QCD tests with SLD and polarized beams

The author presents a measurement of the strong coupling αs derived from multijet rates using data collected by the SLD experiment at SLAC and find that αs(MZ2) = 0.118 ± 0.002(stat.) ± 0.003(syst.) ± 0.010(theory). He presents tests of the flavor independence of strong interactions via preliminary measurements of the ratios αs(b)/αs(udsc) and αs(uds)/αs(bc). In addition, the group has measured the difference in charged particle multiplicity between Z0 → b bar b and Z0 → u bar u, d bar d, s bar s events, and find that it supports the prediction of perturbative QCD that the multiplicity difference be independent of center-of-mass energy. Finally, the group has made a preliminary study of jet polarization using the jet handedness technique