Electroweak Physics at LEP

Abstract

We have examined the evidence for the electroweak radiative corrections in the LEP precision data sets of 1993 and 1994 along with the intriguing possibility that the QED corrections only may be sufficient to fit the data within the framework of the minimal standard model. We find that the situation is very sensitive to the precise values of $M_W$. The current world average value of $M_W$ and the improved 1994 LEP data strongly favor nonvanishing electroweak radiative corrections and are consistent with a heavy $m_t$ as reported by CDF but with a heavy Higgs scalar of about 400 GeV. We discuss how future precision measurements of $M_W$ and $m_t$ can provide a decisive test for the standard model with radiative corrections.