A TEST OF QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS USING THE REACTION ELECTRON-POSITRON ---> PHOTON-PHOTON AT CENTER-OF-MASS ENERGY = 29 GEV
Abstract
A study of the reaction e('+)e('-) (--->) (gamma)(gamma) has been done at a center-of-mass energy of 29 GeV. A data sample from an integrated luminosity of 17.8 pb('-1) was used. A total of 1806 events was found. The (gamma) rays were detected in the barrel electromagnetic calorimeter of the HRS in the range of polar angles 57(DEGREES) < (theta) < 123(DEGREES). The angular distributions of e('+)e('-) (--->) (gamma)(gamma) were compared to third-order QED by using the Berends and Kleiss event generation and a simulation of the detector. The deviation from QED is expressed by the formula d(sigma)/d(OMEGA) = d(sigma)(,o)/d(OMEGA) {1 (+OR-) (s('2) sin('2) (theta))/2((WEDGE)(,I))(,(+OR-))('4)}, where 95% confidence level lower limits of (WEDGE)(,+) = 42 GeV and (WEDGE)(,-) = 44 GeV were found.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Particle physics
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