Production of f[sub 0](980), f[sub 2](1270) and φ(1020) in hadronic Z[sup 0] decay

Abstract

Inclusive production of f0(980), f2(1270) and φ(1020) has been studied in a sample of 4.3 million hadronic Z0 decays from the OPAL experiment at LEP. Fragmentation functions are reported for the three states. Total inclusive rates are measured to be 0.160±0.014 f0, 0.119±0.016 f2 and 0.093±0.004 φ mesons per hadronic Z0 decay. The production properties of the f0, including those in three-jet events are compared with those of the f2 and φ, and with the Lund string model of hadron production. All measured properties are consistent with the hypothesis that the f0(980) is a conventional qq̄ scalar meson.