J. Badier

ExperimentalJ/ψ hadronic production from 150 to 280 GeV/c

A detailed study ofJ/ψ hadronic production has been performed in a high statistics experiment (more than 1.5 106J/ψ observed in their dimuon decay mode). Data have been taken with incident π±,K±,p±, on hydrogen and platinum targets, at 150, 200 and 280 GeV/c. We find from the observed nuclear dependance of the cross sections, that about 18% of theJ/ψ are produced diffractively. Using known structure functions of the quarks in the nucleon and in the pion, we derive estimations for the gluon structure functions.

Heavy flavour production in Z decays

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

Search for the neutral Higgs Boson from Z0 decay in the Higgs mass range between 11 and 24 GeV

Abstract A search for the neutral Higgs boson in the mass range above 11 GeV (above the H 0 →b b threshold), using the process Z0→H0e+e−, Z0→H0μ+μ− and Z 0 → H 0 v v , 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.

Measurement of the charged particle multiplicity distribution in hadronic Z decays

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 GeV. At 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.

SEARCHES FOR THE STANDARD HIGGS BOSON

Abstract 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 − → H 0 Z 0∗ . 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.

Experimental Determination of the pi Meson Structure Functions by the Drell-Yan Mechanism

We have studied high statistics samples of dimuon events (∼35,000) produced from π± on platinum target in the mass interval 4.2≦Mμμ≦8.5 GeV at 150, 200 and 280 GeV/c. The π structure function is obtained by a fit ofd2σ/dx1dx2 to π+ and π− data. At 200 GeV, the simultaneous use of π+ and π− data allows a separate determination of the valence and sea structure functions of the π. Furthermore, the 150 and 280 GeV data allow an accurate determination of the shape of the valence structure function and give an estimate of its evolution betweenQ2=25 and 50 GeV2.

Evidence for ψψ production in π− interactions at 150 and 280 GeV/c

From the analysis of multimuon events produced by π− interactions at 150 and 280 GeV/c in the NA3 spectrometer, we present evidence for the production of two J/ψ mesons in the same interaction (13 events seen, for an expected background of about 0.2 events). Some possible production mechanisms are described and an estimation of the cross section is given.

Experimental cross section for dimuon production and the Drell-Yan model

Abstract We have measured the absolute cross section for dimuon production in hadron collisions at 200 GeV/c in the continuum region M = 4–8.5 GeV. In all the channels studied (pN, p N, π±N and π−H2) the experimental cross section is significantly larger by a factor of 2.3 ± 0.5 than expected from the Drell-Yan model. Furthermore, our proton-nucleon data allow a determination of the nucleon valence structure function which agrees with the deep inelastic lepton scattering data.

Measurement of the K−π− structure function ratio using the Drell-Yan process

Abstract The first measurement of the kaon to pion structure function ratio has beenperformed in a high integrated luminosity experiment studying the production of massive muon pairs. The ratio u K u π clearly deviates from 1 for values of x1 > 0.7. A theoretical model comparison is also briefly discussed.

ψψ production and limits on beauty meson production from 400 GeV/c protons

Abstract From a study of multimuon events obtained in a high luminosity proton-platinum experiment at 400 GeV/ c , we find 5 ± 4 ψψ events, which correspond to a production cross section σ ( ψψ = 27 ± 10 pb. The observed production is compared to the ψψ events previously found in the same apparatus from incoming π − ; a comparison with QCD predictions is performed, giving a good agreement with expectations from gluon-gluon fusion. Finally, using like-sign dimuon, trimuon and quadrimuon events, we give model-dependent upper limits on beauty meson production: 2 nb/nucleon for central models, 20 nb/nucleon for diffractive production.