Event handedness in e+e- annihilation to three jets

We discuss rescattering effects that can be measured in e+e- 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 Z (γ*) 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 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 W and Z exchange loops for massless quarks. Because of the various cancellations, the standard model predictions for triple-product correlations at the 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 1996 The American Physical Society