A measurement of the forward-backward asymmetry of $$e^ + e^ - \to c\bar c$$ and $$e^ + e^ - \to b\bar b$$ at centre of mass energies on and near theZ 0 peak usingD *± mesons

A measurement is presented of the forwardbackward asymmetry of the processes\(e^ + e^ + \to c\bar c\) and\(e^ + e^ + \to b\bar b\) at centre of mass energies near 91 GeV. Decays of theZ0 into charm and bottom quarks are identified using 6507 chargedD* mesons, reconstructed in the decaysD*±→D0π±→(K∓π±)π±,D*±→D0π±→(K∓π±π0)π± andD*±→D0π±→(K∓π±π∓π±)π±. Thec quark asymmetry on theZ0 peak is measured to be $$A_{FB}^c = 0.052 \pm 0.028(stat.) \pm 0.012(sys.).$$ The energy dependence of the asymmetry has been investigated at energies close to theZ0 peak. Consistency with the predictions of the Standard Model is found.