Search for the Standard Model Higgs boson in $e^+ e^-$ interactions at $\sqrt{s} = 189 GeV$

A search for the Standard Model Higgs boson is carried out on $176.4\ \mathrm{pb}^{-1}$ of data collected by the L3 detector at a center-of-mass energy of $189 \mathrm{\ Ge\kern -0.1em V}$. The data are consistent with the expectations of Standard Model processes and no evidence of a Higgs signal is observed. Combining the results of this search with those at lower center-of-mass energies, a lower limit on the mass of the Standard Model Higgs boson of $95.3\mathrm{\ Ge\kern -0.1em V}$ is set at the 95\% confidence level.