A study of charged D∗ production in e+e− annihilation at an average center-of-mass energy of 58 GeV

Abstract We have studied the production of charged D ∗ mesons in e + e − annihilation at an average center-of-mass energy of 58.0 GeV. Charged D ∗ mesons were identified using two independent methods; the mass-difference method and the detection of the low transverse-momentum pion. The forward-backward asymmetry of the charm quark production was measured to be A c = −0.61±0.13(stat.)±0.08(syst.). The cross section of inclusive D ∗ production was found to be σ(e + e − →D ∗ ± +X) = 24.5 ± 5.3 ( stat. )±3.0( syst. ) pb. If we assume the standard model prediction for the charm quark production, we obtain the branching ratio for the charm quark to produce a charged D ∗ meson to be Br (c→D ∗+ + X) = (22±5( stat. )±3( syst. ))% .