Photon and Light Meson Production in Hadronic Z^0 Decays

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of photon and light meson production rates in hadronic Z^0 decays at LEP, comparing results with Monte Carlo models and providing detailed multiplicity data for various mesons.

Contribution

The study provides comprehensive measurements of photon and light meson production rates in Z^0 decays, extending previous data and testing Monte Carlo model predictions.

Findings

Measured particle multiplicities per Z^0 decay for photons and mesons.

Results generally agree with JETSET and HERWIG model predictions.

Provides detailed differential cross-sections for multiple mesons.

Abstract

The inclusive production rates and differential cross-sections of photons and mesons with a final state containing photons have been measured with the OPAL detector at LEP. The light mesons covered by the measurements are the \pi^0, \eta, \rho(770)+-, \omega(782), \eta'(958) and a_0(980)+-. The particle multiplicities per hadronic Z^0 decay, extrapolated to the full energy range, are: <n_\gamma> = 20.97 +/- 0.02 +/- 1.15, <n_\pi^0> = 9.55 +/- 0.06 +/- 0.75, <n_\eta> = 0.97 +/- 0.03 +/- 0.11, <n_\rho^+-> = 2.40 +/- 0.06 +/- 0.43, <n_\omega> = 1.04 +/- 0.04 +/- 0.14, <n_\eta> = 0.14 +/- 0.01 +/- 0.02, <n_a_0+-> = 0.27 +/- 0.04 +/- 0.10. where the first errors are statistical and the second systematic. In general, the results are in agreement with the predictions of the JETSET and HERWIG Monte Carlo models.