Measurement of the spin density matrix for the $\rho^0$, $K^{*0}(892)$ and $\phi$ produced in $Z^0$ Decays

The spin density matrix elements for the ϱ0, K∗0(892) and F produced in hadronic Z0 decays are measured in the DELPHI detector. There is no evidence for spin alignment of the K∗0(892) and F in the region xp ≤ 0.3 (View the MathML source), where ϱ00 = 0.33 ± 0.05 and ϱ00 = 0.30 ± 0.04, respectively. In the fragmentation region, xp ≥ 0.4, there is some indication for spin alignment of the ϱ0 and K∗0(892), since ϱ00 = 0.43 ± 0.05 and ϱ00 = 0.46 ± 0.08, respectively. These values are compared with those found in meson-induced hadronic reactions. For the F, ϱ00 = 0.30 ± 0.04 for xp ≥ 0.4 and 0.55 ± 0.10 for xp ≥ 0.7. The off-diagonal spin density matrix element ϱ1-1 is consistent with zero in all cases.