L. Silvestris

We study CPT-odd non-minimal Lorentz-symmetry violating couplings in the electroweak sector modifying the interactions between leptons, gauge mediators and the Higgs boson. The tree-level (differential) cross sections for three important electroweak processes are discussed: e+e−→ZH, e+e−→ZZ and γγ→W+W−. By considering next-generation e+e− colliders reaching center-of-mass energies at the TeV scale and the estimated improved precision for the measurements of the respective cross sections, we are able to project upper bounds on the purely time-like background 4-vector as strict as ≲10−5GeV−1, in agreement with previous work on similar Lorentz-violating couplings.

The performance of the ALEPH detector at the LEP e+e− collider is reviewed. The accuracy of the tracking detectors to measure the impact parameter and momentum of charged tracks is specified. Calorimeters are used to measure photons and neutral hadrons, and the accuracy obtained in energy and angle is given. An essential property of the detector is its ability to identify particles; the performance in identification of electrons, muons, neutrinos (from missing energy), charged hadrons, π0's and V0's is described.

The full LEP-1 data set collected with the ALEPH detector at the Z pole during 1991–1995 is analysed in order to measure the τ decay branching fractions. The analysis follows the global method used in the published study based on 1991–1993 data, but several improvements are introduced, especially concerning the treatment of photons and π0's. Extensive systematic studies are performed, in order to match the large statistics of the data sample corresponding to over 300 000 measured and identified τ decays. Branching fractions are obtained for the two leptonic channels and 11 hadronic channels defined by their respective numbers of charged particles and π0's. Using previously published ALEPH results on final states with charged and neutral kaons, corrections are applied to the hadronic channels to derive branching ratios for exclusive final states without kaons. Thus the analyses of the full LEP-1 ALEPH data are combined to yield a complete description of τ decays, encompassing 22 non-strange and 11 strange hadronic modes. Some physics implications of the results are given, in particular related to universality in the leptonic charged weak current, isospin invariance in a1 decays, and the separation of vector and axial-vector components of the total hadronic rate. Finally, spectral functions are determined for the dominant hadronic modes and updates are given for several analyses. These include: tests of isospin invariance between the weak charged and electromagnetic hadronic currents, fits of the ρ resonance lineshape, and a QCD analysis of the non-strange hadronic decays using spectral moments, yielding the value αs(mτ2)=0.340±0.005exp±0.014th. The evolution to the Z mass scale yields αs(MZ2)=0.1209±0.0018. This value agrees well with the direct determination from the Z width and provides the most accurate test to date of asymptotic freedom in the QCD gauge theory.

The flavour changing neutral current decay b→sγ has been detected in hadronic Z decays collected by ALEPH at LEP. The signal is isolated in lifetime-tagged bb̄ events by the presence of a hard photon associated with a system of high momentum and high rapidity hadrons. The background processes are normalised from the data themselves. The inclusive branching ratio is measured to be(3.11±0.80stat±0.72syst)×10−4,consistent with the Standard Model expectation via penguin processes.

Previously published and as yet unpublished QCD results obtained with the ALEPH detector at LEP1 are presented. The unprecedented statistics allows detailed studies of both perturbative and non-perturbative aspects of strong interactions to be carried out using hadronic Z and tau decays. The studies presented include precise determinations of the strong coupling constant, tests of its flavour independence, tests of the SU(3) gauge structure of QCD, study of coherence effects, and measurements of single-particle inclusive distributions and two-particle correlations for many identified baryons and mesons.

This Technical Proposal presents the upgrades foreseen to prepare the CMS experiment for the High Luminosity LHC. In this second phase of the LHC physics program, the accelerator will provide to CMS an additional integrated luminosity of about 2500 fb-1 over 10 years of operation, starting in 2025. This will substantially enlarge the mass reach in the search for new particles and will also greatly extend the potential to study the properties of the Higgs boson discovered at the LHC in 2012. In order to meet the experimental challenges of unprecedented p-p luminosity, the CMS collaboration will need to address the aging of the present detector and to improve the ability of the apparatus to isolate and precisely measure the products of the most interesting collisions. This document describes the conceptual designs and the expected performance of the upgrades, along with the plans to develop the appropriate experimental techniques. The infrastructure upgrades and the logistics of the installation in the experimental area are also discussed. Finally, the initial cost estimates of the upgrades are presented.

A search has been performed for the Standard Model Higgs boson in the data sample collected with the ALEPH detector at LEP, at centre-of-mass energies up to 209GeV. An excess of 3sigma beyond the background expectation is found, consistent with the production of the Higgs boson with a mass near 114GeV/c2. Much of this excess is seen in the four-jet analyses, where three high purity events are selected.

A measurement of the partial width ratio ΓbbΓhad using a method which tags the Z→ bb decays through the lif etime of the produced heavy hadrons is presented. This method relies on the tracking precision afforded by a double-sided silicon vertex detector. The tag algorithm makes a probabilistic interpretation of three-dimensional track impact parameters, using the data to measure the resolution. By tagging the two b hadrons separately, both ΓbbΓhad and the tag efficiency can be determined from the data. For a 26% efficiency of tagging a single b hadron within the vertex detector solid angle coverage, a purity of 96% is achieved. A value of ΓbbΓhad= 0.2192±0.0026(stat.)±0.0016(Γcc/ Γhad) is found. Combining this result with other recent ALEPH ΓbbΓhad measurements gives a 95% confidence upper limit on the Standard Model top mass of Mt < 228 GeV.

The fragmentation of b quarks into B mesons is studied with four million hadronic Z decays collected by the ALEPH experiment during the years 1991–1995. A semi-exclusive reconstruction of B→ℓνD(★) decays is performed, by combining lepton candidates with fully reconstructed D(★) mesons while the neutrino energy is estimated from the missing energy of the event. The mean value of xBwd, the energy of the weakly-decaying B meson normalised to the beam energy, is found to be 〈xBwd〉=0.716±0.006(stat)±0.006(syst), using a model-independent method; the corresponding value for the energy of the leading B meson is 〈xBL〉=0.736±0.006(stat)±0.006(syst). The reconstructed spectra are compared with different fragmentation models.

More extensive and precise results are reported on the parameters of Z decay. On the basis of 20 000 Z decays collected with the ALEPH detector at LEP we find Mz=91.182±0.026 (exp.) ±0.030 (beam) GeV, Γz=2.541±0.056 GeV and σhad0=41.4±0.8 nb. The partial widths for the hadronic and leptonic channels are Γhad=1804±44 MeV, Γe+e−=82.1±3.4 MeV, Γμ+μ−=87.9±6.0 MeV and Γτ+τ−=86.1±5.6 MeV, in good agreement with the standard model. On the basis of the average leptonic width Γℓ+ℓ−=83.9±2.2 MeV, the effective weak mixing angle is found to be sin2θw(Mz)=0.231±0.008. Usin g the partial widths calculated in the standard model, the number of light neutrino families is Nν=3.01±0.15 (exp.)±0.05 (theor.).

From an analysis of inclusive leptons in data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP, we measure the fractions of bb and cc events in hadronic Z decays. The bb fraction times semileptonic branching ratio is measured to be Br(b→e)·Γbb/Γhad= 0.0224 ± 0.0016 ± 0.0010. Assuming a b semileptonic branching ratio of 0.102 ± 0.010 gives Γbb/Γhad= 0.220 ± 0.016 ± 0.024, in good agreement with the standard model prediction of 0.217. The cc fraction times semileptonic branching ratio is measured to be Br(c→e)·Γcc/Γhad= 0.0133 ± 0.0040−0.0031+0.0038. Assuming a c semileptonic branching ratio of 0.090 ± 0.013 gives Γcc/Γhad= 0.148 ± 0.044−0.038+0.045, in agreement with the standard model prediction of 0.171.

The polarization of Λ baryons from Z decays is studied with the Aleph apparatus. Evidence of longitudinal polarization of s quarks from Z decay is observed for the first time. The measured longitudinal Λ polarization is PLΛ = −0.32 ± 0.07 for z =ppbeam> 0.3. This agrees with the prediction of −0.39 ± 0.08 from the standard model and the constituent quark model, where the error is due to uncertainties in the mechanism for Λ production. The observed Λ polarization is diluted with respect to the primary s quark polarization by Λ baryons without a primary s quark. Measurements of the Λ forward-backward asymmetry and of the correlation between back-to-back ΛΛ pairs are used to check this dilution. In addition the transverse Λ polarization is measured. An indication of transverse polarization, more than two standard deviations away from zero, is found along the normal to the plane defined by the thrust axis and the Λ direction.

A search for charginos nearly mass degenerate with the lightest neutralino is performed with the data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP, at centre-of-mass energies between 189 and 209 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 628 pb−1. The analysis is based on the detection of isolated and energetic initial state radiation photons, produced in association with chargino pairs whose decay products have little visible energy. The number of candidate events observed is in agreement with that expected from Standard Model background sources. These results are combined with those of other direct searches for charginos, and a lower limit of 88 GeV/c2 at 95% confidence level is derived for the chargino mass in the case of heavy sfermions, irrespective of the chargino-neutralino mass difference.

Inclusive π±, K± and $$(p,\bar p)$$ differential cross-sections in hadronic decays of the Z have been measured as a function ofz=P hadron/P beam, the scaled momentum. The results are based on approximately 520 000 events measured by the ALEPH detector at LEP during 1992. Charged particles are identified by their rate of ionization energy loss in the ALEPH Time Projection Chamber. The position, ξ*, of the peak in the ln(1/z) distribution is determined, and the evolution of the peak position with centre-of-mass energy is compared with the prediction of QCD.

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

The final results of the ALEPH search for the Standard Model Higgs boson at LEP, with data collected in the year 2000 at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV, are presented. The changes with respect to the preceding publication are described and a complete study of systematic effects is reported. The findings of this final analysis confirm the preliminary results published in November 2000 shortly after the closing down of the LEP collider: a significant excess of events is observed, consistent with the production of a $115 \Gcs$ Standard Model Higgs boson. The final results of the searches for the neutral Higgs bosons of the MSSM are also reported, in terms of limits on $\mh$, $\mA$ and $\tanb$. Limits are also set on $\mh$ in the case of invisible decays.

A search for selectron, smuon and stau pair production is performed with the data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV. The numbers of candidate events are consistent with the background predicted by the Standard Model. Final mass limits from ALEPH are reported.

A data sample corresponding to 1.23 million hadronic Z decays collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP has been searched for signals of the production of a non-minimal CP-even Higgs boson h in the reaction e+e−→hZ∗. The h decay modes considered were: those of the minimal standard model Higgs boson, with modified branching ratios; decays into a pair of CP-odd Higgs bosons A; and decays into invisible final states. Only one event was found, a very acoplanar e+e− pair which could originate from the standard model background process e+e−→e+e−vv̄. Upper limits for the cross-section of the reaction e+e−→hZ∗ have been derived as a function of mh, the mass of the Higgs boson h. In the case of invisible decays, the 95% CL lower limit on mh is 65 GeV/c2 for a production cross-section equal to that of a minimal standard model Higgs boson. When combined with previous ALEPH results on the reaction e+e− → hA, these cross-section upper limits exclude a domain in the (mhmA) plane of the MSSM such that if invisible h and A decays can be neglected, 95% CL lower limits of 44 and 21 GeV/c2 result for mh and mA, respectively, independent of the other parameters of the model.

From a sample of 152,000 τ decays collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP an upper limit of 24 MeV at 95% CL on the τ neutrino mass has been determined. The limit is obtained using a two dimensional likelihood fit of the visible energy and the invariant mass distribution of 25 τ → 5π(π0)ντ events.

The charged particle multiplicity distribution of hadronic Z decays was measured on the peak of the Z resonance using the ALEPH detector at LEP. Using a model independent unfolding procedure the distribution was found to have a mean 〈n〉=20.85±0.24 and a dispersion D=6.34±0.12. Comparison with lower energy data supports the KNO scaling hypothesis in the energy range s=29−91.25 GeV. At s=91.25 GeV the shape of the multiplicity distribution is well described by a log-normal distribution, as predicted from a cascading model for multi-particle production. The same model also successfully describes the energy dependence of the mean and width of the multiplicity distribution. A next-to-leading order QCD prediction in the framework of the modified leading-log approximation and local parton-hadron duality is found to fit the energy dependence of the mean but not the width of the charged multiplicity distribution, indicating that the width of the multiplicity distribution is a sensitive probe for higher order QCD or non-perturbative effects.

A search for the neutral Higgs boson in the mass range above 11 GeV (above the H0→bb threshold), using the process Z0→H0e+e−, Z0→H0μ+μ− and Z0→H0vv, is performed on data collected by the ALEPH detector corresponding to about 25 000 events of Z0→ hadrons. Combining all these processes, the mass range excluded is 11 GeV at 95% CL. Together with a previously published result from ALEPH, the mass range excluded is 32 MeV to 24 GeV at 95% CL. This result also extends the excluded mass region for neutral Higgs bosons from supersymmetry.

A data sample corresponding to about 100 000 hadronic Z decays collected by ALEPH at LEP has been used to search for the standard Higgs boson produced in the reaction e+e− → H0Z0∗. No indication for any signal was found, and a 95% CL lower limit on the Higgs boson mass has been set at 41.6 GeV.

The polarization of τ leptons produced in the reaction e+e−→τ+τ− at the Z resonance has been measured using the τ decay modes eνeντ, μνμντ, πντ, ϱντ, and a1ντ. The mean value obtained is Pτ = −0.152±0.045, indicating that parity is violated in the neutral current process e+e− → τ+τ−. The result corresponds to a ratio of a neutral current vector and axial vector coupling constants of the τ lepton gVτ(M2Z)gAτ(M2Z)= 0.076±0.023 and a value of the electroweak mixing parameter sin2θw(M2Z) = 0.2302 ± 0.0058.

The properties of theZ resonance are measured on the basis of 190 000Z decays into fermion pairs collected with the ALEPH detector at LEP. Assuming lepton universality,M z =(91.182±0.009exp±0.020L∶P) GeV,Г Z =(2484±17) MeV, σ had 0 =(41.44±0.36) nb, andГ jad /Г ℓℓ=21.00±0.20. The corresponding number of light neutrino species is 2.97±0.07. The forward-back-ward asymmetry in leptonic decays is used to determine the ratio of vector to axial-vector coupling constants of leptons:g 2 (M 2 )/g 2 (M 2 )=0.0072±0.0027. Combining these results with ALEPH results on quark charge and $$b\bar b$$ asymmetries, and τ polarization, sin2 θ W (M 2 ). In the contex of the Minimal Standard Model, limits are placed on the top-quark mass.

The light scalar Higgs boson h and the pseudoscalar Higgs boson A of the minimal supersymmetric standard model have been searched for in the processes e+e−→hff and e+e−→hA using data collected by ALEPH at the LEP e+e− collider, with center of mass energies at and near the Z peak. Using a variety of signatures adapted to various mass ranges for h and A, we have excluded a large domain in the parameter space. For large values of ν2ν1, the ratio of the vacuum expectation values of the two Higgs fields, the whole range from 0 to 38.8 GeV is excluded for Mh and MA at 95% CL.

A search for the production and non-standard decay of a Higgs boson, h, into four taus through intermediate pseudoscalars, a, is conducted on 683 pb−1 of data collected by the ALEPH experiment at centre-of-mass energies from 183 to 209 GeV. No excess of events above background is observed, and exclusion limits are placed on the combined production cross section times branching ratio, $ {\xi^2} = \frac{{\sigma \left( {{\text{e}^{+} }{\text{e}^{-} } \to {\text{Zh}}} \right)}}{{{\sigma_{\text{SM}}}\left( {{\text{e}^{+} }{\text{e}^{-} } \to {\text{Zh}}} \right)}} \times B\left( {h \to {\text{aa}}} \right) \times B{\left( {{\text{a}} \to {\tau^{+} }{\tau^{-} }} \right)^2} $ . For m h < 107 GeV/c 2 and 4 < m a < 10 GeV/c 2, ξ 2 > 1 is excluded at the 95% confidence level.

Two samples of exclusive semileptonic decays, 579 B0 →D∗+ℓ−νℓ events and 261 B0 → D+ℓ−νℓ events, are selected from approximately 3.9 million hadronic Z decays collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP. From the reconstructed differential decay rate of each sample, the product of the hadronic form factor F(ω) at zero recoil of the D(∗)+ meson and the CKM matrix element |Vcb| are measured to be FD∗+(1)|Vcb| = (31.9 ± 1.8stat ± 1.9syst) × 10−3, FD+(1)|Vcb| = (27.8 ± 6.8stat ± 6.5syst) × 10−3. The ratio of the form factors FD+(1) and FD∗+(1) is measured to be FD+(1)FD∗+(1) = 0.87 ± 0.22stat ± 0.21syst. A value of |Vcb| is extracted from the two samples, using theoretical constraints on the slope and curvature of the hadronic form factors and their normalization at zero recoil, with the result |Vcb| = (34.4 ± 1.6stat ± 2.3syst ± 1.4th) × 10−3. The branching fractions are measured from the two integrated spectra to be Br(B0 → D∗+ℓ−νℓ) = (5.53 ± 0.26stat ±0.52syst)%, Br(B0 → D∗+ℓ−νℓ) = (2.35 ± 0.20stat ± 0.44syst)%.

The strong coupling constant is determined from the leptonic branching ratios, the lifetime, and the invariant mass distribution of the hadronic final state of the τ lepton, using data accumulated at LEP with the ALEPH detector. The strong coupling constant measurement, αs(mτ2) = 0.330±0.046, evolved to the Z mass yields αs(MZ2) = 0.188±0.005. The error includes experimental and theoretical uncertainties, the latter evaluated in the framework of the Shifman, Vainshtein and Zakharov (SVZ) approach. The method allows the non-perturbative contribution to the hadronic decay rate to be determined to be 0.3±0.5%.

Using 1.45 million hadronic Z decays collected by the ALEPH experiment at LEP, the b → τ−ν-τX branching ratio is measured to be 2.75 ± 0.30 ± 0.37%. In addition an upper limit of 1.8 × 10−3 at 90% confidence level is placed upon the exclusive branching ratio of B−→ τ−ν-τ. These measurements are consistent with SM expectations, and put the constraint tan βMh±< 0.52 GeV−1 at 90% confidence level on all Type II two Higgs doublet models (such as the MSSM).

Distributions are presented of event shape variables, jet roduction rates and charged particle momenta obtained from 53 000 hadronicZ decays. They are compared to the predictions of the QCD+hadronization models JETSET, ARIADNE and HERWIG, and are used to optimize several model parameters. The JETSET and ARIADNE coherent parton shower (PS) models with running αs and string fragmentation yield the best description of the data. The HERWIG parton shower model with cluster fragmentation fits the data less well. The data are in better agreement with JETSET PS than with JETSETO(α S 2 ) matrix elements (ME) even when the renormalization scale is optimized.

Searches for scalar top, scalar bottom and mass-degenerate scalar quarks are performed in the data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP, at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 675 pb−1. No evidence for the production of such particles is found in the decay channels t̃→c/uχ, t̃→bℓν̃, b̃→bχ, q̃→qχ or in the stop four-body decay channel t̃→bχff̄′ studied for the first time at LEP. The results of these searches yield improved mass lower limits. In particular, an absolute lower limit of 63 GeV/c2 is obtained for the stop mass, at 95% confidence level, irrespective of the stop lifetime and decay branching ratios.

A search for charged Higgs bosons produced in pairs is performed with data collected at centre-of-mass energies ranging from 189 to 209 GeV by ALEPH at LEP, corresponding to a total luminosity of 629 invpb. The three final states taunutaunu, taunucs and cscs are considered. No evidence for a signal is found and lower limits are set on the mass M_H+ as a function of the branching fraction B(H to taunu). In the framework of a two-Higgs-doublet model, and assuming B(H+ to taunu + B(H+ to cs) = 1 charged Higgs bosons with masses below 79.3 Gev/c2 are excluded at 95% confidence level independently of the branching ratios.

This paper describes a study of Bose-Einstein correlations made using the ALEPH detector at LEP. The correlations are found to enhance the two particle differential cross section for pairs of identical pions by a factor which can be roughly parametrized byR(Q)=1+λ exp(-Q2σ2), whereQ is the difference in the 3-momenta of the two pions in their centre of mass frame, λ=0.51±0.04±0.11 and σ=3.3±0.2±0.8 GeV−1, which corresponds to a source size of 0.65±0.04±0.16 fm. The large systematic errors on these results reflect their strong dependence on the choice of the reference sample used in the analysis. This problem is believed to occur primarily because of uncertainties in the rates of resonance production and a lack of knowledge about the pion-pion strong interaction. No significant correlations are seen amongst like-charged pion-kaon pairs.

We present predictions of the distribution of groomed heavy jet mass in electron-positron collisions at the next-to-next-to-leading order accuracy matched with the resummation of large logarithms to next-to-next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy. Resummation at this accuracy is possible through extraction of necessary two-loop constants and three-loop anomalous dimensions from fixed-order codes.

Using a data sample corresponding to about 1 233 000 hadronic Z decays collected by the ALEPH experiment at LEP, the reaction e+e−→HZ∗ has been used to search for the standard model Higgs boson, in association with missing energy when Z∗→ vv̄, or with a pair of energetic leptons when Z∗→e+e−orμ+μ−. No signal was found and, at the 95% confidence level, mH exceeds 58.4 GeV/c2.

Deuteron and anti-deuteron production in Z decays has been observed in the ALEPH experiment at LEP. The production rate of anti-deuterons is measured to be 5.9+-1.8+-0.5 10^-6 per hadronic Z decay in the anti-deuteron momentum range 0.62 to 1.03 GeV/c. The coalescence parameter B_2, which characterizes the likelihood of anti-deuteron production, is measured to be 0.0033+-0.0013 GeV^2 in Z dedays. These measurements indicate that the production of anti-deuterons is suppressed in e+e- collisions compared to pp and photoproduction collisions.

Triple gauge-boson couplings γWW and ZWW involving single-photon, single-W and W-pair production are determined using data samples collected at LEP with the ALEPH detector at centre-of-mass energies between 183 and 209 GeV. The integrated luminosity used is 700 pb−1 for the single-photon measurement and 683 pb−1 for the W channels. Restricting the measurement to C- and P-conserving terms and applying local SU(2)L×U(1)Y gauge invariance, the measured values of the parameters g1Z, κγ and λγ are: g1Z=1.001±0.027(stat)±0.013(syst),κγ=0.971±0.055(stat)±0.030(syst),λγ=−0.012±0.027(stat)±0.011(syst) for single-parameter fits, where the two other parameters are fixed to their Standard Model values. Results are also presented for the cases where two or all three couplings are allowed to vary. An additional analysis using W-pair events is performed to measure the unconstrained real and imaginary parts of all 14 triple gauge-boson couplings and to perform an indirect search for a techni-ρ resonance. No deviations from the Standard Model expectations are observed and the lower limit on the techni-ρ mass is set to 600 GeV/c2 at 95% confidence level.

An analysis of global event-shape variables has been carried out for the reaction e+e−→Z0→hadrons to measure the strong coupling constant αs. This study is based on 52 720 hadronic events obtained in 1989/90 with the ALEPH detector at the LEP collider at energies near the peak of the Z-resonance. In order to determine αs, second order QCD predictions modified by effects of perturbative higher orders and hadronization were fitted to the experimental distributions of event-shape variables. From a detailed analysis of the theoretical uncertainties we find that this approach is best justified for the differential two-jet rate, from which we obtain αs(MZ2) = 0.121 ± 0.002(stat.)±0.003(sys.)±0.007(theor.) using a renormalization scale ω =12MZ. The dependence of αs(MZ2) on ω is parameterized. For scales mb<ω<MZ the result varies by −0.012+0.007.

Charginos and neutralinos are searched for in the data collected by the ALEPH experiment at LEP for centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV. The negative result of these searches is combined with those from searches for sleptons and Higgs bosons to derive an absolute lower limit of 43.1 GeV/c2 on the mass of the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP), assumed to be the lightest neutralino. This limit is obtained in the framework of the MSSM with R-parity conservation and with gaugino and sfermion mass unification at the GUT scale and assuming no mixing in the stau sector. The LSP limit degrades only slightly to 42.4 GeV/c2 if stau mixing is considered. Within the more constrained framework of minimal supergravity, the limit is 50 GeV/c2.

Cross sections, angular distributions and forward-backward asymmetries are presented, of two-fermion events produced in e+e- collisions at centre-of-mass energies from 189 to 209 GeV at LEP, measured with the ALEPH detector. Results for e+e-, μ+μ-, τ+τ-, qq̄, bb̄ and cc̄ production are in agreement with the standard model predictions. Constraints are set on scenarios of new physics such as four-fermion contact interactions, leptoquarks, Z′ bosons, TeV-scale quantum gravity and R-parity violating squarks and sneutrinos.

A study of scaling violations in fragmentation functions performed by the ALEPH collaboration at LEP is presented. Data samples enriched in uds, c, b and gluon jets, respectively, together with measurements of the longitudinal and transverse inclusive cross sections are used to extract the fragmentation function for the gluon and for each flavour. The measurements are compared to data from experiments at energies between 22 GeV and 91 GeV and scaling violations consistent with QCD predictions are observed. From this, a measurement of the strong coupling constant αs(Mz) = 0.126 ±0.009 is obtained.

Searches for supersymmetric particles produced in e+e− collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 130 and 136 GeV have been performed in a data sample of 5.7 pb−1 collected in the autumn of 1995 by the ALEPH detector at LEP. No candidate events were found, allowing limits to be set on the masses and production cross-sections of scalar leptons, scalar tops, charginos and neutralinos. The domains previously excluded at LEP1 are substantially extended. For instance, masses of gaugino-like charginos smaller than 67.8 GeV/c2 are excluded at the 95% C.L. for scalar neutrino masses larger than 200 GeV/c2.

In 431 000 hadronicZ decays recorded with the ALEPH detector at LEP, the yields of electrons and muons in events with one or more prompt leptons have been analysed to give information on the production and decay of heavy quarks. The fractions of $$b\bar b$$ and $$c\bar c$$ events are measured to be 0.219±0.006±0.005 and 0.165±0.005±0.020, and the corresponding forward-backward asymmetries at theZ mass are measured to be 0.090±0.013±0.003 and 0.111±0.021±0.018, after QED and QCD corrections. Measurements for the semileptonic branching ratios BR $$(b \to \ell ^ - \bar vX)$$ and BR (b→cℓ+ vX) yield 0.114±0.003±0.004 and 0.082±0.003±0.012, respectively. The dilepton events enable measurement of theb mixing parameter, Χ=0.114±0.014±0.008. Results are also presented for the energy variation of the $$b\bar b$$ asymmetry and the parameters required to describe heavy quark fragmentation. From the asymmetry measurements, the effective electroweak mixing angle is sin2θ eff =0.2333±0.0022.

Using 106 000 hadronic events obtained with the ALEPH detector at LEP at energies close to the Z resonance peak, the strong coupling constant αs is measured by an analysis of energy-energy correlations (EEC) and the global event shape variables thrust, C-parameter and oblateness. It is shown that the theoretical uncertainties can be significantly reduced if the final state particles are first combined in clusters using a minimum scaled invariant mass cut, Ycut, before these variables are computed. The combined result from all shape variables of pre-clustered events is αs(MZ2 = 0.117±0.005 for a renormalization scale μ=12MZ. For μ values between MZ and the b-quark mass, the result changes by −0.009+0.006.

Exotic hadrons made of five quarks (pentaquarks) are searched for in hadronic Z decays collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP. No significant signal is observed. At 95% C.L., upper limits are set on the production rates N of such particles and their charge-conjugate state per Z decay: NΘ(1535)+⋅BR(Θ(1535)+→pKS0)<6.2×10−4,NΞ(1862)−−⋅BR(Ξ(1862)−−→Ξ−π−)<4.5×10−4,NΞ(1862)0⋅BR(Ξ(1862)0→Ξ−π+)<8.9×10−4,NΘc(3100)0⋅BR(Θc(3100)0→D*−p)<6.3×10−4,NΘc(3100)0⋅BR(Θc(3100)0→D−p)<31×10−4.

Limits on Z decay branching ratios into neutralinos are reported. They were obtained from searches for monojets, acoplanar jets, acoplanar lepton pairs, single photons and acoplanar photon pairs as signaturs for the reactions e+e- → χχ′ and e+e- → χχ′, where χ is the lightest neutralino and χ′ any heavier one. The data sample used for these searches corresponds to about 23 000 events of Z decay into multihadrons, collected at LEP by the ALEPH detector for centre of mass energies at and near the Z peak. The results obtained are used to restrict the parameter space of the minimal supersymmetric standard model.

In a sample of 190 000 hadronic Z decays, three signals of charm production are observed: two from the exclusive decays D° →K−π+andD∗+→D°π+→K−π+π+ and one in the transverse-momentum distribution of soft hadrons relative to the nearest jet. The features of these signals are in good agreement with expectations based on the standard model and previous measurements of the branching fractions. The number of D∗±→K±π±π± per hadronic decay of the Z is measured to be (5.11±0.34) × 10−3, and the branching ratio B(D0 → K−π+) is (3.62 ± 0.34 ± 0.44)%. Charm hadronization has been studied. The average fraction of the beam energy carried by the D∗ meson is found to be 〈XE〉c = 0.504−0.017+0.013±0.008, and implications of the measurements on the pseudoscalar-to-vector production ratio of charmed mesons are discussed.

The mass of the W boson is determined from the direct reconstruction of its decays into purely hadronic and semi-leptonic events in e+e- collisions at LEP. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 683 inverse picobarns collected with the ALEPH detector at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV. To minimise any effect from colour reconnection a new procedure is adopted in which low energy particles are not considered in the mass determination from the purely hadronic channel. The combined result from all channels is Mw = 80.440+-0.043(stat.)+-0.024(syst.)+-0.009(FSI)+-0.009(LEP) GeV/c**2 where FSI represents the possible effects of final state interactions in the purely hadronic channel. From two-parameter fits to the W mass and width, the W width is found to be Gw = 2.14+-0.09(stat.)+-0.04(syst.)+-0.05(FSI)+-0.01(LEP) GeV

The results of searches for selectrons, charginos and neutralinos performed with the data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV are interpreted in the framework of the Minimal Supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model with R-parity conservation. Under the assumptions of gaugino and sfermion mass unification and no sfermion mixing, an absolute lower limit of 73 GeV/c2 is set on the mass of the lighter selectron ẽR at the 95% confidence level. Similarly, limits on the masses of the heavier selectron ẽL and of the sneutrino ν̃e are set at 107 and 84 GeV/c2, respectively. Additional constraints are derived from the results of the searches for Higgs bosons. The results are also interpreted in the framework of minimal supergravity.

The decay B0 -> J/psi K0_S is reconstructed with J/psi -> e+ e- or mu+ mu- and K0_S -> pi+ pi-. From the full ALEPH dataset at LEP1 of about 4 million hadronic Z decays, 23 candidates are selected with an estimated purity of 71%. They are used to measure the CP asymmetry of this decay, given by sin 2beta in the Standard Model, with the result sin 2beta = 0.84 +0.82-1.04 +-0.16. This is combined with existing measurements from other experiments, and increases the confidence level that CP violation has been observed in this channel to 98%.

Single top production via the flavour changing neutral current reactions e+e- -> \bar{t}c, \bar{t}u is searched for within the 214 pb-1 of data collected by ALEPH at centre-of-mass energies between 204 and 209 GeV. No deviation from the Standard Model expectation is observed and upper limits on the single top production cross sections are derived. The combination with data collected at lower centre-of-mass energies yields an upper limit on the branching ratio BR(t -> Zc)+BR(t -> Zu) 14%, for BR(t -> \gamma c)+BR(t -> \gamma u)= 0 and mt=174 GeV/c2.

Quark and gluon jets with the same energy, 24 GeV, are compared in symmetric three-jet configurations from hadronic Z decays observed by the ALEPH detector. Jets are defined using the Durham algorithm. Gluon jets are identified using an anti-tag on b jets, based on a track impact parameter method. The comparison of gluon and mixed flavour quark jets shows that gluon jets have a softer fragmentation function, a larger angular width and a higher particle multiplicity, Evidence is presented which shows that the corresponding differences between gluon and b jets are significantly smaller. In a statistically limited comparison the multiplicity in c jets was found to be comparable with that observed for the jets of mixed quark flavour.

A search for pair-produced charged Higgs bosons in decays of the Z0 has been performed using the ALEPH detector at LEP for the decay channels H+H− → ντντ, H+H− → ντ cs and H+H− → cs cs. Searches for two additional decay channels in which cs is replaced by cb were also performed. With 1.17 pb−1 of integrated luminosity, corresponding to about 25 000 hadronic decays of the Z0, the charged Higgs has been excluded at 95% CL in the mass range 7.6 to 43.0 GeV for BR[H± → ντ] = 100%, 8.3 to 40.6 GeV for BR[H±→ντ] = BR[H±→cs] = 50%, and 14.4 to 35.4 GeV for BR[H±→cs] = 100% . With cs replaced by cb, the charged Higgs has been excluded at 95% CL in the mass range 12.0 to 40.7 GeV for BR[H±→ντ] = BR[H±→cb] = 50%, and 16.2 to 35.7 GeV for BR[H±→cb] = 100%.

B0B0 oscillation is studied using almost a million hadronic Z decays collected by the ALEPH experiment at LEP. Events are selected with two leptons present, on opposite sides of the event and with high transverse momentum. The leptons are expected to be dominantly from b decays; a topological vertexing technique is applied to measure the decay length of the b hadrons, and their momentum is determined using an energy-flow method. The fraction of events in which the leptons have the same charge is studied as a function of the measured decay time, and clear evidence is seen for the time-dependent nature of Bd0Bd0 mixing. The frequency measured for the oscillation corresponds to a mass difference for the Bd0 mass eigenstates Δmd = (3.3−0.4+0.5 ± 0.7) × 10−4 eV/c2. Allowing a second frequency component for the Bs0 a high value for Δms is favoured, leading to the limit Δms > 12 × 10−4 eV/c2 (95% CL), from which (Δm/Γ)s > 2.0 is derived.

From a sample of 150 000 hadronic Z decays collected with the ALEPH detector at LEP, events containing prompt leptons are used to measure the forward-backward asymmetries for the channels Z→bb and Z→cc, giving the results AFBb=0.126±0.028±0.012 and AFBc=0.064±0.039±0.030. These asymmetries correspond to the value of effective electroweak mixing angle at the Z mass sin2θW(mZ2) = 0.2262±0.0053.

A search has been made for a very light Higgs boson in the processes e+e- → e+e-H and e+e- →μ+μ-H using data collected by ALEPH at the LEP e+e- collider at centre of mass energies close to the Z peak. The mass range between 0 and 57 MeV is unambigously excluded at the 95% confidence level. If we combine this with our previously published analysis, the complete range from 0 to 24 GeV is excluded at 95% CL. The search is extended to light Higgs bosons of the minimal supersymmetric standard model, with the result that all possibilities of coupling are excluded for Higgs masses below 3 GeV.

A significant charge asymmetry is observed in the hadronic Z decays with the ALEPH detector at LEP. The asymmetry expressed in terms of the difference in momentum weighted charges in the two event hemispheres is measured to be <Qforward>−<Qbackward>= −0.0084±0.0015 (stat.) ±0.0004 (exp. sys.). In the framework of the standard model this can be interpreted as a measurement of the effective electroweak mixing angle, sin2Ow (Mz2=0.2300±0.0034 (stat.) ±0.0010 (exp. sys.) ±0.0038 (theor. sys.) or of the ratio of the vector to axual- vector coupling costants of the electron, gvegAe=+0.073±0.024.

From approximately 3 million hadronic decays of Z bosons recorded with the aleph detector at lep, a sample of 410 ± 32 B0→ D∗+ℓ−νℓ candidates is selected, where ℓ is either an electron or a muon. The differential decay rate dΓ (B0→ D∗+ℓ−νℓ)dω from this sample is fitted, yielding a value for the product of the CKM matrix element |Vcb| and the normalisation of the decay form factor at the point of zero recoil of the D∗+ meson F(ω = 1)|Vcb| = (31.4 ± 2.3stat ± 2.5syst) × 10−3. A value for |Vcb| is extracted using theoretical calculations of the form factor normalisation, with the result |Vcb| = (34.5 ± 2.5stat ± 2.7syst ± 1.5theory) × 10−3. From the integrated s the measured branching fraction is Br(B0→ D∗+ℓ−νℓ) = (5.18 ± 0.30stat± 0.62syst)%.

Using a sample of about 1.46 million hadronic Z decays collected between 1991 and 1993 with the ALEPH detector at LEP, the energy distribution of the B0 and B± mesons produced at the Z resonance is measured by reconstructing semileptonic decays B → ℓνℓD(X) or B→ ℓνℓD∗+(X). The charmed mesons are reconstructed through the decay modes D0 → K−π+, D0 → K−π+π−π+, D+ → K−π+π+ and D∗+→ D0π+. The neutrino energy is estimated from the missing energy in the lepton hemisphere. Accounting for B∗ and B∗∗ production, the shape of the scaled energy distribution xE(b) for mesons containing a b quark is compared to the predictions of different fragmentation models. The mean value of xE(b) is found to be 〈xE(b)〉 = 0.715 ± 0.007(stat) ± 0.013(syst).

The Λb polarization in hadronic Z decays is measured in semileptonic decays from the average energies of the charged lepton and the neutrino. In a data sample of approximately 3 million hadronic Z decays collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP between 1991 and 1994, 462 ± 31 Λb candidates are selected using (Λπ+)-lepton correlations. From this event sample, the Λb polarization is measured to be PΛb = −0.23−0.20+0.24(stat.)−0.07+0.08(syst.).

Using the 18.8 pb−1 of data accumulated at LEP in 1990 and 1991 with the ALEPH detector, a direct test of neutral current CP-invariance is performed by a search for CP-odd correlations in Z decays to τ pairs where both τ decay modes are identified. No evidence for CP-violation is observed. The weak dipole moment of the τ has been measured to be dτ(mZ) = (1.3 ± 1.4 ± 0.1) × 10−17 e·cm which results in an upper limit on the weak dipole moment of |dτ(mZ)| ⩽ 3.7 × 10−17 e·cm with 95% confidence level.

The reaction e+e− → HZ∗ is used to search for the standard model Higgs boson in the Hνν and the Hℓ+ℓ− channels. The data sample corresponds to about 4.5 million hadronic Z decays collected by the ALEPH experiment at LEP from 1989 to 1995 at centre-of-mass energies at and around the Z peak. Three candidate events are found in the Hμ+μ− channel, in agreement with the expected background from the electroweak process e+e− ℓ+ℓ−qq. This search results in a 95% C.L. lower limit on the Higgs boson mass of 63.9 GeV/c2.

Data taken with the ALEPH detector at LEP1 have been used to search for gamma gamma production of the glueball candidates f0(1500) and fJ(1710) via their decay to pi+pi-. No signal is observed and upper limits to the product of gamma gamma width and pi+pi- branching ratio of the f0(1500) and the fJ(1710) have been measured to be Gamma_(gamma gamma -&gt; f0(1500)). BR(f0(1500)-&gt;pi+pi-) &lt; 0.31 keV and Gamma_(gamma gamma -&gt; fJ(1710)). BR(fJ(1710)-&gt;pi+pi-) &lt; 0.55 keV at 95% confidence level.

The lifetimes of the B0 and B− mesons have been measured with the ALEPH detector at LEP. Semileptonic decays of B0 and B− mesons were partially reconstructed by identifying events containing a lepton with an associated D∗+orD0 meson. The proper time of the B meson was estimated from the measured decay length and the momentum and mass of the D-lepton system. A fit to the proper time of 77 D∗+ℓ− and 77 D0ℓ− candidates, combined with a constraint on the lifetime ratio (τ−τ0) arising from the relative rates of observed D∗+ℓ− and D0ℓ− events, yielded the following lifetimes: τ0=1.52−0.18+0.20(stat.)−0.13+0.07(syst.)ps, τ−= 1.47−0.19+0.22(stat.)−0.14+0.15(syst.)ps,τ−τ0= 0.96−0.15+0.19(stat.)−0.12+0.18(syst.).

A search for the pseudoscalar meson ηb is performed in two-photon interactions at LEP 2 with an integrated luminosity of 699 pb−1 collected at e+e− centre-of-mass energies from 181 GeV to 209 GeV. One candidate event is found in the six-charged-particle final state and none in the four-charged-particle final state, in agreement with the total expected background of about one event. Upper limits of Γγγ(ηb)×BR(ηb→4charged particles)<48 eV, Γγγ(ηb)×BR(ηb→6charged particles)<132 eV are obtained at 95% confidence level, which correspond to upper limits of 9.0% and 25% on these branching ratios.

Using a missing energy tag, evidence is presented for the decay b → τ−ντX, and its branching ratio is measured to be (4.08 ± 0.76 ± 0.62)%.

In 160 000 hadronic Z decays recorded with the ALEPH detector at LEP, the yields of Λℓ− and Λℓ+ combinations have been measured. The observed excess of Λℓ− over Λℓ+ of 53±13 is interpreted as evidence for b baryons and their semileptonic decay. Assuming that three body decay processes such as Λb→Λc+ℓ−v dominate the semileptonic decay of b baryons, this ex cess corresponds to a product branching ratio BR(b→Λb)·BR(Λb→Λc+ℓ−v)·BR(Λc+→ΛX) = (0.95±0.22 (stat.)±0.21(syst.))%, where Λb and Λc+ denote the bottom and charm baryons respectively.

From a data sample of 450 000 hadronic events recorded with the ALEPH detector at LEP, 92±10 events are observed containing a J/ψ meson decaying to μ+μ− or e+e−. From these data the measured inclusive branching fraction for a b flavoured hadron to decay to a J/ψ is BR(b→ J/ψX) = (1.21±0.13 (stat.)±0.08 (syst.))%, and the average b hadron lifetime in the events tagged with a J/ψ is τb = 1.35+0.19−0.17±0.05 ps. Five events are observed consistent with the exclusive decay B± → J/ψK± and from these events the exclusive branching fraction is measured to be BR(B± → J/ψK±) = (0.22±0.10±0.02)%. Upper limits for other exclusive branching ratios are given.

The production of final states involving one or more energetic photons from e+e− collisions is studied in a sample of 58.5pb−1 of data recorded at a centre-of-mass energy of 183 GeV by the ALEPH detector at LEP. The e+e−→νν̄γ(γ) and e+e−→γγ(γ) cross sections are measured. The data are in good agreement with predictions based on the Standard Model and are used to set upper limits on the cross sections for anomalous photon production in the context of two supersymmetric models and for various extensions to QED. In particular, in the context of a super-light gravitino model a cross section upper limit of 0.38 pb is placed on the process e+e−→G̃G̃γ, allowing a lower limit to be set on the mass of the gravitino. Limits are also set on the mass of the lightest neutralino in Gauge Mediated Supersymmetry Breaking models. In the case of equal ee∗γ and eeγ couplings a 95% C.L. lower limit on Me∗ of 250GeV/c2 is obtained.

ALEPH's published measurement of Rb = Γ(Z → bb)Γ(Z → hadrons) using a lifetime tag is updated using the full LEP 1 data sample. Considerable effort has been devoted to understanding systematic effects. Charm background is better controlled by combining the lifetime tag with a tag based on the bc hadron mass difference. Furthermore, the algorithm used to reconstruct the event primary vertex is designed so as to reduce correlations between the two hemispheres of an event. The value of Rb is measured to be 0.2167 ± 0.0011(stat) ± 0.0013(syst).

In June 1996, the LEP centre-of-mass energy was raised to 161 GeV. Pair production of W bosons in e+e− collisions was observed for the first time by the LEP experiments. An integrated luminosity of 11 pb−1 was recorded in the ALEPH detector, in which WW candidate events were observed. In 6 events both Ws decay leptonically. In 16 events, one W decays leptonically, the other into hadrons. In the channel where both Ws decay into hadrons, a signal was separated from the large background by means of several multi-variate analyses. The W pair cross-section is measured to be σWW = 4.23 ± 0.73 (stat.) ± 0.19 (syst.) pb. From this cross-section, the W mass is derived within the framework of the Standard Model: mW = 80.14 ± 0.34 (stat.) ± 0.09 (syst.) ± 0.03 (LEP energy) GeV/c2

In 450 000 hadronic Z decays recorded with the ALEPH detector at LEP, the yields of Ds−ℓ+ and Λc+ℓ− combinations have been measured. 16.0 ± 4.3 Ds−ℓ+ combinations were observed in the Ds− → ππ− channel and 17.0 ± 4.5 combinations were observed in the Ds−→K∗0K− channel. 21.0 ± 5.0 Λc+ℓ− combinations were observed, with the Λc+ reconstructed in the decay mode Λc+ → pK−π+. These events provide evidence for the decays Bs→Ds−Xℓ+νandΛb→ Λc+Xℓ−ν. Assuming that the Bs and Λb semileptonic decays are dominantly three-body, these observed yields, after background subtraction, translate into the following product branching ratios: Br(b→Bs)Br(Bs→Ds−Xℓ+ν) = 0.040±0.011−0.012+0.010, Br(b→ Λb)Br(Λb→ Λc+Xℓ−ν) = 0.030±0.007±0.009.

Precise values of theZ resonance cross sections and lepton pair forward-backward asymmetries are measured from a sample of 1.3 millionZ decays into hadrons and charged leptons taken with the ALEPH detector at LEP. A silicon-tungsten luminosity calorimeter was installed in ALEPH in 1992, permitting the determination of the absolute luminosity to a systematic precision of 0.15% (experimental) and 0.25% (theoretical). This is combined with a better understanding of the hadronic event selection and an improved tau pair selection. Including the ALEPH results of the past three years one obtains σ 0 =(41.60±0.16) nb, andR l =20.69±0.09. The corresponding number of light neutrino species isN v =2.983±0.034. The lepton pair forward-backward asymmetry is used to derive the ratio of vector to axial-vector couplings of leptons:g 2 (M 2 )/g 2 (M 2 )=0.0058 ±0.0011. An application of these results to constrain one model with extraZ bosons is presented.

We study electron-positron annihilations into six jets at the parton level in perturbative Quantum Chromo-Dynamics (QCD), via the elementary processes ϵ+ϵ− → qq−gggg, ϵ+ϵ− → qq−q′q−′ gg and ϵ+ϵ− → qq−q′q−′q″q−″, for massive quarks q, q′ and q″ and massless gluons g. Several numerical results of phenomenological relevance are given, at three different collider energies and for a representative selection of jet clustering algorithms. We also present helicity amplitudes and colour factors needed for the tree-level calculation.

In a sample of about 1.1 million hadronic Z decays recorded with the ALEPH detector during the 1990–1992 running of LEP, two unambiguous BS meson candidates were observed. From these events the mass of the BS meson has been measured to be 5.3686 ± 0.0056 (stat.) ± 0.0015 (syst.) GeV.

We have looked for evidence of excited lepton production in Z0 decay observed in the ALEPH detector at LEP. We find no ℓℓγγ events and set new limits at 95% CL on ℓ∗ masses at 44.6, 44.6 and 41.2 GeV/c2 for e∗, μ∗andτ∗ respectively. Observed events in the ℓℓγ channels are consistent with radiative effects and we set limits for the first time on the ℓ∗ℓZ coupling for ℓ∗ masses in the range up to 86 GeV/c2.

We report on the properties of theZ resonance from 62 500Z decays into fermion pairs collected with the ALEPH detector at LEP, the Large Electron-Positron storage ring at CERN. We findM Z=(91.193±0.016exp±0.030LEP) GeV, Γ Z =(2497±31) MeV, σ had 0 =(41.86±0.66)nb, and for the partial widths Γinv=(489±24) MeV, Γhad(1754±27) MeV, Γ ee =(85.0±1.6)MeV, Γ μμ =(80.0±2.5) MeV, and Γττ=(81.3±2.5) MeV, all in good agreement with the Standard Model. Assuming lepton universality and using a lepton sample without distinction of the final state we measure Γu=(84.3±1.3) MeV. The forward-backward asymmetry in leptonic decays is used to determine the vector and axial-vector weak coupling constants of leptors,g v 2 (M 2 )=(0.12±0.12)×10−2 andg A 2 (M 2 )=0.2528±0.0040. The number of light neutrino species isN ν=2.91±0.13; the electroweak mixing angle is sin2θW(M Z 2 )=0.2291±0.0040.

A search for events with a photon pair arising from the decay of a Higgs boson produced in association with a fermion pair, is performed in 893 pb−1 of data recorded by the ALEPH detector at LEP at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV. No excess of such events is found over the expected background. An upper limit is derived on the product of the e+e−→HZ cross section and the H→γγ branching fraction as a function of the Higgs boson mass. A fermiophobic Higgs boson produced with the Standard Model cross section is excluded at 95% confidence level for all masses below 105.4 GeV/c2.

From more than 175 000 hadronic Z decays observed with the ALEPH detector at LEP, we select 823 events with pairs of leptons in the final state. From these we measure χ, the probability thata b hadron which is observed to decay originated as a b hadron. We find χ=0.132−0.026+0.027.

The decays η → γγ and η′ → ηπ+π− have been observed in hadronic decays of the Z produced at LEP. The fragmentation functions of both the η and η′ have been measured. The measured multiplicities for x > 0.1 are 0.298±0.023±0.021 and 0.068±0.016 for η and η′ respectively. While the fragmentation function for the η is fairly well described by the JETSET Monte Carlo, it is found that the production rate of the η′ is a factor of four less than the corresponding prediction.

The triple gauge-boson couplings, αWΦ, αW and αBΦ, have been measured using 34 semileptonically and 54 hadronically decaying W+W− candidate events. The events were selected in the data recorded during 1996 with the ALEPH detector at 172 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 10.65 pb−1. The triple gauge-boson couplings have been measured using optimal observables constructed from kinematic information of W+W− events. The results are in agreement with the Standard Model expectation.

The total cross section and the forward-backward asymmetry for the process e+e− → μ+μ−(nγ) are measured in the energy range 20–136 GeV by reconstructing the effective centre-of-mass energy after initial state radiation. The analysis is based on the data recorded with the ALEPH detector at LEP between 1990 and 1995, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 143.5 pb−1. Two different approaches are used: in the first one an exclusive selection of events with hard initial state radiation in the energy range 20–88 GeV is directly compared with the Standard Model predictions showing good agreement. In the second one, all events are used to obtain a precise measurement of the energy dependence of σ0 and AFB0 from a model independent fit, enabling constraints to be placed on models with extra Z bosons.

Measurements of the subjet structure of quark and gluon jets in hadronic Z decays are presented. The analysis is based on one million hadronic events recorded by the Aleph detector. Roughly symmetric three-jet events are selected with a coarse jet-resolution cut-off, y1. Gluon jets are identified with a purity of 94.6% in those events where evidence of long-lived heavy-flavour hadrons in the other two jets is found. The jets are then analyzed using a smaller cut-off y0 (< y1) so that subjets are resolved. The properties of the jets (subjet multiplicities (Nq), (Ng) and rates Rng(q) for n = 1, 2, 3, 4) are determined and are found to be in good agreement with the expectations of perturbative QCD as long as the subjet resolution parameter y0 is sufficiently large to keep non-perturbative effects small. In particular, the ratio (Ng − 1)(Nq − 1), which to leading order in QCD is given by the ratio of colour factors CACF = 94, is measured to be 1.96 ± 0.15 for y0 = 2 · 10−3, but falls to 1.29 ± 0.03 for y0 = 1.6 · 10−5.

A lower limit on the oscillation frequency of the Bs0Bs0 system is obtained from approximately four million hadronic Z decays accumulated using the ALEPH detector at LEP from 1991 to 1995. Leptons are combined with opposite sign Ds− candidates reconstructed in seven different decay modes as evidence of semileptonic Bs0 decays. Criteria designed to ensure precise proper time reconstruction select 277Ds−ℓ+ combinations. The initial state of these Bs0 candidates is determined using an algorithm optimized to efficiently utilise the tagging information available for each event. The limit at 95% confidence level on the Bs0Bs0 oscillation frequency is Δms > 6.6 ps−1. The same data is used to update the measurement of the Bs0 lifetime,τs = 1.54−0.13+0.14 (stat) ± 0.04 (syst) ps.

In a data sample of approximately four million hadronic Z decays recorded with the ALEPH detector from 1990 to 1995, a search for the strange b baryon Ξb is performed with a study of Ξ-lepton correlations. Forty-four events with same sign Ξ−ℓ− combinations are found whereas 8.4 are expected based on the rate of opposite sign Ξ−ℓ+ combinations. This significant excess is interpreted as evidence for Ξb semileptonic decays. The measured product branching ratio is Br(b → Ξb) × Br(Ξb → XcXℓ−νℓ) × Br(Xc → Ξ−X′) = (5.4±1.1(stat) ± 0.8(syst)) × 10−4 per lepton species, averaged over electrons and muons, with Xc a charmed baryon. The Ξb lifetime is measured to be τΞb = 1.35−0.28+0.37(stat)−0.17+0.15(syst) ps.

The data collected at centre-of-mass energies of 188.6 GeV by ALEPH at LEP, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 176.2 pb−1, are analysed in a search for pair-produced charged Higgs bosons H±. Three analyses are employed to select the τ+νττ−ν̄τ, cs̄τ−ν̄τ and cs̄sc̄ final states. No evidence for a signal is found. Upper limits are set on the production cross section as a function of the branching fraction B(H+→τ+ντ) and of the mass mH±, assuming that the sum of the branching ratios is equal to one. In the framework of a two-Higgs-doublet model, charged Higgs bosons with masses below 65.4 GeV/c2 are excluded at 95% confidence level independently of the decay mode.

Using data collected with the ALEPH detector at LEP correlations between the decay products of the τ+ and τ− produced in the decay of the Z have been measured. The measurements performed in the decays τ→πν and τ→ϱν place limits on deviations from the Standard Model. These are given by the parameter ζ with ζ = −1 for the Standard Model. The measured values are ζπ = −0.95 ± 0.11 ± 0.05 and ζϱ = −1.03 ± 0.11 ± 0.05. For models which predict ζπ = ζϱ = ζ — interpreted as the average τ neutrino helicity — the measurement is ζ = −0.99 ± 0.07 ± 0.04.

In 451 000 hadronic Z0 decays, recorded with the ALEPH detector at LEP, the yields of Λℓ− and Λℓ+ combinations are measured. Semileptonic decays of b baryons result in a signal of 122± 18 (stat.)−23+22 (syst.) Λℓ− combinations. From a fit to the impact parameter distributions of the leptons in the Λℓ− sample, the lifetime of b baryons is measured to be 1.12−0.29+0.32 (stat.) ±0.16 (syst.) ps.

A compact and portable beam telescope has been built using four 1.92 × 1.92 cm2 double sided silicon microstrip detectors with 50 μm read-out pitch. Tests using 50 GeV pions have shown that the beam position can be defined with a precision of 5 and 7 μm on the p-side and n-side respectively with an overall detection efficiency of 93.0%.

Bose–Einstein correlations in W-pair decays are studied using data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP at e+e− centre-of-mass energies from 183 to 209 GeV. The analysis is based on the comparison of WW→qq¯qq¯ events to “mixed” events constructed with the hadronic part of WW→qq¯ℓν events. The data are in agreement with the hypothesis that Bose–Einstein correlations are present only for pions from the same W decay. The JETSET model with Bose–Einstein correlations between pions from different W bosons is disfavoured.

Inclusive γ∗γ interactions to hadronic final states where one scattered electron or positron is detected in the electromagnetic calorimeters have been studied in the LEP 1 data taken by ALEPH from 1991 to 1995. The event sample has been used to measure the hadronic structure function of the photon F2γ in three bins with 〈Q2〉 of 9.9, 20.7 and 284 GeV2.

The process e+e− → hA is used to search for the Higgs bosons of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), in the bbbb and τ+τ−bb final states. The search is performed in the data collected by the ALEPH experiment at LEP, at centre-of-mass energies between 130 and 172 GeV and with a total luminosity of 27.2 pb−1. No candidate events are found in either of the final states, in agreement with the expected background of 0.91 events from all Standard Model processes. Combined with searches for e+e− → hZ, this results in a 95% C.L. lower limit on the masses of both h and A of 62.5 GeV/c2, for tan β > 1.

The e+e−→ZZ cross section at s=182.7 and 188.6GeV has been measured using the ALEPH detector. A cut-based analysis yields cross section measurements ofσZZ(182.7GeV)=0.11±0.160.11(stat.)±0.04(syst.)pbandσZZ(188.6GeV)=0.69±0.130.12(stat.)±0.03(syst.)pb.A neural network-based analysis yieldsσZZ(188.6GeV)=0.64±0.120.11(stat.)±0.04(syst.)pb.These measurements are consistent with the Standard Model expectations.

The lifetime of the Bs0 meson is measured in approximately 3 million hadronic Z decays accumulated using the ALEPH detector at LEP from 1991 to 1994. Seven different Ds− decay modes were reconstructed and combined with an opposite sign lepton as evidence of semileptonic Bs0 decays. Two hundred and eight Ds−ℓ+ candidates satisfy selection criteria designed to ensure precise proper time reconstruction and yield a measured Bs0 lifetime of τ(Bs0) = 1.59−0.15+0.17 (stat) ±0.03 (syst) ps. Using a larger, less constrained sample of events, the product branching ratio is measured to be Br(b→Bs0) ·Br(Bs0→Ds−ℓ+νX) = 0.82 ± 0.09 (stat) −0.14+0.13 (syst) %.

A lower limit is set on the Bs0 meson oscillation parameter Δms using data collected from 1991 to 1994 by the ALEPH detector. Events with a high transverse momentum lepton and a reconstructed secondary vertex are used. The high transverse momentum leptons are produced mainly by b hadron decays, and the sign of the lepton indicates the particle/antiparticle final state in decays of neutral B mesons. The initial state is determined by a jet charge technique using both sides of the event. A maximum likelihood method is used to set a lower limit of Δms. The 95% confidence level lower limit on Δms ranges between 5.2 and ̷6.5(h̷c2) ps−1 when the fraction of b quarks from Z0 decays that form Bs0 messons is varied from 8% to 16%. Assuming that the B0s fraction is 12%, the lower limit would be ̷Δms> 6.1(h̷c2) ps−1 at 95% confidence level. For xs = ΔmsτBs, this limit also gives xs > 8.8 using the B0s lifetime of τBs = 1.55 ± 0.11 ps and shifting the central value of τBs down by 1σ.

Interstrip and backplane capacitances on silicon microstrip detectors with p+ strip on n substrate of 320μm thickness were measured for pitches between 60 and 240μm and width over pitch ratios between 0.13 and 0.5. Parametrisations of capacitance w.r.t. pitch and width were compared with data. The detectors were measured before and after being irradiated to a fluence of 4×1014protons/cm2 of 24GeV/c momentum. The effect of the crystal orientation of the silicon has been found to have a relevant influence on the surface radiation damage, favouring the choice of a 〈100〉 substrate. Working at high bias (up to 500 V in CMS) might be critical for the stability of detector, for a small width over pitch ratio. The influence of having a metal strip larger than the p+ implant has been studied and found to enhance the stability.

Based on 520 000 fermion pairs accumulated during the first three years of data collection by the ALEPH detector at LEP, updated values of the resonance parameters of theZ are determined to beM Z =(91.187±0.009) GeV, Γ Z =(2.501±0.012) GeV, σ had 0 =(41.60±0.27) nb, andR ℓ=20.78±0.13. The corresponding number of light neutrino species isN ν=2.97±0.05. The forward-backward asymmetry in lepton-pair decays is used to determine the ratio of vector to axial-vector couplings of leptons:g 2 (M 2 )/g 2 (M 2 )=0.0052±0.0016. Combining this with ALEPH measurements of theb andc quark asymmetries and τ polarization gives sin2θ eff =0.2326±0.0013. Assuming the minimal Standard Model, and including measurements ofM W /M Z fromp $$\bar p$$ colliders and neutrino-nucleon scattering, the mass of the top quark is $$M_{top} = 156 \pm \begin{array}{*{20}c} {22} \\ {25} \\ \end{array} \pm \begin{array}{*{20}c} {17} \\ {22Higgs} \\ \end{array} $$ GeV.

A search for pair-production of long-lived, heavy, singly-charged particles has been performed with data collected by the ALEPH detector at a centre-of-mass energy of 172 GeV. Data at \sqrt{s} = 161, 136, and 130 GeV are also included to improve the sensitivity to lower masses. No candidate is found in the data. A model-independent 95% confidence level upper limit on the production cross section at 172 GeV of 0.2-0.4pb is derived for masses between 45 and 86 GeV/c^2. This cross section limit implies, assuming the MSSM, a lower limit of 67 (69) GeV/c^2 on the mass of right- (left-) handed long-lived scalar taus or scalar muons and of 86 GeV/c^2 on the mass of long-lived charginos.

Results on B0−B0 mixing in e+e− annihilation at LEP are reported. A new method is used, where the charge of one b quark is tagged by a high-p, high-p⊥ electron or muon, and the charge of the other is extracted from the momentum-weighted average of the charges of jet fragments. Based on the analysis of 180 000 hadronic Z decays produced in the ALEPH detector, ⨍dχd+0.72⨍sχs=0.113±0.018(stat.)±0.027(syst.) is obtained. Combining this result with the ALEPH dipleton measurement yields χ=0.129±0.022.