Event handedness ine+e−annihilation to three jets

We discuss rescattering effects that can be measured in {ital e}{sup +}{ital e}{sup {minus}} annihilation to three jets through a single gauge boson, by using triple product ({open_quote}{open_quote}event handedness{close_quote}{close_quote}) correlations of the {ital Z} ({gamma}{sup {asterisk}}) polarization with jet momenta. The gauge boson polarization may be produced either by polarized beams or through the natural polarization (left-right asymmetry) of the {ital Z}. QCD rescattering does not generate triple product correlations at one loop for massless quarks. We therefore calculate the QCD contribution for massive quarks, as well as the contribution of {ital W} and {ital Z} exchange loops for massless quarks. Because of the various cancellations, the standard model predictions for triple-product correlations at the {ital Z} are very small, making such measurements potentially sensitive to physics beyond the standard model. For example, the effects of a new gauge boson that couples only to baryon number may be larger than the standard model contributions; however, the effects would probably still be too small to effectively constrain it. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}