Z-DECAYS TO b QUARKS AND THE HIGGS BOSON MASS

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Abstract
A model independent analysis of the most recent averages of precision electroweak data from LEP and SLD finds a 3σ deviation of the parameter Ab from the standard model prediction. The fitted value of mH shows a strong dependence on the inclusion or exclusion of b quark data, and the standard model fits have poor confidence levels of a few percent when the latter are included. The good fits obtained to lepton data, c quark data and the directly measured top quark mass, give and indicate that the Higgs boson mass is most likely less than 200 GeV.