Search for neutral Higgs bosons in CP-conserving and CP-violating MSSM scenarios
This report summarizes the final results from the OPAL collaboration on searches for neutral Higgs bosons predicted by the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). CP-conserving and, for the first time at LEP, CP-violating scenarios are studied. New scenarios are also included, which aim to set the stage for Higgs searches at future colliders. The results are based on the data collected with the OPAL detector at e+e- centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV. The data are consistent with the prediction of the Standard Model with no Higgs boson produced. Model-independent limits are derived for the cross-sections of a number of event topologies motivated by predictions of the MSSM. Limits on Higgs boson masses and other MSSM parameters are obtained for a number of representative MSSM benchmark scenarios. For example, in the CP-conserving scenario m h-max where the MSSM parameters are adjusted to predict the largest range of values for mh at each tan β, and for a top quark mass of 174.3GeV, the domain 0.7 84.5GeV and mA > 85.0 GeV are obtained. For the CP-violating benchmark scenario CPX which, by construction, enhances the CP-violating effects in the Higgs sector, the domain tan β < 2.8 is excluded but no universal limit can be set on the Higgs boson masses.

title: Tests of models of color reconnection and a search for glueballs using gluon jets with a rapidity gap
abstract: Gluon jets with a mean energy of 22 GeV and purity of 95% are selected from hadronic Z(0) decay events produced in e (+) e(-) annihilations. A subsample of these jets is identified which exhibits a large gap in the rapidity distribution of particles within the jet. After imposing the requirement of a rapidity gap, the gluon jet purity is 86%. These jets are observed to demonstrate a high degree of sensitivity to the presence of color reconnection, i.e. higher order QCD processes affecting the underlying color structure. We use our data to test three QCD models which include a simulation of color reconnection: one in the Ariadne Monte Carlo, one in the Herwig Monte Carlo, and the other by Rathsman in the Pythia Monte Carlo. We find the Rathsman and Ariadne color reconnection models can describe our gluon jet measurements only if very large values are used for the cutoff parameters which serve to terminate the parton showers, and that the description of inclusive Z(0) data is significantly degraded in this case. We conclude that color reconnection as implemented by these two models is disfavored. The signal from the Herwig color reconnection model is less clear and we do not obtain a definite conclusion concerning this model. In a separate study, we follow recent theoretical suggestions and search for glueball-like objects in the leading part of the gluon jets. No clear evidence is observed for these objects.

title: The CMS muon barrel drift tubes system commissioning
abstract: The CMS muon barrel drift tubes system has been recently fully installed and commissioned in the experiment. The performance and the current status of the detector are briefly presented and discussed.

title: Alignment of the CMS Silicon Tracker during Commissioning with Cosmic Rays
abstract: This is the Pre-print version of the Article. The official published version of the Paper can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2010 IOP

title: Constraints on anomalous quartic gauge boson couplings from nu anti-nu gamma gamma and q anti-q gamma gamma events at LEP2
abstract: Anomalous quartic couplings between the electroweak gauge bosons may contribute to the vv gamma gamma and qq gamma gamma final states produced in e+e- collisions. This analysis uses the LEP2 OPAL data sample at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV. Event selections identify vv gamma gamma and qq gamma gamma events in which the two photons are reconstructed within the detector acceptance. The cross-section for the process e+e- -> qq gamma gamma is measured. Averaging over all energies, the ratio of the observed e+e- -> qq gamma gamma cross-section to the Standard Model expectation is R(data/SM) = 0.92 +- 0.07 +- 0.04 where the errors represent the statistical and systematic uncertainties respectively. The vv gamma gamma and qq gamma gamma data are used to constrain possible anomalous W+W- gamma gamma and ZZ gamma gamma couplings. Combining with previous OPAL results from the W+W- gamma final state, the 95% confidence level limits on the anomalous coupling parameters aoz, acz, aow and acw are found to be: 
-0.007 GeV^-2 < aoz/Lambda^2 < 0.023 GeV^-2 -0.029 GeV^-2 < acz/Lambda^2 < 0.029 GeV^-2 -0.020 GeV^-2 < aow/Lambda^2 < 0.020 GeV^-2 -0.052 GeV^-2 < acw/Lambda^2 < 0.037 GeV^-2 where Lamdba is the energy scale of the new physics. Limits found when allowing two or more parameters to vary are also presented.

title: Results of the first integration test of the CMS drift tubes muon trigger
abstract: Two drift tubes (DTs) chambers of the CMS muon barrel system were exposed to a 40 MHz bunched muon beam at the CERN SPS, and for the first time the whole CMS Level-1 DTs-based trigger system chain was tested. Data at different energies and inclination angles of the incident muon beam were collected, as well as data with and without an iron absorber placed between the two chambers, to simulate the electromagnetic shower development in CMS. Special data-taking runs were dedicated to test for the first time the Track Finder system, which reconstructs track trigger candidates by performing a proper matching of the muon segments delivered by the two chambers. The present paper describes the results of these measurements.

title: Design, fabrication and performance of the 10-in. TOM HPD
abstract: The first sealed TOM Hybrid Photon Detector (HPD) with 10-in. diameter has been fabricated and successfully tested at CERN. This HPD has a spherical entrance window and a bialkali photocathode. The fountain focusing optics produces a demagnified image ( D =4) on the round segmented silicon sensor. The signals of the 2048 cells are read out through analog front-end electronics encapsulated in the vacuum envelope. We report on the design, fabrication technique and the experimental results obtained with laboratory test benches. The large TOM HPD is a prototype tube developed for the CLUE cosmic ray experiment. The final tubes, now under development, will be equipped with a solar-blind Rb 2 Te photocathode and self triggering front-end electronics.