Spin correlations in $e^+e^-\to 4 jets$

Abstract

Existence of discrepancies between experimental data and Monte Carlo predictions for angular distributions in four-jet production via $e^+e^-$ annihilation has been known for some time at LEP1. As such QCD processes constitute significant backgrounds to $e^+e^-\to W^+W^-\to 4$-jet production at LEP2, we consider the possibility that an erroneous modelling of the helicity structure of the final-state partons could affect the accuracy of experimental measurements of the $W^\pm$ boson parameters

33 pages, latex, epsfig, 8 figures (bitmapped at 75dpi, full paper at high resolution available at http://www.hep.phy.cam.ac.uk/theory/papers/), discussion made more quantitative, final version to appear in Eur. Phys. J. C