An analysis of global event-shape variables has been carried out for the reaction e +e - -> Z 0->hadrons to measure the strong coupling constant alpha_s. This study is based on 52720 hadronic events obtained in 1989/90 with the ALEPH detector at the LEP collider at energies near the peak of the Z-resonance. In order to determine alpha_s, second order QCD predictions modified by effects of perturbative higher orders and hadronization were fitted to the experimental distributions of event-shape variables. From a detailed analysis of the theoretical uncertainties we find that this approach is best justified for the differential two-jet rate, from which we obtain alpha_s((M_Z)^2)=0.121 +/- 0.002(stat.) +/- 0.003(sys.) +/- 0.007(theor.) using a renormalization scale omega=1/2M_Z. The dependence of alpha_s((M_Z)^2) on omega is parameterized. For scales m_b<omega<M_Z the result varies by -0.012 +0.007.
Measurement of the strong coupling constant alfa_s from global event-shape variables of hadronic Z decays
BATIGNANI, GIOVANNI;CIOCCI, MARIA AGNESE;FERRANTE, ISIDORO;FIDECARO, FRANCESCO;FORTI, FRANCESCO;GIORGI, MARCELLO;MESSINEO, ALBERTO MARIA;TONELLI, GUIDO EMILIO;TRIGGIANI, GIUSEPPE;
1991-01-01
Abstract
An analysis of global event-shape variables has been carried out for the reaction e +e - -> Z 0->hadrons to measure the strong coupling constant alpha_s. This study is based on 52720 hadronic events obtained in 1989/90 with the ALEPH detector at the LEP collider at energies near the peak of the Z-resonance. In order to determine alpha_s, second order QCD predictions modified by effects of perturbative higher orders and hadronization were fitted to the experimental distributions of event-shape variables. From a detailed analysis of the theoretical uncertainties we find that this approach is best justified for the differential two-jet rate, from which we obtain alpha_s((M_Z)^2)=0.121 +/- 0.002(stat.) +/- 0.003(sys.) +/- 0.007(theor.) using a renormalization scale omega=1/2M_Z. The dependence of alpha_s((M_Z)^2) on omega is parameterized. For scales m_bI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.