Z0 couplings to tau leptons

Decays of the Z0 recorded with the OPAL detector at the LEP e+e- storage ring provide constraints on the coupling of the tau lepton to the Z0. The partial decay width of the Z0 to tau pairs (Γττ) is measured to be 83.9±2.3 MeV, consistent with the values measured for the other leptonic channels (Γμμ=85.9±2.0 MeV and Γee=82.7±1.3 MeV), and also with the value determined from all channels assuming lepton universality Γll=83.6±1.0 MeV). Assuming lepton universality, a measurement of the product of the axial and vector coupling constants squared is obtained from the forward-backward asymmetries on the peak (a-circumflexl2v-circumflexl2=0.0036±0.0034), and a measurement of the axial coupling constant squared is obtained from the energy dependence of the asymmetry (a-circumflexl2=0.98±0.13). (author) 11 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab