J. Freeman

Evidence for planar events in e+e− annihilation at high energies

Abstract Hadron jets produced in e+e− annihilation between 13 GeV and 31.6 GeV in c.m. at PETRA are analyzed. The transverse momentum of the jets is found to increase strongly with c.m. energy. The broadening of the jets is not uniform in azimuthal angle around the quark direction but tends to yield planar events with large and growing transverse momenta in the plane and smaller transverse momenta normal to the plane. The simple q q collinear jet picture is ruled out. The observation of planar events shows that there are three basic particles in the final state. Indeed, several events with three well-separated jets of hadrons are observed at the highest energies. This occurs naturally when the outgoing quark radiates a hard noncollinear gluon, i.e., e + e − → q q g with the quarks and the gluons fragmenting into hadrons with limited transverse momenta.

Properties of hadron final states in e+e− annihilation at 13 GeV and 17 GeV center of mass energies

Abstract We have observed e + e − hadrons at C.M. energies of 13 GeV and 17 GeV at PETRA using the TASSO detector. We find R (13 GeV) = 5.6 ± 0.7 and R (17 GeV) = 4.0 ± 0.7. The additional systematic uncertainty is 20%. Comparing inclusive charged hadron spectra we observe scaling between 5 GeV and 17 GeV for x = p / p beam > 0.2; however the 13 GeV cross section is above the 17 GeV cross section for smaller x . This may be due to copious bb production. The events become increasingly jet like at high energies as evidenced by a shrinking sphericity distribution with increasing energy.

Rapid Growth of Charged Particle Multiplicity in High-Energy e+ e- Annihilations

Abstract Hadron production by e + e − annihilation has been studied for c.m. energies W between 13 and 31.6 GeV. As a function of 1n W the charged particle multiplicity grows faster at high energy than at lower energies. This is correlated with a rise in the plateau of the rapidity distribution. The cross section s d σ /d x is found to scale within ±30% for x > 0.2 and 5 ⩽ W ⩽ 31.6 GeV.

Comparison of e+e− annihilation with QCD and determination of the strong coupling constant

We have analyzed 1113 events of the reaction e+e− → hadrons at CM energies of 12 and 30 GeV in order to make a detailed comparison with QCD. Perturbative effects can be well separated from effects depending on the quark and gluon fragmentation parameters to yield a reliable measurement of the coupling constant αS. At 30 GeV, the result is αS = 0.17 ± 0.02 (statistical) ± 0.03 (systematic). QCD model predictions, using the fragmentation parameters determined along with αS, agree with both gross properties of the final states and with detailed features of the three-jet states.

Evidence for a spin-1 gluon in three-jet events

High-energy e+e--annihilation events obtained in the TASSO detector at PETRA have been used to determine the spin of the gluon in the reaction e+e- → qqg. We analysed angular correlations between the three jet axes. While vector gluons are consistent with the data (55% confidence limit), scalar gluons are disfavoured by 3.8 standard deviations, corresponding to a confidence level of about 10-4. Our conclusion is free of possible biases due to uncertainties in the fragmentation process or in determining the qqg kinematics from the observed hadrons.

The Tasso Gas and Aerogel Cherenkov Counters

Abstract We describe the gas and erogel threshold Cherenkov counters built for the TASSO experiment at the DESY e + e − storage ring PETRA. The counters are arranged in two diametrically opposed groups as part of the two hadron arms. The gas counters contain Freon 114 and CO 2 respectively; 128 ellipsoidal mirrors focus the Cherenkov light through funnels onto Philips 5″ photomultipliers coated with wavelength shifter. β = 1 charged particles are detected with at least 99.9% efficiency. The aerogel counters are of the diffusing wall type. They have a sensitive area of 12 m 2 , divided into 32 cells and use a total of 192 RCA Quantacon 5″ photomultipliers. The average aerogel refractive index is around 1.025. The efficiency for β = 1 charged particles is 98%. Design considerations, prototype evaluation, construction details, and performance of the final counter system are described.

A measurement of σtot(e+e− → hadrons) for cm energies between 12.0 and 36.7 GeV

Abstract The ration R = σ (e + e − → hadrons) σ μμ was measured between 12.0 and 36.7 GeV c.m. energy W with a precision of typically ± 5.2%. R is found to be constant with an average R = 4.01 ± 0.03 (stat) ± (syst.) for W ⩾ 14 GeV. Quarks are found to be point-like, the mass parameter describing a possible quark form-factor being larger than 186 GeV. Fits including QCD corrections and a weak neutral-current contribution are presented.

Charged pion, kaon, proton and antiproton production in high energy e+e− annihilations

Abstract Production of pions, kaons, protons and antiprotons has been studied in e + e − annihilations at 12 and 30 GeV centre of mass energy using time of flight techniques. The fractional yield of charged kaons and baryons appears to rise with outgoing particle momentum. At our highest energy at least 40% of e + e − annihilations into hadrons are estimated to contain baryons.

Production and properties of the τ-lepton in e+e− annihilation at C.M. energies from 12 to 31.6 GeV

We have observed τ production in e+e− annihilation at centre-of-mass energies between 12 and 31.6 GeV with cross sections in agreement with the QED τ-pair cross section. Branching ratios for τ decay have been measured and are consistent with the world averages. We have determined the cutoff parameters of QED Λ+ (Λ−) to be > 73 GeV (82 GeV) and have obtained an upper limit on the τ lifetime of 1.4 × 10−12 s(95% CL).

Test of QED in e+e− annihilation at energies between 12 and 31.6 GeV

We have measured the reactions e+e− → e+e− → μ+μ− and e+e− → γγ at c.m. energies between 12 and 31.6 GeV. Excellent agreement with the predictions of QED has been found, resulting in cut off parameters Λ+ > 112 GeV and Λ− > 139 GeV for the first process and Λ+ > 34 GeV and Λ− > 42 GeV (95% c.1.) for the last one. A limit on the Weinberg angle of sin2θW < 0.55 (95% c.1.) has been obtained.