QED Interconnection Effects on W Momentum Distributions at LEP 2

Abstract

The process $\ee \to \W^+\W^- \to \f_1 \fbar_2 \, \f_3 \fbar_4$ contains charges in the initial, intermediate and final stages. This gives a rich selection of possible QED interconnection effects. Coulomb interaction is the simplest of these, and can thus be used to explore consequences. We study a number of experimental observables, with emphasis on those related to the W momentum distribution. Second-order Coulomb effects are shown to be practically negligible. The limited LEP~2 statistics will not allow detailed tests, so any theory uncertainty will be reflected in the systematic error on the W mass. Currently the uncertainty from this source may be as high as 20~MeV.