Inclusive neutral vector meson production in hadronic Z0 decays

Results are reported of a study of neutral vector meson production in multihadronicZ0 decays in the OPAL experiment at LEP. Pions and kaons have been identified by specific ionisation energy loss andK±π∓ andK+K− mass spectra have been fitted, in bins of the scaled momentum variablex p , to combinations of resonance signals and non-resonant backgrounds. Rates are given forK*(892)° and o(1020), and production cross sections are compared to the predictions of Monte Carlo models. Overall multiplicities have been determined as 0.76±0.07±0.06K*(892)° and 0.086±0.015±0.010 o(1020) per hadronicZ0 decay (the quoted errors are respectively statistical and systematic). Momentum dependent distortions of the ππ mass spectra, possibly associated indirectly with Bose-Einstein effects, have prevented reliable measurement of the ρ(770)° cross section in this study.