Production of f(0)(980), f(2)(1270) and phi(1020) in hadronic Z(0) decay

Inclusive production of the f(0)(980), f(2)(1270) and phi(1020) resonances has been studied in a sample of 4.3 million hadronic Z(0) decays from the OPAL experiment at LEP. A coupled channel analysis has been used for the f(0) in simultaneous fits to the resonances in inclusive pi(+)pi(-) and K+K- mass spectra. Fragmentation functions are reported for the three states. Total inclusive rates are measured to be 0.141 plus or minus 0.007 plus or minus 0.011 f(0), 0.155 plus or minus 0.011 plus or minus 0.018 f(2) and 0.091 plus or minus 0.002 plus or minus 0.003 phi mesons per hadronic Z(0) decay. The production properties of the f(0), including those in three-jet events, are compared with those of the f(2) and phi, and with the Lund string model of hadron production. All measurements are consistent with the hypothesis that the f(0)(980) is a conventional q(q)over-bar scalar meson.