[en] Using all data collected by OPAL during the first phase of LEP operation, called LEP1, we have measured the b and c quark forward-backward asymmetries on and around the Z⁰ peak. The measurement, which is based on prompt leptons produced in semileptonic decays of heavy quarks, has been optimized using artificial neural networks whenever necessary, that is whenever the problem to solve implied taking into account simultaneously a large number of parameters. Our results are compatible with other LEP measurements and with the Standard Model predictions for a top quark of 174±31 GeV/c□ and a Higgs boson mass between 60 and 1000 GeV/c□. (author). 159 refs., 88 figs., 37 tabs

[en] The ANTARES collaboration is building a deep underwater neutrino telescope to be immersed in the Mediterranean Sea 40 km off the French coast. This detector will be able to detect the Cherenkov light emitted by muons produced in neutrino interactions using a three-dimensional matrix of optical sensors. The telescope will be made of nearly 1000 of these elementary units distributed over a wide area of about 0.1 km² at an average depth of 2400 m. In order to reach a sub-nanosecond resolution on light pulse detection, signals from all OMs are analyzed and digitized locally before being sent to shore through a 50 km electro-optical cable. Front-end electronics, time alignment (clock distribution), triggering and data acquisition for such a large and remote detector represent a real challenge and required considerable R and D studies. The technical solutions adopted by the collaboration will be described and their performances discussed

[en] We review the latest measurements of R_b and R_c by the OPAL experiment at LEP. The methods used are described, the results are combined with those from the other LEP experiments and compared with the Standard Model predictions. (orig.)

[en] We present a method for selecting high-redshift Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) located via rolling SN searches. The technique, using both color and magnitude information of events from only two to three epochs of multiband real-time photometry, is able to discriminate between SNe Ia and core-collapse SNe. Furthermore, for SNe Ia the method accurately predicts the redshift, phase, and light-curve parameterization of these events based only on pre-maximum-light data. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique on a simulated survey of SNe Ia and core-collapse SNe, where the selection method effectively rejects most core-collapse SNe while retaining SNe Ia. We also apply the selection code to real-time data acquired as part of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Supernova Legacy Survey (SNLS). During the period 2004 May to 2005 January in the SNLS, 440 SN candidates were discovered, of which 70 were confirmed spectroscopically as SNe Ia and 15 as core-collapse events. For this test data set, the selection technique correctly identifies 100 percent of the identified SNe II as non-SNe Ia with only a 1 percent-2 percent false rejection rate. The predicted parameterization of the SNe Ia has a precision of bar DELTA z bar/(1+zspec)<0.09 in redshift and +-2-3 rest-frame days in phase, providing invaluable information for planning spectroscopic follow-up observations. We also investigate any bias introduced by this selection method on the ability of surveys such as SNLS to measure cosmological parameters (e.g., w and OMEGA M) and find any effect to be negligible

[en] The ANTARES project is an international collaboration with the aim of building a deep-sea large area neutrino telescope within the next decade. The achievements and status of the project as at the time of the conference are briefly discussed, and short term steps as well as longer term plans are described

[en] The ANTARES collaboration is building a deep sea neutrino telescope in the Mediterranean Sea. This detector will cover a sensitive area of typically 0.1 km² and will be equipped with about 1000 optical modules. Each of these optical modules consists of a large area photomultiplier and its associated electronics housed in a pressure resistant glass sphere. The design of the ANTARES optical module, which is a key element of the detector, has been finalized following extensive R and D studies and is reviewed here in detail