Production of f_0(980), f_2(1270) and \phi(1020) in hadronic Z^0 decay

TL;DR

This study measures the production rates and properties of the f_0(980), f_2(1270), and (1020) mesons in hadronic Z^0 decays, providing insights into their quark structure and hadronization processes.

Contribution

First comprehensive measurement of production rates and fragmentation functions of these mesons in Z^0 decays, supporting the f_0 as a conventional qqbar scalar meson.

Findings

Measured inclusive production rates for f_0, f_2, and  mesons.

Fragmentation functions for the three mesons are reported.

Results are consistent with the f_0 being a conventional qqbar scalar meson.

Abstract

Inclusive production of the f_0(980), f_2(1270) and \phi(1020) resonances has been studied in a sample of 4.3 million hadronic Z^0 decays from the OPAL experiment at LEP. A coupled channel analysis has been used for the f_0 in simultaneous fits to the resonances in inclusive \pi+\pi- and K+K- mass spectra. Fragmentation functions are reported for the three states. Total inclusive rates are measured to be 0.141 +/- 0.007 +/- 0.011 f_0, 0.155 +/- 0.011 +/- 0.018 f_2, and 0.091 +/- 0.002 +/- 0.003 \phi mesons per hadronic Z^0 decay. The production properties of the f_0, including those in three-jet events, are compared with those of the f_2 and \phi, and with the Lund string model of hadron production. All measurements are consistent with the hypothesis that the f_0 is a conventional qq(bar) scalar meson.