EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH

CERN–EP/2003-057

18 June 2003

Measurement of |Vcb| using the

semileptonic decay B0d → D∗+`−ν`

DELPHI Collaboration

Abstract

Data from Z decays in DELPHI have been searched for B0d → D∗+`−ν` with

the D∗+ decaying to D0π+ and D0 → K−π+, K−π+π+π− or K−π+(π0). Theseevents are used to measure the CKM matrix element |Vcb| and the form factorslope, ρ2

A1:

FD∗(1) |Vcb| = 0.0392± 0.0018± 0.0023; ρ2A1

= 1.32± 0.15± 0.33

corresponding to a branching fraction:

BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`) = (5.90± 0.22± 0.50)%.

Combining these and previous DELPHI measurements gives:

FD∗(1) |Vcb| = 0.0377± 0.0011± 0.0019, ρ2A1

= 1.39± 0.10± 0.33 and

BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`) = (5.39± 0.11± 0.34)%.

Using FD∗(1) = 0.91± 0.04, yields:

|Vcb| = 0.0414± 0.0012(stat.)± 0.0021(syst.)± 0.0018(theory).

The b-quark semileptonic branching fraction into a D∗+ emitted from highermass charmed excited states has also been measured to be:

BR(b → D∗+X`−ν`) = (0.67± 0.08± 0.10)%.

(Accepted by Eur. Phys. J.)

ii

J.Abdallah25, P.Abreu22, W.Adam51, P.Adzic11, T.Albrecht17, T.Alderweireld2, R.Alemany-Fernandez8,

T.Allmendinger17, P.P.Allport23, U.Amaldi29, N.Amapane45, S.Amato48, E.Anashkin36, A.Andreazza28, S.Andringa22,

N.Anjos22, P.Antilogus25, W-D.Apel17, Y.Arnoud14, S.Ask26, B.Asman44, J.E.Augustin25, A.Augustinus8, P.Baillon8,

A.Ballestrero46, P.Bambade20, R.Barbier27, D.Bardin16, G.Barker17, A.Baroncelli39, M.Battaglia8, M.Baubillier25,

K-H.Becks53, M.Begalli6, A.Behrmann53, E.Ben-Haim20, N.Benekos32, A.Benvenuti5, C.Berat14, M.Berggren25,

L.Berntzon44, D.Bertrand2, M.Besancon40, N.Besson40, D.Bloch9, M.Blom31, M.Bluj52, M.Bonesini29, M.Boonekamp40,

P.S.L.Booth23, G.Borisov21, O.Botner49, B.Bouquet20, T.J.V.Bowcock23, I.Boyko16, M.Bracko43, R.Brenner49,

E.Brodet35, P.Bruckman18, J.M.Brunet7, L.Bugge33, P.Buschmann53, M.Calvi29, T.Camporesi8, V.Canale38, F.Carena8,

N.Castro22, F.Cavallo5, M.Chapkin42, Ph.Charpentier8, P.Checchia36, R.Chierici8, P.Chliapnikov42, J.Chudoba8,

S.U.Chung8, K.Cieslik18, P.Collins8, R.Contri13, G.Cosme20, F.Cossutti47, M.J.Costa50, D.Crennell37, J.Cuevas34,

J.D’Hondt2, J.Dalmau44, T.da Silva48, W.Da Silva25, G.Della Ricca47, A.De Angelis47, W.De Boer17, C.De Clercq2,

B.De Lotto47 , N.De Maria45, A.De Min36, L.de Paula48, L.Di Ciaccio38, A.Di Simone39, K.Doroba52, J.Drees53,8,

M.Dris32, G.Eigen4, T.Ekelof49, M.Ellert49, M.Elsing8, M.C.Espirito Santo22, G.Fanourakis11, D.Fassouliotis11,3,

M.Feindt17, J.Fernandez41 , A.Ferrer50, F.Ferro13, U.Flagmeyer53, H.Foeth8, E.Fokitis32, F.Fulda-Quenzer20, J.Fuster50,

M.Gandelman48, C.Garcia50, Ph.Gavillet8, E.Gazis32, R.Gokieli8,52, B.Golob43, G.Gomez-Ceballos41, P.Goncalves22,

E.Graziani39, G.Grosdidier20, K.Grzelak52, J.Guy37, C.Haag17, A.Hallgren49, K.Hamacher53, K.Hamilton35, S.Haug33,

F.Hauler17, V.Hedberg26, M.Hennecke17, H.Herr8, J.Hoffman52, S-O.Holmgren44, P.J.Holt8, M.A.Houlden23,

K.Hultqvist44, J.N.Jackson23, G.Jarlskog26, P.Jarry40, D.Jeans35, E.K.Johansson44, P.D.Johansson44, P.Jonsson27,

C.Joram8, L.Jungermann17, F.Kapusta25, S.Katsanevas27 , E.Katsoufis32, G.Kernel43, B.P.Kersevan8,43, U.Kerzel17,

A.Kiiskinen15, B.T.King23, N.J.Kjaer8, P.Kluit31, P.Kokkinias11, C.Kourkoumelis3, O.Kouznetsov16, Z.Krumstein16,

M.Kucharczyk18, J.Lamsa1, G.Leder51, F.Ledroit14, L.Leinonen44, R.Leitner30, J.Lemonne2, V.Lepeltier20, T.Lesiak18,

W.Liebig53, D.Liko51, A.Lipniacka44, J.H.Lopes48, J.M.Lopez34, D.Loukas11, P.Lutz40, L.Lyons35, J.MacNaughton51 ,

A.Malek53, S.Maltezos32, F.Mandl51, J.Marco41, R.Marco41, B.Marechal48, M.Margoni36, J-C.Marin8, C.Mariotti8,

A.Markou11, C.Martinez-Rivero41, J.Masik12, N.Mastroyiannopoulos11, F.Matorras41, C.Matteuzzi29 , F.Mazzucato36 ,

M.Mazzucato36, R.Mc Nulty23, C.Meroni28, E.Migliore45, W.Mitaroff51, U.Mjoernmark26, T.Moa44, M.Moch17,

K.Moenig8,10, R.Monge13, J.Montenegro31 , D.Moraes48, S.Moreno22, P.Morettini13, U.Mueller53, K.Muenich53,

M.Mulders31, L.Mundim6, W.Murray37, B.Muryn19, G.Myatt35, T.Myklebust33, M.Nassiakou11, F.Navarria5,

K.Nawrocki52, R.Nicolaidou40, M.Nikolenko16,9, A.Oblakowska-Mucha19, V.Obraztsov42, A.Olshevski16, A.Onofre22,

R.Orava15, K.Osterberg15, A.Ouraou40, A.Oyanguren50, M.Paganoni29, S.Paiano5, J.P.Palacios23, H.Palka18,

Th.D.Papadopoulou32, L.Pape8, C.Parkes24, F.Parodi13, U.Parzefall8, A.Passeri39, O.Passon53, L.Peralta22,

V.Perepelitsa50, A.Perrotta5, A.Petrolini13, J.Piedra41, L.Pieri39, F.Pierre40, M.Pimenta22, E.Piotto8, T.Podobnik43,

V.Poireau8, M.E.Pol6, G.Polok18, P.Poropat47, V.Pozdniakov16 , N.Pukhaeva2,16 , A.Pullia29, J.Rames12, L.Ramler17,

A.Read33, P.Rebecchi8, J.Rehn17, D.Reid31, R.Reinhardt53, P.Renton35, F.Richard20, J.Ridky12, M.Rivero41,

D.Rodriguez41, A.Romero45, P.Ronchese36, P.Roudeau20, T.Rovelli5, V.Ruhlmann-Kleider40, D.Ryabtchikov42 ,

A.Sadovsky16, L.Salmi15, J.Salt50, A.Savoy-Navarro25, U.Schwickerath8, A.Segar35, R.Sekulin37, M.Siebel53,

A.Sisakian16, G.Smadja27, O.Smirnova26, A.Sokolov42, A.Sopczak21, R.Sosnowski52, T.Spassov8, M.Stanitzki17,

A.Stocchi20, J.Strauss51, B.Stugu4, M.Szczekowski52, M.Szeptycka52 , T.Szumlak19, T.Tabarelli29, A.C.Taffard23,

F.Tegenfeldt49, J.Timmermans31, L.Tkatchev16 , M.Tobin23, S.Todorovova12, B.Tome22, A.Tonazzo29, P.Tortosa50,

P.Travnicek12, D.Treille8, G.Tristram7, M.Trochimczuk52, C.Troncon28, M-L.Turluer40, I.A.Tyapkin16, P.Tyapkin16,

S.Tzamarias11, V.Uvarov42, G.Valenti5, P.Van Dam31, J.Van Eldik8, A.Van Lysebetten2 , N.van Remortel2,

I.Van Vulpen8, G.Vegni28, F.Veloso22, W.Venus37, P.Verdier27, V.Verzi38, D.Vilanova40, L.Vitale47, V.Vrba12,

H.Wahlen53, A.J.Washbrook23, C.Weiser17, D.Wicke8, J.Wickens2, G.Wilkinson35, M.Winter9, M.Witek18,

iii

O.Yushchenko42, A.Zalewska18, P.Zalewski52, D.Zavrtanik43, V.Zhuravlov16, N.I.Zimin16, A.Zintchenko16 , M.Zupan11

1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames IA 50011-3160, USA2Physics Department, Universiteit Antwerpen, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerpen, Belgiumand IIHE, ULB-VUB, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgiumand Faculte des Sciences, Univ. de l’Etat Mons, Av. Maistriau 19, B-7000 Mons, Belgium

3Physics Laboratory, University of Athens, Solonos Str. 104, GR-10680 Athens, Greece4Department of Physics, University of Bergen, Allegaten 55, NO-5007 Bergen, Norway5Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Bologna and INFN, Via Irnerio 46, IT-40126 Bologna, Italy6Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Fısicas, rua Xavier Sigaud 150, BR-22290 Rio de Janeiro, Braziland Depto. de Fısica, Pont. Univ. Catolica, C.P. 38071 BR-22453 Rio de Janeiro, Braziland Inst. de Fısica, Univ. Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, rua Sao Francisco Xavier 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

7College de France, Lab. de Physique Corpusculaire, IN2P3-CNRS, FR-75231 Paris Cedex 05, France8CERN, CH-1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland9Institut de Recherches Subatomiques, IN2P3 - CNRS/ULP - BP20, FR-67037 Strasbourg Cedex, France

10Now at DESY-Zeuthen, Platanenallee 6, D-15735 Zeuthen, Germany11Institute of Nuclear Physics, N.C.S.R. Demokritos, P.O. Box 60228, GR-15310 Athens, Greece12FZU, Inst. of Phys. of the C.A.S. High Energy Physics Division, Na Slovance 2, CZ-180 40, Praha 8, Czech Republic13Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Genova and INFN, Via Dodecaneso 33, IT-16146 Genova, Italy14Institut des Sciences Nucleaires, IN2P3-CNRS, Universite de Grenoble 1, FR-38026 Grenoble Cedex, France15Helsinki Institute of Physics, P.O. Box 64, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland16Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Head Post Office, P.O. Box 79, RU-101 000 Moscow, Russian Federation17Institut fur Experimentelle Kernphysik, Universitat Karlsruhe, Postfach 6980, DE-76128 Karlsruhe, Germany18Institute of Nuclear Physics,Ul. Kawiory 26a, PL-30055 Krakow, Poland19Faculty of Physics and Nuclear Techniques, University of Mining and Metallurgy, PL-30055 Krakow, Poland20Universite de Paris-Sud, Lab. de l’Accelerateur Lineaire, IN2P3-CNRS, Bat. 200, FR-91405 Orsay Cedex, France21School of Physics and Chemistry, University of Lancaster, Lancaster LA1 4YB, UK22LIP, IST, FCUL - Av. Elias Garcia, 14-1o, PT-1000 Lisboa Codex, Portugal23Department of Physics, University of Liverpool, P.O. Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK24Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Kelvin Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ25LPNHE, IN2P3-CNRS, Univ. Paris VI et VII, Tour 33 (RdC), 4 place Jussieu, FR-75252 Paris Cedex 05, France26Department of Physics, University of Lund, Solvegatan 14, SE-223 63 Lund, Sweden27Universite Claude Bernard de Lyon, IPNL, IN2P3-CNRS, FR-69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France28Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Milano and INFN-MILANO, Via Celoria 16, IT-20133 Milan, Italy29Dipartimento di Fisica, Univ. di Milano-Bicocca and INFN-MILANO, Piazza della Scienza 2, IT-20126 Milan, Italy30IPNP of MFF, Charles Univ., Areal MFF, V Holesovickach 2, CZ-180 00, Praha 8, Czech Republic31NIKHEF, Postbus 41882, NL-1009 DB Amsterdam, The Netherlands32National Technical University, Physics Department, Zografou Campus, GR-15773 Athens, Greece33Physics Department, University of Oslo, Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway34Dpto. Fisica, Univ. Oviedo, Avda. Calvo Sotelo s/n, ES-33007 Oviedo, Spain35Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3RH, UK36Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Padova and INFN, Via Marzolo 8, IT-35131 Padua, Italy37Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot OX11 OQX, UK38Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Roma II and INFN, Tor Vergata, IT-00173 Rome, Italy39Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Roma III and INFN, Via della Vasca Navale 84, IT-00146 Rome, Italy40DAPNIA/Service de Physique des Particules, CEA-Saclay, FR-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France41Instituto de Fisica de Cantabria (CSIC-UC), Avda. los Castros s/n, ES-39006 Santander, Spain42Inst. for High Energy Physics, Serpukov P.O. Box 35, Protvino, (Moscow Region), Russian Federation43J. Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia and Laboratory for Astroparticle Physics,

Nova Gorica Polytechnic, Kostanjeviska 16a, SI-5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia,and Department of Physics, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

44Fysikum, Stockholm University, Box 6730, SE-113 85 Stockholm, Sweden45Dipartimento di Fisica Sperimentale, Universita di Torino and INFN, Via P. Giuria 1, IT-10125 Turin, Italy46INFN,Sezione di Torino, and Dipartimento di Fisica Teorica, Universita di Torino, Via P. Giuria 1,

IT-10125 Turin, Italy47Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Trieste and INFN, Via A. Valerio 2, IT-34127 Trieste, Italy

and Istituto di Fisica, Universita di Udine, IT-33100 Udine, Italy48Univ. Federal do Rio de Janeiro, C.P. 68528 Cidade Univ., Ilha do Fundao BR-21945-970 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil49Department of Radiation Sciences, University of Uppsala, P.O. Box 535, SE-751 21 Uppsala, Sweden50IFIC, Valencia-CSIC, and D.F.A.M.N., U. de Valencia, Avda. Dr. Moliner 50, ES-46100 Burjassot (Valencia), Spain51Institut fur Hochenergiephysik, Osterr. Akad. d. Wissensch., Nikolsdorfergasse 18, AT-1050 Vienna, Austria52Inst. Nuclear Studies and University of Warsaw, Ul. Hoza 69, PL-00681 Warsaw, Poland53Fachbereich Physik, University of Wuppertal, Postfach 100 127, DE-42097 Wuppertal, Germany

1

1 Introduction

The Cabibbo, Kobayashi and Maskawa (CKM) matrix element Vcb is a parameter ofthe Standard Model and its value needs to be fixed by experiments. This parameterdetermines the decay rate of b-hadrons because |Vub| governs the other possible chargedweak decay of b-quarks and contributes only 1-2% to the total decay rate. The value of|Vcb| cannot be measured directly and there are two decay processes for which theoreticaluncertainties are expected to be under control [1]: the inclusive semileptonic decay ofb-hadrons corresponding to the b → c`−ν` transition and the exclusive decay channelB0

d → D∗+`−ν`. The latter is used in the following analysis, the D∗+ 1 is reconstructedthrough its decay to D0π+ and the D0 meson is isolated using three decay channels:K−π+, K−π+π+π− and K−π+(π0).

This study benefits from the reprocessing of DELPHI data taken between 1992 and1995 through improved versions of the event reconstruction algorithms. As a consequence,the number of signal events has increased by more than a factor two over those reportedin [2] using the same decay final states. An additional decay channel of the D0 (→K−π+(π0)) has been analysed which provides another factor of two increase. Thereare also improvements on the D∗ mass and b-meson energy reconstruction. The D∗+

signal is now narrower which gives a better isolation of the signal over the combinatorialbackground. As the main source of experimental systematic uncertainty originates fromthe contribution of D∗+ mesons emitted in the decay of excited charmed states producedin b-hadron semileptonic decays, additional observables have been defined to control thelevel of this contamination in a better way. The evaluation of the remaining contaminationfrom the double charm cascade decays (b → D∗+DX, D → `−ν`Y) benefits from recentmeasurements of their rates.

2 Measurement of |Vcb| from the decay B0d → D∗+`−ν`

The value of |Vcb| is extracted by studying the decay partial width for the process

B0d → D∗+`−ν` as a function of the recoil kinematics of the D∗+ meson [1]. The decay

rate is parameterized as a function of the variable w, defined as the product of the

four-velocities of the D∗+ and B0d mesons. This variable is related to the square of the

four-momentum transfer from the B0d to the `−ν` system, q2, by:

w =m2

D∗+ + m2

B0d

− q2

2mB

0dmD∗+

(1)

and its value ranges from 1.0, when the D∗+ is produced at rest in the B0d rest frame, to

about 1.5. Using the Heavy Quark Effective Theory (HQET) [3], the differential partialwidth for this decay is given by:

dΓ

dw=

G2F |Vcb|248π3

K(w)F2D∗(w), (2)

where K(w) contains kinematic factors:

K(w) = m3D∗(mB −mD∗)2

√w2 − 1(w + 1)2

(1 +

4w

w + 1

1− 2wr + r2

(1− r)2

)(3)

1Throughout this paper charge-conjugate states are implicitly included.

2

with r = mD∗/mB and FD∗(w) is a hadronic form factor.Although the shape of the form factor, FD∗(w), is not known, its magnitude at zero

recoil, corresponding to w = 1, can be estimated using HQET. It is convenient to expressFD∗(w) in terms of the axial form factor hA1(w) and of the reduced helicity form factorsH0 and H±:

FD∗(w) = hA1(w)

√√√√ H20 + H2

+ + H2−1 + 4w

w+11−2wr+r2

(1−r)2

. (4)

The reduced helicity form factors are themselves expressed in terms of the ratios betweenthe other HQET form factors (hV (w), hA2(w), hA3(w)) and hA1(w):

H0(w) = 1 +w − 1

1− r[1− R2(w)] (5)

H±(w) =

√1− 2wr + r2

1− r

[1∓

√w − 1

w + 1R1(w)

](6)

with

R1(w) =hV (w)

hA1(w)and R2(w) =

hA3(w) + rhA2(w)

hA1(w). (7)

Values for R1(w) and R2(w) have been measured by CLEO [4] using different models.The unknown function hA1(w) is approximated with an expansion around w = 1 [5]:

hA1(w) = hA1(1)× [1− 8ρ2

A1z + (53ρ2

A1− 15)z2 − (231ρ2

A1− 91)z3

], (8)

where ρ2A1

is the slope parameter at zero recoil and z =√

w+1−√2√w+1+

√2. An alternative

parametrization, obtained earlier, can be found in [6].In the heavy quark limit (mb → ∞), FD∗(1) = hA1(1) coincides with the Isgur-Wise

function [7,8] which is normalized to unity at the point of zero recoil. Corrections toFD∗(1) have been calculated to take into account the effects of finite quark masses andQCD corrections They yield FD∗(1) = 0.91± 0.04 [9].

Experiments determine the product FD∗(1) |Vcb| by fitting this quantity and the slopeρ2

A1, using the expression (2), convoluted with the experimental resolution on the w

variable. Since the phase space factor K(w) tends to zero as w → 1, the decay ratevanishes in this limit and the accuracy of the extrapolation relies on achieving a reasonablyconstant reconstruction efficiency in the region close to w = 1.

Results of the following analysis are expressed in terms of the q2 variable.

3 The DELPHI detector

The DELPHI detector and its performance have been described in detail elsewhere [10].The tracking system consisted of the Vertex Detector (VD), the Inner Detector (ID),

the Time Projection Chamber (TPC) and the Outer Detector (OD) in the barrel re-gion while the Forward Chambers (FCA, FCB) covered the end-cap regions. The averagemomentum resolution for high momentum charged particles traversing the DELPHI mag-netic field of 1.2 T was σ(p)/p2 = 0.0006 (GeV/c)−1 in the polar angle region between30◦ and 150◦.

3

The VD surrounded the beam pipe and consisted of three concentric layers of siliconmicro-strip detectors at radii 6, 9 and 11 cm. Until 1994 the VD layers were single-sidedand provided only information in the Rφ plane2. In 1994 the innermost and outermostlayers were replaced by double-sided silicon micro-strip modules providing both Rφ andRz measurements. The ID was placed outside the VD and consisted of a jet chamberproviding Rφ information, and a trigger chamber providing a measurement of the zcoordinate. In 1995 a new ID was installed with a longer jet chamber and straw tubesreplacing the trigger chambers. The VD and ID were surrounded by the TPC, themain DELPHI tracking device. The TPC provided up to 16 space points per particletrajectory between radii of 40 and 110 cm. The OD consisted of 5 layers of drift tubesand complemented the TPC by improving the momentum resolution of charged particles.

Hadrons were identified using the specific ionization (dE/dx) in the TPC and theCherenkov radiation in the barrel Ring Imaging CHerenkov detector (RICH) placed be-tween the TPC and OD detectors. The muon identification relied mainly on the muonchambers, a set of drift chambers giving three-dimensional information located at the pe-riphery of DELPHI after approximately 1 m of iron. Electron identification relied mainlyon the electromagnetic calorimeter in the barrel region (High density Projection Cham-ber, HPC) which was a sampling device having a relative energy resolution of ±5.5% forelectrons with 46 GeV/c momentum, and a spatial resolution of ±2 mm in z.

4 Hadronic Event Selection and Simulation

Hadronic Z decays collected by DELPHI between 1992 and 1995 have been analysed.Each event was divided into two hemispheres by a plane orthogonal to the thrust axis.To ensure that the event was well contained inside the fiducial volume of the detector,the cosine of the polar angle of the thrust axis of the event had to lie between -0.95and +0.95. Charged and neutral particles were clustered into jets by using the LUCLUSalgorithm [11] with the resolution parameter djoin = 5 GeV.

About 3.4 million events were selected from the full LEP1 data sets. The JETSET 7.3Parton Shower program [11] was used to generate hadronic Z decays, which were followedthrough the detailed detector simulation DELSIM [10] and finally processed by the sameanalysis chain as the real data. A sample of about nine million Z → qq events was used.To increase the statistical significance of the simulation, an additional sample of about3.6 million Z → bb events was analysed, equivalent to about 17 million hadronic Z decays.Statistics for the hadronic samples are given in Table 1.

Year Real data Simulated SimulatedZ → qq Z → bb

1992+1993 1355805 3916050 10961991994+1995 2012921 5012881 2495335

Total 3368726 8928931 3591534

Table 1: Analysed number of events. In 1992 and 1993 only two-dimensional vertexreconstruction was available.

2In the DELPHI coordinate system, z is along the electron beam direction, φ and R are the azimuthal angle and radiusin the xy plane, and θ is the polar angle with respect to the z axis.

4

5 Selection of events for analysis

Events corresponding to candidates for the decay B0d → D∗+`−ν` are selected by

requiring the presence of an identified lepton and of a D∗+ candidate in the same eventhemisphere which is defined by the direction of the jet containing the lepton. D∗+ aremeasured using the decays to D0π+. D0 mesons are reconstructed using their decays intoK−π+, K−π+π+π− and K−π+(π0).

To reduce the contribution from Z decays into light flavours, the standard DELPHIevent b-tagging variable [10] is used to enhance the sample in Z → bb decays. The b-tagging variable is essentially the probability that the analysed event originates fromlight quarks and is required to be less than 0.5 for D0 → K−π+ and K−π+(π0) decaysand less than 0.1 for the D0 → K−π+π+π− decay. In addition, the mass of the D∗+ − `−

system is restricted to the range between 2.5 and 5.5 GeV/c2.

5.1 Lepton identification

Muons and electrons with momentum larger than 2 GeV/c and at least one associatedhit in the VD are selected.

Muons are identified using standard algorithms [10] based on the matching of the trackreconstructed in the tracking system to the track elements provided by the barrel andforward muon chambers. Loose selection criteria are applied and the efficiency is ∼ 80%for ∼ 1% probability of hadron misidentification.

Electrons are identified using a neural network algorithm providing about 75% effi-ciency within the calorimeter acceptance. The probability for a hadron to fake an electronwas about 1%. Electrons from photon conversions are mainly produced in the outer IDwall and in the inner TPC frame. About 80% of them were removed, with negligible lossof signal, by reconstructing the conversion vertex.

5.2 Isolation of the D0 → K−π+ decay channel

The kaon candidate corresponds to a particle with the same charge as the lepton,with a momentum larger than 1 GeV/c and not identified as a pion by the standardalgorithms [10] which combine information provided by the ionization deposited in thegas volume of the TPC and by the RICH detectors. The pion candidate must have acharge opposite to the kaon and a momentum larger than 0.5 GeV/c. The pion and kaoncandidates must both have at least one associated VD hit in Rφ and be situated in thesame event hemisphere as the jet containing the lepton. The two tracks must intersectin space to form a D0 decay vertex candidate and those with a χ2 probability lowerthan 10−3 are rejected. K−π+ systems with a mass between 1.81 and 1.92 GeV/c2 andwith a momentum larger than 6 GeV/c are selected as signal candidates. Resolutions onthe reconstructed D0 mass measured on real and simulated events are given in Table 2.The selected mass window for the signal corresponds to about ±3σ. A D0 track is thenreconstructed using the parameters of the K− and π+ tracks fitted at their common vertexand imposing the condition that the D0 mass, quoted as m(D0) in the following, is 1.8645GeV/c2 [9].

The B decay vertex is obtained from the intersection of the D0 and the lepton trajec-tories. This vertex must have a χ2 probability larger than 10−3 and only D0− `− pairs oftotal momentum larger than 10 GeV/c are kept. The B decay vertex is then required tobe at a minimum distance from the position of the beam interaction point. This algebraic

5

D0 decay channel 92-93 MC 92-93 data 94-95 MC 94-95 dataMeV/c2 MeV/c2 MeV/c2 MeV/c2

K−π+ 16.0± 0.8 19.8± 2.0 16.7± 0.6 20.3± 1.4K−π+π+π− 10.4± 0.7 12.7± 1.8 10.5± 0.5 12.1± 1.0

Table 2: Mass resolution for D0 signals measured on real and simulated events.

distance is evaluated along the direction of the D0−`− momentum. A minimum distancebetween the D and B measured decay points, evaluated along the D0 momentum, is alsorequired. These conditions depend on the number of z VD hits associated to the tracks.If the decay distance is not measured along z with the VD, only cuts on decay distancestransverse to the beam direction are applied. These requirements, which are rather loose,are given in Table 3.

D0 decay channel B vert. ⇔ main vert. D vert. ⇔ B vert.K−π+ `/σ` > −1, − 2 `/σ` > −2, − 1

K−π+π+π− `/σ` > 1, 2 `/σ` > −1, − 0.5K−π+(π0) `/σ` > 2, 2 `/σ` > −1, − 1

Table 3: Minimum requirements on the decay distance (`) between the B decay andthe main vertices and also between the D and the B decay vertices. The first numbercorresponds to the cut in space whereas the second is the transverse distance cut, whichis applied only when the z coordinate is not measured. Negative distances corespond topositions behind the beam interaction point.

The D∗+ signal is identified by its decay to D0π+. Each particle of charge opposite tothe lepton candidate and emitted in the same event hemisphere as the jet containing thelepton is considered as a candidate for the π+. The track of this particle must form avertex with the D0 and the charged lepton trajectories and the vertex fit probability hasto be higher than 10−3. Signals for the cascade decay D∗+ → D0π+ correspond to a peakin the distribution of the mass difference δm = m(D0π+)−m(D0).

The global efficiencies to select signal events have been estimated using the simulation(see Table 4), accounting for all analysis steps described above, apart from the branchingfractions of the D∗+ and of the D0 into the selected decay channels.

D0 decay channel 92-93 MC 94-95 MCK−π+ (19.2± 0.7)% (22.3± 0.6)%

K−π+π+π− (8.6± 0.3)% (10.8± 0.3)%K−π+(π0) (8.7± 0.3)% (10.4± 0.2)%

Table 4: Global efficiencies of the analysis chain to reconstruct and select simulatedsignal events. The quoted uncertainties are statistical.

6

5.3 Isolation of the D0 → K−π+π+π− decay channel

Similar selection criteria to those which were applied to isolate the D0 → K−π+ decaychannel, are used. Differences in the algorithm are related to the final state multiplicity.Each of the three pion candidates must have a momentum larger than 0.5 GeV/c andthe total charge of the three pion system has to be opposite to the kaon charge. At leasttwo, among the four charged particle track candidates for D0 decay products must beassociated to at least one VD hit in Rφ and be situated in the same event hemisphereas the jet containing the lepton. As the reconstructed signal is narrower, K−π+π+π−

systems with a mass between 1.84 and 1.90 GeV/c2 are selected. The measured massresolutions are given in Table 2. Because of the higher combinatorial background, ascompared with the D0 → K−π+ decay channel, cuts on algebraic distances between theB and the main vertex and between the D and the B decay vertex are more severe thanfor the previous channel. They are summarized in Table 3.

The same set of four particles can give two K−π+π+π− mass combinations if there isan ambiguity in the definition of the K− and π− candidates. Only one combination iskept in the analysis by using criteria which are based on the available particle identifica-tion information provided by the RICH and the TPC or, if this information is missing,assuming that the K− has the larger momentum.

The same selection criteria, as for the decay D0 → K−π+, are applied to search for aD∗+ signal. The global efficiencies to select signal events have been estimated using thesimulation (see Table 4), accounting for all analysis steps described above, apart fromthe branching fractions of the D∗+ and of the D0 into the selected decay channels.

5.4 Isolation of the D0 → K−π+(π0) decay channel

The same criteria are applied, as in Section 5.2, to select the K− and π+ candidatesapart from the cut on the K−π+ mass which is required now to be between 1.5 and1.7 GeV/c2. This mass interval corresponds to the satellite peak position for the decayD0 → K−ρ+ when the π0 emitted from the ρ+ is soft. An estimate of the π0 4-vector isobtained by assuming that the decay is of the type D0 → K−ρ+, ρ+ → π+π0 and the D0,ρ+ and π0 masses are used as constraints. In addition it has been assumed that the π0 iscontained in the plane defined by the K− and the π+. When two solutions are possible,a choice is made according to criteria which have been defined using simulated events.

The D∗+ signal is identified by its decay to D0π+. Each particle of charge oppositeto the lepton candidate and emitted in the same event hemisphere as the jet containingthe lepton is considered as a candidate for the π+. The track of this particle must forma vertex with the D0 and the charged lepton trajectories and the vertex fit probabilityhas to be higher than 10−3. Signals for the cascade decay D∗+ → D0π+ correspond to apeak in the distribution of the mass difference δm = m(D0π+) −m(D0). The peak isbroader than for cases in which the D0 was completely reconstructed using its chargeddecay products. Cuts on decay distances between the primary, the B and the D vertexare given in Table 3.

The global efficiencies to select signal events have been estimated using the simulation(see Table 4), accounting for all analysis steps described above, apart from the branchingfractions of the D∗+ and of the D0 into the selected decay channels. The event selectiondescribed above does not ensure that only D0 decaying into the K−π+π0 channel areselected. The simulation predicts that about 67% are of this origin and that there are also:K−`+ν` (18%), K−π+X (3%) where X corresponds to neutrals, K−K+ (3%) where theK+ is assumed to be a π+ and the remaining 10% originates from various other channels.

7

Apart from the last contribution, efficiencies have been determined for each individualchannel using the simulation. Table 4 shows the selection efficiency corresponding to theweighted average for these channels. The branching fractions measured for each of thesechannels have been used for the real data (apart from K−π+X which is assumed to be thesame as in the simulation and equal to 5.6%, with an error of 0.6%) and a correspondingeffective efficiency has been evaluated. A correction factor for the remaining 10% ofthe events of undetermined origin has been obtained from a fit to the simulation usingthe efficiencies of the four identified contributions (see Table 4) and ensuring that the

simulated BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`) is recovered. This correction has been used on real data

with a relative uncertainty of ±25%, corresponding to the statistical error of the fit onsimulated events.

5.5 Selected event candidates

The mass difference distributions corresponding to the variable δm = m(D0π+) −m(D0) obtained for the three channels, are shown in Figure 1.

The numbers of D∗ candidates obtained by fitting these distributions with a Gaussian(D0 → K−π+ and K−π+π+π−) or a gamma distribution (D0 → K−π+(π0)) for the signal,and a smooth distribution for the combinatorial background3 are given in Table 5.

Data set 92-93 94-95K−π+ 193 ± 15 328 ± 16

K−π+π+π− 144 ± 14 243 ± 17K−π+(π0) 286 ± 24 494 ± 27

Table 5: Number of D∗ − ` candidate events selected in the two data taking periods andfor the three D0 decay channels.

5.6 q2 measurement

As explained in Section 2, to measure |Vcb| it is necessary to study the q2 dependence

of the differential semileptonic decay partial width dΓ(B0d → D∗+`−ν`)/dq2. For signal

events, corresponding to the semileptonic decay B0d → D∗+`−ν`, the value of q2 has been

obtained from the measurements of the B0d and D∗+ four-momenta:

q2 = (p` + pν`)2 = (p

B0d− pD∗+)2. (9)

The D∗+ 4-momentum is accurately measured, as all decay products correspond to re-constructed charged particle trajectories.4 To improve on the determination of the B0

d

momentum, information from all measured b-decay products is used, including an eva-luation of the missing momentum in the jet containing the lepton and the positions ofthe primary and of the secondary vertex, which are used as constraints to define the di-

rection of the b-hadron momentum. The nominal B0d mass is also used as a constraint in

this fit. The missing momentum in each jet has been evaluated by comparing the recon-structed jet momentum with the expectation obtained by imposing energy-momentum

3The distribution selected for the combinatorial background is bδm(δm) = (δm − mπ)a0(∑n

k=1 akδmk−1), with n =

2 or 3 and a0 = 0.5.4For the D0 → K−π+(π0) decay channel the accuracy is reduced by about 10% because of the missing π0.

8

conservation on the whole event. Finally, a momentum dependent correction is appliedto the reconstructed b-hadron momentum so that it remains, for simulated signal events,centred on the generated value.

The smearing of the q2 variable is studied with simulated signal events. The functionR(q2

s − q2r , q

2s) gives the distribution of the difference between the values of the recon-

structed q2, q2r , for events generated with a given value q2

s . Twenty slices in q2s of the

same width have been considered. Within each slice, R(q2s − q2

r , q2s) is parametrized as

the sum of two Gaussian distributions (see Figure 2). The two central positions of theGaussians, their standard deviations and the fraction of events corresponding to the nar-rower Gaussian are parametrized with a linear dependence on q2

s . Such parametrizationsare obtained independently for two sets of ten slices. Typical values of these parametriza-tions correspond to q2 resolutions of 0.3 and 2 GeV2 with about 50% of the events includedin the narrower Gaussian. Resolution distributions obtained for D0 reconstructed withonly charged particles and for the K−π+(π0) decay channel are compared in Figure 3.

The cuts applied to select the events which require a minimum momentum on thelepton, the D∗+ and the D∗+ − ` system and the cut on the minimum value for themass of the D∗+ − ` system can possibly introduce a bias in the q2

s distribution. A q2s

dependent acceptance correction, ε(q2s) has been evaluated by comparing the simulated q2

s

distributions for signal events before and after applying all analysis cuts. This correctionhas been normalized such that it does not change the number of accepted events forwhich an overall efficiency has already been determined. The corresponding distributionis given in Figure 4. It is uniform and does not show evidence for any significant bias. Alinear dependence for the acceptance gives:

ε(q2s) = (0.985± 0.026) + (0.0024± 0.0043)× q2

s , q2s in GeV2, (10)

which is compatible with unity within quoted uncertainties.As the cuts used in the analysis are very similar for all data samples, the same q2

s

dependent acceptance correction has been used for all channels and data samples.

6 The analysis procedure

The purpose of this analysis is to determine the values of the parameters FD∗(1) |Vcb|and ρ2

A1introduced in Section 2, using the measured q2

r distribution of candidate events.The predicted q2

r distribution for the signal is obtained using the theoretical distributioncorrected by the overall efficiency and the q2

s dependent acceptance, and then convolutedwith the expected resolution function R(q2

s − q2r , q

2s). The q2

r distributions for the otherevent sources are taken from the simulation or from the real data for the combinato-rial background. The q2

r distributions are rather similar for the signal and other event

categories because the procedure used to evaluate q2r from the B0

d and D∗+ 4-momentaoverestimates the real q2 value for background events. This is because algorithms havebeen defined for signal events and thus do not include the additional hadrons emittedin background sources. To enhance the separation between the signal and other eventsources, three other variables have been used. As a result, the branching fraction for D∗+

production in the decay of higher mass charm states, BR(b → D∗+X`−ν`), has also beenmeasured. Before describing these quantities, the different event classes contributing tothe analysis are explained.

9

6.1 The Event Sample composition

In addition to the signal (S1), which corresponds to the decay B0d → D∗+`−ν`, there

are six classes of events which contribute to the background:

• the combinatorial background (B) under the D∗+ peak;• real D∗+−`− events with the D∗+ produced in the decay of an excited charmed state

(S2). These events correspond to the decay chain b → D∗∗`−ν`, D∗∗ → D∗+X. Inthe present analysis, D∗∗ includes resonant as well as nonresonant Dnπ systems;

• real D∗+− `− events with the lepton originating from the decay of another charmedhadron (S3);

• events in which the D∗+ is emitted during the hadronization of a charmed quark jetin Z → cc events (S4);

• Z → bb events with a real D∗+ candidate accompanied by a fake lepton of oppositesign (S5);

• real D∗+− `− events with the lepton originating from the decay of a τ− lepton (S6).

6.2 Separation of signal from background events

There are two main classes of events which either do or do not contain a real D∗+. Thevariable δm (= m(D0π+)−m(D0)) allows the two classes to be separated (see Figure 1).Variables, d±, are used to separate the different classes of events with a real D∗+. Theyare obtained from a measurement of the number of charged particle tracks (excludingthe charged lepton, the pion coming from the D∗+ and the D0 decay products) whichare compatible with the b-decay vertex or with the main vertex. For the signal (S1),it is expected that all other charged particles in the b-jet are emitted from the beaminteraction region. This will be also true for (S4), the remaining background from Z→ ccevents, and for (S6). For the other classes (S2, S3 and S5) it is expected that, for most ofthe events, one or more additional charged particles are produced at the b-vertex.

The variables d± are defined in the following way:

• all charged particles, other than the D∗+ decay products and the lepton, emitted inthe same event hemisphere as the b-candidate, with a momentum larger than 500MeV/c, which form a mass with the D∗+ − `− system lower than 6 GeV/c2 andwhich have values for their impact parameters to the b-decay vertex smaller than 2and 1.5 σ in Rφ and z respectively, are considered;

• selected particles, having the same (+) or the opposite (−) charge as the lepton areconsidered separately. If there are several candidates in a class, the one with thelargest impact parameter to the main vertex is retained and the quantity:

x± = ε(Rφ)× nsig(Rφ)2 + ε(z)× nsig(z)2 (11)

is evaluated, where ε and nsig are, respectively, the sign and the number of standarddeviations for the track impact parameter relative to the main vertex. The signof the impact parameter is taken to be positive (negative) if the correspondingtrack trajectory intercepts the line of the jet axis from the main vertex downstream(upstream) from that vertex.

As the track impact parameters can extend to very large values because of the relativelylong decay time of b-hadrons, the variables d± are taken to be equal to the logarithm of(1+x2

±) and their sign is taken to be the same as x±. For events with no spectator trackcandidate, that is, with no additional tracks compatible with the b-decay vertex, a fixed

10

value of -4. is used for d±. Examples of distributions of the variable d+ for the signaland for the different background components, corresponding to all analysed channels, aregiven in Figure 5.

Due to track reconstruction effects, only 77% of signal events have no spectator trackcandidate instead of the expected 100%. Similarly, for the D∗∗ background, 1/3 of eventswith no additional tracks are expected by isospin at the b-vertex whereas 46% are ob-served. These values allow the probabilities P(0|0) and P(0| 6= 0) to be extracted forgetting no spectator candidate when, respectively, there is not and when there is reallysuch a candidate at generation level. Values for these two probabilities are respectivelyequal to 77% and 30% with a spread of ±5% corresponding to the different years andchannels. As it will be explained later (section 6.3.3), these two quantities have been usedto correct the present simulation of double charm cascade decays as it includes only thechannel B → D−

s DX whereas the other contributions (B → D−DX and D0DX) have adifferent charged particle topology.

6.3 Fitting procedures

Six event samples have been analysed separately corresponding to different detec-tor configurations (1992-1993 and 1994-1995) and to different decay channels of the D0

(K−π+, K−π+π+π− and K−π+(π0)). The analysis procedure is explained for a single suchsample in the following sections 6.3.1 to 6.3.7. It is applied to all samples simultaneouslyto obtain the measurements.

For each event (i), four measurements have been used: ~xi = (q2r , δm, d+, d−)i.

The parameters FD∗(1) |Vcb|, ρ2A1

and the background from D∗∗ decays (S2) are obtainedby minimizing a negative log-likelihood distribution. Other parameters, given in thefollowing, have to be introduced to account for the various fractions of contributing eventclasses and to describe their behaviour in terms of the variables analysed. The likelihooddistribution is obtained from the product of the probabilities to observe ~xi for eachconsidered event. These probabilities can be expressed in terms of the correspondingprobabilities for each event’s class and of their respective contributions in the eventsamples analysed:

P(~xi) =B × b(~xi) +

∑6j=1 Sj × sj(~xi)

B +∑6

j=1 Sj

. (12)

In this expression, B and Sj, (j = 1, ..., 6) are the numbers of events (fitted) correspondingto the combinatorial background and to the different classes of events with a real D∗+.The functions b(~x) and sj(~x), (j = 1, ..., 6) are the respective probability distributions ofthe variable ~x. Each probability distribution for the ~x variable is considered to be theproduct of four probability distributions corresponding to the four different variables.

These distributions can be obtained from data (b(~x)) or from the simulation. Thefitting procedure involves minimizing the quantity:

− lnL = −Nevt∑i=1

lnP(~xi), (13)

where Nevt is the total number of events analysed.From external measurements there are also constraints on the expected number of

events corresponding to the categories S3-S6. These constraints can be applied assuming

11

that the corresponding event numbers follow Poisson distributions with fixed averagevalues (S0

j ). This is obtained by adding to Equation (13) the quantity:

−6∑

j=3

Sj lnS0j +

6∑j=3

ln [Γ(Sj + 1)]. (14)

A similar expression is also added to account for the fact that the total number offitted events must be compatible with the number (N) of selected events:

−Nf ln N + ln Γ(Nf + 1), (15)

in which Nf , the number of fitted events, is equal to: Nf =∑

i=1,6 Si + B.The list of fitted parameters is given in the following for each component contributing

to the event sample analysed.

6.3.1 signal events

s1,q2r(q2

r): this distribution results from the convolution of the theoretical expected dis-

tributiondΓ(B0

d→D∗+`−ν`)

dq2s

(corrected by the q2s dependent efficiency and ac-

ceptance) with the resolution function R(q2s − q2

r , q2s). It depends mainly on

ρ2A1

and on the assumed q2s dependence for the ratio R1 and R2 between the

different contributing form-factors.s1,δm(δm): is a Gaussian distribution corresponding to the D∗+ signal for the D0 →

K−π+ or K−π+π+π− decay channels and a gamma distribution for D0 →K−π+(π0). The two parameters for each distribution have been obtainedfrom a fit to data.

s1,d±(d±): these distributions are obtained from simulated signal events. The two dis-tributions, for the d+ and d− variables are rather similar with about 77%probability for having no spectator track candidate and the remaining 23%being concentrated around zero.

S1: the number of signal events can be expressed as:

S1 = NH ×Rb × 4× fB0

d× BR(B0

d → D∗+`−ν`)× BR(D∗+ → D0π+)×BR(D0 → X)× ε(X).

(16)

In this expression, NH is the number of hadronic events analysed (Table 1),Rb is the fraction of hadronic Z decays into bb pairs, the factor 4 correspondsto the two hemispheres and the fact that muons and electrons are used, f

B0d

is the production fraction of B0d mesons in a b-quark jet, BR(B0

d → D∗+`−ν`)

is the semileptonic branching fraction of B0d mesons which is measured in this

analysis,5 the other two branching fractions correspond, respectively, to theselected D∗+ and D0 decay channels (Table 10), and ε(X) are the efficiencies,given in Table 4, of the cuts applied in the analysis to select signal events.Note that S1 is proportional to (FD∗(1) |Vcb|)2.

6.3.2 events from D∗∗ decays

These are events from the S2 class corresponding to the cascade decay b →D∗∗`−ν`, D∗∗ → D∗+X.

5It is the integral of Equation 2 (divided by the total B0d width) and depends on the two fitted quantities FD∗(1) |Vcb|

and ρ2A1

.

12

s2,q2r(q2

r): this distribution is taken from the simulation. Its variation for differentfractions of D∗∗ states has been studied (see Section 7.3.4 and Figure 9) andaccounted for as a small systematic shift and error.

s2,δm(δm): the same distribution is used as for signal, s1,δm(δm).s2,d±(d±): as for the signal, these distributions are taken from the simulation. It has

been verified that they are not dependent on the type of D∗∗ state whichproduced the D∗+. There is a marked difference between s2,d+ and s2,d− , thelatter being rather similar to the corresponding distribution for signal events.

S2: the number of expected events is fitted without imposing constraints fromexternal measurements.

6.3.3 double charm cascade decay lepton events

These are events from the S3 class corresponding to the cascade decay b →D∗+DX, D → `−ν`Y

s3,q2r(q2

r): this distribution is taken from the simulation.s3,δm(δm): the same distribution is used as for signal, s1,δm(δm).s3,d±(d±): when there are spectator tracks, the distribution s2,d+(d+) (with d+ > −4),

is used. The expected fractions of events with no spectator tracks in the d+

and d− distributions have been evaluated from the measured contributions

of D0D∗+, D−D∗+ and D−

s D∗+ events [12,13], with the D → `−X branchingfractions and topological decay rates for the hadronic states X, taken from [9].For d+ it is expected that (39 ± 6)% of the events have no spectator trackand for d− this fraction is (39±4)%. These numbers have to be corrected forreconstruction effects using the variables P(0|0) and P(0| 6= 0) introduced inSection 6.2.

S3: the expected number of events from this source is taken from present mea-surements of b → DDX decay rates which correspond to:

BR(b → D∗+`−X) + BR(b → D∗−`+X) = (0.83± 0.21)%, (17)

where the lepton originates from the D → Y semileptonic decay. This valuehas been obtained using measurements from ALEPH [12] and BaBar [13]on exclusive double charm decay branching fractions of b-hadrons, with acharged D∗ emitted in the final state, and using the inclusive semileptonicdecay branching fractions of charmed particles given in [9].

Simulated events contain double charm decays of the type b → D∗+D(∗)s X

only, with a corresponding branching fraction: BR(b → D∗+`−X) = 0.25%.This rate has been rescaled to correspond to the value given in Equation(17), assuming that the experimental acceptance is similar for the differentcontributing channels.

6.3.4 Z → cc events

s4,q2r(q2

r): this distribution is taken from the simulation.s4,δm(δm): the same distribution is used as for signal, s1,δm(δm).s4,d±(d±): as for the signal, it is taken from the simulation.

S4: the expected number of events from this source is taken from the simulationafter having corrected for the small difference between the rates for D∗+

13

production in c-jets between simulated and real events [14]:

P (c→ D∗+) = (0.2392± 0.0035)MC ↔ (0.226± 0.014)Data. (18)

The remaining contamination from cc is expected to be very small (of theorder of 1%).

6.3.5 fake lepton events

Only fake lepton events associated with a real D∗+ and not coming from cc events,have to be considered as the other contributions have been already included.

s5,q2r(q2

r): this distribution is taken from the simulation.s5,δm(δm): the same distribution is used as for signal, s1,δm(δm).s5,d±(d±): as for the signal, it is taken from the simulation.

S5: the expected number of events from this source is taken from the simulationafter having applied corrections determined, using special event samples, toaccount for differences between the fake lepton rates in real and simulateddata (see Section 7.3).

6.3.6 semileptonic decays with a τ

These are events from the S6 class corresponding to the cascade decayb → D∗+τ−X, τ− → `−ν`Y

s6,q2r(q2

r): this distribution is taken from the simulation.s6,δm(δm): the same distribution is used as for signal, s1,δm(δm).s6,d±(d±): is the same as the signal distribution s1,d±(d±)

S6: the expected number of events from this source is obtained assuming thatthe production rate for b-hadron τ semileptonic decays is 0.223±0.004 of therate with a µ or e [15]. As for the cc background, events from τ decays areexpected to give a small contribution, of the order of 1%.

6.3.7 combinatorial background events

Real data events are selected in the upper wing of the D∗+ mass peak between0.15 and 0.17 GeV/c2 for D0 → K−π+ or K−π+π+π− channels, and in the range0.17 − 0.22 GeV/c2 for D0 → K−π+(π0).

bq2r(q2

r): this distribution is taken from real data events located in the upper part ofthe δm distribution.

bδm(δm): the parametrization given in Section 5.5 has been used. The same massdependence has been taken for the first four samples while a parametrizationcorresponding to different values for the coefficients has been obtained forD0 → K−π+(π0) events. Parameters of these distributions have been fitted,outside the global likelihood fit, to the δm distributions corresponding to theevents selected for the analysis.

bd±(d±): as for the q2r distribution, the d± distributions for combinatorial background

events are obtained from analysed events, selecting those situated in theupper part of the δm distribution.

B: in each of the six samples, the total number of combinatorial backgroundevents is fitted over the total δm range.

14

7 Measurements of FD∗(1) |Vcb| and ρ2A1

The six event samples have been analysed in the same way. Efficiencies and probabilitydistributions have been determined independently for each sample. Common parameterscorresponding to the description of physics processes have been fitted or taken fromexternal measurements. The central values and uncertainties used for the latter aresummarized in Table 10.

7.1 Results on simulated events

Signal events generated using the DELPHI simulation program correspond to a givendynamical model, using a given modelling of the decay form factors. The generated q2

s

distribution has been fitted using a parametrization derived from the one given in Sec-tion 2. As the model used in the simulation is a priori different from HQET expectations,it has been necessary to add arbitrary terms in the expression so that the fit will be rea-sonable over the whole q2 range. These terms correspond to a polynomial developmentin powers of (w − 1), starting with at least quadratic terms so that they have no effecton the slope nor on the absolute value of the spectrum at the end-point corresponding tow = 1.

Using the total number of generated events to fix the normalization, the equivalentvalues for the two parameters defining the signal in the simulation:

FD∗(1) |Vcb| = 0.03552± 0.00016; ρ2A1

= 1.088± 0.021 (19)

are obtained. The fitted semileptonic branching fraction is equal to:

BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`) = (5.091± 0.020)%, (20)

which agrees with the exact value of 5.103% used to generate these events.The exercise is repeated on pure signal events using the reconstructed q2

r distribution.This predicted distribution now includes the effects of the experimental reconstruction ofthe q2 variable and of the acceptance. This gives:

FD∗(1) |Vcb| = 0.03549± 0.00050; ρ2A1

= 1.119± 0.052. (21)

The fitted semileptonic branching fraction is equal to:

BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`) = (5.004± 0.054)%. (22)

Finally, using the sample of Z → qq and bb simulated events, the signal parametersare determined, including the different background components giving (see Table 6):

FD∗(1) |Vcb| = 0.03579± 0.00063; ρ2A1

= 1.122± 0.061. (23)

The fitted semileptonic branching fraction is equal to:

BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`) = (5.081± 0.065)%, (24)

demonstrating that the fitting procedure gives the expected values for the sig-nal parameters correctly. The q2 distribution for MC events selected within theδm = [0.144, 0.147] GeV/c2 interval for the K−π+ and K−π+π+π− channels and withinthe δm = [0.14, 0.17] GeV/c2 interval for K−π+(π0) is shown in Figure 6 with thecontributions from the fitted components.

15

Data set FD∗(1) |Vcb| ρ2A1

BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`) (%)

K−π+ 92-93 0.0375 ± 0.0020 1.27 ± 0.17 5.16 ± 0.21K−π+ 94-95 0.0356 ± 0.0013 1.16 ± 0.13 4.94 ± 0.14

K−π+π+π− 92-93 0.0356 ± 0.0020 1.03 ± 0.21 5.28 ± 0.23K−π+π+π− 94-95 0.0363 ± 0.0014 1.13 ± 0.13 5.20 ± 0.15K−π+(π0) 92-93 0.0355 ± 0.0018 1.14 ± 0.17 4.95 ± 0.19K−π+(π0) 94-95 0.0351 ± 0.0013 1.05 ± 0.13 5.06 ± 0.14

Total sample 0.03579 ± 0.00063 1.122 ± 0.061 5.081 ± 0.065

Table 6: Fitted values of the parameters in Z → qq and bb simulated events. The quoteduncertainties are statistical.

7.2 Results from data

To analyse real data events, additional corrections have been applied to account forremaining differences between real and simulated events. Central values and uncertaintieson these corrections are explained in the following when evaluating systematic uncertain-ties attached to the present measurements.

The results obtained on the six data samples and using the total statistics are givenin Table 7.

Data set FD∗(1) |Vcb| ρ2A1

BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`) (%)

K−π+ 92-93 0.0394 ± 0.0055 1.15 ± 0.48 6.55 ± 0.77K−π+ 94-95 0.0340 ± 0.0041 0.71 ± 0.45 6.11 ± 0.55

K−π+π+π− 92-93 0.0410 ± 0.0058 1.43 ± 0.46 6.06 ± 0.77K−π+π+π− 94-95 0.0342 ± 0.0042 1.12 ± 0.41 5.01 ± 0.51K−π+(π0) 92-93 0.0407 ± 0.0043 1.36 ± 0.35 6.22 ± 0.57K−π+(π0) 94-95 0.0404 ± 0.0031 1.48 ± 0.24 5.70 ± 0.40

Total sample 0.0381± 0.0018 1.23± 0.15 5.83± 0.22

Table 7: Fitted values of the parameters on real data events. The quoted uncertaintiesare statistical. As 92-93 event samples have a reduced sensitivity to the D∗∗ background(S2), fitted values quoted in this Table, when corresponding to individual event samples,have been obtained using a fixed value for the branching fraction BR(b → D∗+X`−ν`)(=0.67 %, see Equation 29). Results quoted for the total statistics have been obtainedletting free this quantity to vary in the fit.

The values obtained are:

FD∗(1) |Vcb| = 0.0381± 0.0018; ρ2A1

= 1.23± 0.15, (25)

which correspond to a branching fraction equal to:

BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`) = (5.83± 0.22)%. (26)

The correlation coefficient ρ(FD∗(1) |Vcb| , ρ2A1

) is equal to 0.894. Fitted fractions ofthe different components are given in Table 8.

Distributions of the q2 and d± variables for events selected within theδm = [0.144, 0.147] GeV/c2 interval for the K−π+ and K−π+π+π− channels and within

16

the δm = [0.14, 0.17] GeV/c2 interval for K−π+(π0) are shown in Figures 7 and 8 withthe contributions from the fitted components.

Signal D∗∗ Cascade Charm Fake lept. τ Comb. Backg.(S1) (S2) (S3) (S4) (S5) (S6) B1196± 35 319± 38 129± 11 12± 3 67± 8 16± 4 523± 23

26.7± 3.2 10.8± 0.9 1.0± 0.3 5.6± 0.7 1.3± 0.3 43.7± 1.9

Table 8: Number of events and fitted fractions (in % of signal events) attributed to thedifferent components of the analysed sample of events selected within the δm mass intervalcorresponding to the D∗+ signal.

7.3 Evaluation of systematic uncertainties

Values for the parameters taken from external measurements and hypotheses used inthe present analysis have been varied within their corresponding range of uncertainty.The results are summarized in Table 9.

parameter central value rel. err. on rel. err. on rel. err. onor hypothesis and uncert. FD∗(1) |Vcb| (%) ρ2

A1(%) BR(%)

External parameters

Rates and BR Table 10 and 11 ∓2.5 ±0.4 ∓5.3K−π+X rates 1.100 ± 0.025 ∓0.5 0.0 ∓1.1b-hadron frag. see text ∓0.8 ∓3.0 0.0

τ (B0d) (1.542 ± 0.016)ps ∓0.5 0.0 ∓1.0

Detector performance

Tracking efficiency see section 7.3.2 ∓ 1.1 0.0 ∓ 2.2Lepton identification ±1.5% (e), ± 2.0% (µ) ∓0.5 ±0.1 ∓1.0Fake Lepton rates Table 12 0.0 ±0.1 0.0

q2 resolution see text ±2.3 ±6.2 ∓0.4q2 acceptance see section 5 ±0.5 ±1.5 ∓0.2

Control of d± dist. see text ±3.0 ±1.1 ±5.5Selection efficiency Table 4 ∓0.6 ±0.1 ∓1.2

MC statistics see section 7.1 ±1.8 ±5.9 ±1.3

Signal modelling

R1(w) and R2(w) see text ±1.0 ±22.8 0.0

Backg. modelling

D∗∗ states see text ±2.2 ±5.3 ±0.6Double charm cascade decay rate 0.0083 ± 0.0021 ±0.4 ±1.7 ∓0.4

B0d → D∗+τ−ντX 0.0127 ± 0.0021 ∓0.4 ∓0.4 ∓0.6P(c → D∗+X) 0.226 ± 0.014 0.0 ±0.1 0.0

Total systematics ±5.8 ±25.2 ±8.4

Table 9: Systematic uncertainties given as relative values expressed in %. The totalsystematics are obtained by summing the components in quadrature.

7.3.1 Uncertainties related to external parameters

• Values for D and D∗ branching fractions into the analysed final states, the Rb valueand the b-hadron lifetime have been taken from [9]. A summary of the values used

17

parameter central valueor hypothesis and uncert.

Rb 0.21664± 0.00068

P(b → B0d) 0.388± 0.013

BR(D∗+ → D0π+) 0.677± 0.005BR(D0 → K−π+) 0.0380± 0.0009

BR(D0 → K−π+π+π−) 0.0746± 0.0031BR(D0 → K−π+π0) 0.131± 0.009BR(D0 → K−`+ν`) 0.0686± 0.0030BR(D0 → K−K+) 0.00412± 0.00014

Table 10: Values for the external parameters used in the analysis. The quoted value forBR(D0 → K−`+ν`) corresponds to the sum of the branching fractions for the electron andmuon final states.

in the present analysis is given in Table 10. They have been varied within the corre-sponding range of uncertainty and the systematic errors induced in FD∗(1) |Vcb| (%),

ρ2A1

(%) and the BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`) are given in Table 11.

• Global efficiencies to select D0 → K−π+(π0) events have been estimated using thesimulation as described in section 5.4. Measured branching fractions of severalD0 → K−π+X decay channels have been used for real data and a correction factorhas been applied to take into account events from undetermined origin.

• Simulated events have been generated using the JETSET 7.3 program with the par-ton shower option [11]. The non-perturbative part of the fragmentation of b-quarkjets is taken to be a Peterson distribution which depends on a single parameter, εb:

D(z) =N

z[1− 1

z− εb

1−z

]2 . (27)

In this expression, N is a normalization factor and z =EB+pL,B

Eb+pL,bwith B and

b indicating the B hadron and the b-quark. The average fraction of the beamenergy taken by weakly decaying b-hadrons has been evaluated in [14] to be< XE >= <EB>

Ebeam= 0.702 ± 0.008. Simulated events, generated with the param-

eter εb = 0.002326, correspond to < XE >= 0.7035. The effects of a variation ofthe average value < XE > and of the shape of the fragmentation distribution, onthe results of the analysis have been studied by weighting events generated with aknown value of the variable z so that they correspond to recent measurements [16].In addition to a change in the slope of the B momentum distribution, < XE >increases by 2%.A new parametrization of the resolution function R(q2

s − q2r , q

2s) described in section

5.6 has been determined on simulated weighted events and the analysis has beenredone giving relative variations of −0.8% and −3%, respectively, on FD∗(1) |Vcb|and ρ2

A1.

• The b-hadron lifetime used in the simulation is equal to 1.6 ps and is independentof the type of produced b-hadrons. Events have been weighted so that their lifetimeagrees with present measurements. Efficiencies given in Table 4 have been deter-mined using weighted events and uncertainties related to the present accuracy on

the B0d lifetime measurement can be neglected.

18

parameter rel. err. on rel. err. on rel. err. onor hypothesis FD∗(1) |Vcb| (%) ρ2

A1(%) BR(%)

Rb ∓0.15 ±0.01 ∓0.32

P(b → B0d) ∓1.69 ±0.02 ∓3.39

BR(D∗+ → D0π+) ∓0.37 ±0.03 ∓0.76BR(D0 → K−π+) ∓0.31 ±0.01 ∓0.63

BR(D0 → K−π+π+π−) ∓0.68 0.0 ∓1.35BR(D0 → K−π+(π0)) ∓1.70 ±0.35 ∓3.64

Total ∓2.5 ±0.4 ∓5.3

Table 11: Systematic uncertainties from external parameters as relative values expressedin %. The uncertainty related to the BR(D0 → K−π+(π0)) includes the contribution ofthe D0 → K−π+π0, D0 → K−`+ν` and D0 → K−K+ branching fractions. Central valuesand errors of these parameters are given in Table 10.

7.3.2 Uncertainties from the detector performance

• Differences between simulated and real data events on the tracking efficiency havebeen studied in [17] and correspond to ±0.3% for each charged particle. For thesoft pion coming from the D∗+ an uncertainty of ±1% has been assumed.

• Differences between simulated and real data events on lepton identification havebeen measured using dedicated samples of real data events [18] and the real data tosimulation ratios are equal to (88.5±1.5)92−93% and (94.0±1.5)94−95% for electrons.For muons, the real data to simulation ratios are equal to 96% for the two periodswith a ±2% uncertainty.

• Differences between fake lepton rates in which the lepton is a misidentified hadron,have also been measured using dedicated samples of real data events and comparedwith the simulation [18] to obtain correction factors which are summarized in Ta-ble 12.

Data set electron muon92-93 0.69± 0.03 1.44± 0.0394-95 0.77± 0.03 1.61± 0.03

Table 12: Correction factors to apply to simulated events in which the candidate leptonis a misidentified hadron.

• Resolution of the q2 variable.A resolution function, common to all three D0 decay channels has been used. Thisfunction is determined independently for the 92-93 and 94-95 data samples. Toquantify the importance of controlling the experimental resolution on q2 the widthsof the fitted Gaussians have been increased by 5%. This value is two times largerthan observed differences between the averaged missing energy measured in jetsfor real and simulated events. It corresponds to the increase in smearing of theresolution function when including events with a missing π0. The induced variationsin FD∗(1) |Vcb| and ρ2

A1are +0.3% and +1.2% respectively.

The uncertainty on the parametrization of the resolution distributions has beenevaluated by varying the number of fitted groups of slices in q2 on which a linear

19

variation of the parameters of the two Gaussian distributions were evaluated. Re-sults obtained with two groups of 10 slices and with five groups of four slices havebeen compared. This corresponds to relative variations on FD∗(1) |Vcb| and ρ2

A1of

+2% and +5% respectively.Results obtained when including or excluding K−π+(π0) events, which have a poorerresolution, in the determination of the resolution function have been also compared.This corresponds to relative variations on FD∗(1) |Vcb| and ρ2

A1of ±1.0% and ±3.5%

respectively.Measured differences obtained from these comparisons have been summed inquadrature.The value of q2 is obtained from the measurements of the B and D∗+ 4-momenta(see Section 5.6). The B momentum is obtained from a constrained fit, imposingthe B meson mass, which includes information from primary and secondary vertexpositions and from the energy and momentum of the particles belonging to the jetthat provide an estimate of the B momentum and direction. Uncertainties on thepolar and azimuthal angles giving the B direction, and on the magnitude of theB momentum, which were determined from the measurement of the D∗+, chargedlepton and missing-jet momenta, have been varied by ±30% and new resolutiondistributions for q2 have been obtained. Corresponding variations on fitted valuesfor FD∗(1) |Vcb| and ρ2

A1are found to be negligible.

• Control of the d± distributions. Distributions of the d± variables obtained forevents selected for values of δm higher than the D∗+ signal, in real and simulatedevents, have been compared (see the bottom two distributions in Figure 5). Theprobabilities for having no spectator track differ by (2.5± 1.0)% between data andthe simulation. To account for this difference the corresponding probabilities for nospectator track have been varied by ±3%, simultaneously for signal and backgroundcomponents with a real D∗+. Such a variation does not apply for events from thecombinatorial background as the shape of the corresponding distributions has beentaken from real events.The effect of a different shape of the d± distributions has also been evaluated fordouble charm cascade decays (S3). A flat distribution has been considered for

d± > 2 to account for the different topologies of D0D∗+, D−D∗+ and D−

s D∗+. Theeffect of this variation has been found to be negligible.

• The effect of a possible difference between the tuning of the b-tagging [10] betweenreal and simulated data events has been neglected because loose criteria have beenused in this analysis.

7.3.3 Uncertainties on signal modelling

These uncertainties correspond to the use of the w dependent ratios R1(w) and R2(w)defined in Equation (7). Values for these quantities, using different models, have beenobtained by the CLEO collaboration [4]: R1 = 1.18±0.30±0.12, R2 = 0.71±0.22±0.07with a correlation ρ(R1, R2) = −0.82 between the uncertainties on these two mea-surements. Relative variations induced in the fitted parameters FD∗(1) |Vcb|, ρ2

A1and

BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`) have been obtained varying the values of R1 and R2 within their

corresponding range of uncertainty. They are given in Table 13.

As observed already in previous analyses, the uncertainty on R2 dominates the sys-tematic uncertainty on ρ2

A1.

20

∆FD∗(1)|Vcb|FD∗(1)|Vcb| (%)

∆ρ2A1

ρ2A1

(%)∆BR(B0

d→D∗+`−ν`)

BR(B0d→D∗+`−ν`)

(%)

∆R1 = ±1σ ∓ 1.3 ± 0.3 0.0∆R2 = ±1σ ∓ 1.8 ∓ 22.5 0.0

Table 13: Relative variations of the fitted parameters due to the R1 and R2 measurements.The 1σ variation corresponds to the sum in quadrature of the statistical and systematicuncertainties.

7.3.4 Uncertainties on background modelling

• The fraction of D∗+ mesons originating from decays of D∗∗ mesons depends on thetotal production rate of these states and on their relative fractions.Combining present measurements, the production rate of D∗+ mesons originatingfrom D∗∗ decays and accompanied by an opposite sign lepton is [14]:

BR(b → D∗+X`−ν`) = (0.8± 0.1)%. (28)

This information is not included in the fit as D∗+ events produced in D∗∗ decaysare directly fitted, simultaneously with FD∗(1) |Vcb| and ρ2

A1, to the data giving:

BR(b → D∗+X`−ν`) = (0.67± 0.08± 0.10)%, (29)

which is compatible with the expectation given in Equation (28). The statisticalerror correlation coefficients are: ρ(FD∗(1) |Vcb| , BR(b → D∗+X`−ν`)) = −0.171and ρ(ρ2

A1, BR(b → D∗+X`−ν`)) = −0.061. The quoted systematic, in Equation

(29), has been evaluated by considering the same sources of errors as are listed inTable 9.To evaluate the effect of the uncertainty in the sample composition of produced D∗∗

states, the model of [19] has been used. Parameters entering into this model havebeen varied so that the corresponding production rates of the narrow states remainwithin the ±1σ measured ranges defined in Equations (30, 31):

BR(B→ D1`−ν`) = (0.63± 0.10)% (30)

BR(B→ D∗2`−ν`) = (0.23± 0.08)% or < 0.4% at the 95% CL (31)

R∗∗ =BR(B→ D∗

2`−ν`)

BR(B→ D1`−ν`)= 0.37± 0.14 or < 0.6 at the 95% CL, (32)

where R∗∗ is the ratio between the production rates of D∗2 and D1 in b-meson semilep-

tonic decays.A dedicated simulation program has been written to generate the decay distributionsof the different D∗∗ states. Correlations between the lepton and hadron momentainduced by the decay dynamics are included. The w dependence of the differentform factors has been parametrized according to the model given in [19]. It hasbeen assumed that, in addition to narrow states whose production fractions aregiven in Equations (30-32), broad D∗π final states, emitted in a relative S wave, areproduced.The two sets of model parameters giving the two most displaced central values forthe q2 distribution are used to evaluate the systematic uncertainty coming from the

21

sample composition of D∗∗ states6. These two distributions are shown in Figure 9and the fitted values obtained with these two models are given in Table 14.

Model 1 Model 2FD∗(1) |Vcb| (%) 0.0400± 0.0017 0.0383± 0.0018

ρ2A1

1.38± 0.13 1.25± 0.15

BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`)(%) 5.92± 0.21 5.84± 0.22

Table 14: Fitted values corresponding to the two models describing D∗∗ production.

The average of these two results is used to determine the central values forFD∗(1) |Vcb| and ρ2

A1and half of their difference is taken as systematic uncertainty;

this gives:

FD∗(1) |Vcb| = 0.0392± 0.0018; ρ2A1

= 1.32± 0.15.

• The rate for the double charm cascade decay background, evaluated from simulatedevents, has been rescaled to agree with present measurements (see Equation (17)).

• The small components of tau and charm backgrounds have been evaluated usingpresent measurements.

• The modelling uncertainty of the combinatorial component corresponding to eventssituated under the D∗+ peak has a negligible contribution.

8 Combined result

The present measurement of FD∗(1) |Vcb| and ρ2A1

has been combined with the previousDELPHI result [20] obtained with a more inclusive analysis in which the D∗+ was recon-structed using the charged pion and tracks attached to a secondary vertex, accountingfor the D0 decay products. The values obtained in the previous DELPHI analysis were:

FD∗(1) |Vcb| = 0.0355± 0.0014 + 0.0023− 0.0024; ρ2

A1= 1.34± 0.14 + 0.24

− 0.22 and

BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`) = (4.70± 0.13 + 0.36

− 0.31)%.

Modifying the central values and uncertainties of the parameters entering in this analysisso that they correspond to the values taken for the present measurement yields the results:

FD∗(1) |Vcb| = 0.0372± 0.0014± 0.0025; ρ2A1

= 1.51± 0.14± 0.37 and

BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`) = (5.20± 0.14± 0.42)%.

The average with the present measurement has been obtained using the methodadopted by the LEP Vcb working group [14]. Common sources of systematic uncer-tainties between the two analyses have also been identified and properly treated in theaveraging procedure. The statistical correlation between the two measurements has beenevaluated to be 8% (it was evaluated to be 5% in [2] where a similar combination wasdone).

Averaging the two measurements gives the following results:

FD∗(1) |Vcb| = 0.0377± 0.0011± 0.0019; ρ2A1

= 1.39± 0.10± 0.33 and

BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`) = (5.39± 0.11± 0.34)%.

6Values of the parameters (see [19]) corresponding to Model 1 are: τ ′ = −0.2, τ(1) = 0.5, τ1 = −0.375 and τ2 = 0.375.The corresponding values for Model 2 are: τ ′ = −2.0, τ(1) = 0.83, τ1 = 0. and τ2 = 0.75.

22

Using FD∗(1) = 0.91± 0.04 gives:

|Vcb| = 0.0414± 0.0012± 0.0021± 0.0018,

where the last uncertainty corresponds to the systematic error from theory.

9 Conclusions

Measurements of FD∗(1) |Vcb|, ρ2A1

and of BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`) have been obtained

using exclusively reconstructed D∗+ decays by the DELPHI Collaboration. Variableshave been defined which allow different decay mechanisms producing D∗+ mesons in thefinal state to be separated.

The following values have been obtained:

FD∗(1) |Vcb| = 0.0392± 0.0018± 0.0023; ρ2A1

= 1.32± 0.15± 0.33,

which correspond to a branching fraction:

BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`) = (5.90± 0.22± 0.50)%.

These values are in agreement with previous measurements obtained by theALEPH [21], DELPHI [20] and OPAL [22] collaborations.

The b-quark semileptonic branching fraction into a D∗+ emitted from higher masscharmed excited states has also been measured to be:

BR(b → D∗+X`−ν`) = (0.67± 0.08± 0.10)%.

Combining the present measurements with the previous analysis from DELPHI [20]which was done using a more inclusive approach, yields:

FD∗(1) |Vcb| = 0.0377± 0.0011± 0.0019; ρ2A1

= 1.39± 0.10± 0.33 and

BR(B0d → D∗+`−ν`) = (5.39± 0.11± 0.34)%.

Using FD∗(1) = 0.91± 0.04 this gives:

|Vcb| = 0.0414± 0.0012± 0.0021± 0.0018,

where the last uncertainty corresponds to the systematic error from theory.

Acknowledgements

We are greatly indebted to our technical collaborators, to the members of the CERN-SL Division for the excellent performance of the LEP collider, and to the funding agenciesfor their support in building and operating the DELPHI detector.We acknowledge in particular the support ofAustrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, GZ 616.364/2-III/2a/98,FNRS–FWO, Flanders Institute to encourage scientific and technological research in theindustry (IWT), Federal Office for Scientific, Technical and Cultural affairs (OSTC), Bel-gium,FINEP, CNPq, CAPES, FUJB and FAPERJ, Brazil,Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade, GA CR 202/99/1362,Commission of the European Communities (DG XII),Direction des Sciences de la Matiere, CEA, France,

23

Bundesministerium fur Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie, Germany,General Secretariat for Research and Technology, Greece,National Science Foundation (NWO) and Foundation for Research on Matter (FOM),The Netherlands,Norwegian Research Council,State Committee for Scientific Research, Poland, SPUB-M/CERN/PO3/DZ296/2000,SPUB-M/CERN/PO3/DZ297/2000 and 2P03B 104 19 and 2P03B 69 23(2002-2004)JNICT–Junta Nacional de Investigacao Cientıfica e Tecnologica, Portugal,Vedecka grantova agentura MS SR, Slovakia, Nr. 95/5195/134,Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia,CICYT, Spain, AEN99-0950 and AEN99-0761,The Swedish Natural Science Research Council,Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, UK,Department of Energy, USA, DE-FG02-01ER41155,EEC RTN contract HPRN-CT-00292-2002.

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[15] A.H. Hoang, Z. Ligeti and A.V. Manohar, Phys. Rev. D59 (1999) 074017.[16] ALEPH Collaboration, Phys. Lett. B512 (2001) 30.[17] P. Abreu et al., DELPHI Collaboration, Phys. Lett. B425 (1998) 399.[18] P. Abreu et al., DELPHI Collaboration. Eur. Phys. J C20 (2001) 455.[19] A.K. Leibovich, Z. Ligeti, I.W. Stewart and M.B. Wise, Phys. Rev D57 (1998)

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Figure 1: δm = m(D0π+) − m(D0) distributions for the D0 → K−π+ (upper),D0 → K−π+π+π− (middle) and D0 → K−π+(π0) (lower) decay channels. Combina-tions with the wrong K-lepton charge correlation are superimposed as darker histograms.Events registered in 92-93 and 94-95 have not been distinguished. The curves show thefits to the right-sign distributions described in the text.

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0.4

0.5

010- 10+/- 0 10+/- 0 10+/- 0 10+/- 0 10+

q2s-q2

r (GeV2)

Nor

mal

ized

eve

nts

8.28GeV2 8.82GeV2

9.35GeV2 9.88GeV2

10.42GeV2

Figure 2: Fit of the R(q2s − q2

r , q2s) slices for the 94-95 data taking period, as expected

from simulated events. The simulated q2s central value is quoted above the corresponding

slice.

26

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

-10 -5 0 5 10

qs2-qr

2 (GeV2) for 92-93 samples

Nor

mal

ized

eve

nts MC K-π++K-π+π+π-

K-π+π0

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

-10 -5 0 5 10

qs2-qr

2 (GeV2) for 94-95 samples

Nor

mal

ized

eve

nts MC K-π++K-π+π+π-

K-π+π0

Figure 3: Comparison between the resolution functions obtained for D0 decay channelswith and without a missing particle for the 92-93 and 94-95 data taking periods, as ex-pected from simulated events.

27

0.8

0.9

1

1.1

1.2

0 2 4 6 8 10

q2s (GeV2)

Acc

epta

nce

MC

Figure 4: Stability of the acceptance as a function of the value of the simulated q2s .

28

0.773 ± 0.013 S1

Signal D*+

Eve

nts/

0.27

10-3

10-2

10-1

1

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

0.464 ± 0.016 S2

D** background

Eve

nts/

0.27

10-3

10-2

10-1

1

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

0.510 ± 0.046 S3

D*+D–X background

Eve

nts/

0.27

10-3

10-2

10-1

1

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

0.138 ± 0.074 S4

Z → cc– background

Eve

nts/

0.27

10-3

10-2

10-1

1

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

0.243 ± 0.042 S5

Fake leptons

Eve

nts/

0.27

10-3

10-2

10-1

1

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

0.778 ± 0.072 S6

D*+τX background

Eve

nts/

0.27

10-3

10-2

10-1

1

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

0.333 ± 0.015 B

Comb. background (RD)

Eve

nts/

0.27

10-3

10-2

10-1

1

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

0.3566 ± 0.0054 B

Comb. background (MC)

Eve

nts/

0.27

10-3

10-2

10-1

1

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

Figure 5: Distributions of the d+ variable for signal and background components. Alldistributions have been normalized to unity. The content of the bin at d = −4. has beeninserted on each plot, corresponding to events with no spectator track candidate. In thetwo lower plots, distributions obtained for combinatorial background events selected inreal and simulated data can be compared. For real data the distribution for double charmcascade decays (S3) has been corrected as described in section 6.3.3.

29

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

0 2 4 6 8 10

q2 (GeV2)

Eve

nts/

1.07

GeV

2

MCMCFit D*+

b → D*+X l ν–

b → D*+D– X

Fake leptonsCombinatorial

Figure 6: Fit of MC qq and bb events. The three analysed D0 decay channels and the twodata taking periods have been combined. Only events selected within the δm mass intervalcorresponding to the D∗+ signal are displayed. The small contribution of Z → cc decaysand leptons originating from τ− events has been included in the fake lepton component.

30

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

0 2 4 6 8 10

q2 (GeV2)

Eve

nts/

1.07

GeV

2

DELPHIDataFit D*+

b → D*+X l ν–

b → D*+D– X

Fake leptonsCombinatorial

Figure 7: Fit on real data events. All periods are combined. Only events selectedwithin the δm mass interval corresponding to the D∗+ signal are displayed. The smallcontribution of Z → cc decays and leptons originating from τ− events has been includedin the fake lepton component.

31

1

10

10 2

10 3

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

d+ variable

Eve

nts/

0.27

DELPHIDataFit D*+

b → D*+X l ν–

b → D*+D– X

Fake leptonsCombinatorial

1

10

10 2

10 3

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

d- variable

Eve

nts/

0.27

DELPHIDataFit D*+

b → D*+X l ν–

b → D*+D– X

Fake leptonsCombinatorial

Figure 8: Distributions for the d± variables, for events selected within the δm intervalof the D∗+ signal and corresponding contributions from the fitted components. The smallcontribution of Z → cc decays and leptons originating from τ− events has been includedin the fake lepton component. The measured (fitted) number of events in the first bin,at -4., are 1324 ± 36 (1358) and 1498 ± 39 (1540), for the d+ and d− distributionsrespectively.

32

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0 2 4 6 8 10q2

s (GeV 2)

MODEL 1

D * 2

D * 1

D 1

Nor

mal

ized

eve

nts

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0 2 4 6 8 10q2

s (GeV 2)

MODEL 2

D * 2

D * 1

D 1N

orm

aliz

ed e

vent

s

Figure 9: q2 distributions, normalized to unity, obtained using the two sets of parametersof the model [19], which correspond to the largest variation in the central value of thesedistributions and which give production rates for narrow D∗∗ states that are compatiblewith present measurements. The precise definition for models 1 and 2 is given in section7.3.4. The three components given in each histogram correspond, from top to bottom, tonarrow 2+, broad 1+ and narrow 1+ states.