Guy Wilkinson

Abstract:

A search for fully reconstructed Λ⁰b beauty baryons is performed using about 3 million Ζ decays collected with the DELPHI detector at LEP. The analysis relies on the combined use of the accurate tracking and of the hadron identification capabilities of DELPHI. A total of four events has been found, three in the Λ⁺cπ^- channel and one in the Λ⁺ca^-1 channel over a small background. The Λ⁰b beauty baryon mass is measured to be (5668 ± 16 (stat.) ± 8 (syst.)) MeV/c².

Abstract:

From the data collected by DELPHI at LEP in autumn 1995, the multiplicity of charged particles at a hadronic energy of 130 GeV has been measured to be 〈nch〉 = 23.84 ± 0.51 (stat) ± 0.52(syst). When compared to lower energy data, the value measured is consistent with the evolution predicted by QCD with corrections at next-to-leading order, for a value αs(130 GeV) = 0.105 ± 0.003(stat) ± 0.008(syst).

Abstract:

The tau lepton lifetime has been measured using three different methods with the DELPHI detector. Two measurements of one-prong decays are combined, accounting for correlations, giving a result ofττ = 291.8 ± 3.3 (stat.) ± 2.0(sys.) fs while the decay length distribution of three-prong decays gives the result ττ = 286.7 ± 4.9 (stat.) ± 3.3 (sys.) fs. Combining the results presented here with previous DELPHI measurements, we get ττ = 291.4 ± 3.0 fs and find that the ratio of the coupling constant for tau decay relative to that for muon decay is 0.990 ± 0.009, compatible with lepton universality.

Abstract:

The average lifetime of b-baryons has been studied using 3 × 106 hadronic Z0 decays collected by the DEL-PHI detector at LEP. Three methods have been used, based on the measurement of different observables: the proper decay time distribution of 206 vertices reconstructed with a Λ, a lepton and an oppositely charged pion; the impact parameter distribution of 441 muons with high transverse momentum accompanied by a Λ in the same jet; and the proper decay time distribution of 125 Λc-lepton decay vertices with the Λc exclusively reconstructed through its pKπ, pK0 and Λ3π decay modes. The combined result is: τ(b-baryon) = (1.254-0.109+0.121(stat) ±0.04(syst)-0.05+0.03(syst)) ps where the first systematic error is due to experimental uncertainties and the second to the uncertainties in the modelling of the b-baryon production and semi-leptonic decay. Including the measurement recently published by DELPHI based on a sample of proton-muon vertices, the average b-baryon lifetime is : τ(b-baryon) = (1.255-0.102+0.115(stat) ±0.05) ps. © Springer-Verlag 1996.

Abstract:

Semileptonic decays B → D*- ℓ+νX were selected from a sample of 3.1 million hadronic Z decays collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP. A topological search for semileptonic B decays to resonant and non-resonant D*- π+ states was performed and the ratio of the branching fractions: Br(B → D*- ℓ+νX)/Br(B → D*- ℓ+νX) + Br(B0 → D*- ℓ+ν) = 0.19 ± 0.10(stat) ± 0.06(syst) was determined. Taking into account this contribution, the differential decay width of B0 → D*- ℓ+ν was measured as a function of the momentum transfer from the B to the D*- in two separate analyses, using exclusive and inclusive methods of D*- ℓ+ reconstruction. The distributions were fitted over the full momentum transfer range to extract the product of |V cb| times the normalization of the decay form factor F(q max2): F(qmax2)|Vcb| = (35.4 ± 1.9(stat) ± 2.4(syst)) • 10-3. The value of |Vcb| was computed using theoretical calculations of F(q max2), giving: |Vcb| = (38.9 ± 2.0(stat) ± 2.6(syst) ± 1.7(theory)) • 10-3. The total branching fraction Br(B0 → D*- ℓ+ν) was determined to be: Br(B0 → D*- ℓ+ν) = (5.52 ± 0.17(stat) ± 0.68(syst))%.