. Our results, \[ C_A=3.02\pm 0.25\mathrm{(stat.)} \pm 0.49\mathrm{(syst.)}\:,\quad C_F=1.34\pm 0.13\mathrm{(stat.)} \pm 0.22\mathrm{(syst.)}\:, \] \[ \alpha_s (M_Z)=0.120\pm 0.011\mathrm{(stat.)} \pm 0.020\mathrm{(syst.)}\:, \] provide a test of perturbative QCD in which the only assumptions are non-abelian gauge symmetry and standard hadronization models. The measurements are in agreement with SU(3) expectations for $C_F$ and $C_A$ and the world average of $\alpha_s(M_{Z})$ .

We observe evidence for the production of b-flavoured baryons in decays of the Z0 boson with the OPAL detector at LEP. We find 68 Λl−, Λl+ candidates in 458 583 hadronic Z0 decays. We interpret this as a signal of 55 ± 9+0.3−3.1 events from the semi-leptonic decays of b baryons. Assuming weakly decaying b baryons produced in Z0 decays are mostly Λb particles, we measure the product branching ratio (Γbb/Γhad) f (b→Λb) B (Λb→Λl−vX), averaged over the electron and muon channels, to be (6.2±1.0±1.5)×10−4.

The production of K0 mesons in e+e− interactions at center of mass energies in the region of the Z0 mass has been investigated with the OPAL detector at LEP. The rate is found to be 2.10±0.02±0.14 K0, Z0 per hadronic event. The predictions from the JETSET and HERWIG generators agree very well with both the rate and the scale invariant cross section (1/σhadβ) (dσ/dxE) for K0 production. Comparisons of the inclusive momentum spectrum with predictions of an analytical QCD formula and with data from lower center of mass energies are presented.

The production dynamics of baryon-antibaryon pairs are investigated using hadronic Z0 decays, recorded with the OPAL detector, which contain at least two identified Λ baryons. The rapidly difference for ΛΛ pairs shows the correlations expected from models with a chain-like production of baryon-antibaryon pairs. If the baryon number of a Λ is compensated by a Λ, the Λ is found with a probability of 53% in an interval of ±0.6 around the Λ rapidity. This correlation strength is weaker than predicted by the Herwig Monte Carlo and the Jetset Monte Carlo with a production chain of baryon-antibaryon, and stronger than predicted by the UCLA model. The observed rapidity correlations can be described by the Jetset Monte Carlo with a dominant production chain of baryon-meson-antibaryon, the popcorn mechanism. In addition to the short range correlations, one finds an indication of a correlation of ΛΛ pairs in opposite hemispheres if both the Λ and the Λ have large rapidities. Such long range correlations are expected if the primary quark flavours are compensated in opposite hemispheres and if these quarks are found in energetic baryons. Rates for simultaneous baryon and strangeness number compensation for ΛΛ, Ξ−Ξ+ and Ξ−Λ (Λ+ Λ) are measured and compared with different Monte Carlo models.

We present evidence for the existence of the strange b-flavoured meson Bs0 in a data sample of 470 628 hadronic Z0 decays recorded with the OPAL detector at LEP. A signal of 18.3±5.2 (stat.)±0.9(syst.) Ds−l+ pairs (or charge conjugate, l = e or l = μ) is found after background subtraction, where the Ds meson is detected in the øπ and K∗0 K final states. Interpreting this signal as coming from the semileptonic decay Bs0→Ds−l+vX and combining t he two decay modes of the Ds, we find f (b→Bs0)B(Bs0→Ds−l+vX)BDs−→φ π−) = [3.9±1.1 (stat.)±0.8(syst.)]×10−4, where f (b→Bs0) is the fraction of b quarks that results in a B0s meson in Z0 decays. This signal for the Bs0 is supported by our observation of an excess of 147 ± 48 inclusive Ds mesons in the φπ and K∗0K 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 Bs0→J/ψφ. Based on one candidate event the 90% confidence level upper limit is determined to be f (b → Bs0) B (Bs0 → J/ψφ) < 0.22%.

Searches for a scalar top quark and a scalar bottom quark have been performed using a data sample of 182 pb−1 at a centre-of-mass energy of s=189 GeV collected with the OPAL detector at LEP. No evidence for a signal was found. The 95% confidence level (C.L.) lower limit on the scalar top quark mass is 90.3 GeV if the mixing angle between the supersymmetric partners of the left- and right-handed states of the top quark is zero. In the worst case, when the scalar top quark decouples from the Z0 boson, the lower limit is 87.2 GeV. These limits were obtained assuming that the scalar top quark decays into a charm quark and the lightest neutralino, and that the mass difference between the scalar top quark and the lightest neutralino is larger than 10 GeV. The complementary decay mode of the scalar top quark decaying into a bottom quark, a charged lepton and a scalar neutrino has also been studied. From a search for the scalar bottom quark, a mass limit of 88.6 GeV was obtained if the mass difference between the scalar bottom quark and the lightest neutralino is larger than 7 GeV. These limits significantly improve the previous OPAL limits.

We measure the mass of the τ to be 1775.1±1.6(mcnstat.)±1.0(mcnsys.) MeV using τ from Z0 decays. To test CPT invariance we compare the masses of the positively and negatively charged τ. The relative mass difference is found to be smaller than 3.0×10−3 at the 90% confidence level.

The magnitude of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element Vcb has been measured using B̄0→D∗+ℓ−ν̄ decays recorded on the Z0 peak using the OPAL detector at LEP. The D∗+→D0π+ decays were reconstructed both in the particular decay modes D0→K−π+ and D0→K−π+π0 and via an inclusive technique. The product of |Vcb| and the decay form factor of the B̄0→D∗+ℓ−ν̄ transition at zero recoil F(1) was measured to be F(1)|Vcb|=(37.1±1.0±2.0)×10−3, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic respectively. By using Heavy Quark Effective Theory calculations for F(1), a value of|Vcb|=(40.7±1.1±2.2±1.6)×10−3was obtained, where the third error is due to theoretical uncertainties in the value of F(1). The branching ratio Br(B̄0→D∗+ℓ−ν̄) was also measured to be (5.26±0.20±0.46)%.

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 theZ 0 peak in 1992 by the OPAL experiment at LEP. A model independent analysis ofZ 0 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.

Results are reported of a study of neutral vector meson production in multihadronicZ 0 decays in the OPAL experiment at LEP. Pions and kaons have been identified by specific ionisation energy loss andK ± π ∓ andK + K − mass spectra have been fitted, in bins of the scaled momentum variablex p , to combinations of resonance signals and non-resonant backgrounds. Rates are given forK *(892)° and ø(1020), and production cross sections are compared to the predictions of Monte Carlo models. Overall multiplicities have been determined as 0.76±0.07±0.06K *(892)° and 0.086±0.015±0.010 ø(1020) per hadronicZ 0 decay (the quoted errors are respectively statistical and systematic). Momentum dependent distortions of the ππ mass spectra, possibly associated indirectly with Bose-Einstein effects, have prevented reliable measurement of the ρ(770)° cross section in this study.

Searches for the neutral Higgs bosons predicted by the Standard Model (SM) and the Minimal Supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM) have been performed with the OPAL detector at LEP. Approximately 170 pb $^{-1}$ of $\mathrm{e}^+ \mathrm{e}^-$ collision data collected at $\sqrt{s} \approx 189$ GeV were used to search for Higgs boson production in the SM process ${\mathrm{e}}^+{\mathrm{e}}^- \rightarrow \mathrm{H}^{0}\mathrm{Z}^{0}$ and the MSSM processes ${\mathrm{e}}^+{\mathrm{e}}^- \rightarrow \mathrm{h}^{0} \mathrm{Z}^{0}$ and ${\mathrm{e}}^+ {\mathrm{e}}^- \rightarrow \mathrm{A}^{0} \mathrm{h}^{0}$ . The searches are sensitive to the $\mathrm{b}\bar{\mathrm{b}}$ and $\tau^+\tau^-$ decay modes of the Higgs bosons, and also to the MSSM decay mode $\mathrm{h}^{0} \rightarrow \mathrm{A}^{0} \mathrm{A}^{0}$ . OPAL search results at lower centre-of-mass energies have been incorporated in the limits, which are valid at the 95% confidence level. For the SM Higgs boson, a lower mass bound of 91.0 GeV is obtained. In the MSSM, the limits are $m_{\mathrm{H}} >74.8$ GeV and $m_{\mathrm{A}} >76.5$ GeV, assuming $\tan\beta > 1$ , that the mixing of the scalar top quarks is either zero or maximal, and that the soft SUSY-breaking masses are 1 TeV. For the case of zero scalar top mixing, the values of $\tan\beta$ between 0.72 and 2.19 are excluded.

The fraction of $$b\bar b$$ events in hadronicZ 0 decays has been measured from the yield of leptons in the data samples collected by OPAL in 1990 and 1991. A sample enriched in events containing $${\rm Z}^0 \to b\bar b$$ decays was obtained by requiring the presence of an electron or muon with high momentum and high momentum component transverse to the associated hadronic jet. After accounting for backgrounds and acceptances, a value of $$\frac{{\Gamma ({\rm Z}^0 \to b\bar b)}}{{\Gamma ({\rm Z}^0 \to hadrons)}} = 0.220 \pm 0.002 \pm 0.0006 \pm 0.011$$ was obtained. The first two errors reflect the data statistics and the systematic uncertainties arising from detector modelling uncertainties, respectively. The third error includes systematic effects fromb andc fragmentation and decay uncertainties.

This letter describes the first observation of W boson pair production at a centre-of-mass energy s=161GeV in the OPAL detector at LEP. The analysis is sensitive to all expected W+W− decay channels. A total of 28 events have been selected for an integrated luminosity of 9.89±0.06 pb−1. This is consistent with the Standard Model expectation, including signal and background contributions. The W pair production cross-section is measured to be σWW = 3.62−0.82+0.93±0.16 pb. An analysis of the predicted MW dependence of the accepted cross-section, taking into account interference in the four-fermion production processes, yields MW = 80.40−0.41−0.10+0.44+0.09±0.10 GeV, where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively, and the third arises form the beam energy uncertainty.

Gluon jets with about 39 GeV energy are identified in hadronic Z0 decays by tagging two jets in the same hemisphere of an event as quark jets. Identifying the gluon jet to be all the particles observed in the hemisphere opposite to that containing the two tagged jets yields an inclusive gluon jet definition corresponding to that used in analytic calculations, allowing the first direct test of those calculations. In particular, this jet definition yields results which are only weakly dependent on a jet finding algorithm. We find rch.=1.552±0.0041 (stat) ±0.061 (syst.) for the ratio of the mean charged particle multiplicity in gluon jets to that in light quark uds jets, where the uds jets are identified using an inclusive jet definition similar to that used for the gluon jets. Our result is in general agreement with the prediction of a recent analytic calculation which incorporates energy conservation into the parton shower branching processes, but is considerably smaller than analytic predictions which do not incorporate energy conservation.

From a data sample of 183 pb−1 recorded at a center-of-mass energy of s=189 GeV with the OPAL detector at LEP, 3068 W-pair candidate events are selected. Assuming Standard Model W boson decay branching fractions, the W-pair production cross section is measured to be σWW=16.30±0.34(stat.)±0.18(syst.) pb. When combined with previous OPAL measurements, the W boson branching fraction to hadrons is determined to be 68.32±0.61(stat.)±0.28(syst.)% assuming lepton universality. These results are consistent with Standard Model expectations.

Using data from e+e− collisions collected with the OPAL detector during the 1990 LEP run, a search was mode for a low mass Higgs boson (H0) with arbitrary decay mode. The existence of a minimal standard model H0 with mass in the range 0 ⩽ mH ⩽ 11.3 GeV/c2 is excluded at the 95% confidence level for all possible decay modes of the H0. Limits on the production of Higgs bosons predicted by the minimal supersymmetric standard model and new scalar particles that couple to the Z0 are presented as a function of the scalar mass.

ICSC (“Italian Center for SuperComputing”) is one of the five Italian National Centres created within the framework of the NextGenerationEU funding by the European Commission. The aim of ICSC, designed and approved through 2022 and eventually started in September 2022, is to create the national digital infrastructure for research and innovation, leveraging existing HPC, HTC and Big Data infrastructures and evolving towards a cloud data-lake model. It will be available to the scientific and industrial communities through flexible and uniform cloud web interfaces and will be relying on a high-level support team; as such, it will form a globally attractive ecosystem based on strategic public-private partnerships to fully exploit top level digital infrastructure for scientific and technical computing and promote the development of new computing technologies. The ICSC IT infrastructure is built upon existing scientific digital infrastructures as provided by the major national players: GARR, the Italian NREN, provides the network infrastructure, whose capacity will be upgraded to multiples of Tbps; CINECA hosts Leonardo, one of the world largest HPC systems, with a power of over 250 Pflops, to be further increased and complemented with a quantum computer; INFN contributes with its distributed Big Data cloud infrastructure, built in the last decades to respond to the needs of the HEP community. On top of the IT infrastructure, several thematic activities will be funded and will focus on the development of tools and applications in several research domains. Of particular relevance to this audience are the activities on "Fundamental Research and Space Economy" and "Astrophysics and Cosmos Observations", strictly aligned with the INFN and HEP core activities. Finally, two technological research activities will foster research on "Future HPC and Big Data" and "Quantum Computing".

Cross-sections for hadronic and leptonic two-fermion events, and leptonic forward-backward asymmetries, have been measured in e+e− collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 161 GeV, using the OPAL detector at LEP. Results are presented both including and excluding the dominant production of radiative γZ0 events. We have measured Rb, the ratio of the number of bb to all multihadronic events at 161 GeV, and compared it to the result obtained at 130–136 GeV. All results agree well with the Standard Model expectations. In a model-independent fit to the Z0 lineshape, the data presented here give an improved precision on the γZ0-interference term. The data have also been used to obtain new limits on extensions of the Standard Model described by effective four-fermion contact interactions.

Bose-Einstein correlations in pairs of identical charged pions produced in a sample of 4.3 million Z $^0$ hadronic decays are studied as a function of the three components of the momentum difference, transverse (“out” and “side”) and longitudinal with respect to the thrust direction of the event. A significant difference between the transverse, r $_{t_{side}}$ , and longitudinal, r $_l$ , dimensions is observed, indicating that the emitting source of identical pions, as observed in the Longitudinally CoMoving System, has an elongated shape. This is observed with a variety of selection techniques. Specifically, the values of the parameters obtained by fitting the extended Goldhaber parametrisation to the correlation function ${\mathrm C'} ={\mathrm C^{DATA}}/{\mathrm C^{MC}}$ for two-jet events, selected with the Durham algorithm and resolution parameter y $_{cut}$ = 0.04, are r $_{t_{side}}$ = (0.809 $\pm$ 0.009 (stat) $^{+0.019}_{-0.032}$ (syst)) fm, r $_l$ = (0.989 $\pm$ 0.011 (stat) $^{+0.030}_{-0.015}$ ({\it syst})) fm and r $_l$ /r $_{t_{side}}$ = 1.222 $\pm$ 0.027 (stat) $^{+0.075}_{-0.012}$ (syst). The results are discussed in the context of a recent model of Bose-Einstein correlations based on string fragmentation. The results of a unidimensional analysis are also presented.

In this paper an investigation of the production of D∗± mesons produced in e+e− collisions at energies around the Z0 pole is presented. Based on 115D∗± mesons with xD∗ 2ED∗/Ecm> 0.2 the properties of D∗ mesons produced in the reaction Z0→ cc are studied. Fixing the yield and the fragmentation function of bottom quarks to the values obtained at LEP using lepton tags, and average energy fraction of the D∗± mesons from primary charmed quarks of 〈xc→D∗〉 = 0.52 ± 0.03 +- 0.01 is found and Γz0→cc= (323 ± 61 ± 35)MeV is determined. The first error is the combined statistical and systematic error from this experiment, and the second the total error from other sources.

A search for scalar particles and neutralinos such as those predicted by supersymmetric models has been performed using a data sample of 4.4 million hadronic Z0 decays recorded by the OPAL detector at the e+e− collider LEP. The production of such particles typically leads to event topologies consisting of an acoplanar pair of jets, or of a mono-jet, accompanied by sizeable missing energy owing to neutrinos and other undetectable neutral particles. Limits are obtained, at the 95% confidence level, on the masses and production rates of scalar particles produced in association with the Z0. Limits are also placed on neutralino production, for which an additional possible signature is also studied, events containing a single observed photon. Within the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, the mass of the lightest neutralino is found to be larger than 12.5 GeV/c2 at 95% C.L., provided that tan β is larger than 1.5.

A new measurement of the τ lifetime is presented. It uses data collected with the Opal detector during 1994, which almost doubles the size of the Opal τ sample. Two statistically independent techniques are used: an impact parameter analysis of one-prong decay tracks and a fit to the decay length distribution of three-prong decays. The lifetime obtained from the 1994 data by combining the results of these methods is ττ = 289.7 ± 2.5 (stat)± 1.5 (sys) fs. When combined with the previous Opal τ lifetime measurement the improved τ lifetime is ττ = 289.2 ± 1.7 (stat.) ± 1.2 (sys.) fs.

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.

A search for events with photon pairs of large invariant mass is described based on a data sample of 43 pb−1 collected with the OPAL detector. This search is motivated by the L3 observation of four events of the type e+e− → l+l−γγ with an invariant mass of the two photons, mγγ, clustering around 60 GeV. In the OPAL data, four ℓ+ℓ−γγ events are found with mγγ above 40 GeV. The number of observed events is consistent with the QED expectation and no obvious resonance structure is seen. Three candidate qq̄γγ events with mγγ above 40 GeV are found and no νν&#x0304;nγγ candidate with mγγ > 5 GeV is found. From these searches an upper limit is set on any anomalous production of ℓ+ℓ−γγ (ℓ = e, μ, τ) events, where the ℓ+ℓ− pair comes from a virtual Z0 and mγγ is near 60 GeV , of B(Z0 → Z∗0γγ → ℓ+ℓ−γγ) < 6.0 × 10−7 at the 95% CL. In a similar search in the reaction e+e− → γγγ, seven events are observed with a photon pairing of mass near 60 GeV compared to an expected background of 2.7 ± 0.4 from QED. In a search for the production of a 60 GeV resonance X in two-photon collisions, an upper limit is set on ΓXB2(X → γγ) of 2.6 MeV at the 95% CL. A search is also performed for ℓ+ℓ−X (ℓ = e, μ) events in non-γγ decay modes of X. No indication of a 60 GeV resonance is seen. Combining these two searches, ΓX values greater than 110 MeV are excluded at the 95% CL for ℓ+ℓ−γγ (ℓ = e, μ) cross-sections greater than 0.05 pb.

A search for charginos and neutralinos, predicted by supersymmetric theories, has been performed using a data sample of 2.6 pb−1 at a centre-of-mass energy of S=130 GeV and 2.6 pb−1 at 136 GeV collected with the OPAL detector at LEP during November 1995. No candidate events were observed. The 95% C.L. lower limit on the lightest chargino mass in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model is 65.4 GeV if the universal scalar mass m0 is greater than 1 TeV, and 58.7 GeV for the smallest m0 compatible with slepton and sneutrino mass limits obtained at centre-of-mass energies near the Z peak. These limits were obtained under the conditions that the lightest chargino is heavier than the lightest neutralino by more than 10 GeV and tan β is larger than 1.5. The results of a model independent search for charginos and neutralinos are also given.

Using the distance from the average primary vertex to reconstructed secondary vertices in jets, samples of events withb 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 theb purity of the events. Extrapolating to 0% and 100%b purity, values of the hemisphere charged particle multiplicity inZ 0→ $$b\bar b$$ events and in non- $$b\bar b$$ events have been measured to be $$\begin{gathered} \bar n_b = 11.71 \pm 0.03 \pm 0.18 \pm 0.21, \hfill \\ \bar n_{udsc} = 10.32 \pm 0.01 \pm 0.07 \pm 0.19. \hfill \\ \end{gathered}$$ The first error is statistical, the second systematic and the third is a common systematic error. The difference in charged particle multiplicity betweenb quark events and light (u, d, s) quark events has been measured and found to be $$\delta _{bl} = 3.02 \pm 0.05 \pm 0.79.$$ 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 ofB hadrons fromZ 0 decay, including particles fromK 0 and Λ decay, has been measured to be $$\bar n^B = 5.51 \pm 0.05 \pm 0.51.$$ From the mean momentum of these decay products and separately from the number of primary charged particles perb event, the averagex E ofb flavoured hadrons has been measured to be $$\left\langle {x_E } \right\rangle _b = 0.693 \pm 0.003 \pm 0.030.$$

We report on an improved measurement of the value of the strong coupling constant σs at the Z0 peak, using the asymmetry of the energy-energy correlation function. The analysis, based on second-order perturbation theory and a data sample of about 145000 multihadronic Z0 decays, yields αs(Mz0 = 0.118±0.001(stat.)±0.003(exp.syst.)−0.004+0.0009 (theor. syst.), where the theoretical systematic error accounts for uncertainties due to hadronization, the choice of the renormalization scale and unknown higher-order terms. We adjust the parameters of a second-order matrix element Monte Carlo followed by string hadronization to best describe the energy correlation and other hadronic Z0 decay data. The αs result obtained from this second-order Monte Carlo is found to be unreliable if values of the renormalization scale smaller than about 0.15 Ecm are used in the generator.

The 40 MHz bunched muon beam set up at CERN was used in May 2003 to make a full test of the drift tubes local muon trigger. The main goal of the test was to prove that the integration of the various devices located on a muon chamber was adequately done both on the hardware and software side of the system. Furthermore the test provided complete information about the general performance of the trigger algorithms in terms of efficiency and noise. Data were collected with the default configuration of the trigger devices and with several alternative configurations at various angles of incidence of the beam. Tests on noise suppression and di-muon trigger capability were performed.

The production rate of final state photons in hadronic Z0 decays is measured as a function of ycut = Mij2/Ecm2 the jet resolution parameter and minimum mass of the photon-jet system. Good agreement with the theoretical expectation from an O(ααs) matrix element calculation is observed. Comparing the measurement and the prediction for ycut = 0.06, where the experimental systematic and statistical errors and the theoretical uncertainties are small, and combining this measurement with our result for the hadronic width of the Z0, we derived partial widths of up and down type quarks to be Γu = 333 ± 55 ± 72 MeV and Γd = 358 ± 37 ± 48 MeV in agreement with the standard model expectations. We compare our yield with the QCD shower models including photon radiation. At low γcut JETSET underestimates the photon yield, and ARIADNE describes the production rate well.

In CMS Computing the highest priorities for analysis tools are the improvement of the end users' ability to produce and publish reliable samples and analysis results as well as a transition to a sustainable development and operations model. To achieve these goals CMS decided to incorporate analysis processing into the same framework as data and simulation processing. This strategy foresees that all workload tools (TierO, Tier1, production, analysis) share a common core with long term maintainability as well as the standardization of the operator interfaces. The re-engineered analysis workload manager, called CRAB3, makes use of newer technologies, such as RESTFul based web services and NoSQL Databases, aiming to increase the scalability and reliability of the system. As opposed to CRAB2, in CRAB3 all work is centrally injected and managed in a global queue. A pool of agents, which can be geographically distributed, consumes work from the central services serving the user tasks. The new architecture of CRAB substantially changes the deployment model and operations activities. In this paper we present the implementation of CRAB3, emphasizing how the new architecture improves the workflow automation and simplifies maintainability. In particular, we will highlight the impact of the new design on daily operations.

A study of W+W− events accompanied by hard photon radiation produced in e+e− collisions at LEP is presented. Events consistent with two on-shell W-bosons and an isolated photon are selected from 183 pb−1 of data recorded at s=189 GeV. From these data, 17 W+W−γ candidates are selected with photon energy greater than 10 GeV, consistent with the Standard Model expectation. These events are used to measure the e+e−→W+W−γ cross-section within a set of geometric and kinematic cuts, σ̂WWγ=136±37±8 fb, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. The photon energy spectrum is used to set the first direct, albeit weak, limits on possible anomalous contributions to the W+W−γγ and W+W−γZ0 vertices:−0.070GeV−2<a0/Λ2<0.070GeV−2,−0.13GeV−2<ac/Λ2<0.19GeV−2,−0.61GeV−2<an/Λ2<0.57GeV−2,where Λ represents the energy scale for new physics.

Measurements are presented of the inclusive cross section for K∗(892)± production in hadronic decays of the Z0 using a sample of about half a million events recorded with the OPAL experiment at LEP. Charged K∗ mesons are reconstructed in the decay channel K0Sπ±. A mean rate of 0.72±0.02±0.08 K∗ mesons per hadronic event is found. Comparison of the results with predictions of the JETSET and HERWIG models shows that JETSET overestimates the K∗± production cross section while HERWIG is consistent with the data.

Bose-Einstein correlations between like charged track pairs have been studied using a sample of approximately 3.6 million multihadronic Z0 decays collected with the OPAL detector at LEP. The radius of the emitting sourceR and the chaoticity parameterλ were studied using two parametrisations, the Goldhaber (G) parametrisation and the one-dimensional Kopylov-Podgoretskii (KP) parametrisation. The radiiR G andR KP are found to increase linearly with the average observed charged multiplicityn ch , with changes with respect to a unit increase inn ch of $$\begin{gathered} \frac{1}{{\langle R_G \rangle }}\frac{{\Delta R_G }}{{\Delta n_{ch} }} = (3.6 \pm 0.6) \cdot 10^{ - 3} and \hfill \\ \frac{1}{{\langle R_{KP} \rangle }}\frac{{\Delta R_{KP} }}{{\Delta n_{ch} }} = (3.4 \pm 1.0) \cdot 10^{ - 3} . \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ where the 〈R〉 are the radius values measured in the inclusive event sample. The chaoticity parametersλ G andλ KP decrease with increasing charged multiplicity. It is shown that the increase ofR with multiplicity may be connected with differences between two- and three-jet events.

From a data sample of approximately 240 000 hadronic Z0 decays recorded during 1991 a sample of about 130 semileptonic B hadron decays containing a D0, D+ or D∗+ has been isolated. Using silicon microvertex detector information the decay vertices in these events have been reconstructed. The average B hadron lifetime of the mix of B hadrons in this event sample is measured to be 1.51−0.14+0.16±0.11 ps. From the distribution of decay times in the different samples the lifetimes of the B0 and B+ mesons are determined to be 1.51−0.23−0.14+0.24+0.12 ps and 1.51−0.28−0.14+0.30+0.12 ps, respectively. The measured ratio of the B+ to B0 lifetimes of 1.00−0.25+0.33±0.08 supports expectations that the lifetimes are similar.

Measurements of the $\tau$ lepton polarization and forward-backward polarization asymmetry near the Z $^0$ resonance using the OPAL detector are described. The measurements are based on analyses of $\tau \rightarrow{\rm e} \nu_e\nu_{\tau}, \tau\rightarrow \mu\nu_{\mu}\nu_{\tau}, \tau\rightarrow \pi\nu_{\tau}, \tau \rightarrow \rho\nu_{\tau}$ and $\tau\rightarrow{\rm a}_1\nu_{\tau}$ decays from a sample of 144,810 $\rm e^+e^-\rightarrow \tau^+\tau^-$ candidates corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 151 pb $^{-1}$ . Assuming that the $\tau$ lepton decays according to V–A theory, we measure the average $\tau$ polarization near $\sqrt{s} ={\rm M}_{\mathrm{Z}}$ to be $\langle P_{\tau}\rangle= (-14.10 \pm 0.73 \pm 0.55)\%$ and the $\tau$ polarization forward-backward asymmetry to be $\rm A_{\mathrm{pol}}^{\mathrm{FB}} = (-10.55 \pm 0.76 \pm 0.25)\%$ , where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. Taking into account the small effects of the photon propagator, photon-Z $^0$ interference and photonic radiative corrections, these results can be expressed in terms of the lepton neutral current asymmetry parameters: \begin{eqnarray} {\cal A}_{\tau} & = & 0.1456 \pm 0.0076 \pm 0.0057, \nonumber {\cal A}_{\mathrm e}& = & 0.1454 \pm 0.0108 \pm 0.0036. \nonumber \end{eqnarray} These measurements are consistent with the hypothesis of lepton universality and combine to give ${\cal A}_{\ell} = 0.1455 \pm 0.0073$ . Within the context of the Standard Model this combined result corresponds to $=0.23172 \pm 0.00092$ . Combing these results with those from the other OPAL neutral current measurements yields a value of $=0.23211 \pm 0.00068$ .

We present measurements of triple gauge boson coupling parameters using data recorded by the OPAL detector at LEP2 at a centre-of-mass energy of 172 GeV. A total of 120 W-pair candidates has been selected in the qqqq, qq`ν` and `ν`` ′ ν`′ decay channels, for an integrated luminosity of 10.4 pb. We use these data to determine several different anomalous coupling parameters using the measured cross-section and the distributions of kinematic variables. We measure αBφ=0.35 +1.29 −1.07 ± 0.38, αWφ=0.00 +0.30 −0.28 ± 0.11, αW=0.18 +0.49 −0.47 ± 0.23, ∆g z 1=−0.03 +0.40 −0.37 ± 0.14, ∆κ γ =0.03 +0.55 −0.51± 0.20, and ∆κ=0.03 +0.49 −0.46± 0.21. Combining the αWφ result with our previous result obtained from the 161 GeV data sample we measure αWφ=−0.08 +0.28 −0.25 ± 0.10. All of these measurements are consistent with the Standard Model. (To be submitted to Zeitschrift fur Physik C.) The OPAL Collaboration K. Ackerstaff, G. Alexander, J. Allison, N. Altekamp, K.J. Anderson, S. Anderson, S. Arcelli, S. Asai, D. Axen, G. Azuelos, A.H. Ball, E. Barberio, R.J. Barlow, R. Bartoldus, J.R. Batley, S. Baumann, J. Bechtluft, C. Beeston, T. Behnke, A.N. Bell, K.W. Bell, G. Bella, S. Bentvelsen, S. Bethke, O. Biebel, A. Biguzzi, S.D. Bird, V. Blobel, I.J. Bloodworth, J.E. Bloomer, M. Bobinski, P. Bock, D. Bonacorsi, M. Boutemeur, B.T. Bouwens, S. Braibant, L. Brigliadori, R.M. Brown, H.J. Burckhart, C. Burgard, R. Burgin, P. Capiluppi, R.K. Carnegie, A.A. Carter, J.R. Carter, C.Y. Chang, D.G. Charlton, D. Chrisman, P.E.L. Clarke, I. Cohen, J.E. Conboy, O.C. Cooke, M. Cuffiani, S. Dado, C. Dallapiccola, G.M. Dallavalle, R. Davis, S. De Jong, L.A. del Pozo, K. Desch, B. Dienes, M.S. Dixit, E. do Couto e Silva, M. Doucet, E. Duchovni, G. Duckeck, I.P. Duerdoth, D. Eatough, J.E.G. Edwards, P.G. Estabrooks, H.G. Evans, M. Evans, F. Fabbri, M. Fanti, A.A. Faust, F. Fiedler, M. Fierro, H.M. Fischer, I. Fleck, R. Folman, D.G. Fong, M. Foucher, A. Furtjes, D.I. Futyan, P. Gagnon, J.W. Gary, J. Gascon, S.M. Gascon-Shotkin, N.I. Geddes, C. Geich-Gimbel, T. Geralis, G. Giacomelli, P. Giacomelli, R. Giacomelli, V. Gibson, W.R. Gibson, D.M. Gingrich, D. Glenzinski, J. Goldberg, M.J. Goodrick, W. Gorn, C. Grandi, E. Gross, J. Grunhaus, M. Gruwe, C. Hajdu, G.G. Hanson, M. Hansroul, M. Hapke, C.K. Hargrove, P.A. Hart, C. Hartmann, M. Hauschild, C.M. Hawkes, R. Hawkings, R.J. Hemingway, M. Herndon, G. Herten, R.D. Heuer, M.D. Hildreth, J.C. Hill, S.J. Hillier, P.R. Hobson, R.J. Homer, A.K. Honma, D. Horvath, K.R. Hossain, R. Howard, P. Huntemeyer, D.E. Hutchcroft, P. Igo-Kemenes, D.C. Imrie, M.R. Ingram, K. Ishii, A. Jawahery, P.W. Jeffreys, H. Jeremie, M. Jimack, A. Joly, C.R. Jones, G. Jones, M. Jones, U. Jost, P. Jovanovic, T.R. Junk, D. Karlen, V. Kartvelishvili, K. Kawagoe, T. Kawamoto, P.I. Kayal, R.K. Keeler, R.G. Kellogg, B.W. Kennedy, J. Kirk, A. Klier, S. Kluth, T. Kobayashi, M. Kobel, D.S. Koetke, T.P. Kokott, M. Kolrep, S. Komamiya, T. Kress, P. Krieger, J. von Krogh, P. Kyberd, G.D. Lafferty, R. Lahmann, W.P. Lai, D. Lanske, J. Lauber, S.R. Lautenschlager, J.G. Layter, D. Lazic, A.M. Lee, E. Lefebvre, D. Lellouch, J. Letts, L. Levinson, S.L. Lloyd, F.K. Loebinger, G.D. Long, M.J. Losty, J. Ludwig, A. Macchiolo, A. Macpherson, M. Mannelli, S. Marcellini, C. Markus, A.J. Martin, J.P. Martin, G. Martinez, T. Mashimo, P. Mattig, W.J. McDonald, J. McKenna, E.A. Mckigney, T.J. McMahon, R.A. McPherson, F. Meijers, S. Menke, F.S. Merritt, H. Mes, J. Meyer, A. Michelini, G. Mikenberg, D.J. Miller, A. Mincer, R. Mir, W. Mohr, A. Montanari, T. Mori, M. Morii, U. Muller, S. Mihara, K. Nagai, I. Nakamura, H.A. Neal, B. Nellen, R. Nisius, S.W. O’Neale, F.G. Oakham, F. Odorici, H.O. Ogren, A. Oh, N.J. Oldershaw, M.J. Oreglia, S. Orito, J. Palinkas, G. Pasztor, J.R. Pater, G.N. Patrick, J. Patt, M.J. Pearce, R. Perez-Ochoa, S. Petzold, P. Pfeifenschneider , J.E. Pilcher, J. Pinfold, D.E. Plane, P. Poffenberger, B. Poli, A. Posthaus, D.L. Rees, D. Rigby, S. Robertson, S.A. Robins, N. Rodning, J.M. Roney, A. Rooke, E. Ros, A.M. Rossi, P. Routenburg, Y. Rozen, K. Runge, O. Runolfsson, U. Ruppel, D.R. Rust, R. Rylko, K. Sachs, T. Saeki, E.K.G. Sarkisyan, C. Sbarra, A.D. Schaile, O. Schaile, F. Scharf, P. Scharff-Hansen, P. Schenk, J. Schieck, P. Schleper, B. Schmitt, S. Schmitt, A. Schoning, M. Schroder, H.C. Schultz-Coulon, M. Schumacher, C. Schwick, W.G. Scott, T.G. Shears, B.C. Shen, C.H. Shepherd-Themistocleous , 1 P. Sherwood, G.P. Siroli, A. Sittler, A. Skillman, A. Skuja, A.M. Smith, G.A. Snow, R. Sobie, S. Soldner-Rembold, R.W. Springer, M. Sproston, K. Stephens, J. Steuerer, B. Stockhausen, K. Stoll, D. Strom, P. Szymanski, R. Tafirout, S.D. Talbot, S. Tanaka, P. Taras, S. Tarem, R. Teuscher, M. Thiergen, M.A. Thomson, E. von Torne, S. Towers, I. Trigger, Z. Trocsanyi, E. Tsur, A.S. Turcot, M.F. Turner-Watson, P. Utzat, R. Van Kooten, M. Verzocchi, P. Vikas, E.H. Vokurka, H. Voss, F. Wackerle, A. Wagner, C.P. Ward, D.R. Ward, P.M. Watkins, A.T. Watson, N.K. Watson, P.S. Wells, N. Wermes, J.S. White, B. Wilkens, G.W. Wilson, J.A. Wilson, G. Wolf, T.R. Wyatt, S. Yamashita, G. Yekutieli, V. Zacek, D. Zer-Zion School of Physics and Space Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK Dipartimento di Fisica dell’ Universita di Bologna and INFN, I-40126 Bologna, Italy Physikalisches Institut, Universitat Bonn, D-53115 Bonn, Germany Department of Physics, University of California, Riverside CA 92521, USA Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK 6 Ottawa-Carleton Institute for Physics, Department of Physics, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada Centre for Research in Particle Physics, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada CERN, European Organisation for Particle Physics, CH-1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland Enrico Fermi Institute and Department of Physics, University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637, USA Fakultat fur Physik, Albert Ludwigs Universitat, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany Physikalisches Institut, Universitat Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany Indiana University, Department of Physics, Swain Hall West 117, Bloomington IN 47405, USA Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, London E1 4NS, UK Technische Hochschule Aachen, III Physikalisches Institut, Sommerfeldstrasse 26-28, D-52056 Aachen, Germany University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK Department of Physics, Schuster Laboratory, The University, Manchester M13 9PL, UK Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA Laboratoire de Physique Nucleaire, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada University of Oregon, Department of Physics, Eugene OR 97403, USA Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, UK Department of Physics, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel Department of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel International Centre for Elementary Particle Physics and Department of Physics, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113, and Kobe University, Kobe 657, Japan Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK Particle Physics Department, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel Universitat Hamburg/DESY, II Institut fur Experimental Physik, Notkestrasse 85, D-22607 Hamburg, Germany University of Victoria, Department of Physics, P O Box 3055, Victoria BC V8W 3P6, Canada University of British Columbia, Department of Physics, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z1, Canada 2 University of Alberta, Department of Physics, Edmonton AB T6G 2J1, Canada Duke University, Dept of Physics, Durham, NC 27708-0305, USA Research Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics, H-1525 Budapest, P O Box 49, Hungary Institute of Nuclear Research, H-4001 Debrecen, P O Box 51, Hungary Ludwigs-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen, Sektion Physik, Am Coulombwall 1, D-85748 Garching, Germany a and at TRIUMF, Vancouver, Canada V6T 2A3 b and Royal Society University Research Fellow c and Institute of Nuclear Research, Debrecen, Hungary d and Department of Experimental Physics, Lajos Kossuth University, Debrecen, Hungary e and Department of Physics, New York University, NY 1003, USA

We present measurements of the hadronic photon structure functionF 2 (x), in twoQ 2 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 theZ 0 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 hasQ 2>4 GeV2. Our measurements extend to lower values ofx than any previous experiment, and no increase ofF 2 (x) is observed.

In the Standard Model, b quarks produced in e+e− annihilation at the Z0 peak have a large average longitudinal polarization of −0.94. Some fraction of this polarization is expected to be transferred to b-flavored baryons during hadronization. The average longitudinal polarization of weakly decaying b baryons, 〈PLΛb〉, is measured in approximately 4.3 million hadronic Z0 decays collected with the OPAL detector between 1990 and 1995 at LEP. Those b baryons that decay semileptonically and produce a Λ baryon are identified through the correlation of the baryon number of the Λ and the electric charge of the lepton. In this semileptonic decay, the ratio of the neutrino energy to the lepton energy is a sensitive polarization observable. The neutrino energy is estimated using missing energy measurements. From a fit to the distribution of this ratio, the value 〈PLΛb〉=−0.56+0.20−0.13±0.09 is obtained, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic.

The spin composition of ΛΛ, ΛΛ and ΛΛ pairs at low invariant mass values has been measured for the first time in multihadronic Z0 decays with the OPAL detector at LEP. No single spin state has been observed in the ΛΛ sample, verifying that the low mass enhancement in this sample, attributed to local baryon number compensation, is not a resonance state. The fraction of the spin 1 contribution to the ΛΛ pairs was found to be consistent with the value 0.75, as expected from a statistical spin mixture. This may be the net effect of many different QCD processes which contribute to the hyperon anti-hyperon pair production. The spin composition of the identical ΛΛ and ΛΛ pairs, well above threshold, is found to be similar to that of the ΛΛ sample. A ΛΛ emitter dimension is estimated from the data assuming the onset of the Pauli exclusion principle near threshold.

A search for the Minimal Standard Model Higgs boson (H0) has been performed with data from e+e− collisions collected by the OPAL detector at LEP. The search was made for events of the types e+e−→(e+e−,μ+μ− or νν)H0, H0→qq̄ and was based on approximately 78 pb−1 of data taken at center-of-mass energies between 88 and 95 GeV in the years 1990–1993. The present study, combined with previous OPAL publications, excludes the existence of a Minimal Standard Model Higgs boson with mass below 56.9 GeV at the 95% confidence level.

We present a measurement of the forward-backward charge asymmetry in hadronic decays of the Z0 using data collected with the OPAL detector at LEP. The forward-backward charge asymmetry was measured using a weight function method which gave the number of forward events on a statistical basis. In a data sample of 448 942 hadronic Z0 decays, we have observed a charge asymmetry of Ah = 0.040±0.004 (stat.)±0.006 (syst.)±0.002 (B0B0mix.), taking into account the effect of B0B0 mixing. In the framework of the standard model, this asymmetry corresponds to an effective weak mixing angle averaged over five quark flavours of sin2θW = 0.2321 ± 0.0017 (stat.) ± 0.0027 (syst.) ± 0.0009 (B0B0mix.). The result agrees with the value obtained from the Z0 line shape and lepton pair forward-backward asymmetry.

A search for the decay of the Z0 into doubly charged Higgs bosons (H±±) decaying to same-sign lepton pairs is presented using data collected with the OPAL detector at LEP, with an integrated luminosity of 6.8 pb−. Four-track final states from prompt decays, and events with at least one highly ionizing track from long-lived H±± were sought. H±± are excluded in the mass range from zero to 45.6 GeV/c2 and for a coupling constant range that extends down to zero.

We have measured the photon yield in lepton pair events recorded by the OPAL detector in a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 7.1 pb−1 at centre-of-mass energies between 88 GeV and 94 GeV. The results are compared to QED expectations for initial and final state photon radiation. No anomalous photon yield has been found, and stringent limits on the branching ratio for exotic radiative three body Z0 decays into a photon and a pair of leptons are obtained. We also place limits on possible Z0 decays into a photon and a resonance X with subsequent decays of X into a pair of leptons. Acollinear μ+μ− events with missing momentum along the beam direction are identified as events with hard initial state photon radiation and used to measure an average cross section of 15 ±86 pb for e+e− annihilation into μ+μ−, in the so far untested range of centre-of-mass energies between 60 GeV and 84 GeV. This value is consistent with a cross section of 24 pb, expected from Z0 and photon exchange.

We compared the multiplicities of $\pi^0, \eta, \rm K^0 $ and of charged particles in quark and gluon jets in 3-jet events, as measured by the OPAL experiment at LEP. The comparisons were performed for distributions unfolded to 100% pure quark and gluon jets, at an effective scale $\rm Q_{jet} $ which took into account topological dependences of the 3-jet environment. The ratio of particle multiplicity in gluon jets to that in quark jets as a function of $\rm Q_{jet}$ for $ \pi^0, \eta$ or $\rm K^0 $ was found to be independent of the particle species. This is consistent with the QCD prediction that the observed enhancement in the mean particle rate in gluon jets with respect to quark jets should be independent of particle species. In contrast to some theoretical predictions and previous observations, we observed no evidence for an enhancement of $ \eta $ meson production in gluon jets with respect to quark jets, beyond that observed for charged particles. We measured the ratio of the slope of the average charged particle multiplicity in gluon jets to that in quark jets, C, and we compared it to a next-to-next-to-next-to leading order calculation. Our result, $\rm C=2.27\pm 0.20(stat.+syst.),$ is about one standard deviation higher than the perturbative prediction.

Production of events with multihadronic and leptonic final states has been measured in e+e− collisions at centre-of-mass energies significantly above the Z0 mass, using the OPAL detector at LEP. A substantial production rate of radiative Z0γ events was observed, as expected, together with events with less energetic initial-state photons. The cross-sections and leptonic forward-backward asymmetries were measured and compared with Standard Model expectations. In a model-independent fit to the Z0 lineshape, the hadronic cross-section and lepton asymmetries presented here provide constraints on the size of the γZ0-interference term which are complementary to those afforded by LEP data accumulated at the Z0 resonance.

Using about 3.9 million hadronic Z decays from e+e− collisions recorded by the OPAL detector at LEP at centre-of-mass energies s≈MZ, the branching ratio for the decay D−s→τ−ν̄τ has been measured to be BR(D−s→τ−ν̄τ)=(7.0±2.1(stat)±2.0(syst))%. This result can be used to derive the decay constant of the D−s meson: fDs=(286±44(stat)±41(syst))MeV.

From a sample of approximately 135 000 hadronic Z0 decays recorded with the OPAL detector, 1 536 events were selected with two lepton candidates, either electrons or muons. A signal for B0B0 mixing was observed using the sign of the lepton charge to tag the charge of the b quark in decaying b-flavoured hadrons. A flavour discriminating variable was constructed from the lepton momentum and its component perpendicular to the jet axis. By fitting the fraction of events in which the two lepton charges are of the same sign, as a function of this variable, the average mixing parameter was measured to be χ = 0.145+0.041-0.035 ± 0.018, where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic.

We report on a measurement of two-particle momentum correlations in hadronic decays of the Z0 at LEP. These data are compared with recent analytic QCD calculations based on the summation of leading and next-to-leading logarithms, and with QCD Monte Carlo simulations. We find that the analytic calculations show the same general features as the data, but that the overall level of the correlations is not reproduced, suggesting that higher order or hadronization effects are significant. This contrasts with the success of similar QCD calculations in describing single-particle momentum distributions. QCD Monte Carlo models are found to give a reasonable level of correlation, with parton shower models incorporating string hadronization giving the best description of the data.

The CMS experiment expects to manage several Pbytes of data each year during the LHC programme, distributing them over many computing sites around the world and enabling data access at those centers for analysis. CMS has identified the distributed sites as the primary location for physics analysis to support a wide community with thousands potential users. This represents an unprecedented experimental challenge in terms of the scale of distributed computing resources and number of user. An overview of the computing architecture, the software tools and the distributed infrastructure is reported. Summaries of the experience in establishing efficient and scalable operations to get prepared for CMS distributed analysis are presented, followed by the user experience in their current analysis activities.

We report a measurement of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |Vcb|. From approximately 4.2 million hadronic Z0 decays recorded with the OPAL deteector, a sample is selected containing 1251 ± 125B0 → D∗+ℓ−νℓ candidates, where ℓ is either an electron or a muon. Using Heavy Quark Effective Theory calculations for the decay form factor at zero recoil of the D∗+ meson in the B0 rest frame, we derive |Vcb| = [36.0 ± 2.1 (stat) ± 2.4 (syst) ± 1.2 (theory)] × 10−3.

The production of J/ψ mesons in multihadronic Z0 decays has been observed in the e+e− and β+β− final states. From a sample of approximately 45 reconstructed Jψ mesons, the inclusive branching fraction is measured to be Br(Z0→J/ψ + X) = (4.5±0.8±0.4±0.6) × 10−3, where the first error is statistical, the second systematic, and the third error is due to the uncertainty in the leptonic decay rate of the J/ψ. The J/ψ energy distribution is consistent with the distribution expected from B hadron decays. The average B hadron lifetime is calculated from the measured distances between the primary and J/ψ vertices, resulting in τB = 1.32−0.25+0.31±0.15 ps, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic.

The tau lepton lifetime has been measured using two independent techniques; an impact parameter analysis of the 1-prong decays and a decay length analysis of the 3-prong decays. Approximately 5 000 Z0 decays to τ+τ− have been selected from the data collected with the OPAL detector at LEP during 1990. The results of the two statistically independent measurements are, respectively, τ1=0.293 ± 0.013 (stat.)±0.013 (syst.) ps and τ3=0.327±0.017 (stat.)±0.011 (syst.) ps. After combining the statistical and systematic errors for each analysis in quadrature, the weighted average lifetime is calculated to be ττ=0.308 ± 0.013 ps.

The helicity density matrix elements $\rho_{00}$ of $\rho(770)^{\pm}$ and $\omega(782)$ mesons produced in Z $^0$ decays have been measured using the OPAL detector at LEP. Over the measured meson energy range, the values are compatible with 1/3, corresponding to a statistical mix of helicity $-1$ , 0 and +1 states. For the highest accessible scaled energy range 0.3 $<$ $x_E$ $<$ 0.6, the measured $\rho_{00}$ values of the $\rho^{\pm}$ and the $\omega$ are 0.373 $\pm$ 0.052 and 0.142 $\pm$ 0.114, respectively. These results are compared to measurements of other vector mesons.

A prototype of the CMS Barrel Muon Detector incorporating all the features of the final chambers was built using the mass production assembly procedures and tools. The performance of this prototype was studied in a muon test beam at CERN and the results obtained are presented in this paper.

Modern Grid middleware is built around components providing basic functionality, such as data storage, authentication, security, job management, resource monitoring and reservation. In this paper we describe the Computing Resource Execution and Management (CREAM) service. CREAM provides a Web service-based job execution and management capability for Grid systems; in particular, it is being used within the gLite middleware. CREAM exposes a Web service interface allowing conforming clients to submit and manage computational jobs to a Local Resource Management System. We developed a special component, called ICE (Interface to CREAM Environment) to integrate CREAM in gLite. ICE transfers job submissions and cancellations from the Workload Management System, allowing users to manage CREAM jobs from the gLite User Interface. This paper describes some recent studies aimed at assessing the performance and reliability of CREAM and ICE; those tests have been performed as part of the acceptance tests for integration of CREAM and ICE in gLite. We also discuss recent work towards enhancing CREAM with a BES and JSDL compliant interface.

Bose-Einstein correlations in K0SK0S pairs have been studied for the first time in e+e− annihilations. These correlations were measured through the quantity Q, the four momentum difference of the pair. Out of about half a million Z0 hadronic decay events a total of about 6000 events with two or more identified K0S mesons were used for the analysis We observe a threshold enhancement in K0SK0S pairs originating from a mixed sample of K0K0 and K0K0 (K0K0) pairs. Although we can not presently exclude that a part of this effect is due to scalar meson decays, our analysis attributes the enhancement to Bose-Einstein correlations. We find the values for the strength of the effect and the radius of the K0S emitting source to be λ = 1.12 ± 0.33 ± 0.29 and R0 = (0.72 ± 0.17 ± 0.19) fm, respectively, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic.

Charginos and neutralinos, predicted by supersymmetric theories, have been searched for in e+e− collisions with an intergrated luminosity of 10.0 pb−1 at a centre-of-mass energy of s= 161GeV with the OPAL detector at LEP. Two candidate events are selected; consistent with the total background estimate of 0.7 ± 0.2 events. The 95% C.L. lower limit on the lightest chargino mass in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model is 78.5 GeV if the universal scalar mass m0 is greater than 1 TeV, and 62.0 GeV for the smallest m0 compatible with slepton and sneutrino mass limits obtained at centre-of-mass energies near the Z peak. These limits were obtained under the conditions that the lightest chargino is heavier than the lightest neutralino by more than 10 GeV and tan β = 1.5. The new exclusion limits significantly improve on the results obtained at s= 130 and 136 GeV.

A sample of 2610 electron candidates and 2762 muon candidates identified in hadronicZ 0 decays has been used to measure the averageb hadron lifetime. These data were recorded with the OPAL detector during 1990 and 1991. Maximum likelihood fits to the distributions of the lepton impact parameters yield an averageb hadron lifetime of $$\tau _b = 1523 \pm 34 \pm 38fs$$ , where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. This result is a weighted average over the semileptonic branching fractions and production rates of theb hadrons produced inZ 0 decays.

Data collected with the OPAL detector during 1990–1994 are used to measure the time dependence of $$B_d^0 \leftrightarrow \bar B_d^0 $$ mixing. A sample of 348 D*± candidates with a lepton in the opposite hemisphere are reconstructed, of which 167±25 are expected to be from B d 0 decays. The B d 0 oscillation frequency is measured to be $$\Delta m_d = 0.567 \pm 0.089(stat)_{ - 0.023}^{ + 0.029} (syst) ps^{ - 1} .$$ . A previously published analysis ofΔm d using D*± and lepton candidates in the same hemisphere and jet charge is also updated with a larger data sample. From 1200 D*±ℓ∓ candidates, of which 778±84 are expected to be from B d 0 decays, we find a value of: $$\Delta m_d = 0.539 \pm 0.060(stat) \pm 0.024(syst) ps^{ - 1} .$$ . The combined result of these two analyses is $$\Delta m_d = 0.548 \pm 0.050(stat)_{ - 0.019}^{ + 0.023} (syst) ps^{ - 1} .$$ .

This letter describes a measurement of one of the anomalous triple gauge boson couplings using the first data recorded by the OPAL detector at LEP2. A total of 28 W-pair candidates have been selected for an integrated luminosity of 9.89±0.06 pb−1 recorded at a centre-of-mass energy of 161 GeV. We use these data to place constraints upon the coupling parameter αWφ. We analyse the predicted variation of the total cross-section for all observed channels and the distribution of kinematic variables in the semileptonic decay channels. We measure αWφ to be −0.61−0.610.73±0.35, which is consistent with the Standard Model expectation of zero.

The properties of final state photons in multihadronic decays of theZ 0 and those of the recoiling hadronic system are discussed and compared with theoretical expectations. The yield of two and three jet events with final state photons is found to be in good agreement with the expectation from a matrix element calculation ofO(αα s. Uncertainties in the interpretation of the theoretical calculation do not yet permit a final assessment of events with just one reconstructed jet. Comparing the rates of two jet events with a photon to those of three jet events in the inclusive multihadronic sample, the strong coupling constant in second order is determined asα s $$(M_{Z^0 } )$$ =0.122±0.010, taking into account only the statistical and experimental systematic errors. It is found that an abelian model of the strong interaction does not describe the data. The comparison of the total yield and the jet rates with QCD shower programs shows better agreement with the ARIADNE model than with the JETSET model. Both programs are found to describe well the photon properties and the properties of the residual hadronic event.

Using a data sample of 57 pb−1 recorded at a centre-of-mass energy of 183 GeV with the OPAL detector at LEP, 282 W+W−→qqqq and 300 W+W−→qqℓνℓ candidate events are used to obtain a measurement of the mass of the W boson, MW=80.39±0.13(stat.)±0.05(syst.) GeV, assuming the Standard Model relation between MW and ΓW. A second fit provides a direct measure of the width of the W boson and gives ΓW=1.96±0.34(stat.)±0.20(syst.) GeV. These results are combined with previous OPAL results to obtain MW=80.38±0.12(stat.)±0.05(syst.) GeV and ΓW=1.84±0.32(stat.)±0.20(syst.) GeV.

A measurement of triple gauge boson couplings is presented, based on W-pair data recorded by the OPAL detector at LEP during 1998 at a centre-of-mass energy of 189 GeV with an integrated luminosity of 183 pb $^{-1}$ . After combining with our previous measurements at centre-of-mass energies of 161–183 GeV we obtain $\kappa=0.97_{-0.16}^{+0.20}$ , $g^{\mathrm{z}}_1=0.991^{+0.060}_{-0.057}$ and $\lambda=-0.110_{-0.055}^{+0.058}$ , where the errors include both statistical and systematic uncertainties and each coupling is determined by setting the other two couplings to their Standard Model values. These results are consistent with the Standard Model expectations.

We present an observation at LEP of the production of χc2 mesons in the collisions of two quasi-real photons using the OPAL detector. The χc2 mesons are reconstructed in the decay channel χc2→J/ψγ→ℓ+ℓ−γ (with ℓ = e,μ) using all data taken at e+e− centre-of-mass energies of 91 and 183 GeV, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 167 and 55 pb−1 respectively. The two-photon width of the χc2 is determined to be Γ(χc2→γγ)=1.76±0.47±0.37±0.15 keV, where the first error is statistical, the second is systematic and the third comes from branching ratio uncertainties.

The mass and width of the W boson are determined in e+e− collisions at LEP using 183 pb−1 of data recorded at a centre-of-mass energy s=189 GeV with the OPAL detector. The invariant mass distributions from 970 W+W−→qqqq and 1118 W+W−→qqℓνℓ candidate events are used to measure the mass of the W boson, MW=80.451±0.076 (stat.)±0.049 (syst.) GeV. A direct measurement of the width of the W boson gives ΓW=2.09±0.18 (stat.)±0.09 (syst.) GeV. The results are combined with previous OPAL results from 78 pb−1 of data recorded with s from 161 to 183 GeV, to obtain: MW=80.432±0.066 (stat.)±0.045 (syst.) GeV, ΓW=2.04±0.16 (stat.)±0.09 (syst.) GeV. The consistency of the direct measurement of MW with that inferred from other measurements of electroweak parameters provides an important test of the Standard Model of electroweak interactions.

New measurements of the hadronic and leptonic cross sections and of the leptonic forward-backward asymmetries ine + e − collisions are presented. The analysis includes data recorded up to the end of 1991 by the OPAL experiment at LEP, with centre-of-mass energies within ±3 GeV of the Z0 mass. The results are based on a recorded total of 454 000 hadronic and 58 000 leptonic events. A model independent analysis of Z0 parameters based on an extension of the improved Born approximation is presented leading to test of lepton universality and an interpretation of the results within the Standard Model framework. The determination of the mass and width of the Z0 benefit from an improved understanding of the LEP energy calibration.

The branching ratio for the decay τ−→e−ν̄eντ has been measured using Z0 decay data collected by the OPAL experiment at LEP. In total 33073 τ−→e−ν̄eντ candidates were identified from a sample of 186197 selected τ decays, giving a branching ratio of B(τ−→e−ν̄eντ)=(17.81±0.09(stat)±0.06(syst))%. This result is combined with other measurements to test e - μ and μ - τ universality in charged-current weak interactions. Additionally, the strong coupling constant αs(mτ2) has been extracted from B(τ−→e−ν̄eντ) and evolved to the Z0 mass scale, giving αs(mZ2)=0.1204±0.0011 (exp)±0.0019 (theory).

Data collected with the OPAL detector at LEP during 1990–1993 are used to measure the time dependence of Bd0↔Bd0 mixing. From a sample of 153 ± 12 events with a charged D∗ and a lepton in the opposite hemisphere, we measure the Bd0↔Bd0 oscillation frequency to be Δmd = 0.57±0.11(stat.)±0.02(syst.) ps−1. This corresponds to an oscillation parameter of xd = ΔmdτBd0 = 0.82±0.16(stat.) ± 0.03(syst.) ± 0.09(syst. τB0d), where the second systematic uncertainty is due to the error in the measured Bd0 lifetime.

The τ lifetime has been measured with the OPAL detector at LEP, from analyses using the impact parameters in decays to single charged tracks, and the decay lengths from τ decays to three charged tracks. The 1991 sample of approximately 12300 τ-pair events, of which 70% contain silicon microvertex detector information, has been combined with a re-analysis of the 5100 events recorded during 1990. The two statistically-independent determinations give: $$\begin{gathered} \tau (one - prong) = 296.4 \pm 7.1 (stat) \pm 3.8 (sys) fs, \hfill \\ \tau (three - prong) = 286.3 \pm 7.4 (stat) \pm 5.2 (sys) fs. \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ The weighted average of these results after combination of the uncorrelated systematic errors is: $$\tau _\tau = 291.9 \pm 5.1 (stat) \pm 3.1 (sys) fs.$$ .

A search for the resonant production of high mass photon pairs associated with a leptonic or hadronic system has been performed using a data sample of 57.7 pb−1 collected at an average center-of-mass energy of 182.6 GeV with the OPAL detector at LEP. No evidence for contributions from non-Standard Model physics processes was observed. The observed candidates are used to place limits on B(H0→γγ) assuming a Standard Model production rate for Higgs boson masses up to 92 GeV, and on the production cross section for a scalar resonance decaying into di-photons up to a mass of 170 GeV. Upper limits on the product of cross section and branching ratios, σ(e+e−→XY)×B(X→γγ)×B(Y→ff̄), as low as 70 fb are obtained over the range 10<MX<170 GeV for the case where 10<MY<160 GeV and MX+MY>90 GeV, independent of the nature of Y provided it decays to a fermion pair and has negligible width. Higgs scalars which couple only to gauge bosons at Standard Model strength are ruled out up to a mass of 90.0 GeV at the 95% confidence level. Limits are also placed on non-minimal Higgs sectors having triplet representations.