What Can We Learn from the Z Line Shape? An Experimentalist’s Survey

Abstract

For the preparation of LEP/SLC physics a big effort has been invested in the calculation of radiative corrections. One of the first experimental tests will be the measurement of the Z0 line shape. Though the LEP/SLC era eventually will provide us with measurements which are much more sensitive to the details of radiative corrections as for example fermion asymmetries, the Z0 line shape will probe one of the axioms these calculations are based on, namely the Standard Model. This paper first gives an overview on the experimental aspects of the Z0 line shape like the choice of the event sample, backgrounds and systematic errors. We will put no emphasis on a specific detector as the measurement of the Z0 line shape is not a challenge for any particular feature of the LEP/SLC detectors. The discussion of machine related problems however will be restricted to the still fairly homogeneous expectations for the LEP ring as the predictions on the SLC performance have acquired a wide span between pessimism and optimism in view of the initial start-up. Based on a realistic estimate of the experimental precision we then discuss the compromise between the accuracy of line shape parameters and the luminosity and give some prospects for the physics potential of the line shape measurement for the near future and beyond.