Heavy flavour production in Z decays

Abstract From an analysis of inclusive leptons in data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP, we measure the fractions of b b and c c events in hadronic Z decays. The b b fraction times semileptonic branching ratio is measured to be Br ( b → e )·Γ b b /Γ had = 0.0224 ± 0.0016 ± 0.0010 . Assuming a b semileptonic branching ratio of 0.102 ± 0.010 gives Γ b b /Γ had = 0.220 ± 0.016 ± 0.024 , in good agreement with the standard model prediction of 0.217. The c c fraction times semileptonic branching ratio is measured to be Br ( c → e )·Γ c c /Γ had = 0.0133 ± 0.0040 −0.0031 +0.0038 . Assuming a c semileptonic branching ratio of 0.090 ± 0.013 gives Γ c c /Γ had = 0.148 ± 0.044 −0.038 +0.045 , in agreement with the standard model prediction of 0.171.