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Measurement of the Polarized Forward-Backward Asymmetry of B Quarks Using Momentum-Weighted Track Charge at SLD

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1454147· OSTI ID:1454147
 [1]
  1. Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
This thesis presents a direct measurement of the parity-violating parameter Ab by analyzing the polarized forward-backward asymmetry of b quarks in e+e- → Z0 → $$b\overline{b}$$. Data were taken at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC), with the Stanford Large Detector (SLD), which records the products of e+e- interactions at a center of mass energy √s = 91.2 GeV/c2 at the SLAC Linear Collider (SLC). The SLC/SLD experimental apparatus provides a unique and ideal environment for measuring electroweak asymmetries. Heavy flavor decays of the Z0 were identified inclusively by taking advantage of the long lifetime of B hadrons, the small, stable SLC beam spot, and SLD`s precise tracking detectors. Two analysis techniques for measuring Ab are presented: a binned fit to the left-right forward-backwards asymmetry of tagged events signed with momentum-weighted track charge, and a self-calibrating maximum-likelihood technique using momentum-weighted charge from the two hemispheres in each tagged event. From our 1994-1995 sample of 3.6 pb-1, having a luminosity-weighted average e- polarization of 77.3%, and our 1993 sample of 1.8 pb-1, having a luminosity-weighted polarization of 63.1%, we obtain Ab = 0.848 ± 0.046(stat.) ± 0.050(syst.).
Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515
OSTI ID:
1454147
Report Number(s):
SLAC-R--476; SLAC-R--95-476
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English