Philip Burrows

Abstract:

We have developed a new technique for inclusive reconstruction of the energy of B hadrons. The excellent efficiency and resolution of this technique allow us to make the most precise determination of the b-quark fragmentation function, using e+e-→Z0 decays recorded in the SLAC Large Detector experiment. We compared our measurement with the predictions of a number of fragmentation models. We excluded several of these models and measured the average scaled energy of weakly decaying B hadrons to be (xB) = 0.714 ± 0.005(stat) ± 0.007(syst) ± 0.002 (model dependence). © 2000 The American Physical Society.

Abstract:

We present the first direct measurement of As, the parity-violating coupling of the Z0 boson to the strange quark, using ∼550 000 e+e−→Z0→hadrons events recorded by the SLC Large Detector with a polarized e− beam. We tagged Z0→ss¯ events by the absence of B or D hadrons and the presence in each hemisphere of a high momentum K± or Ks0. Fitting the polar angle distributions of the strangeness-signed thrust axis gave As=0.895±0.066(stat)±0.062(syst). The analyzing power and uu¯+dd¯ background were constrained using the data, greatly reducing any model dependence. © 2000 The American Physical Society.

Abstract:

Based on a sample of approximately 500 000 hadronic (Formula presented) decays accumulated between 1993 and 1998, the SLD experiment has set limits on 24 fully charged two-body and quasi-two-body exclusive charmless hadronic decays of (Formula presented) (Formula presented) and (Formula presented) mesons. The precise tracking capabilities of the SLD detector provided for the efficient reduction of combinatoric backgrounds, yielding the most precise available limits for ten of these modes. © 2000 The American Physical Society.