Measurement of the $B^0$ - $\bar{B}^0$ mixing, Gamma (Z0 $\to b \bar{b}$) / Gamma (Z0 $\to$ hadrons) and semileptonic branching ratios for $b$ flavored hadrons in hadronic z0 decays
From a sample of about 450 000 hadronicZ 0 decays, measurements of the average\(B^0 - \bar B^0 \) mixing parameter, χ, the branching fraction ofZ 0 bosons into hadrons containing bottom quarks,\({{\Gamma (Z^0 \to b\bar b)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\Gamma (Z^0 \to b\bar b)} {\Gamma (Z^0 \to hadrons)}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\Gamma (Z^0 \to hadrons)}}\), the average semileptonic branching ratios for such hadrons,B(b→l) andB(b→c→l), and the mean scaled energy of these hadrons, 〈xE〉, are presented. The measurements were obtained using a simultaneous fit to single-lepton and dilepton events collected with the OPAL detector at LEP, including both electrons and muons. The results are 
 
where the errors are statistical and systematic, respectively, in each case. The result forB)b→c→l) excludes decays of the typeb→→l.

title: A model independent measurement of quark and gluon jet properties and differences
abstract: AbstractThree jet events are selected from hadronic Z0 decays with a symmetry such that the two lower energy jets are produced with the same energy and in the same jet environment. In some of the events, a displaced secondary vertex is reconstructed in one of the two lower energy jets, which permits the other lower energy jet to be identified as a gluon jet, with an estimated purity of about 93%. Comparing these gluon jets to the inclusive sample of lower energy jets from the symmetric data set yields direct, model independent measurements of quark and gluon jet properties, which have essentially no bias except from the jet definition. Results are reported using both thek⊥ and cone jet definitions. For thek⊥ algorithm, we find
$$\frac{{\left\langle {n_{k_ \bot }^{ch.} } \right\rangle gluon}}{{\left\langle {n_{k_ \bot }^{ch.} } \right\rangle quark}} = 1.25 \pm 0.02(stat.) \pm 0.03(syst.)$$
 for the ratio of the mean charged particle multiplicity of gluon to quark jets, while for the cone algorithm, we find
$$\frac{{\left\langle {n_{cone}^{ch.} } \right\rangle gluon}}{{\left\langle {n_{cone}^{ch.} } \right\rangle quark}} = 1.10 \pm 0.02(stat.) \pm 0.02(syst.)$$
 using a cone size of 30°. We also report measurements of the angular distributions of particle energy and multiplicity around the jet directions, and of the fragmentation functions of the jets. Gluon jets are found to be substantially broader and to have a markedly softer fragmentation function than quark jets, in agreement with our earlier observations.

title: A precise measurement of the tau polarization and its forward-backward asymmetry at LEP
abstract: AbstractA measurement of theτ lepton polarization and its forward-backward asymmetry at the Z0 resonance using the OPAL detector is described. The measurement is based on analyses of τ→ρντ, ττπ(K)ντ,
$$\tau \to e\bar \nu _e \nu _\tau $$
,
$$\tau \to \mu \bar \nu _\mu \nu _\tau $$
 andτ→a1ντ decays from a sample of 89075 e+e−→τ+τ− candidates corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 117 pb−1. Assuming that theτ lepton decays according to V-A theory, we measure the averageτ polarization at √s=MZ to be 〈P〉=(−13.0±0.9±0.9)% and theτ polarization forward-backward asymmetry to be ApolFB=(−9.4±1.0±0.4)%, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. These results are consistent with the hypothesis of lepton universality and, when combined, can be expressed as a measurement of sin2θefflept=0.2334±0.0012 within the context of the Standard Model.

title: Search for the minimal standard model Higgs boson
abstract: A search for the Minimal Standard Model Higgs boson (H0) has been performed with data from e+e− collisions collected by the OPAL detector at LEP. The search was made for events of the types e+e−→(e+e−,μ+μ− or νν)H0, H0→qq and was based on approximately 78 pb−1 of data taken at center-of-mass energies between 88 and 95 GeV in the years 1990–1993. The present study, combined with previous OPAL publications, excludes the existence of a Minimal Standard Model Higgs boson with mass below 56.9 GeV at the 95% confidence level.

title: A measurement of the tau lifetime
abstract: The tau lepton lifetime is measured using four different methods with the DELPHI detector. Three measurements using one prong decays are combined, accounting for correlations, resulting in ττ=298 ±7 (stat.)±4 (syst.) fs while the decay length distribution of three prong decays gives ππ=298±13 (stat)±(syst.) fs. The combined result is ττ=298±7 fs. The ratio of the Fermi coupling constant from tau decay relative to that from muon decay is found to be 0.985±0.013, compatible with lepton universality.

title: A study of quasi-elastic muon neutrino and antineutrino scattering in the NOMAD experiment
abstract: AbstractWe have studied the muon neutrino and antineutrino quasi-elastic (QEL) scattering reactions (νμn→μ−p and 
$\bar{\nu }_{\mu}p\to\mu^{+}n$
) using a set of experimental data collected by the NOMAD Collaboration. We have performed measurements of the cross-section of these processes on a nuclear target (mainly carbon) normalizing it to the total νμ (
$\bar{\nu}_{\mu}$
) charged-current cross section. The results for the flux-averaged QEL cross sections in the (anti)neutrino energy interval 3–100 GeV are 
$\langle \sigma_{\mathrm{qel}}\rangle_{\nu_{\mu}}=(0.92\pm0.02(\mathrm{stat})\pm0.06(\mathrm{syst}))\times10^{-38}~\mathrm{cm}^{2}$ 
and 
$\langle\sigma_{\mathrm{qel}}\rangle_{\bar{\nu}_{\mu}}=(0.81\pm0.05(\mathrm{stat})\pm0.09(\mathrm{syst}))\times10^{-38}~\mathrm{cm}^{2}$ 
for neutrino and antineutrino, respectively. The axial mass parameter MA was extracted from the measured quasi-elastic neutrino cross section. The corresponding result is MA=1.05±0.02(stat)±0.06(syst) GeV. It is consistent with the axial mass values recalculated from the antineutrino cross section and extracted from the pure Q2 shape analysis of the high purity sample of νμ quasi-elastic 2-track events, but has smaller systematic error and should be quoted as the main result of this work. Our measured MA is found to be in good agreement with the world average value obtained in previous deuterium filled bubble chamber experiments. The NOMAD measurement of MA is lower than those recently published by K2K and MiniBooNE Collaborations. However, within the large errors quoted by these experiments on MA, these results are compatible with the more precise NOMAD value.

title: On Aharonov–Casher scattering in a CPT-odd Lorentz-violating background
abstract: The effects of a Lorentz symmetry-violating background vector on Aharonov?Casher scattering in the nonrelativistic limit are considered. Using the self-adjoint extension method, we find that there is additional scattering for any value of the self-adjoint extension parameter and non-zero energy bound states for negative values of this parameter. Expressions for the energy bound states, phase-shift and scattering matrix are explicitly determined in terms of the self-adjoint extension parameter. The expression obtained for the scattering amplitude reveals that the helicity is not conserved in this scenario.

title: On the noncommutative fields method in the three-dimensional Yang-Mills theory
abstract: We apply the noncommutative fields method to the three-dimensional non-Abelian gauge theory. We find that, first, implementing the noncommutativity between the canonical momenta implies in generation of the non-Abelian Chern-Simons term, second, if one introduces the noncommutativity between the field operators, the higher derivative terms would arise.

title: Physical regularization for the spin-1/2 Aharonov-Bohm problem in conical space
abstract: We examine the bound state and scattering problem of a spin-one-half particle undergone to an Aharonov-Bohm potential in a conical space in the nonrelativistic limit. The crucial problem of the \delta-function singularity coming from the Zeeman spin interaction with the magnetic flux tube is solved through the self-adjoint extension method. Using two different approaches already known in the literature, both based on the self-adjoint extension method, we obtain the self-adjoint extension parameter to the bound state and scattering scenarios in terms of the physics of the problem. It is shown that such a parameter is the same for both situations. The method is general and is suitable for any quantum system with a singular Hamiltonian that has bound and scattering states.

title: On the spin- 1/2 Aharonov-Bohm problem in conical space: Bound states, scattering and helicity nonconservation
abstract: In this work the bound state and scattering problems for a spin-1/2 particle undergone to an Aharonov-Bohm potential in a conical space in the nonrelativistic limit are consider ed. The presence of a �-function singularity, which comes from the Zeeman spin interaction with the magnetic flux tube, is addressed by the self-adjoint extension method. One of the advantages of the present approach is the determination of the self-adjoint extension parameter in terms of physics of the problem. Expressions for the energy bound states, phase-shift and S matrix are determined in terms of the self-adjoint extension parameter, which is explicitly determined in terms of the parameters of the problem. The relation between the bound state and zero modes and the failure of helicity conservation in the scattering problem and its relation with the gyromagnetic ratio g are discussed. Also, as an application, we consider the spin-1/2 AharonovBohm problem in conical space plus a two-dimensional isotropic harmonic oscillator.

title: Remarks on the Aharonov-Casher dynamics in a CPT-odd Lorentz-violating background
abstract: The Aharonov-Casher problem in the presence of a Lorentz-violating background nonminimally coupled to a spinor and a gauge field is examined. Using an approach based on the self-adjoint extension method, an expression for the bound-state energies is obtained in terms of the physics of the problem by determining the self-adjoint extension parameter.